Part 2 with Dr. Lyn Weinberg, geriatrician at Allegheny Health Network.

When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, they're surrounded by resources. Dementia? "Here's your prescription, good luck."

Dr. Weinberg gets it because she's fighting to change it. She shares why families are left to figure this out alone, what happened during Darah and Alana's two-day hospital vigil with their dad, and the programs proving that dementia care doesn't have to be this hard.

This is about more than medical terms. It's about families who deserve better.

Dr. Lyn Weinberg has been a geriatrician with Allegheny Health Network since 2013 and is now director of the geriatrics division for AHN Primary Care Institute. She specializes in Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine, and is affiliated with West Penn Hospital, Allegheny General Hospital, Forbes Hospital, and Temple University Hospital. She graduated from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in 2009.

• Ask a Doc: Dementia and Caregiving

• Pennsylvania Department of Aging: pa.gov/agencies/aging
• Local Resources: pa.gov/agencies/aging/local-resources

• Website: alz.org
• 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900

• Aging Brain Care Program | AHN
• Dr. Malaz Boustani
• GUIDE Model (Medicare)
• Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)
• AHN HELP Program Recognition

This is the woman who answered when we didn't know who else to call. Dr. Lyn Weinberg—Lloyd's gerontologist, the reason we got to speak at the AHN Aging Brain Caregiver Conference, and honestly, one of the most important people in our caregiving journey.

We found her by accident. We were desperate, calling doctors who no longer existed, until someone at AHN listened to us fall apart on the phone and connected us to Dr. Weinberg. And from that first appointment, we knew: this is what good care looks like.

In Part 1 of 3 conversation, Dr. Weinberg gets real about why she chose geriatrics (spoiler: it started with painting nails in nursing homes as a kid), why there are only a handful of geriatricians for an entire region of aging adults, and what happens when you're a doctor who feels everything your patients' families are going through because you know it's coming for you too. She also shares how she takes care of herself so she can keep showing up for families like ours, and offers advice for caregivers who are struggling to find the specialized care their loved ones need.

In Part 2 we dive into the programs and resources Dr. Weinberg is championing some national, some right here in Pittsburgh for people living with dementia and Alzheimer's. If you've ever felt lost in the healthcare system, this episode is for you.

Alana and Darah are ditching "new year, new you" and getting real about setting goals that actually work when you're a caregiver. From derailed travel dreams to delayed doctor appointments, they're sharing how caregiving impacts your plans and what to do about it.