Dementia Tropes and Platitudes with Kitty Norton
- E63
- 56:17
- November 14th 2024
In 2016, Kitty Norton left her job as an NBC assistant editor in Los Angeles, CA for her hometown of Portland, OR to care for her mother living with dementia.
While caring, she authored the dementia caregiver blog Stumped Town Dementia, writing tales of dementia life, not dementia death, which resonated deeply with readers around the world.
After her mother’s death in 2021, Kitty took to the road in an RV to produce and direct her cross-country documentary film Wine, Women, and Dementia
This film honors the journey with her mother, as well as spreads awareness of the caregiver side of the equation in dementia, and celebrates family caregivers - to let them know they are not alone and that they are worthy of being seen, heard, and celebrated alongside who they are caring for on this difficult road to the end of life.
In this episode we discuss common tropes and platitudes most often heard in dementia, the reality behind them, and how Kitty’s caregiving journey led her to create her film.
Daughterhood The Podcast: For Caregivers
Daughterhood The Podcast is hosted by Rosanne Corcoran, who's journey into caregiving began with a dementia diagnosis of her fiercely independent mother, opening the door to a 12-year journey into sandwich caregiving. She brings her authentic voice to each conversation and discusses challenges caregivers face with experts in all fields.
This monthly podcast aims to provide insight into navigating the healthcare system, resources, support, and community to caregivers. As Rosanne knows first hand, caregiving is filled with uphill challenges, stress and grief, while trying to do the best you can everyday. Every month she offers information, inspiration or even just a little company. Join her in Daughterhood.
Rosanne cared for her mother over a 12-year span, from supportive caregiver to in-home, sandwich caregiver for her mother’s final 6 years.
After experiencing first-hand the stress and isolation caregiving brings along with the lack of meaningful resources for caregivers, Rosanne created Daughterhood The Podcast: For Caregivers.
In each monthly podcast, Rosanne carries her experience as a primary in-home caregiver and Daughterhood Circle Leader into each interview. Along with strategies and resources, this podcast also provides listeners with the comfort of knowing they are not facing these challenges alone.
The podcast’s subject matter has ranged from practical advice like dealing with dementia behaviors, to siblings and caregiving, to end of life issues, grief and everything in between. Guests have included physicians, best-selling authors, dementia experts, caregiving advocates and thought leaders.
Rosanne has been featured in CNN Health, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Barron’s, Next Avenue and others. She is also a proud member of AlzAuthors.
Next Avenue named her one of their Influencers on Aging 2024 and Agingcare.com named Daughterhood the Podcast: For Caregivers #1 in their list of Essential Caregiver Podcasts. Rosanne also facilitates multiple Daughterhood Circles monthly.