Episode 1

Hosted by Debra Sheets, a nursing professor and researcher with the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria.

Produced by Jenni Schine (jennischine.com); sound design by David Parfit (davidparfit.com); executive producer, Suzanne Ahearne (UVic.ca).

Storyteller bios and episode transcripts to come.

This series was made possible by the University of Victoria, with funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, The Alzheimer’s Society of BC, and Michael Smith Health Research BC.

Transcript

Debra Sheets 00:04:

This is "Call to Mind," a podcast series from the University of Victoria, audio stories of love and memory loss.

Brenda 00:35:

My mom is a hundred and she has dementia. She lives with me now. It's been quite a journey to get her here. Never thought that this was a role that I was going to take on. While some days it feels like the tasks and the work and sort of the grind of it all is too much and I want to just crawl into the covers and cry, most days are filled with amazing tenderness and creating memories we would never ever have otherwise. It's an enormous sacrifice to be honest, to give up your life, but I wasn't left with any choice.

Debra Sheets 01:23:

Hello, I'm Debra Sheets, a professor of nursing and host of Call to Mind. In this series, people living with dementia, record audio diaries, and conversations about their lives during the pandemic.

Brenda 01:37:

Now open up your blinds.

Dot 01:42:

Oh, with a beautiful morning. <Singing>

Brenda 01:46:

Lovely. Isn't it?

Dot 01:47:

Oh, what a beautiful day, I had a wonderful feeling. Everything going my way. [Singing]

Debra Sheets 01:58:

We're waking up with Brenda and her mom Dorothy, or Dot, as most people call her. Dot was in long-term care in Victoria, and Brenda used to visit her every day, until lockdown. She had her hundredth birthday pretty much alone. Brenda saw her mom losing weight, becoming more confused and she wasn't allowed to visit. So, she brought her mom home to live with her.

Brenda 02:22:

So, one of the best parts of my day as a caregiver is seeing my mom when she wakes up, 'cause she always wakes up happy. She has her tea and her chair with her heating pad on.

Dot 02:36:

Lovely. Thank you.

Brenda 02:38:

Nothing like a nice cup of tea.

Dot 02:41:

Nothing like a nice cup of tea!

Brenda 02:42:

...watches the birds at the birdfeeder that my husband put up. And we have her playlist installed and she sings her little heart out.

Dot 02:52:

There's a clown to make, ....let me down. <Singing>

Brenda 03:01:

I think we were more like best friends from the start because we were very, very close. It was just her and I always. And she was just the mom, everybody loved and turned to. She rolled up, her sleeves got to work and she always sat down on the ground and played. She had never cared about her housework. She was the one that just wanted to play and enjoy life and live in the moment. And that's how she lived her life. And it's how she lives it now with dementia. 'Cause she knows at the moment she doesn't necessarily know yesterday or process what the future might be, but she lives in the moment.

Dot 03:37:

<Sings along to Red River Valley>

Brenda 03:51:

Now you used to tell me that your mom was homesick after you moved. And that song used to make her sad.

Dot 03:58:

Yeah.

Brenda 03:58:

And you told me she used to go sit in the Bush every day and have a cry when nobody could see. Do you remember that?

Dot 04:05:

I don't remember that. I could see it.

Brenda 04:07:

Yeah. You said that she had never been away from her family before when you went homesteading. Oh, and she was desperately homesick and missed her parents.

Dot 04:17:

Yeah. Yeah.

Brenda 04:18:

And that song, I guess, used to make her cry.

Dot 04:20:

Yeah.

Dot 04:25:

Red River Valley ...and the cowboy who loved you so true! <singing>

Brenda 04:52:

It's interesting for me some days to see the memories that disappear, 'cause they kind of come and go. It's like this weird brain ebb and flow. Once In a while, she spontaneously remembers something that she's told me, you know, the stories my whole life. Like her mother sitting in the bush alone, crying where no one could see her from her being homesick. And then, just now, she says she doesn't remember, but it sounds familiar. But you know, tomorrow that story might pop out of her. The consistent part through everything is always the music. That part of her memory never disappears and it keeps her so incredibly happy and engaged and focused. I just, it's amazing to watch. I never get get tired of it, but it's fascinating to see, you know, how the memories can fade, come back, fade and come back. It's really something. Just another interesting part of being on this caregiver journey with her. I wouldn't get to see all of this if it wasn't for having her home with us. So we're pretty grateful for that. So you never fell in love with a cowboy?

Dot 05:54:

Not that I can remember.

Brenda 05:57:

Can you remember boyfriends? Cause you had a lot of boyfriends.

Dot 06:00:

Oh, I had a lot of boyfriends. Yeah.

Brenda 06:08:

And then you fell for a farm boy named John.

Dot 06:13:

That's right.

Brenda 06:13:

Yeah, my daddy. Do you remember how you met?

Dot 06:28:

I'd have to put a lot of thought into it.

Brenda 06:31:

Or what about your time skating? You told me that you knew he liked you because he asked if he could walk you home and carry your skates for you.

Dot 06:44:

Oh!

Brenda 06:50:

...and you told me how he proposed. Do you remember how he proposed? He asked your parents' permission and then he was over for dinner and he took you outside and you sat on a garden bench that your mom made. He told you, "I love you." And you said, "I love you too." And he said, "do you love me enough to marry me?" And he had a little ring for you.

Dot 07:20:

Oh God!

Brenda 07:22:

I'm glad you told me that while you still remembered.

Brenda 07:26:

It's quite the journey though. Some days I brace and wonder if it's gonna be a good day. Will she remember me? Most days are like that now, but then she gets tired or confused and things kind of crumble and fall apart. But then as hard as that is, and as down as it can lead me to feel, she'll wake up the next day singing "Oh, what a beautiful morning," and everything's great again. So I do a sort of daily reminder that immortality is not the end game. She is going to deteriorate. She is going to leave me someday. But in the current situation, in this moment in time, it's the best option for all of us. And we take one day at a time, one hour at a time. For her, all that matters to me is creating those little moments of joy that I know she doesn't remember, but at the same time on some, some level of her subconscious they're there because we sing together. Even when I introduce new little words or mannerisms, she remembers them. So I know. I know I'm making a difference and I know she's happy.

Brenda 08:40:

Yeah. You just won two games of solitaire in a row. You'd be ready for a nap pretty soon.

Dot 08:46:

Pretty soon. Yeah.

Brenda 08:51:

That's good though. Seems like you like living here with us.

Dot 08:55:

Oh yeah. I like it here.

Brenda 08:56:

Good.

Dot 08:58:

Yep.

Brenda 08:58:

Yeah. You never have to move again.

Dot 09:01:

I could lay down, go sleep.

Brenda 09:03:

Oh, that's that's about an old lady's nap time. It's two o'clock.

Dot 09:07:

It's two o'clock?

Brenda 09:07:

Yeah. You can have a nap. Maybe when I'm a hundred, I'll have time to nap.

Dot 09:14:

A hundred? Oh, dear.

Brenda 09:17:

That's how old you are. You're a hundred.

Dot 09:22:

Am I? Really a hundred.

Brenda 09:24:

Yeah. Edna's 102.

Dot 09:27:

Oh yeah. God, I haven't seen us too many times since we were school kids.

Brenda 09:32:

Oh. That's true, hey. I bet it seems like just the other day.

Dot 09:38:

Yep. That was way back in Saskatchewan?

Brenda 09:42:

Yeah. You guys were like twins back then. Oh yeah. Do you remember playing and playing games with her and stuff you used to play? Make-believe in the bush. You told me. So Edna was the fancy city lady and you've had imaginary husbands, too. Oh yeah. Ernie. And isn't it Ernie and somebody? Bill maybe?

Brenda 10:06:

And she would pick leaves and pretend to give you money. Cause you were poor and she was rich. Yeah.

Dot 10:11:

Well, I was always the poor one. Yeah. Oh, dear time marches on.

Brenda 10:20:

Yeah, it does. You made a mess.

Dot 10:28:

Made a mess?

Dot 10:31:

No, I guess I'll clean it up. You used to clean up after me. You used to clean up after me a fair bit. Now I clean up after you, after me.

Dot 10:40:

Will I be happy? Will I be rich? .... Que Sera, Sera <Singing>

Brenda 10:56:

So I thought I should get your hair done cause it's gonna be your birthday tomorrow.

Dot 11:00:

Is it my birthday tomorrow?

Brenda 11:02:

Yeah.

Dot 11:02:

Oh yeah. That's right.

Brenda 11:05:

Yeah.

Dot 11:08:

And how old am I gonna be?

Brenda 11:10:

Ooh. How old do you think you are?

Dot 11:13:

I'm just trying to think.

Brenda 11:15:

Got any idea?

Dot 11:17:

Oh, golly. How old am I?

Brenda 11:23:

Well I'm 56.

Dot 11:26:

You're 56. Yeah.

Brenda 11:29:

And you're my mom. Your sister's going to turn 103 this summer.

Dot 11:36:

103?

Brenda 11:36:

Yeah. So Edna's gonna be 103.

Dot 11:39:

Oh good Lord.

Brenda 11:40:

So you're a hundred right now.

Dot 11:44:

I'm a hundred. Oh.

Brenda 11:47:

You're a hundred right now. So you're gonna be 101 tomorrow.

Dot 11:52:

101.

Brenda 11:53:

Yeah.

Dot 11:54:

God that's getting up there. Isn't it?

Brenda 11:56:

Well, it's getting up there. Most people don't make it that far.

Dot 12:01:

Yeah. Lots of people don't. That's pretty, pretty old. I don't feel that old.

Brenda 12:11:

What do you think? You maybe feel like you're 80? 90?

Dot 12:15:

Yeah. Maybe in the late seventies or eighties.

Brenda 12:20:

Oh, well that's pretty good.

Brenda 12:22:

Oh yeah. Yeah. Cause they say you're only as old as you feel. That's right.

Group Speaks 12:34:

[Sings Happy Birthday] And many more! Blow your candle. Make a wish of blow your candles. Make a wish of candles. Big breath, big breath. That's cute. Yay! Hold that. Hold your cake. And I'll get your picture. There. Gorgeous.

Brenda 13:00:

So you had a big birthday today.

Dot 13:03:

Oh, big wonderful birthday was a big day. I felt really important.

Brenda 13:06:

Did you? Well, you are really important.

Dot 13:11

I was the most important one though.

Brenda 13:13:

Yes, you are.

Dot 13:13:

That's my birthday.

Brenda 13:14:

That's right. It was your birthday all day long. We could keep you up till midnight. If you wanted to keep the party going.

Dot 13:22:

Oh no, no, no, no.

Brenda 13:25:

So where are we at here? I guess it's a good sign. I'm starting to lose track of how many weeks mom's been here with us. I mainly wanted to do this reflection today because I started... So much of my days. I end up with this weird sense of Deja Vu and I realize it's because it is so much like having a newborn, a small child. You're so torn in so many directions. And I started having this weird sense of Deja Vu a few days ago. And I realized that I'm in that same mode again. I do tasks and I race around. I get mom occupied and I race around to get my house clean. You know, I wanna, I gotta cook dinner and clean up and then... Oh, there's a load of laundry. Oh my God, my floors are disgusting and I've bathed her and now I need to clean the bathtub. And I realize, no, no, this is just the same cycle all over again. I need to spend time with her because I don't wanna have regrets that I didn't just let my d*mn house fall apart and be messy and play a game of crib or sit with her and look at pictures and sing songs. So I had her in the bath last night and I was in that mode of leave her in the tub with music on the baby monitors on and I'll race around and get laundry done. And then I thought, no, I used to spend three hours every Monday night. I would sit beside her while she soaked in a lavender bubble bath and we would sing songs and we had so much fun and I'm not doing that now. I'm sticking her in the lavender bubbles. Then I'm racing around cleaning my house thinking, "oh, I'll do that next time." So I had a good chat with myself, not to let it be next time just in case.

Brenda 15:16:

So yeah, you're liking your bath.

Dot 15:18:

Oh, love it.

Brenda 15:19:

Yeah.

Dot 15:20:

Could I stay here forever?

Brenda 15:21:

No, you stay as long as you wanna soak in that beautiful lavender bubble bath.

Dot 15:25:

Oh lovely. Yeah.

Brenda 15:27:

Yeah. I got that chair for you once we knew we were gonna move you with us. Oh yeah. So you can have a soak anytime you want. Yeah. It's a better birthday this year. Last year. We couldn't even see you. You were locked away cause of the virus. It was very sad.

Dot 15:45:

Yeah.

Brenda 15:46:

It was a very sad time for me. So yeah. This is much better having you home with us.

Dot 15:52:

Yes, that's for sure.

Brenda 15:53:

Yeah. Yeah. You sure like soaking.

Brenda 16:06:

The doctor decided a while back that we would try taking her off of her Alzheimer's medication not knowing if it actually does any good. So, he said, you know, just quit giving it to her. You'll know if it was doing any good, she'll have a sudden, probably onslaught of confusion and it'll take a couple of weeks. But when it does happen, it'll be quite significant. So don't worry. Just put her back on the medication maybe at a half dose. So we've gotten to day 13 and I was busy telling everybody this is great. She never needed to be on that crap in the first place. It's probably just making pharmaceuticals rich. And she was brighter and some of the side effects of that medication had disappeared. And then she looked at me on Sunday evening and said, "oh dear, I didn't tell my mom and dad, I wouldn't be home tonight."

Brenda 16:54:

And she was quite distressed cause she just doesn't have delusions like that. So I think it was only about 6:30 in the evening. So I just looked at her and said, "well, that's okay. I'll make sure that they know don't worry about anything and let's get you to bed." Tuesday, I had to go out to an appointment and my husband was just gonna watch her on the baby monitor and make sure things were fine if she woke up from her nap. She actually got up, and three times was trying to walk through the house without her walker, which she hasn't done once in the seven weeks she's been here. So, at that point, we realized it was a safety risk. So, she now gets a pill every other day. It was kind of funny to watch your hundred-year-old mother genuinely believe that she needed to let her parents know her whereabouts. In some ways, it's kind of beautiful. You know, like at that moment in time, she actually gets to be a young girl who needs to talk to her parents and she thinks they're still there. Sometimes when she'll lay in bed, she'll tell me how good her dad was with the animals. If she's thinking about her dogs and her cats and her horses and cows, pigs. You can tell when she goes backwards in time like that, it's actually very lovely for her.

Brenda 18:12:

Being a caregiver to someone who no longer remembers who you are. It shouldn't matter. But holy crap, it does. Like, I was so tortured and I would feel... I don't even know what the word is. Like it felt thankless. Then I feel selfish and guilty, but it kind of becomes like some days it feels like you're caring for a stranger. Probably one of my biggest emotional challenges was dealing with my feelings around that. I also started to have a bit more empathy for people who put a parent in care whose got the Alzheimer's where it's so full blown that they don't know anybody. And I thought, well, it's kind of easy to see. Maybe, maybe how people might justify that or walk away. I would never do it to her, but I know how hard it is and how it feels.

Brenda 19:10:

Sorry? What, mom?

Dot 19:13:

Where did my truck go?

Brenda 19:15:

Your truck?

Dot 19:15:

How'd I get here?

Brenda 19:18:

In my car.

Dot 19:19:

Oh, your car?

Brenda 19:21:

Yeah. You don't have a truck. I don't think you've driven for a little while. What truck were you thinking of? You said where's your truck? What truck were you thinking of?

Dot 19:34:

I don't know how I got here.

Brenda 19:35:

Oh, you came with me.

Dot 19:37:

And I figured how I'm gonna get back home now.

Brenda 19:41:

Your home? This is your home.

Dot 19:45:

Hmm?

Brenda 19:45:

This is your home.

Dot 19:47:

Oh, is it?

Brenda 19:48:

Yeah. Your bedroom's right inside. Do you know? I am.

Dot 19:54:

No.

Brenda 19:54:

Not at all?

Dot 19:56:

Not really.

Brenda 19:58:

Oh, okay. I'm Brenda, your daughter.

Dot 20:02:

Oh, oh, Brenda.

Brenda 20:03:

Do you know who? Do you know who that is?

Dot 20:05:

Oh yeah.

Brenda 20:06:

Who's that?

Dot 20:07:

Oh, that's Peter.

Brenda 20:09:

Yeah. So that's my husband cause I'm Brenda. Oh no, those are the dogs. You live here with me and Peter and the puppies.

Dot 20:23:

I live here?

Brenda 20:25:

Yeah.

Dot 20:26:

Oh.

Brenda 20:26:

Do you recognize me now?

Dot 20:31:

Yeah. I recognize your face.

Brenda 20:34:

Yeah. Brenda.

Dot 20:34:

You're Brenda.

Brenda 20:34:

Your daughter.

Dot 20:36:

Oh, my daughter.

Brenda 20:37:

Brenda Lee.

Dot 20:38:

Brenda Lee.

Brenda 20:39:

Yeah. And you know that guy? That's my husband. Peter.

Dot 20:43:

Oh, Peetah.

Brenda 20:44:

That's right. Peteah. Yeah. <Peter says, Gidday!> So we're just sitting out in the backyard today because it's nice and warm. I'm just making you some supper.

Dot 20:54:

Some supper.

Brenda 20:56:

Yeah. Making you some mashed potatoes.

Dot 21:00:

Wow.

Brenda 21:01:

You like those. So we'll go back into your room and you can sit and watch some shows and have some supper when it's ready.

Dot 21:12:

How am I gonna get home though?

Brenda 21:13:

This is your home. This is where your bedroom is. Well, this is yeah. You live with me and Peter and I'm Brenda.

Dot 21:21:

I'm all mixed up.

Brenda 21:22:

Yeah. Sometimes happens. And I'm Brenda.

Dot 21:24:

You're Brenda.

Brenda 21:25:

Yeah. And there's Peter. You live here with us. Hmm. Sometimes you forget.

Dot 21:33:

Oh yeah. The older you gets, the more you forget.

Brenda 21:35:

That's right. Sometimes that is in fact true. Sometimes it happens.

Brenda 21:44:

So I managed to catch that. That was a pretty typical incident of sundowning that started around five o'clock. And the part that I missed where I knew it was coming on was that she looked at me and said, "um, when is my husband coming to pick me up?" And she rarely ever mentions my dad. Then as I started this, she asked about her truck, which is kind of funny, cause my mom never drove my dad's truck. But the only truck that would've been in her life would've been my dad's truck and camper.

Brenda 22:17:

So, somehow my dad came up into her brain and that's what came out. Interestingly, and this time I got it on tape, she always knows my husband, which kind of annoys the crap to me because you know, I am the 24/7 caregiver and he's only been in her life about 18 years. So anyways, he calls it his Aussie charm. So whatever! She knows my husband. Yeah, so that was a pretty good example of how things can go in the evening. So kinda learned to roll with it, even though probably telling her I'm her daughter isn't helpful cause it confuses her. I'm not really sure. I don't know what the best response is, but that's what I tell her. Even though I know it doesn't sink in. So I'm finishing getting her dinner ready and then I will put her in a room with some funny cat videos to eat dinner. And I'm actually surprised it came on like this today because she slept last night and had a pretty good nap, but better than she has in recent days. But hey, every day is a new experience.

Dot 23:21:

I feel so cozy.

Brenda 23:23:

You feel cozy. Well, that's a nice way to feel. You look so happy.

Dot 23:28:

Oh yeah.

Brenda 23:29:

Happy and healthy and cozy.

Dot 23:30:

I should get home.

Brenda 23:36:

Well, now you are home.

Dot 23:38:

Oh Yeah?

Brenda 23:38:

This is your new bedroom cause you live with me now, right?

Dot 23:45:

Yeah.

Brenda 23:46:

Yeah. A long way from the farm.

Dot 23:51:

I had enough farm.

Brenda 23:52:

You had enough farm. That's right. And now you're just a lady of leisure, lazy old lady.

Dot 23:58:

It's kinda hard to not have them.

Brenda 24:01:

Oh, I think you're getting pretty good at it.

Dot 24:05:

Okay. I asked that!

Brenda 24:06:

Oh, you told me tonight that I- You told me tonight that I had to get old before I could have a rest. Cause I said I was tired cause I'd done cook two meals, done three loads of laundry, clean the kitchen. And you said, "well you gotta get old to get away from all that."

Dot 24:28:

Oh, dear.

Brenda 24:29:

Oh, you're funny.

Dot 24:33:

Oh, I am so comfortable.

Brenda 24:34:

Oh, that's good. Well, I'm glad and I'm sure. Glad you live here with me now. Yeah.

Dot 24:40:

Well, I am too.

Brenda 24:41:

Yeah. Good.

Dot 24:41:

No more working on the farm.

Brenda 24:46:

Yeah. No more working on the farm. No, no, no. You live with me now and you just can relax and be a...

Dot and Brenda 24:54:

Lazy old lady, lady.

Brenda 24:56:

That's what you tell me every day.

Dot 25:02:

Yup just gonna learn to be a real lady. Old lady.

Brenda 25:05:

Yeah. As long as you're comfortable and you're happy.

Dot 25:08:

Oh, I am good.

Brenda 25:11:

That's exactly what you deserve.

Dot 25:14:

I think I earned it.

Brenda 25:15:

I think you earned it too.

Dot 25:18:

You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey... [Singing You are My Sunshine].

Dot 25:38:

I got you.

Brenda 25:39:

You got me. You're hanging onto me. It's right.

Brenda 25:53:

I said I would share the good days and the bad days. This is a bad day. Mom has what the doctor thinks is REM sleep disorder. So we've tried new meds and the new meds they're just making things worse. Last night, she barely slept at all. But, of course, she thinks she slept. I don't even know the last time I really thought she knew who I was. So I guess that she's somewhere in the maybe mid 1950s, long before I was born. So of course I don't exist and that's really, really hard. So my caregiver came and I just sat parked at the ocean to cry and I wrote a poem.

Brenda 26:50:

I'm gonna share it because it's really what I'm feeling right now.

Brenda 26:54:

I miss you, mom. You have always been my best friend. My rock, my beacon, my home always. I miss you, mom. Late night chats talking till you fell asleep. Baby ducks. Butter tarts at midnight memories. You can't remember. I miss you. Mom. Babies. Grandma's house hockey. Nuts pie for breakfast. Our rock. I miss you, mom. Didn't my hair use to be dark? Lost names. Unfamiliar faces. Blank stares. My heartbreaks. I miss you, mom. Longing for glimpses to hear you say my name. Ask if I'm okay. I'm not okay. I miss you, mom. Your smile. Laughter. One-liners songs from long ago. You are in there. I see you. Still you, but not. I miss you, Mom. Bracing, gasping, waiting, fearing, losing grieving. Always grieving. I miss you, mom. My best friend. My rock, my beacon, my home, my joy, my sorrow, my one and only, I love you mom

Dot 28:12:

<Singing You are My Sunshine>

Brenda 28:27:

You're funny. You look like you're ready for sleep.

Dot 28:34:

Yep. I think I am.

Brenda 28:35:

Good. And now you remember that me and Peter and the puppies are right in the bedroom beside you.

Dot 28:42:

Okay here?

Brenda 28:43:

Yep. Right here. So right in the bedroom room beside you. So you're not alone. We're right beside you in the room next door.

Dot 28:50:

Okay.

Brenda 28:50:

So if you need anything, you just yell.

Dot 28:54:

<Yells>

Brenda 28:54:

That! You can do that and I'll come running. You just remember you're at Brenda's house and I'm right next door.

Dot 29:01:

Okay.

Brenda 29:01:

Okay. I'm here for everything that you need. You don't have to worry and you don't have to think about anything.

Dot 29:07:

No.

Brenda 29:08:

How does that song go? What- pack up your troubles in your old kit bag.

Dot and Brenda 29:12:

Smile. Smile... while you a Lucifer to light your fag. Small boys. That's the style. What's the use of worrying? It's never worth your while. So, pack up your troubles in your old kitbag and smile, smile, smile... <Singing>

Brenda 29:30:

So you don't have to worry about a thing.

Dot 29:35:

Sounds good. It sounds good.

Brenda 29:37:

Okay. I love you.

Dot 29:38:

Love you.

Dot and Brenda 29:39:

A whole big bunch!

Brenda 29:39:

That's what you always told me when I was a little girl. Okay. Goodnight mom.

Dot 29:46:

Good night.

Brenda 29:47:

I love you so much.

Dot 29:47:

I love you a whole big bunch.

Brenda 29:50:

A whole big bunch. Night night.

Dot 29:50:

Night night.

Debra Sheets 29:58:

In August of 2020, a few months after this last recording, Dot passed away with Brenda at her side. The last year of her life was filled with laughter and love in contrast to the previous year of loneliness,

Debra Sheets 30:16:

This podcast series was produced by Jenny Schine. Sound design by David Parfit. Executive producer, Suzanne Ahearne. And I'm Debra Sheets, professor of nursing and research affiliate with the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria. Caregiving is hard, even though it brings joy and meaning. We hope this podcast gives you a deeper appreciation for family caregivers. Thanks to other members of the podcast team: our research assistants, Ruth Kampen, Cynthia McDowell, Matt Cervantes, and Chanel Mandap. And thanks to the Voices in Motion choir in Victoria. To see photos, read storyteller bios, and access episode transcriptions, go to our website at calltomindpodcast.com. And for more resources and supports go to alzheimer.ca. This podcast series was made possible by the University of Victoria with funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Alzheimer's Society of Canada, the Alzheimer's society of BC, and Michael Smith Health Research BC.