For 13 years, John Scully visited his mom in a nursing home. For the last 8 years of her life, she couldn’t talk. So he had other conversations. And they became a book. It’s called Visited Mom Today: Conversations Through th…
I grew up listening to Walter Cronkite. He signed off each nightly newscast with “And that’s the way it is.” As a kid, I was often alarmed by the news. But I reasoned that if Walter Cronkite respected me enough to tell me th…
This episode is a message for the caregiver to send to someone else, someone who doesn't know, or doesn't understand, the stress the caregiver is going through. I liken that stress to driving alone, in an old car, up a steep…
"Between now and dead, you've got a purpose. Don't be timid." Before she retired as a hospice chaplain, Reverend Victoria Burdick faced her own death several times. In her 30s while in divinity school, she wrote a series of …
You've probably heard of anticipatory grief. Unbidden, hidden, and immediate, it comes with the diagnosis that your loved one has Alzheimer's. Depending on when the diagnosis was delivered, it can be several years or more be…
For a person with Alzheimer's or other form of dementia, wandering can be dangerous. If that person isn't found within 24 hours, the chances that he or she will suffer serious injury, even death, increase dramatically. The f…
Recently, I was the guest on "Saturdays with Steve Parker," a community-based show on WTIC 1080 AM Radio, part of the Audacy.com network.
Because November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, Steve had invited me on his show to talk about "My Spouse Has…
When tragedy reshapes your life, having a supportive community is key to your survival. My husband died three months ago. I've been in a cave of sorts, rarely leaving the house. My neighbors drew me back into the world of the living… wi…
My friend and podcast marketing mage David Hooper of Build a Big Podcast created this video for me. Today, March 8, is International Women's Day. KPFA 94.1 radio in California will air it along with other programs created by women and dealing with…
"Listen to one woman’s account of her caregiving journey, from the shock of the first diagnosis of her spouse’s progressive dementia, to the frank discussion of how the disease has changed not only hi…"
"Zita shares her journey with such admirable authenticity that even if her situation is not yours, you will be able to relate and grow in compassion and understanding for the human condition."
"A voice of truth: kind, patient, loving, frustrated, insightful, sometimes painful and always beautiful. While your spouse may not remember, you will. I really enjoyed this and am very much looking f…"
"My intention is to take this full journey with Zita. Her words are clear, revealing, and true to the bone. As a daughter to a mom, who I struggled over her care with one brother and her sisters, dear…"
"Love listening to the stories she shares- experiences of loss, love, grief, validation, worry, sadness, and peace. reminder that caregivers must be caretakers of their own health and well-being! Insp…"
"Zita, thank you for the warm, witty, knowledgeable, and compassionate podcasts. Although we don’t have dementia in the family, I was caregiver for a loved one and and see the wisdom and helpfulness i…"
"Beautiful voice telling her story. Only been a few months my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Dementia, I am her caregiver. Zita I'm truly grateful for your words give me strength. Thank you 😊"
"Living alone with a spouse with dementia is a special kind of lonely. Hearing from the voice of someone else doing so is a special kind of comforting."
"Thank you SO much for sharing your experience. I am knee deep in this. I just sent this link to my husband’s kids & my support group coordinator. Grateful beyond words to you."
