In This Episode
This week, I got author and blogger Donna Thomson to come back to the show. She has so much wisdom to share about solitude, a timely topic in this time of Covid-19. Although many states are “reopening” right now—and we’ve got more on that in upcoming episodes—Donna’s thoughts on solitude and isolation are relevant to care partners no matter what’s going on in the outside world.
Donna is an exceptionally experienced care partner, having first become one as a teenager. As you’d expect, she’s developed an enormous amount of wisdom along the way.
You’ll also no doubt note the empathy and compassion that comes through loud and clear in the soothing sound of Donna’s voice.
The mother of two grown children, one of whom has severe disabilities, Donna also cared for her mother who had a diagnosis of dementia and passed away in the summer of 2018 at the age of 96.
Donna is the co-author (with Dr. Zachary White) of The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019) and author of The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I’ve Learned From a Life of Caregiving (The House of Anansi Press, 2014). She blogs regularly at The Caregivers’ Living Room and teaches caregivers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.
(48 minutes)
Show Notes
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Mentioned in This Episode
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- Donna’s first book: The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I’ve Learned from a Life of Caregiving
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- Dr. Zachary White’s blog: The Unprepared Caregiver: When Care Meets Love
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- Donna on The Alzheimer’s Podcast, Episode 134: The Unexpected Journey of Caring
Resources
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- Complimentary Strategy Call for Dementia Care Partners
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- Replay: Master Class Training: Make Your Own Luck: 8 Ways to Start Reducing Your Chances of Developing Dementia Right Now
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- Replay: Master Class Training: Advance Care Planning
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- Replay: Master Class Training: Creating Your Care Partnering Plan for 2020
More For Care Partners
Dementia can last 20+ years.
That's a long time to struggle with trial and error!
If you're ready to step out of overwhelm (and anxiety about the future), click the button below now to schedule your complimentary Dementia Caregiver Strategy call with Christy. (Mobile users, click HERE.)
It's time for you and your person to step into the life you deserve.
Archive
With Host Christy Turner of Dementia Sherpa (Episodes 79-current)
With Host Mike Good of Together in This (Episodes 1-78)
Mike Good founded The Alzheimer’s Podcast in May 2017. Christy appears as a guest in episodes 15, 19, 21, and 23-26. She became the featured expert on the show starting with episode 28 and appears in every episode after, except 56. When Mike decided to follow his bliss, Christy took over the show in January 2019.
Questions? Comments?
If you have questions or comments for Phil (or me), please let us know! We love hearing from you 🙂