Finding Joy In Dementia Care with Marilyn Raichle

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What if the story we tell about dementia is upside down? Jill sits down with author and advocate Marilyn Raichle to trace her path from reluctant caregiver to devoted care partner for her mother, Jean—a journey sparked by a single painting class that turned fear into curiosity and connection. Instead of bracing for loss, Marilyn learned to invite joy first, and everything changed: colors warmed, conversations opened, and the person everyone thought was gone stepped forward again.

We unpack the small choices that make a big difference—arriving early to build a calm day, choosing rituals that prime the brain for engagement, and replacing “Do you remember?” with open questions that honor dignity. Marilyn shares how assisted living became a new family, how a piano medley stitched Silent Night to Polly Wolly Doodle, and why a plate of outrageously rich cookies can be medicine for the soul. She explains the power of language, preferring “dementia” as an accessible umbrella and pushing back on the paralysis that the word “Alzheimer’s” can provoke.

Marilyn also introduces Maude’s Awards, a national program granting $100,000 each year to individuals and organizations innovating in dementia care. These awards celebrate work that lifts daily life—programs that reduce anxiety, invite creativity, and center enduring personhood. Her book, Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey, gathers short, hopeful stories illustrated with her mother’s art, offering a practical and heartening alternative to despair-heavy narratives.

If you’re caring for someone with memory loss—or love someone who is—this conversation offers tools and a mindset shift: people living with dementia are valuable, with gifts to give and lives to live. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review with one small change you’ll try this week.

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