Dementia Matters

Bank Supports Aging Customers with Dementia Friendly Training for Its Employees

Missteps with money management is an early warning sign of dementia, and aging customers are often targets of financial scams and abuse. This week's guest spearheaded dementia friendly training across all branches of the bank she works for in hopes of supporting and protecting aging customers. In this podcast episode, learn about River Valley Bank's Dementia Friendly program, the type of training employees completed, and how bank customers and communities reacted to the initiative. Guest: Rhonda Lewis, River Valley Bank

Medication Management Tips for Seniors

Our guest discusses a wide range of pharmacological topics of interest to the aging adult and caregivers, from medication reconciliation to sleep aids to addressing how some drugs affect memory and thinking skills. Guest: Robert Breslow, pharmacist, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy

Dementia Caregiver Turns Advocate for People with Alzheimer’s Disease

Former Badger Men’s Hockey announcer and “The Golf Affect Radio Show” host Paul Braun was a caregiver for his late wife, Karen, who had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Paul’s experiences motivated him to become an advocate for people with Alzheimer’s disease and raise awareness and money for research and caregiver support. Paul was instrumental in developing the American Family Insurance Championship golf tournament Birdies for Health campaign, which raises money for five health causes at UW Health. Guest: Paul Braun, radio and sports broadcasting personality

 

Battling Health Disparities in Aging Research and Care

Dr. Carl Hill joins the podcast to discuss research taking place around the country that works to improve health care and access for elders in diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Guest: Carl Hill, PhD, MPH, Director, Office of Special Populations, National Institute on Aging

Improving Care for an Aging Population through Innovative Nursing and Caregiver Programs

Dr. Barbara Bowers is an expert on improving care for older adults and people with dementia. Her work focuses on improving work life quality for formal caregivers, and developing tools to guide and support informal caregivers. Guest: Barbara Bowers, PhD, RN, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of NursingGuest: Dr. Barbara Bowers, PHD, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing.

How to Live a Joyful Life after a Dementia Diagnosis

Our guest is Dr. Tia Powell, author of the new book Dementia Reimagined: Building a Life of Joy and Dignity from Beginning to End. Dr. Powell wants more people to live safe and happy after a diagnosis of dementia, and encourages them and their caregivers to focus on living, instead of dying, throughout the course of the disease. Dr. Powell discusses proactive preparation, planning for physical and financial safety, and learning how to incorporate joy into a changing life. Guest: Tia Powell, PhD, director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics and professor of epidemiology and psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York

Where’s the Connection? The Role of Synapses in Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease

Synapses are points in the brain where two brain cells connect and communicate. Dr. Barbara Bendlin discusses her new research into synaptic change, its relationship to memory loss, and how her first-in-the-field research might one day lead to a new tool for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Guest: Barbara Bendlin, PhD, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

What Population Research Can Tell Us about Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

Dr. Rachel Whitmer details how social determinants of health can lead to an elevated risk for dementia and shares what she has learned about modifiable risk factors and how they affect brain health. Guest: Dr. Rachel Whitmer, PhD, UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences and Chief of the Division of Epidemiology

 

How Brain Autopsies Are Helping Further Dementia Research

This week, we speak with Dr. Shahriar Salamat and Mr. Jay Fruehling to discuss brain donation research and how it helps give the most accurate diagnoses. Guests: Dr. Shahriar Salamat, professor in the Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and Mr. Jay Fruehling, Wisconsin Brain Bank Program Manager and community educator on brain donations at the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Understanding Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

This week, we continue our conversation with Dr. Art Walaszek discussing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). In this episode, he speaks about hallucinations and delusions and what caregivers can do to help. Guest: Dr. Art Walaszek, Geriatric Psychiatrist, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health