We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Talia Wandrum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Talia below.
Hi Talia, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you became such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
I can still vividly recall a pivotal moment that forever shaped me. It was during my junior year of high school; I was hosting a Halloween costume party at an assisted living facility in Jefferson, GA. Our mission was simple—dress in lighthearted costumes, spread laughter, and radiate love to the residents there.
I was approached by a resident who expressed her gratitude, emphasizing how special our presence made her feel. I acknowledged her kind words and was about to move on when she tightened her grip on my arm, tears gleaming in her eyes, saying, ‘You don’t understand, this means the world to me. My family doesn’t visit.’ I was taken aback, a flood of thoughts rushing through my mind: Why would her family not visit her? Here was a woman who had lived a rich, full life, cultivated countless memories, loved deeply, and nurtured a family, yet found herself in solitude.
I gave her a comforting hug, but just a few minutes later, she came up to me again, retelling her story as if she had forgotten our earlier conversation. She was living with dementia. A realization dawned on me—perhaps her family did visit, but her memories failed her. My interest in dementia had always been personal, with my late grandmother battling both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It instilled in me a profound respect and a sense of duty towards the elderly.
I pondered over societal norms; we pour immense love and care towards children with various diagnoses, but when it comes to the aging population, their conditions are deemed ‘normal.’ However, dementia is far from normal. Every individual with dementia has lived a life full of stories and deserves respect, understanding, and undiminished love. Unfortunately, due to societal stigmas, many families withdraw, leaving their loved ones feeling isolated.
So, where does my generosity come from? It’s not generosity in my eyes, but rather a solemn responsibility to support, educate, and uplift families so they can continue to support their loved ones better.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Talia, the face behind Dementia Care Advocates. We’re here for families who are feeling lost in the wild ride that is dementia care, giving them a place to understand their loved one’s symptoms and behaviors better.
Our space is all about blending knowledge with heartfelt support. It’s an online haven where caring becomes a bit more manageable, a bit more understood, and definitely more supported for families and their loved ones dealing with dementia.
I started this journey because of my own experiences caring for my late grandmother. I wanted to make sense of dementia, to get to know it, to understand it, and to help others do the same. After seeing the stress, burnout, and sadness in other caregivers and families due to a lack of proper education and support, I knew I had to do something.
So, in 2019, I decided to kick off Dementia Care Advocates. It’s grown into a global community where we’re helping and educating families on how to better care for loved ones with dementia. We keep things straightforward and fluff-free here—just clear, easy-to-grasp, actionable guidance and support.
What sets us apart is our unique approach to education. We’re more than just a hub of information—we were created by family caregivers for family caregivers. This gives us an empathetic and experienced perspective, offering families insights and understanding that they might not find elsewhere. It’s not just about relaying facts and figures; it’s about sharing genuine, lived experiences and learnings that resonate more deeply with families on similar journeys.
We’re a faith-based community, and we thrive on providing not just knowledge but also emotional sustenance to those who need it. It’s all about ensuring no one feels alone in this journey and that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see families transition from feeling stuck and frustrated to empowered and supported. Witnessing them forge bonds with other caregivers from across the globe and find solace and strength in shared experiences is what makes our work so impactful and fulfilling.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting on my journey, the three pivotal attributes that propelled me forward were a resilient and growth-oriented mindset, disciplined and impactful habits, and the courage to step out of my comfort zone.
Growth and Resilient Mindset:
This has been the backbone of my journey. Embracing a mindset that welcomes challenges as opportunities for growth and learns from failures has allowed me to navigate through the multifaceted challenges of running an online business. My advice to those at the start of their journey is to cultivate this mindset early. Embrace every challenge and every setback as a stepping stone to becoming more knowledgeable, more compassionate, and more resilient. Every failure is a lesson. Our job is to find the lesson and grow from it.
Disciplined and Impactful Habits:
Our habits shape our future. The daily actions and decisions we make are the building blocks of our tomorrow. Consistency in nurturing positive habits has been crucial. For those who are early in their journey, pay attention to your habits, from how you manage your time to how you approach learning and problem-solving. Prioritize habits that align with your goals and values, and remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Courage to Leave the Comfort Zone:
Nothing groundbreaking occurs within the confines of our comfort zone. It was often the moments when I pushed my boundaries and embraced discomfort that I experienced the most growth and learning. To those embarking on their journey, don’t shy away from the unknown or the uncomfortable. Keep pushing, keep trying, and embrace new experiences and learnings with open arms.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When overwhelmed, the first thing I ask myself is, “Do I have a right to feel this way, or is this a signal that I need to slow down?” Overwhelm can be a sign that it’s time to pause and recalibrate. I firmly believe in maintaining a healthy mindset and overall well-being; we didn’t start our journeys to run ourselves into the ground.
If I find that I’m merely being dramatic about feeling overwhelmed, I take a moment to step back and clear my mind. I organize my thoughts and tasks by creating a priority list categorized into: “Must Do Now,” “Do Later,” and “Do Eventually.” As someone who triumphs over ADHD, I understand the struggle of being constantly flooded with new ideas, forgotten important tasks, and rampant thoughts. Staying on track is crucial.
Remembering why I started always puts things into perspective and helps to recalibrate my focus and energy. My advice to anyone feeling overwhelmed is to recognize when it’s time to take a break and to organize your thoughts and tasks effectively. Prioritize self-care and well-being, remember your ‘why,’ and keep your objectives clear and focused. Balancing your professional aspirations with personal well-being is pivotal to sustainable success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dementiacareadvocates.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dementiacareadvocates/
