GATHER | Younger-Onset Dementia with Patti LaFleur, Lorenzo's House
Release Date: 12/14/2024
GATHER | Younger-Onset Dementia with Patti LaFleur, Lorenzo's House
Gather Darlings
In this heartwarming episode, we are joined by sunshine in the form of a person, Patti LaFleur! Patti shared the very personal and impactful mission of Lorenzo's House, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families navigating younger-onset dementia. Founded in 2021, Lorenzo's House is leading the way of support for families facing this challenging and often isolating journey. The organization's core mission is powerful and personal: to shift the narrative from isolation to connection, from stigma to strength, and from darkness to light! Key...
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National Family Caregivers Month | Honoring Dementia Caregivers
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In this episode of "Gather Darlings," host Carrie, known as Dementia Darling, honors National Family Caregivers Month by shining a light on the incredible work of dementia caregivers! Carrie shares a comprehensive list of essential resources for dementia caregivers, including the Alzheimer's Association, Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care, and the Family Caregiver Alliance, among others. These organizations provide vital support, educational programs, and community connections that can make a significant difference in caregivers' lives. The episode also addresses mental health and...
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BRING YOUR BESTIE | Go-Mo girls—Sandra and Diana Gonzalez-Morett, Filmmaker & Caregivers
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We’re diving deep with the Go-Mo girls—Sandra and Diana Gonzalez-Morett—two badass sisters who turned their caregiving story into advocacy and art with their film Pedacito de Carne. After 7 years as full-time caregivers for their mom, Diana, they’re here to spill on the highs, the heartbreaks, and the bonds that only sisters could handle. From navigating FTD (Frontotemporal Degeneration) to finding joy, love, and even play in the darkest of times, these women are redefining what it means to care and live fully. Tune in for sharing of resilience, sisterhood, mental health,...
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DARLINGS | Europe Trip Recap with Adria Thompson
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On this episode of Gather Darlings, Nicole Will, Carrie Aalberts, and Adria Thompson are sharing all about their European adventures! From diving into The Hogeweyk dementia village, to Adria’s epic journey with Walk the Talk in Spain, we’re sharing all the stories of care and connection. Oh, and did we mention Cannes? We hit the SilverEco conference hard—panels, awards, and jury duty! It’s all here, and trust us, caregivers and healthcare pros, you don’t want to miss this. Darlings, we’re going global! To watch the webinar with of our time at The Hogeweyk watch HERE: ...
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GATHER | Real Talk with Nikki Nurse: Self-Care, Boundaries, and Caregiver Survival
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Get ready to dive deep with Nikki Nurse—she's not just a caregiver, she's a powerhouse voice changing the game for family caregivers everywhere. Nikki is all about living your best life, even when you’re up to your elbows in the everyday hustle. She’ll help you find the small moments that matter, push you to pause, and teach you how to heal from the inside out. Nikki keeps it real about the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and prioritizing your mental and financial health when caregiving becomes your full-time job. Nikki gets it: caregiving isn’t easy, but with her killer...
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BRING YOUR BESTIE | Our Besties: Friendship, Caregiving, and the Power of Showing Up
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30 Years of Friendship, Laughter, and Life Lessons. What do our best friends have to say about us? Our work? We talk all about how to show up as a friend, maintaining support and love over distance and how in our caregiving we need community and to know we are not alone. This is the episode to encourage and support you. "A best friend is more than just a friend; they are the person who knows your soul and holds it with gentle, unconditional love." Thank you, Katie McDonald and Kelsey McFarland, we wouldn't be the women we are without you!! We love you! To connect with Katie...
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GATHER | Andrea Hughes, Caregiver, Author and Speaker @itsandreakrystal
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We LOVED this conversation with Andrea Hughes. She shares with us the story of care for her mom with young-onset Alzheimer’s, discovering self-compassion, how to find the support you need, and the ways she empowers other caregivers through her sharing and vulnerability. Focusing on joy, being creative, staying present in the moments, and bringing playfulness in the care has enriched Andrea’s life in many ways. Her mom bought Andrea her first journal when she was 7 years old. She's also share with us how this practice has been her life’s reflection on the raw, real, heartbreaking, love...
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Q & A | Some of Carrie's Favorite Resources
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Welcome to our Q & A. Carrie is sharing some of her favorite resources! Check them out and we'll be doing more of these recommendations! We'd love for you to subscribe, rate and review! Follow us on Instagram and Join our Facebook Group Come as you are! We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the...
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DARLINGS | Summer Catch-Up, European Tour, Caregiver Education Opportunities
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Catch up with Carrie and Nicole as they share all about what they’ve been up to this summer, their European tour, caregiver education opportunities and Self-Care at Sea with other amazing caregiver advocates! Iowa Healthcare Associatation Dementia Care Conference: https://iowahealthcare.org/ Self-Care at Sea: https://www.funseas.com/self-care VALA: https://www.valainfo.org/ Think Tank: https://www.thinktankleadership.com/
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BRING YOUR BESTIE | Maria Kent Beers and Rachael Martinez, co-founders of Remember Me and the Remember Me podcast
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Welcome to our Bestie series with Maria Kent Beers and Rachael Martinez, co-founders of and the Remember Me podcast. These two incredible women's paths crossed in the most extraordinary way: Rachael, from Los Angeles, a trained marriage and family therapist, and Maria, living in Boston, found each other while caregiving for their parents, both diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We talk all about friendship in caregiving, how they met and how their shared mission is changing lives. Don't miss this one!! Launching in the Summer of 2020, The Remember Me Podcast was founded...
info_outlineThe organization's core mission is powerful and personal: to shift the narrative from isolation to connection, from stigma to strength, and from darkness to light!
Key highlights of Lorenzo's House include:
- Holistic Support Model: Offering virtual and in-person youth initiatives, support groups, and healing spaces
- Community Building: Creating a national and global network of families united in their journey
- Empowerment Focus: Providing free support to families, with a vision of expanding their reach
Our conversation emphasized the importance of supporting entire families, recognizing the profound impact of younger-onset dementia on children, partners, and caregivers! Patti gives us advice on how to show up for our youth and how to be more mindful this holiday season.
Lorenzo's House stands as a beacon of hope, bringing light to families facing this challenging diagnosis and creating a supportive community where no one feels alone!
Patti LaFleur, Programs Lead
Patti is the former carepartner to her mom, Linda, who had younger-onset dementia - and a former elementary educator of over 10 years. Patti designs and leads our youth programming with intentionality, knowledge and love. Her capacity to connect with family members through lived experience and profound generosity of spirit sets the tone for how Lorenzo’s House shows up for families. Patti has a Masters Degree in Instructional Leadership and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, has spent countless hours volunteering with people living with neurocognitive disorders, and as a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association.