Inspired Caring

Dr. DuBose is an Emergency Department Doctor who watches his senior patients come to the hospital for care, return to their homes, only to show back up at the hospital. Up to 50% of the patients he sees at the hospital, are due to lack of care support in the home, because people struggle with ongoing care of these major issues: Wound infections leading to sepsis. Urinary track infections leading t...

Tim Brady, Nurse Anesthetist, shares in this episode what Ketamine Assisted Therapy is and how for those struggling with depression, chronic pain and PTSD, this can be a life saving therapy option. His clinic offers a unique approach that focuses on Set & Setting and includes ketamine guides and ketamine coaches to work with patients throughout their therapy. In this episode we talk about what...

Things are tough out there in the world and all of us are at varying levels of loss and grief. We also all process information differently and at different speeds. I am 100% guilty of being short and snapping at people, not being my best self and then have to remind myself, I'm doing the best I can, and so are they . Maybe a little bit of grace for myself, and others, could go a long way. As a...

Sasha K. Shillcutt, MD, MS, FASE is the best-selling author of Between Grit and Grace: How to be Feminine and Formidable. In her new and empowering book Brave Boundaries: Strategies to Say No, Stand Strong, and Take Control of Your Time (HCI Books, September 6, 2022), Shillcutt describes how she moved from simply surviving to thriving by stepping out of everyone’s expectations of her, stepping int...

I know it's not just me, because I keep hearing it from y'all too. Family vacations are not for the weak. With aging parents, that's one whole other thing I didn't even mention, they just can't organize and run our circus anymore. Beyond that, the life sucking energy that happens when extended family gets together, is trying to take us all out! After a hella frustrating trip to Colorado, I took no...

I'm excited to introduce you to, Bina Colman, Founder and Owner of Compassionate Callers! This is a phone call service that allows your loved ones to know that you care, while you are not able to call yourself. This is an amazing way to feel reassured that your loved one has someone to speak to (keep the loneliness at bay), that they will be checked on to make sure they are safe and secure in...

My Mom has been my wing-woman for 20 years as my husband and I have cared for 4 family members, including her mom, my Grandma Ferris. With every phone call I made, she was taking notes, not just on what what happening in the lives of our family members, but how she would want to handle each of the scenarios. Her life added a layer of complexity when she married our favorite and beloved, Papa Ron,...

When Ellen's mother became ill, the family rallied together to provide her with love, attention and care through the end of her life. It's not always that siblings agree and get along with one another during this emotional time. Ellen shares her heartwarming story about strength, mutual support and her mom's final days. I'm incredibly grateful to her for coming on and having this c...

This question, by far, is one of the most triggering questions family members have to respond to. There are so many emotions that spike to the surface when this is asked, and it can swirl us into guilt, doubt, fear, sadness, anger you name it, pretty quickly. If someone is not living with Alzheimer's or another dementia, this usually presents as subtle jabs that can eventually be triggering le...

How often do you find yourself holding your breath through out the day? Kimberly Faith is a powerful healer in the holistic industry. Using breathwork, she's discovered her purpose and inspires others to do the same. She's a rebel who challenges societal norms and invites others to push past their limitations and embrace their full potential. Her somatic and 9D breathwork sessions take par...

Is the senior in your life interested in having real discussion around interesting topics? Or may you or the person you care for is feeling lonely and seeking connection with someone else. Pastor Michael Bianchi has a heart for connecting people all over the world to uplift and encourage then in their later years! Most seniors face 3 major questions at this time in their lives: 1- Why must I live...

We are all getting older and what we do today matters for our health outcomes we have for years to come to age well. This is the last conversation in a 3 part series where my mom, Deborah, and I discuss Next Level Aging. In this episode we are talking about "the fun stuff" that she has done over the years to look and feel her best. Did you know you could plump up your earlobes?! Small ef...

When we experience loss, grief or trauma, (or any big life event!) we can find ourselves searching for peace or understanding by seeking closure. In this episode, Author Kimberly Isherwood, and I discuss her new book, Closure The Lie We Tell Ourselves . As a Nurse by training and Intuitive Medium by gift, Kimberly has a unique perspective on closure that has helped me in a couple of important ways...

This is one of the most complicated chapters of our life as we stride through middle age, with huge changes happening and responsibilities shifting. There are so many incredible influences in our life encouraging us to WAKE UP, telling us not to numb out and sleep walk through the next decade. Your health, your aging trajectory, your life are counting on you to wake up, pay attention and choose ,...

Sometimes after a hospital stay to recover from illness, medical incident or injury, a person isn't in position to go home yet. They are stable enough to leave the hospital, but the home setting would be too much too soon. Reasons may include, there is not anyone at home that is able to care for them, the home isn't set up yet for them yet or maybe a move to senior living is in order but s...

Here's something I've noticed. Sometimes there are certain things that we are just never ready for. No matter how much we feel we have prepared. For me, feeling prepared is about making a list and checking boxes. Figuring out what I need to DO to feel ready for something, buying stuff or visualizing an outcome. It's the work I do on the front end. Ready, for me, actually has a sense of...

It is incredibly frustrating to see someone who needs our help and have them refuse it. Family care-giving is hard enough when things are status-quo. When aging family members are clearly declining, it can be pretty scary to watch things unravel without a plan in place. There are 6 theories I share with you about why people don't seek help: Continuity Theory - they think it can keep going the...

Almost 6 years ago, I COMPLETELY changed my relationship with alcohol. Something I never thought I would have to do, want to do, or would be able to do. But the bottom line is drinking wasn't working for me anymore. I didn't like how I felt or acted when I over-drank. I didn't have the ability to just have 1 glass of wine and be done. Today is completely different. I still don't th...

If we're lucky, aging is happening whether we embrace it or not! As I look around at my aging role models, at 78, my mother is at the top of the list as someone who is aging well. Not just because she's beautiful inside and out, but because she is healthy, wealthy and wise in so many areas of her life. She takes no medications, works out multiple days a week, cooks delicious meals from scr...

Life can be unpredictable, especially when we are on this family caregiving journey, AND there are also so many things within our decision making process and control! If you really think about it, increments of 30 seconds, days, months, years, have a huge impact on our life. A lot can happen in those increments of time. Again, some of it in our control and some not so much. When my clients feel st...

Deborah Ferris is a retired Attorney, the founder of The Curious Senior (https://thecuriousenior.com/) who just celebrated her 78th birthday, and she is also my mom! She and I have had countless conversations over the years about aging and family caregiving. Our goal with this episode is to have her share some of the struggles she is facing and she has entered, in her words, the "next level o...

Even the most well-organized, loving, and harmonious family will eventually face the need for additional support. As the care needs of your family members grow, it becomes crucial to have the right individuals in your corner, ensuring that your own health and well-being are not compromised. Allow me to present Jennifer Fink, the delightful host of the Fading Memories podcast. With her extensive ca...

Here's a novel idea. A boundary is put in place and the discomfort is temporary, because a permanent change gets made. Whaaat? In this episode we explore how temporary boundaries lead to lasting change and personal growth. Discover the transformative power of setting limits and holding space for yourself and others. Join us on this journey of self-discovery as we embrace temporary boundaries f...

Sometimes it can be hard to imagine, but there is a chance that it may be worth considering, being open to the idea of something. In this thought-provoking episode, I invite you to join me on a personal journey of reflection and growth. Throughout my life, I've discovered the immense power of being open to new ideas and perspectives. From my role as a family caregiver to navigating relationshi...

So. Many. Feelings. In the latest episode of our podcast, I invite you to join me on a deeply personal exploration of the profound emotions experienced after the loss of a loved one. In this episode, I share my own journey of losing my mother-in-law and the unexpected feelings and challenges that emerged during this time of grief. Together, let's delve into the complexities of mourning and fin...