In this episode of Life in the A-Zone, I sit down with author, podcaster, and caregiving advocate Jennifer Fink for a heartfelt conversation about the realities of long-term caregiving. Together, we discuss balancing work and family responsibilities, navigating the caregiving fog that so many caregivers experience, advocating for loved ones, and the importance of caring for ourselves along the way.

We also explore the often-overlooked season that follows caregiving—the healing, rediscovery, and adjustment that come after our loved ones are gone. Jennifer shares wisdom gained through years of caregiving experience, offering practical insights, encouragement, and hope for anyone walking this journey.

Whether you are currently caring for a loved one, supporting a caregiver, or finding your footing after loss, this conversation reminds us that we are not alone.

Connect with Jennifer Fink:

• Dementia Decoded Substack
• Dementia Decoded Podcast (Apple & Spotify)
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

#dementia #alzheimers #caregiving #caregivingjourney #brainhealth #griefandloss #podcasthost #agingparents #alzheimerssupport #familycaregiver #JenniferFink #dementiadecoded #memorycare #lifeintheAzone #dementia #dogstory #author

Host Peggy Sweeney-McDonald welcomes author Jen Allee to Life in the A-Zone to discuss her new book, When Waiting Feels Like Withholding: Trusting God When You Doubt His Goodness.

In this heartfelt conversation, Peggy and Jen explore seasons of waiting, wrestling with doubt and fear, the power of journaling, and the small Pink Cloud Moments of grace that help sustain hope along the way.

Jen shares how years of magazine writing eventually became the chapters of her book, practical ways to trust God in times of uncertainty, and encouragement for anyone navigating life's in-between seasons. Together, they reflect on faith, perseverance, and the reminder that whatever we are waiting for, God is waiting with us.

About Jen Allee

Jen Allee is an engaging storyteller who loves to weave a good story into a great truth. She is the author of When Waiting Feels Like Withholding: Trusting God When You Doubt His Goodness.

Learn more about Jen and her work at: www.jenallee.com

Purchase When Waiting Feels Like Withholding: Trusting God When You Doubt His Goodness on Amazon.

#LifeInTheAZone #JenAllee #WhenWaitingFeelsLikeWithholding #PinkCloudMoments #FaithInTheInBetween #Journaling #HopeInTheWaiting #AuthorInterview #Faith

In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy sits down with hospice nurse consultant Craig Schaap for a deeply moving conversation about caregiving, end-of-life care, and the unexpected moments of grace that can arise during life’s most difficult seasons.

Craig shares his experience spending six years at the bedside of terminally ill patients and their families, and his current work with Gentiva Hospice in Baton Rouge. Together, Peggy and Craig explore what hospice truly is (and what it isn’t), when families should begin to consider it, and the emotional realities caregivers often carry silently.

Craig also shares a deeply personal story about his father’s final fishing trip—and how, to this day, he honors him by throwing the first fish he catches back into the water. It’s a simple but powerful reminder of how love, memory, and connection continue long after goodbye.

Peggy reflects on her own journey when her mother was placed on hospice and the roller coaster of emotions during those final weeks before her passing from Alzheimer’s, along with the Pink Cloud Moments that helped her find peace and meaning along the way.

This conversation offers comfort, clarity, and compassion for anyone navigating caregiving or facing end-of-life decisions. It is a reminder that even in letting go, there can be love, meaning, and moments of light.

#HospiceCare #GriefJourney #MomentsOfGrace #HealingThroughGrief #CaregiverLife #Alzheimers #Dementia #Loveandloss