The Memories Podcast

Episode 2: David Troxel

In today's episode, I sit down with David Troxel, a nationally and internationally known expert in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Twenty years ago, he served as the executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association chapter in Santa Barbara, California. As of currently, he is a renowned book author, trainer, and long-term care consultant – best known for his Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care. Through his work, he has taught numerous families and professionals how to understand and ultimately fulfill this “Best Friends” role in caring for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Alzheimer's and Dementia Care
03:59 David Troxel's Journey into Dementia Care
06:31 Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Its History
09:26 The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care
12:02 Creating Therapeutic Environments for Dementia Patients
14:51 The Importance of Social Engagement in Dementia Care
17:35 The Art of Caregiving: Strategies and Tricks
23:29 Recasting Relationships in Dementia Care
24:55 The Importance of Life Story Work
27:30 Communicating with Individuals with Dementia
29:37 Understanding Caregiver Guilt
31:42 The Institutional Model of Nursing Homes
34:46 Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Dementia Care
35:53 The Future of Alzheimer's Treatment
40:36 Improving Education and Training in Dementia Care
42:49 Enhancing Quality of Life for Dementia Patients
45:10 NEWCHAPTER

What is The Memories Podcast?

Welcome to the Memories Podcast. I'm your host, Jackson Nguyen, and I am a biochemistry senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I am also a trained community representative of the Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Memories is a podcast/interview series that features in-depth, one-on-one conversations with leading global experts across a wide range of fields to explore Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia from numerous lenses. Through these conversations, I hope to deepen public understanding of AD and share the voices of those working to make a difference around the world. Memories is a personal passion project of mine where I hope to engage in fruitful conversations with experts to learn more about Alzheimer’s and spread awareness of its devastating condition to my community. Thank you for joining me!