After the Diagnosis: Caring for a Parent with Dementia | Dr Stephanie Ward | Club Sandwich

Ageing parents? You've got them. We've got you. The same conversation, again and again. The strange ideas. The day they don't know your face. In part two of our dementia special, geriatrician and regular Clubber Dr Stephanie Ward joins Sarah Macdonald for the harder half — how you cope when a parent is becoming someone else, therapeutic fibbing, aggression and your own safety, and why a held hand still counts even when they forget the visit. Content note: this episode discusses advanced dementia, behaviour change, and carer grief. Be gentle with yourself while you listen, and come back to it another time if today isn't the day. For information and support, Dementia Australia's National Dementia Helpline is on 1800 100 500 (dementia.org.au). For support as a carer — Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm). WATCH MORE / JOIN THE CLUB: https://clubsandwich.community EMAIL US: [email protected] Chapters: 01:08 Welcome to Club Sandwich 03:15 Delusions and missing items 06:21 Moving to a new environment 10:33 The value of 'therapeutic fibbing' 14:25 Finding purpose, meaningful tasks 15:27 When they forget you 20:53 Handling aggression safely 23:53 Medical causes of behaviour change 25:39 Decline in appetite 28:08 Peer support for carers 29:14 Looking forward: genetics and prevention 34:18 How stress affects the sandwich generation Find Put The Kettle On – Vera's free guide to the five questions worth asking your mum or dad – at https://putthekettleon.com.au This episode is supported by Australian Unity Home Health and Care. Proactive local care that helps your parents live well at home. Less stress for them, less worry for you, more time for the good stuff. Visit https://australianunity.com.au/clubsa.... This episode was supported by NSW Trustee and Guardian — wills, power of attorney and enduring guardianship, sorted properly, so the people you love aren't left guessing. Search NSW Trustee and Guardian, or call 1300 10 20 30. Club Sandwich is brought to you by Vera (https://vera.guide/), helping families caring for ageing parents navigate this stage of life so you don't have to do it alone. Sarah Macdonald – Host and Executive Producer. Melissa Reader – Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer and Clubber. Justin McArthur – Executive Producer and Editor for P. Zinner Podcasts (https://pzinner.com.au) Theme music 'Club Sandwich' by Sean Wayland. Hear more from Sean at https://www.seanwayland.com/ #clubsandwich #sandwichgeneration #ageing #ageingparents #dementia #delirium #memoryloss #carers #powerofattorney #geriatrician #stephanieward #sarahmacdonald