Alzheimer's Daughter: Love Letters, Diagnosis, and a Caregiver's Journey with Jean Lee

In this heartwarming episode, Jean Lee, AlzAuthors founder and author of Alzheimer’s Daughter, joins us to discuss her personal journey of caring for both of her parents after their simultaneous Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Jean shares how she journaled her family’s dementia journey, the emotional process of turning those notes into a memoir, and the discovery of her parents’ World War II love letters during the difficult process of moving them into memory care. The conversation covers crucial topics facing caregivers—navigating diagnoses, managing moves to different care facilities, supporting siblings at a distance, and confronting the emotions tied to sharing private family stories. Listeners will also hear about the importance of community, storytelling, and connecting with others who understand life on the dementia journey. Plus, don’t miss Jean’s poignant reading of her parents’ correspondence and practical tips for families facing similar challenges. What You’ll Hear In This Episode: Hear Jean’s personal story of caring for both parents, who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s on the same day. Learn how her experience as a “hometown daughter” shaped her perspective on dementia and caregiving.Jean shares how a simple journal became an essential tool for tracking her parents’ symptoms, achieving an earlier diagnosis, and eventually forming the backbone of her memoir.Discover the emotional and logistical challenges of transitioning parents with dementia into assisted living and secure memory care, and hear practical advice on how to handle repeated moves.An honest discussion about the moment of diagnosis—how doctors communicate difficult news, and what families can do when left with more questions than answers.Jean recounts the touching discovery of her parents’ WWII love letters and how these preserved memories added richness and hope to her storytelling.Explore what keeps couples bonded through the trials of Alzheimer’s, and how caregivers can find strength in family history and shared memories.From note-taking systems to balancing a full-time career with caregiving, Jean offers actionable strategies for dementia caregivers. After the Podcast Purchase “Alzheimer’s Daughter” Read one of Jean’s many blog posts Listen to another podcast featuring Jean Lee Learn about the Moderators Marianne Sciucco Christy Byrne Yates About the Podcast AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here. Thanks for listening. We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network Find us on The World Podcast Network and babyboomer.org Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know. We’ve got merch! Shop our Store

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