End-of-Life University Ep. 508 Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver with Beverly Thorn PhD
Learn about a helpful book with resources for dementia caregivers.
My guest Dr. Beverly Thorn is dual trained in the neurosciences and clinical psychology. She is the author of hundreds of articles, two books, and four workbooks on coping with chronic illness. She has also been trained as an end-of-life doula and served as her husband’s caregiver through his dementia illness and at the end of his life. She is the author of the newly published book Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver. Learn more at her website:
This episode includes:
- How her husband recognized that something was wrong long before his diagnosis
- Patients and loved ones need to be empowered to change physicians if they don’t like the care they are receiving
- The important contributions of end-of-life doulas and advocates
- The stages of dementia Beverly observed in caring for Walt
- Why others may not recognize significant changes that the caregiver can see
- The constant loss and grief of dementia caregiving
- Why an advance directive tailored for dementia is essential
- There is a window of time where life values conversations need to be held with patients and loved ones
- The experience of caregiver grief and guilt
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Related episode: Advance Care Planning for Dementia
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