Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Mia shares a sneak peek into the research presented at Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in London from July 2026. More to come in season 8 of the podcast, returning Sept 1st!

Hit the + sign in Apple podcast or follow in Spotify to save this show!

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Dr. Mia welcomes Dr. Monique Nugent to discuss how caregivers can effectively advocate for loved ones in hospital settings. Dr. Nugent is also the author of Prescription for Admission: The Power and Potential of Hospital Medicine, a must-read for patients, caregivers, and medical professionals alike. This book offers an inside look at hospital care, breaking down complex medical processes and providing actionable insights for anyone interacting with the healthcare system. Topics include communication strategies, managing hospital ecosystems, and planning for discharge to ensure safety and dignity.

Chapters

00:48 Introduction and Overview of Care Partner Importance
03:45 Navigating Hospital Communication as a Care Partner
06:19 The Role of Information in Patient Safety
11:01 Setting Expectations for Communication
15:54 Actionable Steps for Effective Care Coordination
19:21 Navigating Hospital Communication
22:03 Improving Hospital Experiences for Families
24:08 Planning for Discharge from the Hospital
26:18 Understanding Delirium in Hospitalized Patients
27:47 The Challenges of Hospitalization for Older Adults
31:05 The Benefits of Home Hospital Programs
33:14 Reevaluating End-of-Life Care Expectations

Meet Dr. Monique Nugent – Healthcare Speaker, Hospitalist, and Author
A Passion for Transforming Healthcare
Dr. Monique Nugent is a board-certified hospitalist, author, and sought-after healthcare speaker dedicated to improving the way patients, families, and healthcare professionals navigate the medical system. With years of frontline experience, she has witnessed firsthand the challenges and opportunities within hospitals and is passionate about bridging the gap between medical expertise and patient advocacy.

Dr. Nugent’s mission is to make healthcare more accessible, understandable, and effective for everyone. Whether through her book, public speaking engagements, or thought leadership in medical education, she is committed to empowering both patients and providers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.

https://drmoniquenugent.com/

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us Fan Mail

This episode features Gina and Allie from Care Patrol discussing the complexities of transitioning seniors into retirement communities. They share insights on planning, choosing the right care level, understanding state regulations, and navigating family dynamics to ensure a smooth and suitable move.

Allie Spangler, OTR/L, CSA brings extensive experience and deep passion for helping others. She has supported hundreds of families in navigating care options for their loved ones with confidence and clarity.

Prior to joining CarePatrol, Allie worked as an occupational therapist across a variety of healthcare settings, primarily serving geriatric patients in acute care, long-term acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation. Through this experience, she developed a strong ability to guide individuals and families.

Gina Gordon, RN, CSA brings over 30 years of healthcare experience and a deep passion for serving others. Inspired by both her professional background and personal experiences, she opened CarePatrol of Winston-Salem to better support families navigating senior care decisions.

Prior to CarePatrol, Gina built a long and meaningful career in healthcare, gaining firsthand insight into the complexities of care and the importance of advocacy. As the daughter of aging parents, she understands both the rewards and challenges families face and values the opportunity to connect with each client on a personal level.

CarePatrol of Winston-Salem

Allie Spangler, Occupational Therapist (OTR/L), Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

PO Box 20302 Winston-Salem, NC 27120

O: 844-218-2273 | D: 564-565-4562 | F: 336-866-0758

CarePatrol.com | Senior Care Podcast | Facebook | LinkedIn

Other Resources

North Carolina Assisted Living Regulations - https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/divisions/licensing

Memory Care Best Practices - https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/memory-care

Care Management Resources - https://www.care.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Care Transitions
03:00 Proactive vs Reactive Planning for Care
06:16 Navigating Community Transitions
08:54 Understanding Care Levels and Community Types
12:03 State Requirements for Assisted Living
16:46 Staffing Ratios and Their Importance
18:37 Leadership and Stability in Care Communities
25:22 Advice for Sandwich Generation Caregivers
31:55 Choosing the Right Agency for Care

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us Fan Mail

In this insightful interview, Annie Guest shares her journey through caregiving, the importance of radical acceptance, and how interior design can support mental health during challenging times. Discover practical tips for managing burnout, decluttering, and creating spaces that nurture the mind and body.

Annie Guest had a varied career in book publishing, advertising, and law, before she took another jump to work as a mental health therapist and publish her first book. In Design For Your Mind, Annie combines her passion for people and their potential with her love for interior design and her appreciation for the design choices that support the mind and body.

Visit https://www.annieguestdesignforyourmind.com/

Chapters

01:00 Navigating Caregiving Challenges
08:50 The Journey of House Redesign
15:11 Empowering Caregivers
24:00 Preventing Burnout in Caregiving

Resources

Design for Your Mind by Annie - https://www.amazon.com/Design-Your-Mind-Annie/dp/XXXXXX
VVA Pickup - Furniture Donation Service - https://vvapickup.org
Attention Restoration Theory - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_restoration_theory

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us Fan Mail

This episode covers recent advances in Alzheimer's research, including the potential link between shingles vaccination and dementia prevention, the biological shifts in aging, and promising biomarkers and treatments like lithium. Dr. Mia discusses how these findings could impact future therapies and personal health decisions.

Shingles Vaccine: The Wales/Australia Natural Experiment in Cell: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)01256-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867425012565%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

More Recent Article on Shingles Vaccine and Cardiovascular Risk: https://techfixated.com/shingles-vaccine-drastically-cuts-heart-risk-nearly-in-half-in-new-study/

Massive Biomolecular Shifts: Scientific article in Nature 2024: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00692-2

From ruins to research: How an ancient brain survived to help understand Alzheimer’s
https://www.nuscimagazine.com/from-ruins-to-research-how-an-ancient-brain-survived-to-help-understand-alzheimers
Ancient Brain, GFAP and NFL; The Scientific Paper on GFAP and NFL in blood: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41376134/

Lithium as an Alzheimer's Treatment: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/01/an-alzheimers-breakthrough-10-years-in-the-making/ (or the pretty pictures in this: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/could-lithium-explain-treat-alzheimers-disease)
The pilot study in humans: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2845746#250915094

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Alzheimer's Research News
03:34 The Shingles Vaccine and Dementia Prevention
06:03 Shingles Vaccine: Heart Health Benefits
10:43 Timing & Accelerated Aging
14:02 Ancient Brain Discoveries and Alzheimer's
19:33 Exploring Lithium for Alzheimer's Treatment


Alzheimer's, dementia, shingles vaccine, biomarkers, lithium, aging, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's research, health tips

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us Fan Mail

In this insightful interview, Sue Lloyd-Davies discusses her book Pinkie’s Turnabout (Fitzroy, February 2026), inspired by her own experiences caring for a loved one with dementia and her work with children in caregiving situations. The conversation explores the emotional journey of caregiving, the importance of understanding dementia, and how families can foster open conversations about these challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pinky's Turnabout
00:54 Inspiration Behind the Book
03:20 Challenges of Caregiving
06:41 Advice for Young Caregivers
09:34 Navigating Grief and Emotions
12:58 The Role of Pets in Caregiving
15:36 Using the Book for Family Conversations

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Lloyd-Davies lives and writes in an old cottage in quirky Gulfport, Florida, where fuzzy cat, Arlo, loafs beside her keyboard and occasionally types an extra space or two into her stories. Caring for her mother, whose life — filled with friends, quilting and church — drifted into dementia, inspired her novel about Pinkie.

When she’s not writing, Sue can be found under the oaks handing out hazelnuts to rescue squirrel Owen or careening around the community center in a line dance. Visit her at Suelloyddavies.com, where you can purchase a copy of the book (available wherever books are sold).

PRAISE FOR PINKIE’S TURNABOUT

“Drawing on personal experience, Lloyd-Davies confronts the hardships of caring for a loved one with dementia in this brutally tender debut. It’s a surprise-packed narrative that counterbalances nuanced examinations of complicated relationships and hard-earned life lessons against Jack’s delightfully snarky quips.” Ages 9–12. (Feb.)
—Publishers Weekly – STARRED Review

“Pinkie’s Turnabout is a layered story and an appealing pick for middle grade readers. An entertaining, heartfelt story and a great pick for classroom reading and discussion, all ages will find value in its themes of love and forgiveness, becoming self-aware, not judging by appearance, and the unmasking of subtle prejudices that often go unrecognized. Conflicts and troubles abound for Pinkie at every turn, but love and forgiveness win out in the end in a way that will make your heart grow three sizes. Never preachy, never didactic, the story shows through action and event how to be a better person.”
―Clara Gillow Clark, writing coach and award-winning author of Hill Hawk Hattie and Hattie on Her Way

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us Fan Mail

In this heartfelt interview, Karen McGovern shares her personal and professional journey caring for loved ones at the end of life, highlighting the importance of compassion, preparation, and presence. Discover insights into end-of-life care, the role of doulas, and how to navigate grief and caregiving with grace.

About Karon Keller McGovern

Karon is a Certified End of Life Doula, Reiki Master and Reverend. Her business Loving Embrace – Transition Service Guiding the Client
and Family through the final Transition after Karon saw a real need to change how end-of-life patients were not receiving the best care with our medical system.

Contact her by: LovingEmbraceNC@gmail.com or 214-930-1195.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to End-of-Life Care
05:21 Navigating Dementia and Family Dynamics
10:50 Becoming an End-of-Life Doula

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Mia explores the groundbreaking Finger Study, a global research project on brain health and Alzheimer's prevention, and the US version, called POINTER study. Discover why lifestyle changes like exercise, diet, and cognitive activities can significantly improve brain resilience and delay cognitive decline.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Pointer Study
02:44 Understanding the US Pointer Recipe
05:28 The Role of Exercise in Brain Health
08:16 Dietary Impacts on Cognitive Function
10:57 Gut-Brain Connection and Its Implications
14:01 Cognitive Exercises and Health Monitoring
15:51 Empowerment Through Lifestyle Changes

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: ask@miayangmd.com
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.