Best known as a TV and radio talk-show host, Leeza Gibbons stepped into uncharted territory as one of 11 contestants on the fourth edition of ABC's Dancing With the Stars. A novice dancer, Gibbons, who was eliminated from the competition, wasn't just looking to score a trophy - she accepted the challenge at a milestone in her life (she turned 50 in 2007), hoping to promote greater awareness of Alzheimer's disease.

After Gibbons lost her grandmother to Alzheimer's and watched her mother inherit the devastating disease (who passed away in May 2008), she created the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, which offers free services to Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. The foundation now has six centers around the country - each known as Leeza's Place - helping the newly diagnosed and their families to cope with the disease.

Everyday Health caught up with Gibbons before a rehearsal with her Dancing With the Stars partner, Tony Dovolani.

Everyday Health: Why did you want to compete on Dancing With the Stars?

Leeza Gibbons: This is a perfect chance for me to face my fears of being [inadequate], of being judged by the outside world, of being the oldest woman in the competition and trying to represent that we're still sensual. Being fearless at 50 is a huge motivator for me.

EH: Some women wouldn't admit to being 50.

LG: I think you have to own it. Fifty is a powerful number. It's knowing who you really are and not being afraid to look into your fear and see what reflects back at you. It's about recognizing your gifts and also recognizing what you don't know how to do. Also, I'm [on the show] to represent all the caregivers out there who don't get any recognition for the noble job they do and whose lives should include celebration and happiness and being pretty. I really want to dance for those stars.

EH: How are you juggling Dancing with your radio show - Hollywood Confidential - your Alzheimer's work, and your role as single mom of three kids?

LG: I'm in the studio every morning recording, and then I deal with foundation business, but the kids come first.

EH: How old are they now?

LG: Lexi, my daughter, is 17. She's a dancer. I'm hoping she can help me. My boys, Troy and Nathan, are 15 and 9. They're all about, "Please don't humiliate us." They've seen me dance!

EH: Tell us about your foundation and Leeza's Place.

LG: We exist to make it better for families like mine and millions of other Americans. When we buried my grandmother and saw my mother get robbed by the same memory thief, we felt very frightened, frustrated, and alone. I knew our family's challenge was not unique. My mother told me to take her story and make it count - I promised her I would.

A couple of years later we created the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation to empower, educate, and energize caregivers and their loved ones. We created Leeza's Place as an oasis of free services where families could gather their strength and create a plan for the difficult journey ahead. Our mentoring programs have been especially well received - those who have faced the struggle are successfully "coaching" others. Once you have stood up against a memory disorder, you become an expert, an authority who is eager to share what works. We plan to continue building our support centers across the country so that no caregiver will ever feel alone and that those who are forgetting will not be forgotten.

EH: How did you cope when your mother was diagnosed?

LG: I went to several friends of mine, one of whom became our executive director - Dr. Jamie Huysman. I used to take long walks with a little Dictaphone and record my emotional experience - my anger, my sadness, memories of my mom, what I was afraid of for myself. I sealed the recordings in an envelope. I've never listened to them, but I feel it's really important to empty out your emotions.

EH: What advice do you have for families dealing with Alzheimer's, especially caregivers?

LG: Alzheimer's disease is where cancer was two decades ago - there is still a lot of shame and stigma. Some people are afraid if they allow [the disease] to see the light of day it will somehow gain more power. [At Leeza's Place], we believe that you have to name it and claim it. The earlier you get your head out of the sand, the more effective the fight can be.

Caregivers often buckle under the pressure and develop stress-related disorders. We are helping to alleviate some of that pressure and trying to encourage caregivers to "take their oxygen first" so that they can provide better care for their loved one. It sounds counterintuitive, but if you nurture yourself first - mind, body, and soul - you have so much more to give to the people who depend on you.

Staying physically active is essential because it will boost your endorphins and make you more mentally, spiritually, and physically resilient. And you have to admit that you have limits and ask for help. We seem to think that there's dishonor in not doing it all by yourself. It's okay to say you're overwhelmed and could use some help.

EH: Are there any other important things for caregivers to know?

LG: I encourage caregivers to look at the acronym CARE to inform their decisions. The C reminds you to "consider your options." Know what's available to help you in the caregiving process. Maybe it's a long-term care insurance policy; maybe it's an in-house companion; maybe it's adult daycare; maybe it's an afternoon walk for you. Consider all your options.

The A reminds caregivers to "allow for a break." Caregiving can be relentless, and anyone who has ever done it will tell you that no matter how much love you have, there's never enough energy to go around.

The R is a reminder for caregivers to "remain active." Stress is the enemy, and one of the best ways to fight it is to stay physically active.

The E reminds caregivers to "evaluate signs of depression and seek help."