" Its been a while - heres What I have been experiencing"

Summary & Index

Checking In After a Break: Grief, Support, and Shanna’s Ongoing Alzheimer’s Journey

Ken returns to the Surviving Alzheimer’s Podcast after several months away to explain his absence and share personal updates from his 13-year caregiving journey with his wife, Shanna.

He describes ongoing grief and sadness over the past few months, beginning with Shanna’s roommate passing away shortly before Thanksgiving and continuing through the holidays and into New Year’s after the death of a longtime friend’s wife who had dementia.

Ken shares that Shanna’s condition shows increasing neurological symptoms,greater fatigue, and a slower recognition of him.

Ken also updates listeners on his ongoing Surviving Alzheimer’s support group (third Monday nights at 7:00 PM Mountain Standard Time in Arizona) and his one-on-one coaching with people early in their caregiving journey, emphasizing lessons about thoughts, mood, and what can and can’t be controlled.

He reflects that even coaches need support, recommits to self-care and finding joy, and shares plans to shape the podcast in 2026 by incorporating more coaching training and posting more frequently, while encouraging caregivers to take care of themselves, be patient, and share the podcast with others.

00:00 Welcome to the Surviving Alzheimer’s Podcast (Ken & Shanna’s journey)
00:43 It’s Been a Few Months: Why I’ve Been Away
01:20 Holiday Grief Begins: Shanna’s Roommate Passes
03:17 New Year Heaviness: Losing a Friend & Remembering the Early Days
04:33 Bright Spots: Support Group + 1-on-1 Coaching Updates
06:32 Taking Stock in 2026: Shanna’s Decline & New Neurological Symptoms
08:29 Medication Changes, New Room, and a Sweet New Routine Together
10:51 Speaking From the Heart: Self-Care, Finding Joy, and Podcast Plans for 2026

Podcast sponsored by Ascending Minds LLC