Running on Empty

In this episode, “Running on Empty,” Wendy and Barry check in from a place many dementia caregivers quietly live in: emotional depletion, constant vigilance, fear, guilt, and the crushing weight of never truly feeling “off duty.” What begins with a long-planned trip to New York quickly turns into another caregiving crisis when a bed suddenly opens at their first-choice memory care facility — and their mom must move immediately. It’s the second time a major transition happens while Wendy is out of town, because caregiving never checks the calendar. From there, the conversation deepens into the reality of caregiver burnout and the toll of relentless change. Over the past year, their mom has lived in multiple hospitals, rehab centers, and care facilities — each move a shock to her system and another layer of emotional trauma for everyone involved. Even when she’s “stable,” nothing feels settled. And stability, when it comes, feels fragile. They reflect on a recent family milestone — joyful, meaningful, and heartbreaking all at once — marking the end of an era and highlighting how dementia reshapes even the most beautiful moments. There is gratitude for what remains: humor, recognition, presence, and flashes of light in a very dark place. But there is also an honest reckoning with fear about what lies ahead. In one of the episode’s most grounding moments, they talk about permission — permission to be exhausted without judgment, to lower your shoulders, to admit this is hard, to stop pretending resilience means never cracking. And yes, permission to laugh — even when the humor is dark — because sometimes laughter is the only relief valve left. If you’re caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia, living in a constant state of alertness, questioning yourself, and wondering why you’re so tired all the time — this episode will feel painfully familiar. No answers. No pretending it’s okay. Just truth, humor, fear, love — and the reminder that you’re not weak for being worn down. You’re human. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices