What happens when caring for a loved one with dementia leads you into a broken long-term care system?
On this episode of the Parenting Up Podcast, J Smiles sits down with filmmaker, family caregiver, activist, and storyteller Susie Singer to talk about her 16-year journey caring for her mother, Norma, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease.
Susie shares the lessons she learned as a caregiver, from recognizing early signs of cognitive decline and navigating a dementia diagnosis to caring for her mother at home and eventually making the difficult decision to move her into a nursing facility.
She also opens up about the experience that led her to create the documentary No Country for Old People, an investigation into nursing home care, staffing, systemic problems, and the treatment of older adults.
One of the most powerful parts of their conversation is Susie’s discovery of chemical restraint and what she believes happened to her mother while she was living in a nursing facility. The conversation explores nursing home neglect, dementia care, long-term care reform, caregiver advocacy, and why families need to understand their rights and ask difficult questions.
Susie also discusses ROAR — Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform for Long-Term Care — and the National Long-Term Care Walk for Reform.
If you are caring for someone with dementia, considering long-term care, navigating a nursing home, or advocating for better care for older adults, this conversation is for you.
And remember: Alzheimer's is heavy, but we don't have to be.
💬 What part of Susie’s story resonated with you? Leave a comment below.
Subscribe to the Parenting Up Podcast for more conversations about caregiving, dementia, aging, family, advocacy, and finding humor and hope along the way.
Host: @jsmilescomedy
Producer: @miahalltv
Editor: @annelisetv
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"Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!"
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