When Macular Degeneration Steals Sight: Vicki Castleman’s Beautiful Caregiving Journey

Written By Amy Huddleston

By Amy Huddleston, Host of The Care Table Podcast | December 2025

In one of the most moving episodes yet, I sat down with Vicki Castleman to hear her decade-long caregiving story for her mom, Dee Chase, who battled both dementia and macular degeneration. What began as “Mom can’t see the TV anymore” became a profound lesson in love, creativity, and letting go.Vicki shares how audiobooks gave her mother back independence and joy when reading was lost forever. (Pro tip: the National Library Service for the Blind is FREE—details below.) She opens up about the emotional weight of moving Dee to memory care, the family meetings, legal battles, and the small moments—like Dee still recognizing Vicki’s voice—that made it all worthwhile.Key takeaways every caregiver needs:

  • Start financial & legal planning early (power of attorney, trust, long-term care insurance)

  • Creative tools like audiobooks restore dignity when sight fades

  • Clear family roles prevent burnout

  • Cherish the moments—because love outlives memory

Resources from Vicki:

Watch/listen now: https://youtu.be/K8YOedKcdY4

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#DementiaCare #MacularDegeneration #AudiobooksForSeniors #CaregiverStories #TheCareTablePodcast

Amy Huddleston
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