In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards sits down with author and caregiver advocate Glenna Hecht for one of the most engaging and practical conversations the podcast has featured to date.

What happens when dementia begins changing memories, personalities, and relationships, but a mother and daughter refuse to let it destroy their connection? The answer became a simple yet transformative relationship game that inspired Glenna’s book,” How Old Are You Today”.

Jeff admits this conversation broke one of the podcast’s usual rules: keeping episodes to around 15 minutes. Why? Because there was simply too much insight, encouragement, and usable information to leave on the cutting room floor.

Together, Jeff and Glenna explore:

• How caregivers can maintain emotional connection even as memory fades

• Why meaningful engagement matters more than “perfect” communication

• The real-life story behind the relationship game that changed everything

• Practical tools families can begin using immediately

• Encouragement for overwhelmed caregivers who feel isolated or exhausted

• Why moments of joy, humor, and humanity still matter deeply in dementia care

Listeners will also hear:

• Additional insights from the latest Alzheimer's Association Facts & Figures Report, focusing on prevalence and caregiving

• Another installment of “What’s New with Alzheimer’s,” featuring Dr. John Huffaker answering listener questions.

This episode is informative, emotional, practical, and hopeful, a reminder that connection is still possible, even when memory changes everything.

Hashtags

#GutPunchedPodcast #Alzheimers #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaAwareness #FamilyCaregiver #Caregiving #MemoryCare #Podcast #HealthPodcast #GlennaHecht #HowOldAreYouToday #CaregiverLife #AlzheimersPodcast #DementiaSupport #SeniorCare #CaregiverCommunity #MentalHealth #HopeForCaregivers

Available on The Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, iHeart, YouTube, and GUTPUNCHED.COM

In this episode, host Jeff Edwards begins with a powerful fact from information shared by the Alzheimer’s Association:

99% of people say they value brain health as much as, or more than, physical health, but only 9% say they know a lot about ways to maintain brain health.

That gap is the focus of this episode.

We connect that fact to information from the article “Most Americans Don’t Know How to Protect Brain Health.” This episode also features Part 1 of Jeff’s interview with Dr. Lauren Brown, PhD, from The Alzheimer’s Experience. Dr. Brown teaches a clinically grounded model called ProMa, designed to help caregivers, families, and care teams understand what to expect and how to respond with dignity.

Also in this episode:

The 5 Tenets — the rules we follow
What’s New With Alzheimer’s with Dr. John Huffaker
Caregiver resources
A special thank-you to listeners for the response to “GutPunched: I Still Choose You”
The full song at the end of the program

Alzheimer’s does not only affect memory. It affects families, relationships, routines, emotions, finances, and the heart of caregiving itself.

This episode is about awareness, action, caregiver support, brain health, and remembering the person behind the diagnosis.

Please like, comment, share, and subscribe to help us reach more caregivers and families walking this road.

#GutPunchedPodcast #AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaCaregivers #AlzheimersCaregivers #BrainHealth #CaregiverSupport #DementiaAwareness #AlzheimersDisease #FamilyCaregivers #IStillChooseYou #TheAlzheimersExperience #CaregivingJourney

Available on The Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, iHeart, YouTube, And GUTPUNCHED.COM

In this episode of Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, Host Jeff Edwards opens the episode by thanking listeners for the overwhelming response to the original song “GutPunched: I Still Choose You!” featured in Episode 100, a heartfelt tribute to caregivers and loved ones navigating this difficult journey.

Then, the conversation takes a turn. Do you like controversy? What about conspiracy theories? This episode explores emerging claims and debates that could ignite a serious clash in the medical and caregiving communities over Alzheimer’s treatments.

In the “What’s New With Alzheimer’s?” segment, Dr. John Huffaker returns to answer a common but often misunderstood caregiver question: Why do people with Alzheimer’s resist bathing or showering? His insights provide practical understanding and compassion for one of the many daily challenges caregivers face.

Whether you’re a caregiver, family member, or simply seeking to better understand Alzheimer’s, this episode offers a powerful mix of education, empathy, and thought-provoking discussion.

#Alzheimers #Caregiving #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #AlzheimersAwareness #MemoryLoss #Healthcare #PodcastLife #CaregiverLife #ElderCare #GutPunchedPodcast #AlzheimersResearch #DementiaSupport

Available on The Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, iHeart, YouTube, and GUTPUNCHED.COM

In Episode 100 of GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards explores a powerful and often unspoken question: What is the true goal of caregiving? Jeff shares insights from The Savvy Caregiver Course manual, offering perspective, validation, and encouragement for those navigating the emotional and physical demands of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

In the “What’s New with Alzheimer’s?” segment, Dr. John Huffaker addresses a listener's question about the progression of swallowing difficulties in Alzheimer’s patients, an important and often challenging stage for caregivers to understand and manage.

The episode also includes heartfelt gratitude to supporters, sponsors, and organizations that have helped make the podcast possible, including healthcare partners, advocacy groups, and behind-the-scenes contributors.

To commemorate this milestone, Jeff shares a deeply personal gift: an original song titled “I Still Choose You.” Inspired by both his wife and his caregiving experience, the song is meant to give caregivers something meaningful to share with their loved ones, a reminder that even in the face of loss, connection and love endure.

This 100th episode is more than a celebration; it’s a tribute to resilience, compassion, and the unique journey every caregiver walks. As Jeff reflects, we may not be in the same boat, but we are all navigating the same river.

Hashtags:
#Caregiving #AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #PodcastEpisode100 #GutPunchedPodcast #CaregiverLife #AlzheimersJourney #EmotionalHealth #SupportCaregivers #HealthcarePodcast #MemoryCare #LoveAndCare #EnduringLove

Available on The Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, iHeart, YouTube, and GUTPUNCHED.COM

On episode 98 of GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards talks about one of the most challenging and emotional realities of caregiving: changing roles. Jeff reflects on how responsibilities shift over time in the Alzheimer’s journey, and how those shifts impact identity, relationships, and emotional well-being.

Jeff shares a personal moment of stepping away for needed rest and connection, reinforcing Rule #1 of the show’s caregiving philosophy: you must take care of yourself first. From there, the episode explores how caregivers gradually take on new duties once handled by their loved ones, often without warning or preparation.

The episode also introduces listeners to Lewy Body Dementia, offering a foundational look at how it compares to and differs from Alzheimer’s disease. This “toe in the water” discussion helps caregivers recognize overlapping symptoms and unique challenges.

Additionally, Dr. John Huffaker returns for the “What’s New in Alzheimer’s?” segment to answer a listener's question about emerging non-drug treatments and research developments.

As always, Jeff reinforces the show’s Five Tenets, practical, hard-earned rules designed to help caregivers survive and navigate this journey with strength and support.

This episode is a reminder that caregiving is not static; it evolves, stretches you, and sometimes gut-punches you, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Hashtags:
#AlzheimersCare #CaregiverSupport #DementiaAwareness #LewyBodyDementia #CaregiverLife #MentalHealthMatters #AgingParents #CaregivingJourney #PodcastLife #HealthPodcast #SelfCareForCaregivers #AlzheimersPodcast

Available on The Podcast Playground, Apple, Spotify, Pandora, iHeart, PodBean, and GUTPUNCHED.COM

In this episode of Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards opens with a candid and emotional reflection on how stigma impacts not only those living with the disease but also the caregivers who support them. While Alzheimer’s itself is not contagious, the reactions it provokes, awkwardness, distance, silence, and misunderstanding, can create a profound sense of isolation.

This episode dives deep into the emotional and social consequences of stigma. From the looks and assumptions people make to the lack of understanding at critical moments, stigma can shape how individuals are treated and whether they feel safe seeking help. Drawing on both lived experience and broader conversations happening in the Alzheimer’s community, Jeff brings honesty, clarity, and urgency to the discussion, without sugarcoating the reality.

In addition, the episode explores:

• Why combating stigma is essential

• Five actionable ways to overcome it

• The physical and emotional symptoms of stress caused by stigma

• Practical tips to manage that stress

• Support resources available to caregivers and families

As always, the show reinforces its Five Tenets of caregiving, practical, real-world principles designed to help caregivers survive and sustain themselves through one of life’s most challenging roles.

This is a raw, honest, and necessary conversation about how stigma silently shapes the Alzheimer’s journey, and why it’s time to confront it head-on.

#CaregiverSupport #AlzheimersCare #DementiaCare #FamilyCaregiver #CaregiverLife #AlzheimersAwareness #CaregiverResources #DementiaSupport #CaregiverCommunity

Available on ThePodcastPlayground.com, Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, and GUTPUNCHED.COM

This isn’t just about memory loss.
It’s about watching someone fade while you’re still holding on.
It’s about the confusion, the grief, the quiet moments that hit the hardest… and the person you’re forced to become in the middle of it all.

Episode 96 of GutPunched features a deeply moving and candid conversation with Suzy McNamara, whose story unfolds with raw honesty, emotional depth, and powerful vulnerability. In this episode, Suzy opens up about her personal journey, sharing experiences that shaped her identity, tested her resilience, and ultimately redefined her sense of self.

What makes this interview especially compelling is the level of trust and openness Suzy brings to the conversation. She reveals moments that are rarely spoken aloud, struggles, turning points, and emotional truths that resonate on a human level. There are moments that are difficult, moments that are inspiring, and moments that will stay with listeners long after the episode ends.

This is not just an interview; it’s an intimate look at what it means to endure, reflect, and grow. Episode 96 stands out as one of the most revealing and emotionally impactful conversations on GutPunched to date.

The episode also includes another segment of “What’s New in Alzheimer’s?” featuring Dr. John Huffaker, in which a listener's question is addressed, and new developments in Alzheimer’s care and research are discussed.

Supported by:

• Neuropsychiatric Research Center

• Heart, Body, & Mind Home Care

• Live Younger Today

#CaregiverSupport #AlzheimersCare #DementiaCare #FamilyCaregiver #CaregiverLife #AlzheimersAwareness #CaregiverResources #DementiaSupport #CaregiverCommunity

Available on Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, and GUTPUNCHED.COM