In the world of memory care, we talk a lot about programming - daily activities, therapy schedules, and routines that help individuals living with dementia engage their minds and bodies. But we talk far less about the emotional experience of memory loss for the people living with it, and the professionals supporting them.
At ZinniaTV, we believe it's time to change that conversation.
That’s why our co-founder, Allyson Schrier, joined Holly Osterman on the Real Wisdom podcast, a show that explores midlife reinvention and meaning-making through some of life’s hardest moments. In the episode, Allyson opens up about how caregiving transformed not only her personal identity, but also her view of what meaningful care really looks like.
“Caregiving isn’t a role. It’s a full identity shift that deserves more support.” - Real Wisdom Podcast
Whether you're a family caregiver or a professional in a senior living community, caregiving comes with an emotional toll. It's not just about preparing meals or facilitating activities - it’s about showing up with empathy, staying present through grief, and holding space for stories that repeat, questions that persist, and emotions that surface again and again.
In the podcast, Allyson shares a powerful insight: "I realized the thing my husband needed most wasn’t always information or activity - it was connection. He needed to feel safe."
That shift in understanding became the seed for ZinniaTV.
ZinniaTV was never designed to be just another content platform. It’s a calming tool designed to support emotional well-being through videos that meet individuals where they are. Our content helps reduce agitation, foster connection, and gently support daily care routines. But most of all, it brings calm into environments that often feel overwhelming.
For Activity Directors, Memory Care Program Managers, and Executive Directors, this emotional layer of care is essential. When residents feel emotionally safe, staff do too. And when tools like ZinniaTV help foster that environment, everything from engagement to staff morale improves.
We often measure success in memory care by looking at participation rates or how well a new activity fills the calendar. But real impact is felt in the quieter moments: when a resident smiles watching a nature video that reminds them of home, or when a calming routine video diffuses sundowning agitation.
Emotional support isn’t just “soft stuff”- it’s essential care. And platforms like ZinniaTV are here to help communities deliver it.
To hear more about the heart behind ZinniaTV, listen to Allyson’s full interview on the Real Wisdom podcast, hosted by Holly Osterman. The episode dives into the emotional realities of caregiving, the challenge of reinvention, and the unexpected power of small, human moments in memory care.
🎧 Listen here: Real Wisdom Podcast: Allyson Schrier on ZinniaTV
