In this National Hospice Month episode, the Second Season's first episode, host Patricia M Sears of Graceful Transitions speaks with Lori Rizzo, a certified end-of-life doula and dementia practitioner from Compassionate Crossings, about the urgent need to reduce stigma around dementia and transform how we support families navigating this journey.
With nearly 7 million Americans living with dementia and 12 million providing unpaid care—often quietly and exhausted—Lori shares practical guidance on early conversations, person-centered care approaches, and how communities can step up to support the "circle of care" surrounding someone with dementia.
From understanding the importance of getting tested early to learning how to visit a loved one with dementia, this conversation offers hope and actionable tools for families facing one of healthcare's most isolating challenges.
Whether you're planning ahead, supporting aging parents, or helping a loved one through this transition, this episode provides the compassionate framework to talk about dementia the way we talk about heart disease or diabetes—openly, without shame, and with dignity.
Resources that Lori mentioned in our conversation and others she's sharing:
Training and tips for caregivers:
Caregiver Resources
Conversation and Advance Care Directives
Hosted by Patricia M Sears, End-of-Life Doula and founder of Graceful Transitions. Subscribe to hear monthly conversations with nationally recognized experts on death, dying, and life's most important transitions.
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