Helping Older Parents Podcast

018 – Can CBD Help With Alzheimer’s Agitation? A geriatrician explains cannabis for dementia

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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="xgo4eivkvI"><a href="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/cbd-for-dementia-agitation-in-2026/">018 – Can CBD Help With Alzheimer’s Agitation? A geriatrician explains cannabis for dementia</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/cbd-for-dementia-agitation-in-2026/embed/#?secret=xgo4eivkvI" width="500" height="350" title="&#8220;018 – Can CBD Help With Alzheimer’s Agitation? A geriatrician explains cannabis for dementia&#8221; &#8212; Better Health While Aging" data-secret="xgo4eivkvI" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script>

In This Episode:

Dr. K addresses a common question, which is “Can CBD — or cannabis — help with Alzheimer’s agitation?” This episode covers the state of the science when it comes to cannabis and dementia, including interesting new research presented in July at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

She covers:

• CBD for Dementia Agitation
• What Are CBD & THC (Cannabidiol & Tetrahydrocannabinol)
• The Endocannabinoid System
• Why has CBD become so popular?
• 2026 LiBBY trial of CBD for dementia agitation
• Dr. K’s take on the LiBBY trial results
• Why Hospice Eligibility Matters
• Other Research on CBD, THC & Dementia
• Cannabinoids vs Antipsychotics
• Dr. K’s take on cannabinoids for Alzheimer’s agitation
• If you want to try CBD for dementia

[Read more…]

Helping Older Parents Podcast

017 – Real Eldercare Stories: How Suzanne Cared for Her Mother Until Age 97

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00:00 / 00:40:07

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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="OgN2aMMEzZ"><a href="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/real-eldercare-story-caring-for-mother-until-97/">017 – Real Eldercare Stories: How Suzanne Cared for Her Mother Until Age 97</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/real-eldercare-story-caring-for-mother-until-97/embed/#?secret=OgN2aMMEzZ" width="500" height="350" title="&#8220;017 – Real Eldercare Stories: How Suzanne Cared for Her Mother Until Age 97&#8221; &#8212; Better Health While Aging" data-secret="OgN2aMMEzZ" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script>

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks talks with Suzanne about caring for her mother during her last years of life, including navigating cognitive changes and shifts in needs that neither of them had anticipated. 

She covers:

• Real Eldercare Stories: Suzanne W.
• Suzanne’s caregiving situation when she joined Dr. K
• Suzanne’s earlier conversations with her mom
• What Suzanne’s mother had envisioned for her end of life
• Shifts in memory and care needs
• Challenges of accepting help
• Managing distance in caregiving
• The last year of life
• Trying to move her from independent living to more care
• The fall in her last year that changed everything
• Navigating a higher level of care after the fall
• How Suzanne’s mother died at age 97
• Surprises and insights from the caregiving experience
• Support systems and resources that helped Suzanne
• Managing uncertainties and planning ahead in eldercare

Helping Older Parents Podcast

016 - Medications for Sundowning: What Dementia Caregivers Should Know

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00:00 / 00:35:21

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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="gHVRJhlt8X"><a href="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/medications-for-sundowning-and-alzheimers-behaviors/">016 &#8211; Medications for Sundowning: What Dementia Caregivers Should Know</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/medications-for-sundowning-and-alzheimers-behaviors/embed/#?secret=gHVRJhlt8X" width="500" height="350" title="&#8220;016 &#8211; Medications for Sundowning: What Dementia Caregivers Should Know&#8221; &#8212; Better Health While Aging" data-secret="gHVRJhlt8X" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script>

In This Episode:

Dr. Kernisan explains the medications that can be used for sundowning and agitation in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. 

She covers:

• Medications for sundowning and dementia agitation
• Recap of sundowning
• Recap of how to manage sundowning & agitation
• Medication options for sundowning
• Antipsychotics for sundowning & agitation
• Benzodiazepines for sundowning & agitation
• Antidepressants for sundowning & agitation
• Dementia drugs and cholinesterase inhibitors for sundowning
• Less used: Depakote & dextromethorphan-quinidine for sundowning
• Comparing the medication options
• What to check before trying medication
• What dementia/Alzheimer’s caregivers need

[Read more…]

Helping Older Parents Podcast

015 - Treating Hearing Loss in Alzheimer’s & Dementia

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00:00 / 00:39:15

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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="9aiBRoMiTW"><a href="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/treating-hearing-loss-in-alzheimers-dementia/">015 &#8211; Treating Hearing Loss in Alzheimer’s &#038; Dementia</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/treating-hearing-loss-in-alzheimers-dementia/embed/#?secret=9aiBRoMiTW" width="500" height="350" title="&#8220;015 &#8211; Treating Hearing Loss in Alzheimer’s &#038; Dementia&#8221; &#8212; Better Health While Aging" data-secret="9aiBRoMiTW" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script>

In This Episode:

Geriatrician Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH, talks with audiologist Dr. Cliff Olson, AuD, about what families should know when trying to treat hearing loss in an older adult with cognitive impairment. They cover:

• Treating hearing loss when there’s dementia
• Can treating hearing loss help cognitive function?
• How audiologists evaluate hearing loss in dementia
• Mild-to-moderate hearing loss: why OTC hearing aids may not be best
• Fitting and adjusting hearing aids in dementia
• Treating severe hearing loss in dementia
• Lyric hearing aids: an easier option for Alzheimer’s
• Adjusting to hearing aids in dementia
• Is it ever too late to treat hearing loss?
• How to think about hearing aid costs
• Lyric hearing aid costs and pros/cons
• How to avoid losing hearing aids
• Alternatives to hearing aids: Pocketalker and TV headphones
• Finding a good hearing care professional for someone with dementia

[Read more…]

Helping Older Parents Podcast

014 - Sundowning in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: What to know & do

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00:00 / 00:23:40

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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="TW9jqXwzEx"><a href="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/sundowning-in-alzheimers-dementia/">014 &#8211; Sundowning in Alzheimer’s &#038; Dementia: What to know &#038; do</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/podcast/sundowning-in-alzheimers-dementia/embed/#?secret=TW9jqXwzEx" width="500" height="350" title="&#8220;014 &#8211; Sundowning in Alzheimer’s &#038; Dementia: What to know &#038; do&#8221; &#8212; Better Health While Aging" data-secret="TW9jqXwzEx" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script>

In This Episode:

Geriatrician Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH, explains what caregivers should know about sundowning, including why it happens and how geriatricians recommend responding. She covers:

• Sundowning in dementia
• What is sundowning?
• Why sundowning happens
• Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia
• Sundowning versus delirium
• Other causes of agitation in dementia
• How to respond to agitation
• Before trying medications
• Medications in sundowning
• Non-drug approaches for agitation and sundowning
• Recommended approach to reduce sundowning

[Read more…]