Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One

Cindy Weinstein was just twenty-five when her father, Jerry, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in his mid-fifties. Decades later, she returned to those memories in Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain, written with renowned neurologist Dr. Bruce Miller. Cindy is the Eli and Edythe Broad Professor of English at the California Institute of Technology and an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health. Her work brings together two worlds: the personal experience of loving a parent through dementia and the neuroscience that helps explain what is happening inside the brain. In this conversation, Cindy and Nicole talk about anticipatory grief, the moments in caregiving that stay frozen in time, and what it means to grieve someone who is still alive. Cindy shares how studying neuroscience changed the way she understood her father, why literature helped her make sense of experiences science alone couldn't explain, and how revisiting some of her most painful memories eventually allowed her to recover the joyful ones, too. They also explore a question at the heart of dementia caregiving: When memory, language, and recognition change, what happens to love? This is a conversation about Alzheimer's, but even more, it's about being a daughter. About grief that doesn't follow a timeline. About keeping each other company through experiences we cannot fix. And about remembering the whole person, not simply the disease that changed them. To learn more about Cindy and her work at https://www.professorcindy.com/ We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Most people think aging is about endings. Familiar Touch shows us it's about beginning again. In this episode, filmmaker Sarah Friedland, actress Kathleen Chalfant, executive director Shaun Rushforth, and resident Jean Owen of Villa Gardens, take us behind the scenes of this award-winning film that reimagines aging, dementia, and caregiving through dignity, creativity, and collaboration. A must-listen for family caregivers and senior living advocates. We go behind the scenes of Familiar Touch—filmed at Villa Gardens, a Front Porch Community. What does it mean to open your doors, your story, and your heart to a film crew? How do you protect dignity while embracing creative risk? And what happens when older adults shift from being passive recipients of care to powerful co-creators? We talk about everything: boundaries and trust, storytelling and memory, leadership in senior living, and how art can reimagine what aging and caregiving really look like—rooted in love, dignity, and the belief that every person deserves to be seen and why this film needs to be shared. Familiar Touch gives family caregivers a rare gift: the chance to see their own journey reflected with honesty and grace, reminding them that they are not alone. The small moments of transition. The weight of goodbyes. The quiet strength of starting over. Filmed on location at Villa Gardens in Pasadena with residents as cast and crew, Familiar Touch offers an authentic, collaborative portrayal of aging and caregiving. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, winning three major awards, and will be released in U.S. theaters on June 20, 2025 by Music Box Films. Learn more about the film at https://www.familiartouchfilm.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE. Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE. We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

What if your deepest caregiving experience became the blueprint for changing the system? Dr. Francesca Falzarano was just 14 when her mother was diagnosed with dementia—an experience that shaped not only her identity, but her life's work. Now an Assistant Professor of Gerontology at USC and founder of the Falzarano Family Caregiving Lab, Francesca is studying the full arc of caregiving—from diagnosis to grief. In this conversation, she shares how personal loss inspired a research mission, what caregivers actually need (and when), and how technology and storytelling can foster healing and connection. Whether you're a family caregiver, healthcare professional, or someone walking this journey alongside a loved one, this episode is a powerful reminder that research doesn't belong in silos—it belongs in real life. This episode is made possible by our sponsors: HeroGeneration – offering tools, guidance, and a sense of belonging for caregivers who often feel like they're navigating alone. Zinnia TV – bringing calm, joy, and meaningful moments to people living with dementia and the ones who love them. Use the code GATHER20 for 20% off your annual subscription. Thank you for supporting the heart of this conversation. We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

What caregiving really asks of us—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. What happens inside us when we're called to care for someone we love? Beneath the to-do lists and the sleepless nights lives an unspoken truth: caregiving changes us. It can strip us down, reshape our identity, and ask us to find meaning in all of it. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Barry J. Jacobs—a clinical psychologist, family therapist, and longtime caregiver himself. He's the author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers and the upcoming AARP Caregiver Answer Book. Barry brings decades of insight into what it really means to show up for others while trying to hold onto yourself. We talk about the emotional toll of caregiving, the guilt that lingers, and the loneliness that can come when no one sees what you're carrying. Barry shares real, practical ways to manage anxiety, protect your identity, and build resilience. We also explore what a truly supportive healthcare system could look like—and how caregivers can begin to advocate for themselves. This is an episode for anyone in the thick of it, anyone who's quietly unraveling and rebuilding, and anyone who just needs to hear: you're not alone. Thank you to our sponsors! HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE. Share your caregiving story HERE! Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. creates engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE. We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

U.S. News & World Report announced its 2025 Best Senior Living ratings, naming 1,894 communities based on 450,000+ survey responses. In this episode, Liz Pearce, Product Director for Senior Living, joins us to share how the rankings are created, what families should know, and how these ratings help older adults and caregivers find trusted, compassionate senior living options nationwide. Learn more about U.S. News & World Report HERE. Thank you to our Sponsors HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE. Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE. We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

What if the people we care for had the microphone? What if—before we create another policy, schedule a medication, or make assumptions about what's "best"—we paused and simply asked: What do you want? How does this feel? What matters most to you today? In a world where caregiving often centers on doing for, we sometimes forget the power of simply being with. This episode is an invitation to slow down and listen to the voices that often go unheard—the ones on the receiving care. Today, I'm sharing a conversation that is deeply personal and one that I've been wanting to have for some time. I sat down with four incredible residents from the Trails of Orono, an Ebenezer assisted living community. Mike D is 88 and carries stories from a rich life full of meaning. Gary J, who just turned 86 on March 30th, brings warmth and wisdom to every word. Marie H celebrated her 103rd birthday on March 27th—yes, 103!—and Lucia A, at 93, offers reflections that are both grounded and generous. These conversations aren't about statistics or systems. They're about humanity—what it feels like to age, to receive care, to be seen, to be missed, to be remembered. You'll hear about their life, what brings them joy, how they feel well cared for and what it feels like to transition to being cared for. We talk about dignity, loss, autonomy, surprise, and love. And we ask the question at the heart of it all: How can we truly care well for people if we don't know what they are thinking, feeling, and needing? These voices—Mike, Gary, Marie, and Lucia—are the heartbeat of this episode. It's my hope that by listening to their stories, we'll become better listeners, better caregivers, and better humans. Thank you to our Sponsors HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE. Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. creates engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

In this episode, we sit down with Norman Harris, a licensed nursing home administrator, founder of Comfort Measures Consulting, and host of The Let's Get Comfy Podcast. His journey started at just 8 years old, volunteering in nursing homes with his grandmother. Now, he's on a mission to revolutionize elder care, advocate for caregivers, and inject energy, purpose, and fun into an industry that desperately needs it. Norman shares: ✅ The power of advocacy in healthcare and why caregivers need champions ✅ How to make caregiving "cool" and elevate healthcare professionals as leaders ✅ The challenges families face in senior care—and how to navigate them ✅ His journey from business to finding purpose in care This conversation is for anyone navigating healthcare decisions, working in caregiving, or looking for inspiration on leading with heart. Thank you to our Sponsors HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE. Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. creates engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE. We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Caregiving is one of the most profound acts of love—but it can also feel isolating, overwhelming, and uncharted. My guest today is Carlos L. Olivas III, an advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers and mental health awareness. His journey is deeply personal—rooted in the love and care he provides for his father, who is living with Alzheimer's. In this episode, we talk about the meaningful layers of caregiving—the mental toll, the lessons in resilience, and the unexpected ways it changes us. We talk about what it means to find strength in community, navigate this journey as a male caregiver, and how art has given both him and his father a way to process, express, and hold onto something real. Carlos has transformed his experience into a mission, serving on California's Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, working with organizations like Caring Across Generations and the Alzheimer's Association, and using art as a way to foster connection and healing. As a docent at Artbeat Gallery in Sacramento, he proudly shares his father's artwork. Carlos is also an esteemed member of We Are HFC's Care Squad, bringing raw honesty, empowerment, and deep empathy to the caregiving community. Carlos's story is being shared far and wide—he is featured in Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer's, premiering on PBS Independent Lens on May 5, offering an intimate look at the emotional and physical toll of caregiving while highlighting the resilience and love that define this experience. He is also featured in Well Beings Caregiving, a powerful series produced by Bradley Cooper, that brings attention to the lived realities of caregivers. Through storytelling, advocacy, and art, Carlos is making sure that caregivers everywhere feel seen, heard, and supported. Thank you to our Sponsors HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE. Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. creates engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE. Connect with Carlos via social media, interviews, podcasts and resources: https://linktr.ee/charlierobot We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts. Please follow for updates, rate & review! For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com