About Hope Floats
As a clinician who sees the impact of the condition of dementia on both patients and those who care about them, and as a professional coach who supports clients in caregiving, we come to this experience with knowledge about the unique challenges of a dementia diagnosis. We are also two people who have experienced caretaking in this disease and its impact on our lives firsthand. We are passionate about the subject of dementia and its effects on both the person living with the disease and those who care about them. We want to create a space to talk about concerns and possibilities for people on this journey.
We are here to:
Build knowledge and have a “real” conversation and resources people can turn to. We want a conversation that looks at this issue with integrity and in a way that holds the dignity of the person with dementia and their loved ones at its center. And even though it might be difficult to do, we want more open and honest dialogue about the realities of this disease.
Reduce suffering of those on this journey. We want a fresh look at creative ways to lessen the burden of dementia. We want a place to discuss the challenges of loving someone through this journey and the challenges of taking care of ourselves along the way.
Enhance well-being in the dementia experience. We want people to feel that they aren’t alone and that there is some sense of hope in this landscape, while navigating constantly changing roles as caretakers. We want to learn about our own health, lives, and opportunities in the midst of the unknowns of dementia, and we want more people to feel community and support in this journey.
We know we aren’t the only ones. So, we decided to create this podcast.
Welcome to Hope Floats.
Meet the Hosts
In 2019, we met because we were both on the caregiving journey for our moms, who had dementia. Over time, we’ve become close friends, colleagues, and great supporters of each other on our best and most challenging days. Today, we’re two friends, becoming podcasters, committed to finding and sharing better ways to navigate the challenges of caring for a person with dementia.
Shoshawna Rainwater
Co-Host
“I was a social worker and dementia specialist long before I became a daughter of a person living with dementia. For all the clinical knowledge that I brought into this disease experience with my own parent, nothing prepared me for the “lived” experience of having a loved one with dementia. It has been a fundamental perspective and “game changer” to be in this role of care partner for a person living with progressive brain changes. And while I wouldn’t wish this disease on my parent or anyone else, it has allowed me to have a first-person experience that has shaped my understanding of the role of caregiver/care partner– one that I’m certain a “third person” perspective would not have allowed me to have.”
Shoshawna Rainwater, LCSW (She/Her/Hers), is a dementia consultant in private practice based in Portland, Oregon. She received her master’s degree in social work in 2003 from Portland State University and clinical licensure in 2007. She has worked as a social worker for over twenty years and has expertise in the areas of dementia, older adulthood specific issues and palliative care.
Shoshawna has spent the last two decades studying dementia and its effects on those involved– disease trajectory, stages, unique/difficult facets of the disease, and the impact on caregivers. She is the co-host of the original podcast “Hope Floats”- a podcast created to support people caring for a person living with dementia.
Shoshawna has served on the OHSU Geriatric ECHO faculty and SPADO (State Plan for Alzheimer’s & other Dementias in Oregon). She is a frequent presenter on best practices in dementia care, including how to care for people living with dementia and to enhance understanding of the dementia experience of both patients and caregivers.
Shoshawna lives in Portland, Oregon. When not working, you can find her crafting, exploring meditation practices and spending time outdoors with friends and family. You can learn more about her at rainwaterconsultingpdx.com
Rachel Coady
Co-Host
“As a daughter, friend, niece, and colleague, far too many people I know are impacted by dementia and the challenges of navigating the caretaker’s journey. In my own experience, I found it overwhelming, lonely, and challenging to find the answers and support I needed to get through caring for my mom. It’s clear to me that we have to do better. My hope is that together, we can discuss our different experiences and discover what’s available when processing and caretaking in one of life’s most complex diseases.”
Rachel Coady is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who works with clients navigating significant life transitions. For the last 5 years, she has worked with clients facing changes in careers, family life, personal well-being, and personal growth. Through her coaching, clients reconnect with themselves, their needs, and the world around them. They focus on building the lives they want in spite of life’s challenges. Rachel’s interest in dementia and caregiving started with her own experience as a caregiver in 2019. She found coaching tools helpful in navigating the caretaking experience, including self-management, self-care, boundary setting, reframing, and honoring personal values.
In addition to being a professional coach, Rachel helps build team culture and community in organizations. She is co-host of the original podcast “Hope Floats,”- a podcast created to support people caring for a person living with dementia.
She is passionate about creating a world with more consideration, support, and dignity for caretakers and people experiencing dementia. When she’s not working, you can typically find her gardening or playing outside in the Pacific Northwest. You can learn more about her work and connect with her at rachelcoady.com