In this heartfelt and candid episode of GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards opens up about the unexpected challenges that life threw his way. Originally planned as a thoughtful interview with a Very Special Caregiver, the episode takes a different turn when Jeff shares a deeply personal and emotional update on his wife’s health.
Jeff’s wife experienced a severe side effect from an amyloid-clearing drug, resulting in brain swelling and a brain bleed, leading to hospitalization. For a brief period, she lost the use of her left arm, leg, and vision in both eyes. Jeff reflects on the intense fear and uncertainty of the situation, offering thanks to the dedicated doctors, nurses, and the powerful network of prayer warriors who supported them through this crisis. The episode's tone is warm, serious, and raw, as Jeff expresses his gratitude for the care his wife received, and assures listeners that a more in-depth discussion will come in a later episode.
Despite the setback, GutPunched carries on, delivering valuable resources for caregivers facing their own struggles. In a condensed format, Jeff shares insightful articles highlighting advancements in Alzheimer’s research, offering hope for those living with and caring for loved ones affected by the disease.
In true GutPunched style, Jeff revisits the podcast’s essential tenets for caregivers, emphasizing self-care, the importance of asking for help, and utilizing a network of support. He also introduces the idea of a “Help Signal,” a simple yet effective way for caregivers and their loved ones to communicate and ensure that help is received with ease and comfort.
This episode may be shorter than usual, but it’s filled with the same compassion, understanding, and practical advice that make GutPunched a vital resource for caregivers.
Remember, you’re not alone—whether it’s the hard days or the good days, you’ve got a community here to lean on.
Stay tuned for the upcoming full interview in the next episode!
--------
14:06
--------
14:06
Gut Punched: EP 66 Mixed, but Mostly Positive – Updates in the Alzheimer’s Fight
In Episode 66, host Jeff Edwards reflects on a week that was “mixed, but mostly positive” — a theme echoed in the episode’s encouraging developments in Alzheimer’s research and caregiving support. Jeff shares personal insights from a busy week, including a promising meeting that may bring exciting news for the podcast’s Hispanic audience, and another eye-opening caregiver support meeting.
While a planned segment featuring “A Different Kind of Caregiver” wasn’t ready in time for this episode, Jeff promises its arrival in the next installment. In the meantime, Episode 66 delivers a compelling lineup of new studies and stories:
🎶 Music and Brain Health: A new study suggests that playing a musical instrument may slow brain aging.
💊 Hope on the Horizon: A cancer drug combination shows potential to reverse Alzheimer’s symptoms.
⚠️ Medication Alert: A common chronic pain medication is now being linked to dementia.
As always, Jeff revisits the core GutPunched Tenets, offering practical, heartfelt advice for caregivers — from self-care reminders to strategies for building a reliable support network and creating a help signal for loved ones.
This episode also highlights vital resources like:
The Dubin Center (dubincenter.com)
Alzheimer’s Support Network (alzsupport.org)
The Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Navigation Service – Call 855-271-2662 for free, personalized support
And the newly formed GUTPUNCHED Facebook Group
Jeff closes the episode with gratitude for the community helping to grow the podcast, and a heartfelt reminder: There is help and hope out there—you just need to know where to look. That’s why we’re here.
📧 Reach out: [email protected] or [email protected]🌐 Learn more: gutpunched.com
--------
19:04
--------
19:04
Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 65
Welcome to GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, Episode 65!
Ever wondered what happens when Alzheimer’s, an author, a poet, dementia, a musician, and a nurse all walk into a room together? No, it’s not the setup for a bad joke—it’s the perfect mix for today’s podcast!
Our guest today is Mr. Bob Shea from Elder Entertainment, a creative dynamo with a heart for Alzheimer's awareness. Bob, who wears many hats (author, poet, musician, nurse), joins host Jeff Edwards to share his unique perspective on Alzheimer's care and the healing power of creativity.
Plus, don’t miss the latest Alzheimer’s research! We wrap up with an article about a promising Diabetes Blood Test that could predict Alzheimer’s decline. Talk about medical breakthroughs Science is awesome and sometimes, even a little mind-blowing.
As always, we start by revisiting the GutPunched Tenets—the rules we live by, because let’s face it, caregiving can be tough, and you’ve gotta be on top of your game to survive it:
Take care of yourself—if you break down, who’s there for your loved one?
You can’t do this alone—find a good support network.
Make a list of people who’ve offered help. Write down what needs doing and go through the list until it’s all handled.
Create a “help signal”—something that tells your loved one it's okay to get the help they need.
Then we get a little poetic with a reading from Bob’s book, Peekaboo: I See Miracles—Musings of Musical Memories and Alzheimer’s Disease. A hauntingly beautiful first stanza of his poem “In Here” sets the stage for a conversation that’s as deep as it is creative.
After the interview, Jeff and Bob share their thoughts on the magic that happens when creativity meets caregiving, a reminder that even in the toughest times, there’s always room for something meaningful and maybe even a little joyful.
Whether you’re a caregiver or just curious, this episode is packed with inspiration, insight, and a touch of humor. So grab your coffee (or your harmonica) and tune in!
Listen now! 🎙️ [gutpunched.com/] #Alzheimers #Caregivers #GutPunchedPodcast #ElderCare #AlzheimersAwareness #NewEpisode
--------
28:00
--------
28:00
Gut Punched: EP 64 How to Eat an Elephant! The Where, The When, The How
In this episode of GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards serves up some much-needed wisdom—and a side of humor—as he navigates the challenges caregivers face during long, hot summers with no holiday respite in sight. Can’t escape the heat, but you can take a moment to laugh and reflect with Jeff’s signature wit.
As always, Jeff goes over the "Tennents" (yes, he means tenets) that guide this podcast, offering light yet essential advice for anyone in the caregiving trenches:
of your loved one?
You can’t do it alone—find support through groups, friends, and family.
Make a list—and use it! A list of people willing to help + tasks that need doing = one less stress for you.
Create a help signal—find a cue or phrase that lets your loved one know it's okay to accept help.
In this episode, Jeff also sits down with Cynthia Perthuis, a Senior Care expert from Senior Care Authority, New York & Florida. Together, they tackle the big, elephant-sized decision of moving your loved one into an assisted living community. Cynthia breaks it down for us: the where, the when, and most importantly, the how. Moving someone to a new care facility can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance and approach, it’s more manageable than it seems.
So, grab your list, find your support, and tune in for some much-needed tips on how to eat that metaphorical elephant—one bite at a time.
It’s insightful. It’s practical. And yes, it’s still GutPunched, so you know we’re keeping it light along the way!
#CaregiverLife #Alzheimers #SeniorCare #GutPunchedPodcast #ElderCare #SelfCare #AlzheimersSupport
Thank you for listening to GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers - Episode 64 How to Eat an Elephant! The Where, The When, The How.
--------
29:42
--------
29:42
Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 63
🎧 🎧 New episode of GutPunched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers! 🧠✨
On this week’s episode #63, Host Jeff Edwards talks about a Breakthrough: Brain Sugar Discovery that could change Alzheimer’s! Plus, tips on Reducing Inflammation to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.
And of course, the 4 tenets for Caregivers:
Take care of YOU
Ask for help (you can’t do it alone!)
Make a list and get stuff DONE
Create a “Help Signal” for your loved one
Next week, Jeff chats with Cynthia Purthuis from Senior Care Authority—don’t miss it!
Listen now! 🎧
#Alzheimers #Caregiving #BrainHealth #SelfCare #GutPunchedPodcast
Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers
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 just 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 3 or more hours. The patient has to complete the test comprising of questions, simple actions, and memory tests, then give them a couple of numbers or words then move on, going back to the numbers or words a short time later.
So moving forward, I asked all the same questions as 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, anything I could get my hands on. It's been 6 years, and I am still looking for everything and anything that will help me crawl through this unchartered path to enlightenment. I was very fortunate to live in a city that has numerous resources to tap into. 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 refreshers and inspiration. Hopefully, no matter where 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’d like 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 who are willing to share their journey. 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.
South Africa