Episode 21: Alzheimer's Awareness Month - We're Good gets personal
In this powerful episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee and co-founder Tanya Ruiz La Force pull back the curtain on a topic that has touched their own families—and likely yours. November is Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Month, and this conversation is a lifeline for the “sandwich generation,” balancing kids, careers, and aging parents.
We learn about a nonprofit, Insight Memory Care and hear from Mary Jo Ammon, a devoted wife and caregiver to her husband Steve, recently diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD). Her honesty and vulnerability are unforgettable as she recounts the emotional rollercoaster of diagnosis and the life-changing support she found at Insight for both Steve and her. Her account brims with dignity, humor, and hope: staff who meet families at the door in snowstorms, a Veterans Wall, and the brilliant idea to make Steve a “Patient Ambassador,” restoring purpose when it mattered most. Mary Jo’s deepest lesson? Choosing roles that protect the relationship—“Do you want me to be your wife or your caregiver?”—and how that single question keeps them focused.
This episode also connects the dots on respite care—(remember Jill’s House?)—showing how the right support uplifts both the person with dementia and the caregiver. You’ll learn why getting the right diagnosis matters (there are many types of dementia), how to build an early plan (Insight’s SHARE program), and why photos, music, and routine can unlock joy even on the hardest days.
Stay to the end for a preview of next week with geriatrician Dr. Christina Prather, who flips the script on aging with one unforgettable line: “We are biased against our future selves.” It’s the mindset shift we all need.
Heartfelt, educational, and empowering—this episode will leave you inspired to see, support, and celebrate those walking this journey. If you love someone with memory loss—or love someone who loves someone—this episode will make you feel seen, equipped, and less alone. Listen in and pass it on.
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Insight Memory Care website
