{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"How to Prepare Before, During, and After Dementia Care","description":" In this episode&amp;nbsp;Jerry welcomes&amp;nbsp;Tracy Cram Perkins, author of&amp;nbsp;Dementia Home Care: How to Prepare Before, During, and After. Tracy describes what it was like to be thrust into the role of caregiver\u2014first for one loved one, and eventually for four family members living with dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Drawing from years of firsthand experience, she shares the lessons, mistakes, and moments of grace that shaped her caregiving journey.  Tracy talks about the overwhelming early days of caregiving and the key resources that helped her begin to navigate this challenging role. She explains why&amp;nbsp;patience&amp;nbsp;and&amp;nbsp;laughter&amp;nbsp;became her most valuable lessons and how they allowed her to sustain both compassion and hope over time. For those struggling with the constant repetition of questions so common in dementia care, Tracy reveals her thoughtful method for reducing \u201cquestion fatigue.\u201d  Listeners will walk away with Tracy\u2019s practical&amp;nbsp;tips for new caregivers, reminders about self\u2011care and realistic expectations, and encouragement drawn from her own hard\u2011won insights. Her website,&amp;nbsp;TracyCramPerkins.com, offers additional tools and resources\u2014and anyone who subscribes to her newsletter will receive her free guide,&amp;nbsp;10 Steps to Calming Aggressive Dementia Behavior. Don\u2019t forget to subscribe and leave a review if this episode helped you or someone you know in their serious illness journey! Connect with Harbor Hospice &amp;amp; Beacon Hospice:                Follow&amp;nbsp;Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow&amp;nbsp;Beacon Hospice on Facebook. For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit&amp;nbsp;harborhospice.com For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit&amp;nbsp;beacon.life For more information about HarborCare &amp;amp; BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit&amp;nbsp;myharborcare.com Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at&amp;nbsp;jfenter@harborhcs.com.&amp;nbsp;                ","author_name":"Lighting the Path","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/434361","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/38517340\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/193991560"}