In Grief, Love Remains with Patti LaFleur, Care Partner, Influencer & Dementia Educator
Memories can bring us happiness but they can also be a constant reminder of the loss that we’ve experienced. Grief can change and evolve from moment to moment. No one can predict how we will experience grief and how others will respond.
My guest today is Patti LaFleur, she is a former care partner for her mom, Linda, who had mixed dementia.
Eventually, Linda came to live with Patti, and the two shared "love, fun, and joy" every day. She continues to honor her mom by sharing her story and changing the stigma around dementia.
Patti has a large following on social media and shows us how we can truly connect with our loved ones, hold space for grief, and share joyful moments along the way.
She continues her advocacy as a volunteer and community educator with the Alzheimers Association, Caring Across Generations, and other organizations that empower and encourage care partners.
Patti and I talk about what we wish others would understand about grief, how our relationships change and evolve as we grieve, how to navigate the holidays and special occasions, how to set good boundaries and let go of expectations of not only others but for ourselves. Thank you, Patti, for sharing all you've learned about love, loss, and compassion- I know your mom was your biggest cheerleader and she is smiling from above. Through it all, the love remains and you are spreading it everywhere. Thank you!
Patti shares about:
Why she chooses to share her story of caring for her mom
How she is changing the stigma around dementia
What she wishes others would understand about grief
How our relationships can change and evolve as we grieve
What not to say to someone grieving
The ways we can support others in their grief
Navigating the holidays and special events in grief
Honoring our boundaries and personal journey in grief
Her favorite times with her mom
About Patti LaFleur
Patti LaFleur is the former care partner for her Mom, Linda, who had mixed dementia. She cared for her Mom for three years. These two were the perfect duo. They shared fun, love and joy together every day. Linda and Patti even made a special trip to Disney before Linda passed in March.
Since Linda's passing, Patti has continued to advocate and raise awareness for the dementia and Alzheimer's community. She volunteers for the Alzheimer's association as a community educator and volunteers in the art class that her Mom attend. She shares her story actively on social media (misspatticake on instagram) and wants to change the stigma around dementia.
She is shining a light on dementia and is sharing her story along the way.
Please follow Patti @misspatticake on Instagram and @carepartnerpatti on TikTok.
Visit carepartnerpatti.com for more information.
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We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.
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Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.
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