Bringing resources to caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia and welcoming all who are tasked with caring for loved ones with prolonged diseases.Susan A. Marshall is an author, speaker, and Founder of Backbone Institute, LLC, a private practice dedicated to improving competence, confidence and effective risk-taking. She has been assisting leaders in public and private sector industry, non-profit agencies, and public education for nearly 35 years. In recognition of her work in the local business community, she has been recognized as a recipient of the 2019 Don Richards Leadership Award through the Waukesha County Business Alliance and is currently being featured in The National Digest.Her corporate and consulting experience includes work with Fortune 100 companies including GM, Apple, Archer Daniels Midland and Best Buy as well as a wide variety of private enterprises and non-profits such as New York City Leadership Academy and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Adele Lund is the Founder & CEO, Adele Lund Consulting. Adele has committed her professional life to the service of older adults and their families. Along the way she discovered a need to listen to their stories, realizing the depth of wisdom inherent in what she was hearing. She often describes that portion of her career as “having the privilege of seeing seniors in their later chapters of life, observing the results of a life well lived and lessons learned along the way.”Motivated by this insight, Adele developed presentations for seniors and their adult children that became the perfect vehicle for passing on life lessons from one generation to another and building connectivity where common understanding was often lacking. She could be found in living rooms facilitating family conversations, helping individuals to overcome their fears and frustrations, sitting around a table in discussion groups, or at a podium sharing stories and nuggets of wisdom gained.After 30+ years of listening and learning, as well as training and coaching professionals in her field, Adele has built her private practice on a mission of creating more connected communities. This involves “more listening than talking, and more asking than telling.” She also lives by these words…”Experience isn’t what happens to you, it’s what you do with what happens to you.”
3/30/25 • 26:48
Karen Murdoch is the founder of Voiced Memories. She is passionate about helping families capture, preserve, and share their stories through an innovative platform that combines digital photos with voice recordings. Karen dedicates her work to enhancing cognitive engagement for aging adults, especially those living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, by leveraging the power of storytelling.With a background in caregiving and photo management, she's seen firsthand how personal history and shared memories can strengthen connections between loved ones and support aging in place. Through Voiced Memories, she strives to offer a digital solution that not only preserves legacies but also brings comfort, joy, and mental stimulation to those experiencing memory loss.Karen is committed to building supportive communities for caregivers, seniors, and professionals in dementia care, creating spaces where we can learn, connect, and grow together.
1/23/25 • 44:40
Debby Deutsch BCPA holds a Graduate Certificate in Consumer Health Advocacy – UW Madison, and Board Certification from the Patient Advocate Certification Board. She is the Founder/CEO of Patient Care Partners, LLC, a private patient advocacy firm serving Madison WI and beyond since 2016.“My team and I work exclusively on behalf of our patients and families,” notes Debby. “We are not part of any healthcare system, health insurer or care facility. As an independent third party, we help patients and families navigate complicated healthcare and insurance networks. We help with medical billing issues, care coordination and patient navigation from a nursing, case management and medical billing advocacy perspective. We bring a collective wealth of experience to our clients in solving complex problems.“Two very usual clients for my team include proactive seniors who want to get their ducks in a row for aging in place. They realize that they will be bringing services to their home as needed and they want help coordinating that, and possibly understanding evolving changes in their own health needs. We also work very often with adult kids who are struggling with the emotions and the hard work needs in understanding and managing their parents or other’s healthcare needs. We are poised to help, and we are honored to work with our patients, families and community partners.”
12/2/24 • 34:05
Barbara Hyatte Boustead, LCSW, DMM, is a licensed Clinical Social Worker, retired Daily Money Manager and Author.She launched her business, Mary's Daughter LLC in 2011 and retired from her social work position in 2016 to work full time in her business, where she provides Daily Money Management services to seniors and veterans. Barbara is a member of the Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM) and is also on the Board of Directors for AADMM.In 2017, Barbara was selected as the recipient of the Social Work Lifetime Achievement award for South Central Wisconsin chapter of NASW-WI and later that year was awarded the 2017 Distinguished Social Work Award from NASW-WI.Barbara has partnered with national initiatives such as America Saves and Money Smart Week to increase financial literacy for youth and adults. She has given presentations in her community on a variety of topics including identity theft and scams, financial strategies for caregivers and money management.
10/29/24 • 39:44
A bright beacon of love and compassion has gone out. Gary Barg, who passed away August 4, 2024, leaves a treasure trove of advice and resources to support caregivers for generations to come.Gary Barg appeared nationally on radio and television programs, including NBC’s Today Show and has spoken to a wide variety of organizations including the Scleroderma Association conference, Alzheimer’s Association conference, AARP conference, 204 Fearless Caregiver conferences and the National Huntington Disease Association conference. He was the founder of Today’s Caregiver magzine.Barg’s books are The Fearless Caregiver, How to Get the Best Care for Your Loved One and Still Have a Life of Your Own, Caregiving Ties that Bind and You Are Not Alone.
9/24/24 • 45:30
Susan welcomes Stephanie Houston, Senior Outreach Program Coordinator with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute Regional Milwaukee Office. Stephanie is a Senior Outreach Program Coordinator with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute Regional Milwaukee Office. She joined the WAI staff in 2009, in her role Stephanie provides ongoing assistance to cognitively impaired, and medically underserved African American older adults and families.Stephanie is a resource and a service link for older adults and their families who are seeking a proper evaluation and diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Routinely, she consults with families in their homes to develop a plan of care and strives to expand and ensure access to Alzheimer’s and dementia related clinical care and treatment, education, and resources for support. She is a member of the WAI Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network and has served as a member of an interdisciplinary clinical team for more than 13 years. As a part of her unique integrated role at WAI, Stephanie provides oversight and management of the WAI Signature program The Amazing Grace Chorus. The WAI Milwaukee Office Organization’s motto is to “Meet the People where they Are.”
8/26/24 • 47:58
Susan welcomes Dr. Cheryl Woodson. For almost 40 years, Dr. Cheryl Woodson practiced Geriatric Medicine, taught health care professionals, and was active in advocating effective eldercare services in her community and at the national level. She also raised a family and navigated her mother’s 10-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease. In retirement, Dr. Cheryl offers presentations and courses that guide caregivers to give excellent eldercare without sacrificing their health, finances, or relationships. She also challenges all adults to ROAR THROUGH RETIREMENT, LIVE OUT LOUD and AGE EXCELLENTLY!Dr. Cheryl is an award-winning author. She published the second edition of her popular resource, To Survive Caregiving, A Daughter’s Experience, A Doctor’s Advice in November 2021 with a new companion book, The Doctor is IN: Answering Your Questions About How to Survive Caregiving. Her 2020 publication of Dear Lauren, Love Mom: 31 Days of Affirmations for My Daughter, for Myself, and for YOU, is an inspirational photo book that speaks to the hearts of women who need to take better care of themselves. Learn more about Dr. Cheryl’s books, presentations, and online courses at www.drcherylwoodson.com.
8/7/24 • 36:06
Susan welcomes Nancy Feingold, someone with over 40 years experience working in the fields of special education, behavioral disabilities and psychotherapy. She established mental health services in a traditional medical setting (the Quisling Clinic in 1976 and had a full-time practice until its close in 1996). She joined a psychotherapy group, Counseling and Psychotherapy Services, where she worked until she retired in 2008. She spends much of her time with her husband, children and grandchildren, enjoying the process of living.
6/25/24 • 37:15
This is a quick introduction to Compassion Chats with Author Susan A. Marshall. This is a podcast dedicated to bringing resources to caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia and welcoming all who are tasked with caring for loved ones with prolonged diseases. Hear from a variety of guests that include health care professionals, experts, celebrities and people who have valuable lessons to share after experiencing this with their own family members. Thanks for listening!
5/20/24 • 05:14
Since 1988, Matt Lepay has been the radio voice for the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team, and since 1994, the voice of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. Legions of sports fans have relied on his knowledge of the game, his energy, and clarity of vision for accurate representation of what was happening on the field or the court.From Rose Bowls to Final Fours, the Ohio native has called it all for Wisconsin Athletics, but a call of a different type back in 2017 had the biggest impact on Matt.While preparing for a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Yankees, he received the call that his mother had passed away after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s.“When I got the call she had passed, I was with the Brewers on a trip to New York,” Lepay says. “I’m sitting in the booth at Yankee Stadium. I wasn’t shocked by the news but it still hit like a ton of bricks.”A disease that has affected so many Americans took its toll on Matt’s family as well, most notably his father. “Devastating. Absolutely devastating. There’s that old line you know, ‘Can you die of a broken heart? I believe you can, and I believe he did,” he said.Matt’s father died three months before his mom passed away.“That was his life partner and his life partner was dying. That was just something he could never overcome.”Almost three years later Matt is now using his voice to help prevent other families from going through the same suffering by promoting UW Health’s research toward a solution for the disease as the voice of memoriesmatteruw.org.Whether being the voice of UW’s Alzheimer’s Disease research center, or being a part of the frontlines of research, Matt perfectly put the end goal for all those involved in this mission.“Buzzer beaters are great. Last second touchdowns, walk off homeruns. This would top all of that. I’ll say when, not if. When they can come up with an answer [to Alzheimer’s disease] that will be the greatest victory of all.”
5/20/24 • 43:07
Susan welcomes Gina Green-Harris, the beloved Director of the Milwaukee Chapter of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute. Gina is a powerhouse of energy and optimism! You won’t want to miss this chance to experience Gina’s magic!
5/20/24 • 51:40
Susan welcomes Dr. Cynthia Carlsson, the Director & Geriatrician at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. She treats veterans with dementia and memory issues and is the Clinical Core leader and a co-leader for the Biomarker Core in the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. She also serves as director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.
5/20/24 • 42:49
Susan welcomes Dr. Art Walaszek, a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Walaszek is Vice Chair for Education and Faculty Development in the Department of Psychiatry. He is past president of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT), and currently serves on the Psychiatry Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). His research focuses on public health approaches to improving the care of people with dementia. Dr. Walaszek works with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where he is Co-Leader of the Outreach, Recruitment and Education Core, and with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, where he leads the Public Health Pillar. Dr. Walaszek provides care to older adults with depression, anxiety, dementia and other mental health conditions, and teaches others to do the same.
5/20/24 • 55:53
