Port of Call | The Dementia Awareness Podcast

In this episode of the Dementia Lifeboat Port of Call podcast, Laura Wayman and co-host Jocelyn Ives sit down with caregiver Cindy to share a deeply personal and eye-opening story.Cindy opens up about her husband’s journey following a traumatic brain injury and the unexpected onset of dementia symptoms years later. What started as subtle personality changes quickly turned into confusion, fear, and moments that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about dementia.This conversation goes beyond memory loss and explores what dementia actually looks like in real life—shifts in behavior, emotional responses, communication breakdowns, and the daily challenges caregivers face trying to keep their loved ones safe, calm, and supported. You’ll hear: Why dementia is often misunderstood (even by professionals)  How symptoms go far beyond memory loss  What it really means to “be dementia-aware”  Practical ways to communicate and reduce anxiety  The emotional reality of caregiving, including grief, guilt, and identity shifts  How to support a loved one while still taking care of yourself Laura and Jocelyn also introduce powerful tools—like focusing on feelings over facts and simplifying life to the present moment—that can completely change how caregivers approach this journey.This episode is a reminder that you’re not alone, that there is no perfect way to do this, and that progress—not perfection—is what matters most.laurawayman.com/podcast

In this episode of Dementia Lifeboat: Port of Call, dementia educator Laura Wayman and certified life coach Jocelyn Ives sit down with Jennifer Gilbertson to talk about what dementia symptoms can look like in real life, long before many families recognize what is happening.Jennifer shares the early changes her family noticed in her mother: repeated stories, difficulty following familiar routines, challenges with communication, and a gradual loss of interest in activities she once loved. At first, these moments seemed small. Easy to explain away as stress, aging, or simple forgetfulness. But over time, the pattern became harder to ignore.This conversation explores what many families experience during the early stages of dementia: the confusion, the denial, the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start, and the emotional weight that can come with realizing someone you love is changing.We also talk about the questions caregivers often face during this stage:How do you recognize when something is truly wrong?Why can getting a diagnosis be so difficult?What happens when families finally hear the words “dementia diagnosis,” but are given very little guidance on what to do next?Laura and Jocelyn discuss why understanding dementia symptoms, especially the loss of executive brain function, is so important for caregivers. When families begin to understand what is happening neurologically, it becomes easier to shift away from trying to fix or correct behaviors and instead learn how to support someone whose brain is changing.Jennifer also shares the emotional side of caregiving: the guilt many families feel for not noticing sooner, the stress of navigating the medical system, and the relief that can come when caregivers finally gain the knowledge and support they need.This episode reminds caregivers of something many need to hear: you did the best you could with the information you had, and you are not alone on this journey.If you want more support while caregiving for someone with dementia symptoms, or if you believe someone in your life may be experiencing cognitive changes, we invite you to join our monthly Dementia Lifeboat: Poolside Chat, where caregivers come together to share experiences and support one another.You can join us for FREE by registering here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PRzPtXKIRf-NNdHzhSToUgOr become a paid member of our Dementia Lifeboat Skool community for exclusive trainings, early podcast access, and a supportive community available 24/7: https://www.skool.com/dementia-lifeboat/aboutYou’re not expected to have all the answers.You’re invited to learn, manage what’s in front of you, and feel less alone as you do.laurawayman.com/podcast

In this episode of Dementia Lifeboat: Port of Call, dementia educator Laura Wayman and certified life coach Jocelyn Ives walk through what happens after the words “dementia” or “Alzheimer’s” are spoken in a doctor’s office. A diagnosis often brings fear, overwhelm, denial, and a flood of “what if” questions about the future. In this conversation, Laura explains what is actually happening in the brain. Dementia is not just memory loss; it is why emotions remain even when reasoning fades, and why behaviors like wandering or wanting to “go home” are rooted in feelings, not logic. Jocelyn then turns the lens toward the caregiver. What happens in your brain when you hear the diagnosis? Why does panic take over? How do you stop spinning into worst-case scenarios? And how can you shorten your lens length to focus on what needs to be done today, not five years from now? Through real-life stories, including exit-seeking behaviors, repeated questions, and early-onset Alzheimer’s, this episode offers practical tools for: Responding to feelings instead of arguing with factsManaging your own frustration, fear, and denialLetting go of the need for validation from someone who can no longer give itGiving yourself permission to feel without judging yourself for itYou cannot stop it.You cannot fix it.You cannot change it.But you can learn to manage it, with purpose, resilience, and compassion. This episode is a reminder that while dementia changes the brain, it does not erase the heart — and caregivers still have the power to create meaningful moments, one day at a time.Learn more: laurawayman.com/podcastlaurawayman.com/podcast

In this opening episode of Dementia Lifeboat: Port of Call, dementia educator Laura Wayman and certified life coach Jocelyn Ives introduce a different way of understanding dementia, one rooted in real-life experiences. Not just clinical definitions. This conversation focuses on what often shows up first: the quiet loss of learned executive function. Tasks that once happened on autopilot, such as balancing a checkbook, driving confidently, planning, organizing, or coordinating movement, begin to take more effort. Memory may still be intact, which is why dementia is so often missed, misunderstood, or dismissed early on. We talk about what that feels like for caregivers watching someone they love struggle, and for individuals who sense something is changing but can’t quite explain it. We also explore common questions families ask in this stage: How do I know if I have dementia, or if someone I love does?What doctor should I go to for dementia, and why can answers be hard to get?Can dementia be fixed? (The short answer: No. But it can be managed with the right understanding and support.)This episode introduces the foundation of dementia awareness: learning what’s happening neurologically, letting go of what can’t be stopped or fixed, and discovering how caregivers can use their healthy brain to support someone with a “broken thinker.”If you want more support while caregiving with those with dementia symptoms, or think you may be experiencing symptoms yourself, we invite you to join our monthly Dementia Lifeboat: Poolside Chat, where caregivers come together to offer support and understanding. You can join us for FREE by registering here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PRzPtXKIRf-NNdHzhSToUgOr become a paid member of our Lifeboat Skool community for exclusive trainings, be the first to know when the podcast is live, and a lively community chat where you can find support 24/7: https://www.skool.com/dementia-lifeboat/about You’re not expected to have all the answers. You’re invited to learn, manage what’s in front of you, and feel less alone as you do.laurawayman.com/podcast