Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are mostly known for memory loss that worsens over time, but it comes with a range of complex needs – for the person diagnosed and the family. And the health needs and safety concerns for all involved typically increase as the disease progresses. 

Ann, a 92-year-old mother, grandmother, and former nurse, has been living with dementia for about 7 years. She also has COPD and heart problems. Ann has been able to stay in her own home with the help of her daughter Holly, care from home aides, and a palliative care team. 

Holly and her family know firsthand that the palliative care team improves the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers by adding a layer of support. 

This is Ann and Holly’s palliative care story.

A Quality Life: Palliative Care Helps Families Living with Dementia Focus on Quality of Life

Rae Anne, a cancer survivor and former palliative care patient, interviews Dr. Diane E. Meier, a palliative care doctor and director emerita of the Center to Advance Palliative Care. During their conversation, Rae Anne shares how palliative care helped her and her family. Together they discuss the benefits of palliative care, how the team takes care of the patient and caregivers, and more.

A Quality Life: How Palliative Care Helps the Patient and Family

After struggling with shortness of breath for many years, Betsy was referred to a special lung care clinic. Worsening symptoms limited her ability to remain active, which in turn led to anxiety and depression. She struggled to care for her home and visit with friends; and felt like a burden to her husband. Betsy’s world was getting smaller. 

At the lung care clinic, she met Dr. Patty Fogelman, doctor of nursing practice – who is trained to treat lung disease and as a palliative care provider. At the time, Betsy, a retired nurse, didn’t have an in-depth understanding of palliative care. In the years to come, she and her husband, and their family learned how palliative care manages many symptoms, and eases the many burdens faced by those living with serious illnesses. It also meant that Betsy learned new ways to enjoy her life.

This is Betsy’s palliative care story.

A Quality Life: How Palliative Care Helps You Live Well with Serious Lung Disease

Rae Anne, a cancer survivor and former palliative care patient, sits down with Dr. Anthony Back, a palliative care and cancer doctor. During their conversation, they discuss how the palliative care team sees the patient as a person, focusing on their individual goals. They also talk about how palliative care helped Rae Anne and her family manage her symptoms and understand the path forward.

Rae Anne Reflects: Achieving Your Goals

Amy is in her mid-40s and loves the outdoors—especially biking, hiking, and walking her dog. 

In the fall of 2018, she felt a lump on her neck, and when it did not go away, she visited her primary care doctor. After many tests, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes and femur (thigh bone). She was devastated and scared.

A few weeks later, Amy started treatment with radiation and a medicine that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer. This combination can get cancer under control but can cause side effects. 

After a month, Amy’s cancer doctor recognized that she could use an extra layer of support to deal with her symptoms and stress. A palliative care nurse started to visit her at home every week and was available by phone whenever Amy needed to reach out. She helped Amy through her difficult treatments, both physically and emotionally. The goal was to get her back to feeling like herself again, which to her, meant being active and riding her bike.

This is Amy’s palliative care story.

How Palliative Care Helped Amy Get Back to Her Hobbies

In the first episode of our Quality Life Series, we hear from Christine Buehlmann, a California woman whose life changed dramatically after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and began receiving chemotherapy. Christine discusses how the physical and emotional symptoms of her disease and its treatment were hindering her quality of life, until she received palliative care. Both Christine and her palliative care physician Dr. Joshua Fronk elaborate on the critical role that palliative care played in Christine’s treatment and life in this honest and compelling take on living with serious illness.

A Quality Life: Christine's Ovarian Cancer Story

In this episode, we  hear from Dannell Shu, whose son was born with severe brain damage. Dannell discusses the role the pediatric palliative care played not just in improving Levi’s quality of life, but in supporting the entire family as it navigated the waters of his chronic condition. Jody Chrastek, a nurse on the Shu family’s palliative care team, details how pediatric palliative care brought joy into Levi’s life in this moving take on what it means to care for a child living with serious illness.

A Quality Life: The Shu Family's Pediatric Palliative Care Story

In this episode of our Quality Life series, we hear from Malcolm, a 51 year-old Philadelphia man whose life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Malcolm shares how palliative care helped manage his pain and improved his quality of life. His palliative care physician, Dr. Arthur Siegel, speaks to the way that pain affects a person not just physically, but emotionally in this honest take on what it’s like to live well with a serious illness.

A Quality Life: Malcolm's Multiple Myeloma Story

In this episode of our Quality Life series, we hear from Mary Tibbats, caregiver to her 88 year-old mother Mary Nolan, who has diabetes. After a rehab visit at the hospital to improve her blood flow, she went into congestive heart failure. Mary Tibbats shares how palliative care not only helped coordinate her mother’s care and improve her quality of life, but provided support to Mary as she dealt with caregiver burnout. We also hear from Dr. Leanne Yanni, a member of Mary’s palliative care team, on the role that it played in treating Mary and her mother in this compelling look at palliative care and caregiving.

A Quality Life: Mary’s Diabetes Story

In this episode of our ‘Quality Life’ series, we hear from Valerie Wallace, a young, vibrant mother and wife who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2013. After her cancer spread to her liver, she learned she was not a good candidate for liver surgery. Frustrated and determined to fight, she turned to palliative care. Valerie shares how palliative care focused on her goals of care and helped improve her quality of life in this engaging exploration of how palliative care works with curative treatment.

A Quality Life: Valerie's Colorectal Cancer Story

In this episode, we hear from Marion Case and his wife Tina. Marion has been living with Multiple Myeloma for the past two years. The pain and symptoms from both his illness and its treatment have greatly affected his quality of life but since receiving palliative care, his pain and symptoms are under control. Marion and Tina speak about how palliative care managed provided them both with a full layer of support. Dr. Corey Ingram, their palliative care physician, shares some insight on the role palliative care played in Marion’s treatment in this honest look at managing the pain from a serious illness.

A Quality Life: Marion's Multiple Myeloma Story

Navigating the uncertain waters of high school and college can be challenging for anyone. Imagine spending those pivotal years with a serious illness. Twenty-three year old Aly lives with the symptoms of multiple diagnoses including Churg Strauss syndrome and Mast Cell disorder. In the face of chronic pain and discomfort, constant doctor’s visits and hospitalizations, and the stress that comes with giving up so much at such a young age, her goal is simple: to live the best life possible. Palliative care is helping Aly with her pain management and her stress and depression stemming from her illnesses. The palliative care team helps her set goals and serves as a mediator between her other medical specialists. This is her palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life

A Quality Life: Aly's Palliative Care Story

Amy Berman is a nurse, a nationally recognized expert in care of the aged and a senior program officer at the John A. Hartford Foundation. When she was diagnosed with Stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer in 2010, she had some very difficult decisions to make about her treatment options. Faced with discouraging odds of surviving more than five years, Amy discussed her care options with her oncologist who was trained in palliative care skills. 

“The team advised me but only advised me after they asked me what I wanted,” says Amy.

Together with her family, Amy decided to forego aggressive treatment and instead have her pain and the psychosocial symptoms of her disease handled by a palliative care team. Five and a half years after her diagnosis, Amy is active and fulfilled as ever, working full-time and traveling every chance she gets. 

“What palliative care gives to me is the ability to feel well and fully live my life in the face of serious illness,” says Amy. 

This is a story about making informed decisions. It’s also a story about putting the patient first. This is Amy's palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Amy's Breast Cancer Story

Since 74-year-old Joyce Montgomery of Atlanta, Georgia was diagnosed with Liposarcoma—a rare form of cancer—she’s faced major decisions about her treatment. As her illness has progressed, she’s struggled anxiety and physical symptoms. With the help of her palliative care team, which provided her relief from her psychosocial and physical symptoms, Joyce set out on her mission: To keep doing the things she loves for the people she loves. This is Joyce’s Palliative Care Story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Joyce's Liposarcoma Story

When we go into the hospital, we want to be treated for whatever is ailing us. We also expect to be heard and validated. 

When Toby Palma, a Las Vegas, Nevada woman in her early 40s, went into the emergency room several times complaining of severe pain all over her body, the doctors kept telling her it was a minor kidney infection.

“I knew it was something more,” says Toby. “The antibiotics they gave me weren’t doing anything for my pain but they kept sending me home because I looked healthy.” 

After a year of doctor’s visits which left her without answers or pain relief, Toby was eventually referred to a team of specialists who took the time to get a full understanding of her symptoms. That medical team—called a palliative care team—then went to work to help Toby with the pain and stress she was dealing with. With a better understanding of what was troubling her, Toby’s primary doctors were able to make a proper diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 

There is now one goal: To help Toby live the best life possible. This is Toby’s palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Toby's  Multiple Sclerosis Story

Karena is a hardworking professional and mother of two. When her busy lifestyle was halted due to a colon cancer diagnosis, she needed help to manage her symptoms and give her the tools to start feeling better. In this podcast, Karena and her palliative care specialist discuss taking steps forward to living a quality life with serious illness.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Karena's Colon Cancer Story

This is a story about finding a sense of control amidst an uncertain future. This is a story about doing everything you can for the ones you love. This is Barbara and Laren’s palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Barbara and Laren's Pancreatic Cancer Story

Shortness of breath coupled with the painful side effects of a surgery to remove fluid in his lungs were consuming Gregory’s life after being diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He needed support to relieve his symptoms and he needed help understanding how to best prepare for an uncertain future. Most of all, he wanted to get back to being the active person he always was.

That’s when he found palliative care.

Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Gregory's Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Story

Matt is about to start another abstract painting. With classic rock music blasting in the background, he holds the brush between his lips, steadies his neck and presses the brush against the canvas.

A few months ago, Matt, 38, wouldn’t have believed you if you told him he’d be painting again. 14 years ago, a severe car accident left him paralyzed from the upper chest down. While his diaphragm wasn’t paralyzed in the accident, it was weakened significantly, which has caused Matt to have breathing problems that have grown progressively worse over time. Those issues coupled with severe nerve pain and the emotional stress of dealing with the traumatic events of the accident have be a daily struggle.

After a recent 13-week hospitalization for low oxygen saturation, Matt and his family asked if there was something more that could be done to help with the many symptoms involved with his physical issues.

They asked for palliative care.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Matt's Palliative Care Story

Cathy, 62, has always loved jogging and doing step aerobics, but her true passion is tending to the flowers in her garden.

“I just love being outside and getting my hands in the dirt,” says Cathy, born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.

Cathy will be the first to tell you that gardening takes both patience and the willingness to start anew when a flower doesn’t grow like she’d hoped. “It’s okay when something doesn’t go your way out there. It’s all about adapting and moving forward,” says Cathy.

Cathy has had to apply those same principles to her own life as well. A diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer in 2012—the second time she had been diagnosed with this illness—halted her active and productive life. She faced an uphill climb of difficult chemotherapy regiments and an uncertain future.

After dealing with painful symptoms from the chemotherapy and the stress of managing the ups and downs of her battle for over four years, she asked for better care from her medical professionals. She was referred to palliative care who now work every day to get her back to her active life.

This is Cathy’s story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Cathy's Breast Cancer Story

For many years, Beth, 55, of Baltimore couldn’t shake the nickname her sister and friends gave her.

“They called me Balloon Hand Beth because whenever someone needed something, my hand would float up to volunteer,” says Beth.

Beth has always been very active and willing to pitch in. In her professional life, she has worked tirelessly to improve her city’s environment one planted tree at a time as the Director of the Office of Sustainability in Baltimore. Most days, if she’s not helping out a relative or preparing to host a family holiday party, she can be found in her garden, meticulously growing her own food.

“In the garden, things don’t stay the same. Sometimes a flower doesn’t come back or you have to move things around to make it right. It’s just like life. You have to adjust to your new normal,” says Beth.

Beth has had to use this same philosophy when she was diagnosed with a rare form of stage IV appendix cancer. After multiple surgeries and chemotherapy regimens left her weak and unable to do the things she loved, for the first time in her life, Balloon Hand Beth was the one who had to ask for help. This is her palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Beth's Appendix Cancer Story

In this special-edition podcast, Diane E. Meier, MD, of the Center to Advance Palliative Care, and Mary Mittleman, DrPH, of NYU Langone Health, discuss why making a dementia diagnosis is important for successfully managing other health conditions, and the many care elements that can make a difference for patients and caregivers.

Meier and Mittleman acknowledge the difficulty for making the diagnosis, given treatment options, and offer ideas for integrating better dementia care, from physicians doing memory scans to look for memory loss that is impacting daily function, to being supported with access to the right staff for counseling family members and patients, and other psychosocial interventions.

For background on Dr. Mittleman, she and her team provide support for family caregivers through NYU’s New York State-backed Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias Family Support Program. Focusing on the psychosocial, the team provides interventions via support, education, and referrals which make a difference, and improves quality of life for the family, and those with dementia. A popular result of the program is the chorus, ‘The Unforgettables‘, composed of those living with dementia, and their family members; its members have been performing concerts in New York since 2011.

What Does Good Dementia Care Look Like?

Since she was 12 years old, Kelly has dealt with an array of medical issues including Mitochondrial Disease, a clot in her lung and main vein to the heart, and Autonomic Neuropathy. These issues caused additional heart and bladder problems, as well as Gastroparesis which affects the normal movement of muscles in the stomach. Kelly had done her best to deal with all the chronic pain for nearly half her life but soon she could no longer work and even the smallest task became an issue. 

That's when she asked for palliative care. This is her story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Kelly's Palliative Care Story

There is overwhelming research showing that listening to music can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of Dementia. Our podcast guest on this special episode say that the key to helping patients through these methods is in the personalized approach. 

In this podcast, Host Dan Altano sits down with Dan Cohen of a program called Music and Memory which provides patients in nursing homes as well as in their houses with iPods and other electronic playing devices. The program also offers training to caregivers to create customized playlists for their loved ones. Meredith Wong of a partner program called CaringKind also joins to share real stories of Music and Memory in action and how it's making a true difference in the world of dementia care.

Hosted by Dan Altano

How Music Can Help Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients

In this episode, we tell the story of JoAnn, a woman in her early 60s who turned to palliative care for help in making informed treatment decisions and managing the symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Today, JoAnn is enjoying time with her toddler grandchildren. She still sees the palliative care team and credits them with restoring her quality life.

Dan Altano

A Quality Life: JoAnn's Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Story

A Quality Life: Rock Man Willie’s Rectal Cancer Story

At an infusion clinic in Dayton, Ohio—which provides chemotherapy treatment to cancer patients—there’s a man known by all as “Rock Man Willie.” When he’s there, Willie stops at each infusion station to chat with people who could use a good distraction. With him are an array of small hand-painted rocks he’s designed himself which he hands out to cheer up those facing cancer. In return for these support rocks, Willie only asks for one thing from each recipient: a smile. 

Bringing a smile to others is Rock Man Willie’s mission. But his journey to finding his own happiness has been fraught with ups and downs. In 2014, when he was 41-years-old, Willie was diagnosed with Stage IV Rectal Adenocarcinoma. The severe pain caused by the illness as well as symptoms from cancer treatment left him frustrated and debilitated. A four-year uphill climb led his oncologist to refer him to medical specialists who could help him regain his quality of life while continuing to fight the cancer. 

This is Rock Man Willie’s palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: "Rock Man" Willie's Rectal Cancer Story

When Sarah was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at age 34, she was immediately determined to find the best care possible. She fought for an oncologist who would support her at every turn, and sought out specialists from many different disciplines to provide her better care. She found her own pharmacist to organize her medications, pain specialists and physical therapists to help her with painful symptoms and side effects of treatment, and other doctors to round out her care team. She was willing to do anything to remain active and play a pivotal role in the growth of her two young sons. 

“I think any serious illness is going to make a patient assess their life, their values, and their purpose,” says Sarah. “Patients deserve the highest level of care available and I wasn’t going to settle.”  

One day while chatting with a friend, Sarah was talking about the makeshift care team she assembled to give her an extra layer of support as she treated her cancer when her friend interrupted her. 

“That sounds a lot like palliative care,” the friend said. 

This is Sarah’s story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

A Quality Life: Sarah's Colon Cancer Story

While living her everyday life and enjoying a concert, Rae Anne discovered a lump on the side of her neck. Not knowing what it could be, as she felt okay, she left quickly to schedule appointments with various doctors. Within a few weeks, the lump grew and she was diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer. Rae Anne received several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and was sent home to wait to see if the treatment worked. During this time, the palliative care team called which changed her life for the better, answering questions and providing monitoring during an otherwise lonely and scary time. 

“Palliative care was the most valuable part of treatment because it enabled me to feel like I was going to feel better again. There was an opportunity and a team of caregivers that were going to make sure that my next step in my cancer journey was smooth.”

Rae Anne is now living cancer-free with her twin children, and running her nonprofit. This is Rae Anne's story.

Narrated by Nick Ciavatta
Produced by Melissa Baron, Lisa Morgan, and Nick Ciavatta

A Quality Life: Rae Anne's Palliative Care Story

April grew up with hairdressers in her family. As a kid she put curlers in her cat’s fur to practice. She eventually realized her dream and even took ownership of her own salon. In June 2018, a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer followed by 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and 30 rounds of radiation, forced April to have to stop working.

This is a story about fighting to get back to the people and things you love. This is a story about embracing help. This is April’s Palliative Care Story.

A Quality Life: A Young Mother’s Cancer Story

As a speech language pathologist for young children, Ilene’s skills as an educator, careful listener and problem solver were keys to her career success. These factors also have played an important role for her through the many years she’s been treated for advanced ovarian cancer. It was a surprise diagnosis for the 68-year-old New Yorker that came in the fall of 2015 and changed her life dramatically.

She had a growing number of symptoms and side effects from treatments and surgery. When her cancer doctor referred Ilene to the palliative care team, Ilene didn’t know about the medical specialty. She had no idea how important it would be over the many years of her cancer journey, which included several recurrences. But ever-the-educator and problem solver, she went to the first appointment hoping for help to address many sources of discomfort.

This is Ilene’s palliative care story.

A Quality Life: Ilene’s Cancer and Palliative Care Story

Sixty-six year old Joni knows all too well that living with the lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – or COPD – can be stressful. The main symptom is shortness of breath, which worsens over time. The disease and treatments also cause coughing, wheezing, tremors, and emotional effects, such as anxiety and panic attacks, depression, and insomnia.

When Joni’s lung doctor of more than a dozen years referred her to a palliative care doctor, the goal was to address the worsening symptoms from the illness and its treatments, and help Joni live her life in the fullest way possible.

This is Joni’s palliative care story.

A Quality Life: Joni's COPD and Palliative Care Story

The COVID-19 virus is still circulating in the U.S. and millions of people are still testing positive. Thankfully, most who come down with COVID-19 don’t have to be hospitalized. Even so, for many the symptoms can be extensive and recovery can take weeks or months. 

Listen to one woman’s COVID-19 experience, including the palliative care she received that helped keep her at home, and how she coped through six weeks with more than a dozen different and debilitating symptoms.  

This is Bobye’s story.

One Woman’s Story of Surviving COVID-19 at Age 78

GetPalliativeCare.org's podcast, A Quality Life, tells the real-life stories of people living with a serious illness, and their families. Each episode explores how palliative care specialists have helped to manage the symptoms and stress of their serious illness, and improve quality of life

Popular tracks by Get Palliative Care