In this heartfelt episode, Laura speaks with Rick Henkin, a spouse-turned-caregiver whose wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 65. Rick shares his powerful story of navigating the emotional toll of caregiving, learning acceptance, and discovering how to care for himself so he could better care for his wife. From humor and heartbreak to practical wisdom, Rick offers a moving look at what it truly means to show up with love, even in the face of dementia.
👤 Meet Rick Henkin
Rick Henkin is a family caregiver and advocate who began his caregiving journey when his wife, Sonya, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2020. In response to the emotional challenges of caregiving, he launched the Facebook group For Family Caregivers: Eliminate Stress, Anger, and Guilt and developed the Caregiver Mastery course to help others find peace, presence, and emotional resilience. Rick brings humor, insight, and hope to a journey many walk alone.
📌 Topics Discussed
- Recognizing the early signs of dementia and navigating diagnosis
- The emotional impact of Capgras Syndrome and memory care transitions
- How Rick reframed caregiving through mindset and self-care
- The importance of acceptance, humor, and being present
- Male caregivers and the unique challenges they face
- How Rick supports other caregivers through community and education
⏱️ Timestamps (Approximate)
00:00 – Introduction and Rick’s story
05:40 – Receiving the Alzheimer’s diagnosis
11:15 – Capgras Syndrome and emotional toll
17:00 – Realizations about the burden of caregiving
22:30 – Launching his Facebook group and course
29:45 – Choosing memory care and building relationships with staff
40:00 – What it’s like now having Sonya back at home
49:20 – Humor as a survival tool
56:00 – Male caregivers, mindset, and emotional regulation
1:04:30 – Rick’s advice for caregivers and the importance of community
💡 Key Takeaways
- Caregiver stress is often more about your reaction than your loved one’s behavior
- Acceptance of the disease is key to finding peace
- Humor can be a powerful tool in difficult moments
- Taking care of yourself is essential to being a good caregiver
- Male caregivers need community and emotional support too
- You don’t have to believe every thought—mindset can be changed
📚 Resources Mentioned
- Rick’s Facebook group: For Family Caregivers: Eliminate Stress, Anger, and Guilt
- Rick’s course: caregivermasterycourse.com
- Journal of the American Medical Association caregiver risk study
- Quote by Maya Angelou: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
- Quote by Wayne Dyer: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
🤝 Connect with Rick Henkin
🌿 Connect with Laura Vaillancourt & the Life on Repeat Podcast
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