The Caregiver Crisis: Why Taking Care of Yourself Matters with Emma Heming Willis

In this special episode, Dr. Annie Fenn sits down with Emma Heming Willis to talk about the reality of caregiving—what it demands, what it takes out of you, and why no one should have to do it alone. Emma shares her experience navigating her husband’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the lack of support she encountered early on, and why she wrote her book, The Unexpected Journey. Together, they explore how caregiving impacts brain health, why caregivers are at higher risk for illness, and what it actually looks like to care for yourself while caring for someone else. This conversation is for anyone caring for a loved one—and for anyone who wants to better support the caregivers in their life. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Emma Heming Willis 03:13 The shock of diagnosis and lack of caregiver support 05:28 What frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is 10:04 Early signs and why FTD is often misdiagnosed 13:23 The hidden health risks of caregiving 16:29 Finding resources and building a support system 19:21 Caring for yourself as a caregiver 25:32 How to ask for help—and accept it 29:43 Setting boundaries and handling unsolicited advice 33:48 Reframing grief and finding moments of hope Links MentionedEmma Heming Willis https://www.emmahemingwillis.com/ The Unexpected Journey https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743409/the-unexpected-journey-by-emma-heming-willis/ Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) https://www.theaftd.org/ Teepa Snow (caregiving expert) https://teepasnow.com/ Roon (caregiver support app) https://www.thereisroon.com/ Make Time Wellness https://maketimewellness.com/ Brain Health Kitchen Substack https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com/