Dementia is one of the leading causes of disability among older adults. For caregivers of people with the disease, the role is filled with a variety of emotions like worry, sadness and grief. But it’s also a role often filled with connection and love.


In June, Connecticut Public’s Daniela Doncel moderated a conversation about dementia caregiving at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield. Today, we’ll hear that discussion.


Panelists spoke about the logistics of care, the importance of speaking openly about the disease, and the experience of losing someone who is still physically present.
This conversation is part of Connecticut Public’s ongoing coverage focused on caregiving and aging. You can learn more here.


Guests:
Tonya Maurer: caregiver to her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017 and now lives in a memory care facility in Connecticut.
Maria Canales: a volunteer educator with the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut chapter who helps Spanish-speaking communities in the state learn about the disease.
Colby McCaskill: a writer and reporter living in New York City. His radio story, “Dear Papa,” explores his fear about his grandmother’s escalating dementia, and was selected as the grand prize winner for this year’s NPR College Podcast Challenge.

Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Dementia is one of <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia">the leading causes of disability</a> among older adults. For caregivers of people with the disease, the role is filled with a variety of emotions like worry, sadness and grief. But it&rsquo;s also a role often filled with connection and love.
 In June, Connecticut Public&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/daniela-doncel">Daniela Doncel </a>moderated <a href="http://ctpublic.org/caregivingevent">a conversation</a> about dementia caregiving at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield. Today, we&rsquo;ll hear that discussion.
 Panelists spoke about the logistics of care, the importance of speaking openly about the disease, and the experience of losing someone who is still physically present. This conversation is part of Connecticut Public&rsquo;s ongoing coverage focused on caregiving and aging. You can learn more <a href="http://ctpublic.org/caregiving">here</a>.
 Guests:
<ul>
<li>Tonya Maurer: caregiver to her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017 and now lives in a memory care facility in Connecticut.</li>
<li>Maria Canales: a volunteer educator with the <a href="https://www.alz.org/ct">Alzheimer&rsquo;s Association Connecticut chapter</a> who helps Spanish-speaking communities in the state learn about the disease.</li>
<li>Colby McCaskill: a writer and reporter living in New York City. His radio story, &ldquo;Dear Papa,&rdquo; explores his fear about his grandmother&rsquo;s escalating dementia, and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/07/nx-s1-5766358/dementia-college-podcast-aging-family">was selected as the grand prize winner</a> for this year&rsquo;s NPR College Podcast Challenge.</li>
</ul>
Where We Live is available on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/">Listen Notes,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.