Marriage and Dementia

<p><em>“Caring for a Spouse with Dementia: &quot;When you&#39;ve been married 20, 30, 40 years, that person is an extension of you. And so, it takes a great deal of effort to suddenly realize what part of you is the partner and what part of you now has to begin to step out and see yourself as the caregiver.&quot;— Robin Smith Andrews</em></p> <p>On this episode of &quot;Life Happens with Kim Hegwood,&quot; we explore the topic of &quot;Marriage and Dementia&quot; with guest speaker Robin. Kim and Robin discuss the emotional toll that dementia can take on a spouse and how to navigate the challenges that come with being a caregiver. They offer valuable advice on how to maintain a balance between caregiving and maintaining the marriage. Kim and Robin also stress the importance of seeking support from others and diversifying experiences to maintain joy and creativity in life. </p> <p><strong>Show Timeline</strong></p> <p>[00:01:35] Spouses with dementia face intimacy challenges.</p> <p>[00:04:12] Denial and protectiveness hinder dementia awareness.</p> <p>[00:08:27] Spouses caring for dementia patients need help.</p> <p>[00:12:24] Love requires stepping back to care for oneself.</p> <p>[00:18:37] Awareness, new skills, narrative change, experimentation.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>How to Contact Robin</strong></p> <p>404-964-1570.</p> <p>Website: <a href="http://www.youandmeaging.com" target="_blank">www.youandmeaging.com</a> </p> <p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/youandmeaging" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/youandmeaging</a> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Bio:</strong></p> <p>Robin Andrews Smith is an Aging and Dementia Life Coach and family caregiver advocate.  </p> <p> </p> <p>In 2020 she co-founded You &amp; Me Aging with a colleague, Lee Mohler.  </p> <p>Their company focuses on the second half of life relationships and specializes in helping families overcome the barriers of moving to assisted living and supporting couples living with cognitive impairment or dementia. </p> <p> </p