Caring for the Ageing Generation: Angus Randall, Radio Adelaide - PODCAST

'Caring for the Ageing Generation' - my interview this morning on Radio Adelaide, with Angus Randall and his show 'Breakfast On Radio Adelaide' - broadcast on 101.5FM.

Here is Angus:

The site's podcast reads:

"Every 68 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease.

A new publication  ‘The Australian Ageing Generation Handbook’ aims to help sufferers and families deal with all aspects of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Angus Randall talked about the book with author Josie Gagliano.

Produced by Ella Brown and Jennie Lenman."

You can listen to the whole clip here on their site.

Or, you can listen to it here.

I really enjoy doing radio interviews, and I will talk about this topic anywhere, anytime, and for as long as possible. I honestly have so much to say about this topic, I could be on radio for hours. If anything, the time limit is a hindrance! I am grateful to expert radio hosts who reign me in a little so I take a breath in between their questions… I have so much to say!

I did this interview just before drop-off for a school holiday activity for my kids - tennis day camp - and if my beloved mum was still alive, I'd have been heading off to her place for the day to care for her after that. It's a juggle anyone caring for a loved one, and particularly people from the 'Sandwich Generation', will understand. I continue to salute you.

You can listen to Radio Adelaide online anytime here.

World Alzheimer's Day 2014: What should know right now

World Alzheimer's Day 2014: here's what should know right now.

- Alzheimer's is a type of dementia, not the other way around (see the list below).

- Dementia is a terminal disease. People eventually die from dementia.

- There is NO cure for dementia.

- In Australia, dementia is the third biggest cause of death, after heart disease and stroke (cancer does not even make the top 3… dementia comes before it).

- It's called 'the long goodbye' as the period of time between diagnosis to death can be a lengthy one… often years.

- Dementia is not just about losing things, or forgetting where you put your keys. This can a sign of dementia, yes. However, dementia is debilitating and in the advanced stages, it affects the mind, the body, and can lead to involuntary weight loss, can affect the ability to swallow, and more. Dementia is a degenerative disease.

- The kinds of dementia include: Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, mixed dementia, Parkinson's disease, frontotemperal dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Normal pressure hydrocephalus, Huntington's Disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

- Again, it's important to understand: dementia is fatal.

- Dementia is NOT a normal part of ageing. Not all who are elderly are diagnosed with dementia.

- Each week there are 1600 new cases of dementia is Australia.

- By 2029, Australia will be in need of more than 150,000 paid and unpaid carers for people with dementia.

- If you think dementia is someone else's problem, think again. Most of us will be affected by dementia - be it as someone receiving a diagnosis or as someone caring for someone with dementia - in our lifetime.

What are some things you know about dementia that you have learned along the way? Share!

Here is an infographic with various stats and facts and more:

Alzheimer's Australia #alzheimers #tgen #mindcrowd www.mindcrowd.org

For more info, call 1800 100 500 or see fightdementia.org.au

New Dementia Aide: mCareWatch

An intriguing and important new device for people with dementia was shown on Australian TV last week - and it's an invention by two Australian brothers.

Peter Apostolopoulos and Paul Apostolis were profiled on Australia's Today show on September 14, 2014.

They're from new Australian company mCareWatch, founded by Peter and Paul, and they have developed the SOS Mobile Watch, which looks like a watch and tells the time just like an ordinary watch, but is also a monitoring and SOS alarm system with an emergency/medical alert call button, phone and GPS tracking device.

The watch is linked to the Optus mobile digital network and connects its wearer with up to three carers via their smartphone. Wearers hit the SOS button and the watch automatically calls the connected carers.

Options include $399 outright or $39 per month plus $69 set up charges, and includes the watch, charger, emergency calls, SMS and data charges.

Be mindful though, that at some point any kind of device could be difficult for someone with advanced dementia to even operate.

My recently deceased mother had a back to base alarm; she wore a pendant around her neck, and there was a phone nearby which, when activated by the button on the pendant, would enable someone to come on speaker phone and ask if she was okay. It did the trick for a while, but became pretty much obsolete when she was no longer capable of working out what to do with it. It was kinda heartbreaking, yes. I decided at that point to send the whole device back).

This Australian device is a sensational new product to help those in need, and their carers.

Watch the entire segment here from the Today show.

And find out all you need to know about the mCareWatch by visiting their website here.

Here are some intro videos to get you familiar:

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'And So There Must Come an End', by Charlotte Kitley. Mourning, grief, endings, beginnings, lessons.

Someone asked me today how I was doing. It was at my kids' school 'Harmony Day' and the sun was shining. I recalled that at the 'Harmony Day' last year I used the brand new wheelchair to bring mum, all rugged up, to see my kids - all dressed up and parading their outfits with the rest of the school.

My mum in law came too. I was such a big, big project, but I was determined. Mum enjoyed the day; I looked at last year's photos this morning and she was much chubbier, healthier in the face. Certainly a little more alert and appreciative to be there than she was to be anywhere in the past few months.

It cut me up. BUT: she was there. This year she was not. And so, when a fellow mum asked me how I was today I said: "You know, if you had an operation and you were missing a limb, the pain would be unbearable, right? It would actually physically ache. That's how I feel."

Those left behind feel that pain; those who die know nothing of it.

This is what struck me when I read this, below. The new chapters we simply MUST begin when someone we adore dies. And what they can teach us, even when they are no longer here.

This below is a piece - the final one, in so many ways - by UK blogger Charlotte Kitley. She wrote regularly for 'The Huffington Post' UK. Below is the intro and an excerpt:

Charlotte has blogged on The Huffington Post UK since 2013 and sadly passed away on Tuesday 16 September from bowel cancer. She wrote one final post that she wished to share with all of her readers. We are honoured to offer it to you here.

As you read this, I will no longer be here. Rich will be trying to put one foot in front of the other, to get by, a day at a time, knowing I will no longer awake next to him. He will see me in the luxury of a dream, but in the harsh morning sun, the bed will be empty. He will get two cups from the cupboard, but realise there is only one coffee to make. Lucy will need someone to reach for her hairband box, but there won't be anyone to plait her hair. Danny will have lost one of his Lego policeman, but no one will know exactly which one it is or where to look. You will look for the latest update on the blog. There won't be one, this is the final chapter.

And so I leave a gaping, unjust, cruel and pointless hole, not just in Halliford Road, but in all the homes, thoughts and memories of other loved ones, friends and families. For that I am sorry. I would love to still be with you, laughing, eating my weird and latest miracle food, chatting rubbish 'Charleyisms'. I have so much life I still want to live, but know I won't have that. I want to be there for my friends as they move with their lives, see my children grow up and become old and grumpy with Rich. All these things are to be denied of me.

But, they are not to be denied of you. So, in my absence, please, please, enjoy life. Take it by both hands, grab it, shake it and believe in every second of it. Adore your children. You have literally no idea how blessed you are to shout at them in the morning to hurry up and clean their teeth.

Embrace your loved one and if they cannot embrace you back, find someone who will. Everyone deserves to love and be loved in return. Don't settle for less. Find a job you enjoy, but don't become a slave to it. You will not have 'I wish I'd worked more' on your headstone. Dance, laugh and eat with your friends. True, honest, strong friendships are an utter blessing and a choice we get to make, rather than have to share a loyalty with because there happens to be link through blood.

Choose wisely then treasure them with all the love you can muster. Surround yourself with beautiful things. Life has a lot of grey and sadness - look for that rainbow and frame it. There is beauty in everything, sometimes you just have to look a little harder to see it.

To read the entire piece - and you must - click here.

More about the beautiful Charlotte from her 'The Huffington Post' bio:

I'm 35, a slummy mummy of two gorgeous kiddies aged 3 and 5, owner of a disobedient black Labrador and wife of a very understanding and patient husband. I (allegedly) listen to too much Take That, can whip up a mean cup cake and am a hopeless, though wildly enthusiastic, dancer.

In 2012, life took an unexpected twist and, rather inconveniently, I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. Following my diagnosis, I’ve had a few operations, 25 rounds of radiotherapy and more than 30 rounds of chemotherapy. Although medically I now fall into the ‘control not cure’ group of cancer patients, I’m determined to live as normal and full life as possible.

And so I have been getting busy living; learning new and random skills such as balloon modelling, fishing, chocolate making and soon, learning to fly a helicopter. I’ve enjoyed precious moments including teaching my son to ski and watching my daughter meet her heroine, Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

I am regularly getting into trouble with my doctors for doing too much. This year I’ve been skiing, snorkelling, cycling, hiking, kayaking, sailing, swimming with dolphins and completing a 5km charity walk the day after being unhooked from my chemo machine (I needed an extra-long lie down that day!).
Whatever I get up to, there is always a smile on my face and a disaster usually lurking around the corner. But, with laughter and love, we’ve got through most things – even my colostomy bag exploding in the middle of WH Smiths (yes, really!) before boarding a flight didn’t dampen my spirits. 

Life is for living and I’m loving mine (well, would rather not be spending quite so much time in hospital!). I’m here to inspire others who have been ‘written off’ and encourage them that you should never give up on living your life. You can read about my adventures at www.lifeasasemicolon.com

Woman takes video selfie while having a stroke: VIDEO

Until now, this site has catered pretty much to the carer looking after someone with dementia.

But after asking the Facebook 'likers' of this page The Sandwich Generation - Carers who also strive to care for themselves - what they'd like to see more of, I got some interesting feedback I want to take on board immediately.

What about people who are carers for a loved one who has had a stroke, Sherry asked me.

She has a very good point. A page that is a caregiver's space is much more inclusive and can evolve into 

Gosh, I can only imagine the huge task at hand for helping to rehabilitate a loved one, and the stress and sadness (and hope!) involved in getting them back to being more mobile, speaking more, and 

Indeed, I watch my cousins care for the mother who has had a stroke, and while she is making and has made exceptional progress, it is very hard on all involved - emotionally, physically, mentally, and in sacrificing time and work and so much more.

However, just as caring for someone with dementia can be exceptionally rewarding, so can caring for someone who has had a stroke. Each victory, however seemingly small, is massive. Huge. Uplifting. Encouraging.

When I thought of a video depicting stroke, I thought of this one. It has now gone viral, and shows a woman takes video selfie while having a stroke.

Extra info on video/post-script: 

This video showed 49 year old Stacey Yepes, who suddenly felt the left side of her body go numb. Her face felt frozen.

Then, the phone rang. She answered, but slurred her words. Five minutes later, the symptoms subsided and Stacey felt normal again. Shaken by the experience, she went to her local emergency room at the hospital to get it checked out.

Tests were 'clear'. She was told that the episode was most likely a result of stress. Stacey was not convinced.

Even as Stacey was leaving the hospital that day, she felt that strange numbing sensation return. It passed quickly. She went home and went to work the next day.

Two days after her initial episode, while driving home from work, Stacey suddenly felt the left side of her body going numb again.

She pulled over as the symptoms returned, this time - stronger.

Then, she had the forethought to get out her smartphone and film herself, so she could later show a doctor what she was experiencing

Yet again, the symptoms passed and Stacey felt normal. She had now experienced three of these events and was increasingly concerned.

She went to another hospital for a second opinion. The symptoms she described and the video was enough for staff to suspect a minor stroke.

Because Stacey's episodes had been short and had passed each time, she had most likely experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or what's known as a "mini-stroke."

TIAs are caused by blood clots and the only difference between a TIA and a full blown stroke is that the TIA is usually temporary. However, they are no less serious as TIAs are considered a warning that a more serious stroke could happen.

Stacey's assessment showed she had suffered a small stroke due to a small blockage in one of the arteries supplying her brain.

Further tests confirmed that this was caused by atherosclerosis – or the build-up of plaque in the artery supplying the area of her brain injured in her stroke.

Stacey was relieved to have confirmed the cause of her symptoms, yet she thought she had been leading a pretty healthy lifestyle, and was surprised to have suffered a stroke at such a young age. However, this is very much possible.

Although she experienced three separate events, Stacey is fortunate they only affected a small area of her brain and she wasn't left paralysed or with impaired speech. Had she dismissed those initial symptoms, the outcome could have been much worse.

Do you care for someone who has had a stroke? What's the experience like for you? And for them?

Dwayne Jeffries 'Open House': Josie Gagliano Radio Interview, Hope 103.2

It was such a huge pleasure to be on radio with longtime radio host Dwayne Jeffries, on his renowned radio program 'Open House', on Australian radio station Hope 103.2.

Dwayne has more than 25 years’ broadcasting experience in commercial radio across Australia and around the world.

Dwayne started out as an announcer and music director in regional New South Wales (Australia), before becoming the director of programming at major radio networks in Australia and Europe. He hosted the breakfast show on 2GOFM on the Central Coast, before taking up the role of Program Director at Hope 103.2, Sydney’s Christian community radio station.

Through Open House, Dwayne is keen to explore and share stories of life, faith and culture.

Dwayne is a married father of two and is passionate about communicating hope and contributing to the world his daughters will grow up in. With every interview, he aims to extract experiences and ideas that will spark a conversation and inspire others to action.

Says Dwayne: "For the last 8 years, each Open House host has been given the awesome opportunity to explore life’s full spectrum of emotions and experiences. I’ve found that no matter how much you may think you know where an interview is heading, there is always an unexpected turn. I can’t wait to kick off another season of sharing life, faith and culture with Australia in this one of a kind radio show."

This man is such a pro - he allowed me the space to open up about all that has happened on my journey with my mother, starting from my early childhood days. He expertly guided me into painting a picture for the listener, whether they are carers, were carers, or have not been down that path at all. He then helped guide the chat to what happened in the past few years. Dwayne is compassionate and genuine and you can see he enjoys helping spread a message that will help others going through something similar.

I will admit that yes… there were tears shed during the interview. It was pretty hard not to; mum had only passed away two weeks after my chat with Dwayne. There were so many things that were pretty raw - and still are. Nobody can really understand the pain you feel when you are grieving. This is something I am still exploring. One thing I do know is that there is no 'right' way to grieve. 'Carer's guilt' exists when you are caring for someone… and after they die, too. Feeling bad about smiling or getting out and about a little serves nobody, least of all you. They are no prizes for martyrdom! Simply live your life and ease yourself gently back in. And retreat back when you need to. Often, and as many times as you like. 

A word of advice: don't be surprised if people react differently to your grief. Often people who have not gone through grief - or have not lost someone in their immediate family - do not know how to react. Some people will distance themselves and some will be drawn to you, helping you in your hour of need, whether they have been through the experience of losing a loved one or not. In time, those who have distanced themselves will truly get it. The circle of life is what it is for us all at some point.

You can hear the entire interview here - you can simply listen to it or download it now.

I absolutely love the radio station 103.2. It has proved to be a source of great comfort over the years when I needed some gentle, spiritual music and soothing words. Check it out on your FM dial. You can also listen live anytime on the link here. They also broadcast (Australia's) Nine News 6pm bulletin. Such a great radio station. Give it a go!

Tony Delroy 'Nightlife': Josie Gagliano, Dementia Awareness Month: PODCAST

I was so very fortunate to be asked to come onto the Tony Delroy 'Nightlife' show on radio  ABC 702 in line with Dementia Awareness Month in the context of being a carer and chatting about my book 'The Australian Ageing Generation Handbook'.

I was in the very excellent company of Graeme Samuel, National President of Alzheimer's Australia and Dr Zoe Terpening, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Neuropsychology Research Fellow in the Ageing Brain Clinic at the Brain & Mind Research Institute.

When my book publisher asked me to come onto the show I was nervous about how I would manage it… considering my mum had passed away two weeks ago.

I was very grateful when Tony's producer Susan called me several hours before - we spoke about what we were going to chat about on the show with Tony, and from the very outset, I shared with Susan that my mother had just passed away. Susan was concerned for my welfare, and my ability to be able to speak about something so fresh.

We talked for quite a while and I am so thankful to Susan - she basically 'took the edge off' my raw, fresh grief. I went along to the show at ABC Sydney Ultimo studios confident I would share my experiences and speak eloquently enough that I would not break down (not there was anything wrong with that at all!)

The chat with Susan, and later, the fantastic chat with Tony, proved hugely cathartic. I do truly hope many carers of all ages and stages get something from the radio interview. I am very grateful.

You can download the entire podcast right here.

Tony, 61, has estimated he has asked more than 120,000 quiz questions since launching Nightlife on the ABC 20 (twenty!) years ago.

The show airs on the ABC’s local radio network (702 on the AM dial, and 774 in Melbourne) and has a national audience of 900,000. And some of these listeners have been with him for the whole two decades. Pretty fantastic for a radio show that runs from 10pm to 2am each weeknight.

Read more about Tony's show here.

To download more podcasts from Tony's show, click here.

Dementia Awareness Month, Alzheimer’s Australia: 'The Unspoken Impact of Dementia (every Australian should see this)' - VIDEO

In line with Dementia Awareness Month, and Alzheimer’s Australia has launched this video, with the focus on being 'dementia friendly.'

Here is the most poignant line which resonated the most with me.

"Dementia is fatal. And if more people realised that perhaps there wouldn't be as many jokes about it," says Graeme, who has early onset dementia.

Here is the accompanying YouTube description for the video:

Find out what you can do to help create a dementia-friendly Australia. Visit: www.dementiafriendly.org.au

THE UNSPOKEN IMPACT OF DEMENTIA
Many Australians mistakenly think the symptoms of dementia are a normal part of ageing.

Dementia is caused by diseases that damage the brain. It is not a normal part of ageing. And it can happen to anybody.

Glenda, Keith and Graeme are Aussies in their 50s and 60s living with dementia in Australia. Here they share their experiences of living with dementia, the stigma that they’ve experienced as a result of their diagnosis, and their views on the small things people can do to help create a dementia-friendly nation.

SMALL ACTIONS COUNT
Alzheimer’s Australia has a vision to create a dementia-friendly nation, a place where people living with dementia are supported to live a high quality of life with meaning, purpose and value.

To do that, we need to end dementia stigma. A crucial first step is for people to become dementia-aware and understand what it is like to live with dementia.

You can start by watching and sharing this video.

You can also visit the Alzheimer's Australia website: http://www.dementiafriendly.org.au/

SOME BASIC FACTS ABOUT DEMENTIA
Many Australians know very little about what dementia is or how it develops.

Dementia describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. It is not one specific disease – there are many types of dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease).

Dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Brain function is affected enough to interfere with the person’s normal social or working life.

Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is more common after the age of 65 years. People in their 40s and 50s can also have dementia. Most people with dementia are older, but it is important to remember that not all older people get dementia. It is not a normal part of ageing.

KEY STATISTICS
• There are more than 332,000 Australians living with dementia

• This number is expected to increase by one third to 400,000 in less than ten years

• Each week, there are more than 1,700 new cases of dementia in Australia; approx. one person every 6 minutes. This is expected to grow to 7,400 new cases each week by 2050

• Many people with dementia and their family and carers experience loneliness and social isolation after their diagnosis

• If diagnosed with dementia, 60% of Australians say they would experience feelings of shame

• People living with dementia often struggle to engage in their local communities because of limited community understanding of dementia

Produced by Alucinor Productions
http://www.alucinorproductions.com

Song 'Closer' by 'Stray Theories' from https://www.themusicbed.com/songs/closer/6571

Watch the video here: