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Some dates don’t just mark time; they pull you back into a room you can still smell and hear. I open up about the hardest stretch of my year—the week from New Year’s Eve to January 6—when hospice set the timeline, the music got louder, and my resolve to keep my mom from being alone turned into a nightly vigil. If you’ve ever felt the sting of an anniversary date, especially after a long season of caregiving through dementia, this conversation offers language, tools, and gentle company.

We explore how grief changes during the holidays, why trigger dates can feel like alarms in the body, and the practical ways to prepare: plan A and plan B, honest boundaries with friends, taking the day off work, and creating rituals that actually comfort. I share the small things that mattered—Barry Manilow on repeat, a chair by the bed, marshmallow Peeps, and the calm that arrived when my mom sensed familiar songs. We talk about building a memory corner, lighting a candle, writing a letter, cooking a favorite dish, or choosing quiet over crowds. There’s room here for all approaches, including pretending the date doesn’t exist if that’s what keeps you steady.

Caregivers and grievers will also hear about the moments near the end that felt like grace: my mom seeing loved ones, the softening in her breath, and the peace that came without an exact time stamp. We challenge the myth that the “first year is the hardest,” and acknowledge how year two can ache just as much. Most of all, we hold space for your way of remembering—whether that’s tea and old photos, a playlist from the 60s and 70s, or a plan to leave early if the room gets loud.

If this resonates, share it with someone who needs a companion for their tough date, subscribe for more candid stories about grief and dementia, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your rituals matter. Your boundaries count. And you don’t have to carry this alone.

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https://www.rememberingalife.com/

https://www.fordfh.com/

https://nfda.org/

The room changes the moment a calm dog trots in. We sat down with Dan Ford—second-generation funeral director and incoming president of the National Funeral Directors Association—to unpack how trained therapy dogs help families breathe easier, speak freely, and find a little relief on the hardest days. Meet Joey, the lap-loving “little gentleman,” and Annie, a gentle golden doodle who leans into a mourner’s leg to say, I’m here. Their presence isn’t a novelty; it’s practical neuroscience in action, turning overwhelming services into spaces where people can actually feel and talk.

Dan walks us through the craft behind the comfort: temperament over breed, clear consent with families, structured breaks, and national certification with recertification every two years. He shares moments that stick—a granddaughter holding Joey through an entire visitation, community members asking about the dogs at the grocery store—and why boundaries matter when allergies or discomfort arise. We also zoom out to the core ethic of death care: empathy. Dan learned from his father that if empathy fades, it’s time to change careers. That principle shapes how his team supports families and how he protects his own resilience with honest communication at home.

Then we get tactical. The first 24 to 48 hours after a death can bring over a hundred decisions. Preplanning turns guesswork into guidance. We cover how to start conversations, what to document, and where to learn more. Dan points to RememberingALife.com, an NFDA-backed resource with consumer-friendly tools for funeral planning, therapy dog insights, and finding a trusted funeral home. The takeaway is simple and powerful: compassionate support can be trained, and clarity can be chosen. Put them together and the path through grief gets a little steadier.

If this conversation helped, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it today, and leave a review to help more caregivers and grieving families find us.

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We explore how to tell normal aging from early signs of dementia during holiday gatherings, using practical examples and clear comparisons. We share stories from our families, outline next steps for testing, and point you to resources that make hard talks easier.

• memory loss that disrupts daily life vs recalling later
• planning and problem solving decline beyond simple errors
• getting lost on familiar routes and inside stores
• confusion about dates, seasons, and future plans
• vision and spatial changes that affect driving and balance
• language gaps, menu anxiety, and repeated stories
• misplacing items and inability to retrace steps
• poor judgment with money and self-care
• social withdrawal and loss of hobbies
• mood and personality changes tied to overwhelm
• how to rule out UTIs, depression, and diabetes
• why early evaluation and resources matter
• using Alzheimer’s Association tools and checklists
• starting compassionate, concrete conversations at home

You can always reach me at my email, which is L-I-S-M-A-R-93 at yahoo.com

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