University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: family

Navigating Difficult Conversations about Driving and Dementia

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Driving can be a sensitive topic as a person gets older, and especially so when someone begins experiencing cognitive decline or is diagnosed with dementia. How can family members and care partners discuss their concerns about a loved one’s ability to drive while still respecting their dignity, autonomy and independence? Dr. KJ Hansmann joins the podcast to share strategies for how to talk about a loved one’s driving habits and how to plan to help them stop driving as they navigate cognitive decline, as well as what signs to look out for when assessing their ability to drive and what resources are available for both those living with cognitive decline and their care partners.

Guest: KJ Hansmann, MD, PhD, MPH, family medicine doctor, UW Health, assistant professor, department of family and community health, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, principal investigator, Driving Connections Lab

The Role of Social Work in Dementia Care

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People with dementia and their families see many different doctors and health care providers following a diagnosis. Some may be surprised to know that social workers play a role in dementia care as well. Jeni Synnes, a social worker at UW Health, joins the podcast to explain her role in a memory clinic, the support social workers provide for families and care partners, and what people should know before and after a memory assessment.

Guest: Jeni Synnes, MSSW, LCSW, social worker, UW Health

Paying the Price: The Cost of Dementia in 2025

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How much does it cost to live with dementia in the United States? The hidden costs are often overlooked, but these numbers and trends are important to understand in order to inform the public and effectively allocate resources. Dr. Julie Zissimopoulos leads the United States Cost of Dementia Project, where they recently published a report on the total cost of dementia in 2025. Dr. Zissimopoulos joins the podcast to discuss the report’s findings and analyze what this means for patients and families, as well as for public policy, in the future.

Guest: Julie Zissimopoulos, PhD, professor, Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California (USC), co-lead, United States Cost of Dementia Project, co-director, Aging and Cognition Research Program, USC Schaeffer Center, director, Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (USC AD/ADRDRCMAR), Center for Advancing Sociodemographic and Economic Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (CeAES-ADRD)

Putting a ‘Spotlight on Care’: Caregivers Help Other Caregivers Through Podcast Series

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Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia can be challenging, with no two journeys being the same. Who better to turn to for caregiving support, tips and advice, then, than other caregivers who have been on similar paths? Steve O’Leary and Virginia Naeve join Dementia Matters to share their different experiences caring for their partner and parent respectively, their goal to help other caregivers on their journeys through their podcast Spotlight on Care and more.

Guests: Steve O’Leary, co-host, Spotlight on Care, member, leadership council, University of California, Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), and Virginia Naeve, co-host, Spotlight on Care, volunteer, UCI MIND

‘Tis the Season: Navigating the Holidays as a Dementia Caregiver

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The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone, especially those with dementia and their care partners. In preparation for this season, Dr. Alexis Eastman joins Dementia Matters for our last episode of 2024. Drs. Chin and Eastman discuss strategies for managing the potential stress of holiday traveling and gatherings, important safety considerations and more.

Guest: Alexis Eastman, MD, geriatrician, Senior Medical Director of Ambulatory Medical Specialties, UW Health, associate clinical professor, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Support for the Supporters: Resources for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

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If you’re one of the 11 million Americans providing unpaid care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, you know that caregiving is both incredibly rewarding and challenging. What makes caring for someone with dementia so emotionally and physically demanding, and what resources and strategies are available to help? In this episode, Bonnie Nuttkinson joins us to discuss the unique needs of dementia caregivers, tips for navigating each stage of the disease and ways to find support along the caregiving journey.

Guest: Bonnie Nuttkinson, MS, research program coordinator, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Let’s Talk: Navigating Family Conversations About Dementia Through Shared Decision-Making

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Picture this: you are supporting someone experiencing memory changes as a clinician, support person or care partner while they go through the memory clinic process. How do you navigate the challenging conversations surrounding symptoms, diagnoses, care plans and more that come up? Dr. Toby Campbell joins the podcast to discuss the importance of shared decision-making and share strategies for clinicians, care partners and loved ones to help navigate these important conversations with respect and empathy.

Guest: Toby Campbell, MD, MS, thoracic medical oncologist, chief of palliative care, UW Health, professor of hematology, medical oncology and palliative care, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Caregiving While Black: Dementia Care For Different Racial And Ethnic Groups

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When seeking medical information and treatment, different racial and ethnic groups may require specially tailored information to relate to, understand and apply to their own experiences. In this episode, Dr. Fayron Epps joins the podcast to talk about the unique experiences of African American caregivers and her lab’s work to provide education and assistance to their needs. Epps seeks to promote quality of life for families affected by dementia through research, education and service. This episode is part of a special three-part series highlighting speakers from the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute’s 20th Annual Update in Alzheimer’s Research and Related Dementias.

Guest: Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, assistant professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, principal investigator, Faith Village Research Lab, founder, Alter

Therapeutic Fibbing: Mastering the Art Of Communicating With A Loved One With Dementia

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Former Governor of Wisconsin, Martin Schreiber, returns to Dementia Matters to discuss different methods for communicating with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, including therapeutic fibbing. Governor Schreiber has been a widely outspoken advocate for Alzheimer’s disease while caring for his late wife Elaine, who passed away from the disease in April of 2022. In this episode, he also talks about his book, My Two Elaines, where he opens up about his experience as a caregiver.

Guest: Martin Schreiber, Former Governor of Wisconsin (1977-1979), Former Lt. Governor of Wisconsin (1971-1977)

Caregivers, Care Partners and People with Dementia: Brainstorming New Interventions for Dementia Care

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When talking about dementia caregiving, researchers are often working toward new treatments and strategies for supporting people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. But how can we push the topic further and learn how we can better support dementia caregivers themselves? Dr. Eric Larson joins the podcast to discuss possible interventions to support patients with dementia and their caregivers and care partners. Dr. Larson chaired a National Academy of Medicine committee focused on researching dementia caregiving interventions. As part of their report titled “Meeting the Challenge of Caring for Persons Living with Dementia and Their Care Partners and Caregivers: A Way Forward,” the committee found that two models, the Collaborative Care Model and REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiving Health), had the most evidence of benefits for supporting people with dementia and their care partners and caregivers. Discussing this new report, the recent approval of aducanumab, and the field of geriatrics as a whole, Dr. Larson shines a light on the nuances of dementia research and dementia caregiving.

Guest: Eric Larson, MD, MPH, Senior Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute

Emergency Care Tips for People with Dementia

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Visiting the emergency department can be a challenging experience for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers. Dr. Manish Shah joins the podcast to discuss the difficulties people with dementia face in the emergency department and offers tips for making the most out of a visit. 

Guest: Manish Shah, MD, MPH, professor, BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Poetry and Memory: A Poem by Dr. Fabu Carter

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In this special holiday bonus episode, we are joined by poet laureate, writer, and senior outreach specialist, Dr. Fabu Carter, to discuss the impact of poetry on memory loss and a reading of her poem “For Our Beloved Elders with Memory Loss.”

Guest: Fabu Carter, PhD, MA, Senior Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin of Medicine and Public Health

Apps & Alzheimer’s: Supporting Informal Caregiving Through Mobile Technology

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Human factors engineering is the study and design of interactive systems, tools and technologies to best assist individuals in need. We are joined by Nicole Werner, PhD, an engineer working on a mobile technology to serve the lives of informal caregivers.

Guest: Nicole Werner, PhD, Harvey D. Spangler Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Exploring the Lessons Learned as a New Caregiver

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After serving as the primary caregiver for his wife for 11 years, Dr. Arthur Kleinman shares the unexpected experiences, difficulties and lessons that he faced. His book, The Soul of Care: The Moral Education of a Husband and a Doctor, chronicles the emotional and physical journey as a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Guest: Arthur Kleinman, MD, professor of medical anthropology and cross-cultural psychiatry, Harvard University

Caregiver Coping Skills and Communication Strategies for a Pandemic

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COVID-19 Special Series

The pandemic has placed a significant strain on the mental, social, and physical wellbeing of many caregivers, as well as individuals with cognitive decline. Our guest discusses COVID-19’s impact on underserved communities, offers communication tips, and reminds people to practice self-care.

Guest: Andrea Gilmore-Bykovskyi, PhD, RN, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing