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Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s & Caregivers

Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s & Caregivers

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Navigating the insidious illness of Alzheimer’s is something nobody asks for. The disease sneaks up on you and your loved one, and it feels like you’ve been sucker-punched in the gut when you get the diagnosis from a doctor. So many things race through your mind: why us? What do we do? We worked so hard to get to this point in life. We just moved here after we both worked for 30 years, sold our house up North, and retired to Florida to enjoy our “golden years”. It’s not fair! Who’s going to take care of her/him? I don’t know a thing about this illness. She’s always done the cooking; I don’t even know how to boil water. He's always taken care of me and everything else, like Finances. I don’t even drive! And it goes on and on. Facing this disease will bring you to your knees. Once you get over the initial shock (GUT PUNCHED), the questions and fears take hold. Where do we turn for help? Who do I call? What do I do? How do you take care of someone with Alzheimer's? Are there support groups? And questions like these keep coming. I am a caregiver. I wasn’t before. Well, not this kind of caregiver. My wife was officially diagnosed in January of 2018. I had a sneaking suspicion that she might have something like this about 2 years earlier. So, when I brought it to my Neurologist, he sent us to a very nice Psychologist who specializes in testing patients to determine more accurately what is going on. It was a question-and-answer session, followed by a very detailed testing procedure that usually takes three or more hours. The patient must complete the test, which comprises questions, simple actions, and memory tests.

Then give them a couple of numbers or words, and move on, returning to the numbers or words a short time later. So, moving forward, I asked the same questions mentioned earlier. What are my options? So I “sucked it up”-Manned up, so to speak. It's part of the deal for better or worse, right? So began my quest for information on support groups, doctors, and anything I could get my hands on. It's been 6 years, and I am still looking for anything that will help me crawl along this uncharted path to enlightenment. I was very fortunate to live in a city with numerous resources to draw on.

Most importantly, it's a place named after someone who suffered from Alzheimer’s. His wife provided the money to start the Alvin Dubin Center: The Dubin Center for short. Their mission is to achieve caregiver health, strength, and resilience by providing education, information, hope, and compassion. And boy do they. I leaned on them for everything I could find. Took all kinds of classes to learn what I needed to do to be the caregiver I have to be. Their caregiver class took about 6 weeks. The material we learned from and the instructors were top-notch. I still go back to the notes I took and the books we used, both as a refresher and for inspiration. Hopefully, wherever you are listening to this, there will be a place like the Dubin Center. If not, don’t despair. The info is out there. That’s what this podcast is about. We want to share our resources, our experiences, our heartbreak, and our little victories. From time to time, we’d like to bring in Physicians, Nurses, Experts, and people like you and me who are going through this disease with our loved ones, willing to share their journeys. The first thing that really stuck with me, and hopefully it will be with you. If you are a caregiver, you must first take care of yourself. Because this is not a sprint, but a marathon, and if you are run down, get sick, or worse.... Who’s going to take care of your spouse, mother, father, or child? Think about that for a few seconds. It’s you, the Caregiver. It’s me, the Caregiver. That’s why we’re here. Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s & Caregivers! Thanks for joining us...now let's get going.

 Hygiène et vie saine Psychologie Psychologie et psychiatrie
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    Épisodes
    • Adjusting to the New Normal | Alzheimer’s Caregiver Tips and Research Benefits

      Adjusting to the New Normal | Alzheimer’s Caregiver Tips and Research Benefits
      Feb 16 2026

      In Episode 91 of GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards continues his interview with Dr. John Huffaker of the Neuropsychiatric Research Center (NPRC), discussing how clinical research centers help advance Alzheimer’s treatment and provide opportunities for families.

      This episode also shares caregiver adjustment strategies from the Alzheimer’s Association, focusing on coping with the emotional and practical challenges of a new dementia diagnosis.

      Topics include:

      • Benefits of Alzheimer’s clinical trials

      • Adjusting to life after diagnosis

      • Caregiver mental health

      • Building a support system

      • Alzheimer’s research updates

      • Caregiver survival strategies

      GutPunched delivers real-life Alzheimer’s caregiver advice, research insights, and practical tools for families navigating dementia care.

      #AlzheimersCaregiver #AlzheimersPodcast #DementiaCareTips #ClinicalTrials #MemoryLossSupport #CaregiverResources #AlzheimersResearch #JeffEdwards #GutPunchedPodcast
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      26 min
    • Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 90 - DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION

      Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 90 - DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION
      Feb 9 2026

      Edwards welcomes listeners to Part 1 of an important conversation with Dr. John Huffaker of the Neuropsychiatric Research Center (NPRC). Together, they dive into why doing something matters, because when it comes to Alzheimer’s and dementia, doing nothing is not an option.

      This episode also features another listener question in the ongoing segment “What’s New in Alzheimer’s with Dr. John Huffaker,” offering practical insight for caregivers navigating memory loss, dementia, and brain change. Jeff also highlights valuable community resources in Southwest Florida, including the McGregor Baptist Church Alzheimer’s, Dementia & The Gospel Seminar and the Alzheimer’s Support Network, a warm and trusted hub for caregivers and families.

      As always, GutPunched reinforces its Five Tenets of Caregiving, reminding listeners to care for themselves, seek help, build a support system, and give caregiving everything they have, because this journey is hard, real, and deeply human.
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      25 min
    • Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 89 - I Love Music, and You Should Too

      Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 89 - I Love Music, and You Should Too
      Feb 2 2026

      In this powerful and heartfelt episode of GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards explores the extraordinary role music plays in the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and the caregivers who support them.

      Despite cold snaps across the country (and Florida’s version of “cold”), Jeff sets the stage for an engaging and hopeful conversation centered on the healing power of music. Joined by Justin Russo, Director of Programming at Music & Memory and The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), the episode makes a compelling case for why music is far more than entertainment; it’s therapy.

      Justin explains how personalized music can spark memories, reduce agitation, improve mood, and reconnect individuals with dementia to their sense of identity. Jeff also shares fascinating facts about music’s impact on the brain and why caregivers should seriously consider incorporating music into daily care routines.

      The episode also features another installment of “What’s New in Alzheimer’s” with Dr. John Huffaker, who answers listener-submitted questions and breaks down key developments in Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

      As always, Jeff reinforces the podcast’s Five Caregiver Tenets, emphasizing self-care, community support, practical planning, and the emotional realities of caregiving.

      The episode closes with heartfelt thanks to sponsors NPRC (Neuropsychiatric Research Center) and Heart, Body, & Mind Home Care for their continued support of caregivers everywhere.

      🎧 Whether you’re a caregiver, healthcare professional, or simply someone who loves music, this episode will move you, inform you, and remind you why music truly matters.

      GUTPUNCHED.COM

      Available on The Podcast Playground, Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, and all the major platforms.

      #GutPunchedPodcast #AlzheimersCare #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #MusicAndMemory #MusicTherapy #CaregivingLife #AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaSupport #PodcastEpisode
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      28 min
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