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Get engulfed in the intense journey of a caregiver who happens to be a comedian. J Smiles use of levity reveals the stress and rewards of caregiving interwoven with her own personal journey. Almost 10 years ago, she was catapulted into caregiving overnight when the shock of her dad's death pushed her mom into Alzheimer's in the blink of an eye. A natural storyteller, her vivid descriptions and impressive recall will place you squarely in each moment of truth, at each fork in the road. She was a single, childless mechanical engineering, product designing, lawyer living a meticulously crafted international existence until she wasn't. The lifestyle shift was immediate. Starting from scratch, she painstakingly carved out useful knowledge and created a beneficial care plan for her mom. J Smiles will fly solo and have expert guests. You will get tips, tricks, trends and TRUTH. Alzheimer's is heavy, we don’t have to be. All caregivers are welcome to snuggle up, Parent Up!
Do you ever feel dismissed or intimidated when advocating for your loved one in medical settings? That ends today. "I may know textbook, but you know your loved one," explains Dr. McNeill, just one of the passionate healthcar...
Parenting Up family, we are excited to bring you a new 3-part series in partnership with Wayne State University's AGReed grant! In this episode, Detroit caregivers speak with J Smiles about their experiences as caregivers for...
The void between medical expertise and lived caregiving experience takes center stage in this powerful season finale. Join us as we recap the Alter Dementia Summit 2025! This episode captures the vibrant energy of a gathering...
When Dr. Fayron Epps launched the Altar program, she was told repeatedly that no one would fund research connecting faith and dementia care in the Black community. Fast forward to today, and her groundbreaking initiative has ...
Motherhood takes many forms, and caregiving might be the most overlooked version. This Mother's Day episode challenges us to reconsider who deserves celebration and recognition. The numbers tell a striking story: Americans sp...
When a loved one develops dementia, our instinct is often to correct their misperceptions and pull them back to our reality. But what if there's a more compassionate, effective approach hiding in an unlikely place – Improv? I...
“I'm On Edge Of Quitting Caregiving” Everybody has a bad day. What are signs that you need an immediate break from caregiving? I’m J Smiles, comedian, Alzheimer’s and Dementia activist, and family caregiver. You may know me…
“Advocating 101: Partner with the provider – chatting with “Eclectic” Dawn Your Loved One Doesn’t Have to Have Alzheimer’s or Dementia For You to be Part of the Parenting Up Family: 5 Reasons You Became a C…
“Keeping Mom Independent: A Chat with Kim Cooper” How to Give Your Loved one Independence for a Better Quality of Life I’m J Smiles, comedian, Alzheimer’s and Dementia activist, and family caregiver. You may know me f…