Sheila Welch is a dementia family advocate and educator. For over 12 years, Sheila has been the Developer/Coordinator of Loving Through Dementia: a free, all volunteer ministry that offers help, hope, inspiration and dementia education to families facing dementia; and provides resources and guidance for churches of all faiths, all communities, and all individuals who seek to better serve these families. Sheila’s family has lost eight family members to Alzheimer’s. Her husband, who has led this ministry with her for over twelve years, was diagnosed a year and a half ago with Parkinson’s dementia. Her own family’s journey, along with the journeys of the families she serves inspire her work today.
In this episode, we chat about loving someone through dementia, setting yourself up for a successful caregiving journey, how a faith community ministry could be started in your area, and how to give yourself grace.
Episode Sponsor – AlzAuthors Podcast
If you’re caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, you don’t want to miss Alz Authors Podcast: Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia. In each episode, host Marianne Sciucco – a Registered Nurse, author and Dementia daughter – interviews one of over 300+ authors about their personal Dementia story and why they chose to write about it, sharing intimate details and painfully obtained knowledge to help you on your own journey. Alz Authors Podcast shares a variety of stories across all diagnoses and from a range of caregiving experiences. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and find them at https://alzauthors.com/podcast/.
Listen to the show: Loving Through Dementia, The Dementia Ministry at Due West UMC with Sheila Welch
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Words of Encouragement
Each episode starts off with a few words of inspiration or motivation that is pulled from the Happy Healthy Caregiver Jar. Create your own jar by downloading the Caregiver Jar inserts. Enhance your jar with the Caregiver Jar refill pack.
Links & Resources Mentioned
- We are grateful for our listeners helping to expand our audience by sharing the podcast and submitting ratings and reviews! It’s easy to do just go to: Podcast Review or Google Review
- Serenity Prayer
- Free downloads for sharing caregiving responsibilities
- Respite for All Foundation
- Dementia Friendly Communities
- Dr. Daniel C. Potts, neurologist
- Incorporating an Attitude of Gratitude
- Resources when Caring for a Partner or Spouse
- Sheila is the one who educated me about the Alzheimer’s Stamp. Learn more here:
@happyhealthycaregiver Benefit Alzheimer’s while sending some love 💜 (or paying bills 😞 ). Ask about this special stamp at your post office or buy online at usps.com #stamps #postagestamps #alzheimers #alzsucks #dementia @dementiadarling @belightcare @carepartnerpatti @lifewithgrams @Carewell @CaregivingWithChristina ♬ original sound – Elizabeth Miller
- Previous Episodes Mentioned
- Connect with Shelia:
- All of the prompts from the lightning round segment of the show are borrowed from Elizabeth’s book Just For You: a Daily Self-Care Journal. The journal is also now available as a digital download.
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Favorite moments & quotes from the episode
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