Yes, and...

Caregiving for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s often feels like trying to follow a script that keeps changing — sometimes minute by minute. In this episode, Barry introduces the improv principle “Yes, And” and explains how the skills he learned in improv have become powerful tools for caregiving. While improv is often mistaken for being funny or quick, Barry and Wendy break down what it actually teaches: presence, flexibility, emotional listening, and acceptance — all essential when supporting someone living with dementia. Through real, unfiltered caregiver moments — frantic phone calls, imagined locations, repeated questions, and emotional distress — this episode explores why correcting facts often escalates agitation, and how meeting your loved one in theirreality can preserve dignity, reduce stress, and strengthen connection. The conversation also touches on the emotional toll caregiving takes, sibling dynamics, and the ongoing challenge of choosing emotional truth over factual accuracy — especially when fear, confusion, or panic take over. This episode is for caregivers who feel overwhelmed, unsure of what to say, or exhausted from trying to “fix” situations that can’t be fixed. It offers practical mindset shifts and real-life examples that show how caregiving is improvisation, whether we realize it or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices