Life Happens

The Overlap Between Infection and Mental Health: "They've got case stories of people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and then get diagnosed with Bartonella, which is one of the pathogens that my husband had. And then they get treated, and their symptoms go away."Title: From Caregiver to Advocate: A Mission to Transform the Standard of CareOn this episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwoo...

It’s all about connection.“When caregivers are of the same age, they can bond over the same music, movies, and life experiences,” says Shehnaz. Small talk? Instantly easier. Loneliness? Way lessened. Title: Home Care with a TwistWelcome to another episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood! In today’s conversation, Kim sits down with Shehnaz Kapasi to explore a truly unique approach to senior home c...

The crucial details:Every move is a “special event,” Lori says, where timing, energy levels, and lots of little details matter—especially for seniors. She explains how a senior move manager’s attention to careful scheduling and sensitivity makes the day far less stressful. ~ Laurie Maggio- Senior Move ManagerTitle: Moving a Senior- Hire a Project ManagerOn this episode of Life Happens with Kim Heg...

How Concierge Medicine Changes the Doctor-Patient Relationship: "As a concierge doctor, folks have my cell phone number. They have my email address. They call. They text."Dr. Tacara SonesTitle: Concierge Medical Care for SeniorsOn this episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood, Kim sits down with Dr. Tacara Soones, a geriatrician and founder of Dahlia House Calls, to explore the growing trend of co...

When Personal Safety Becomes a Concern: "As he began losing track of who I was, it would become scary. He could come in the bedroom and go, Who are you in my room? And that's when I realized we were on a different path." ~ Allene Symons- AuthorTitle: Finding Caregiving Solutions When Your Spouse Has DementiaWelcome to another episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood," where we dive into the chall...

The Longest Day: "The thinking behind it was that living with Alzheimer's or caring for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia can feel like the longest day. So it's very symbolic of that challenging journey that we all face when we're dealing with Alzheimer's in our family or with our friends or in our workplace, and it represents the perseverance and continuous effort required to navigate the comp...

"When the Sparkle Fades: Recognizing the Signs of Depression": "All I could say is he doesn't look right. The sparkle is gone. And I know that sounds like, like, it made no sense. And when the day they said, oh, he's depressed, I thought that's what that's it. That's what I've been trying to say, I guess, with saying. But to me, it was like, what I could see was that sparkle, that life in his eyes...

"Setting Boundaries Through Caregiving: Three Essential Questions for Clarity": "Are they financially safe? Are they physically safe? Are they mentally safe? And if the answer was no, I set a boundary." ~ Elda Prevette- AuthorTitle: How to Talk to Your Aging Parents about Difficult TopicsIn this episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood," we dive into the complex dynamics of caring for aging paren...

The Hidden Impact of Social Isolation on Dementia: "The only difference I see in the family progression of this disease is that she was socially isolated, she stopped her career, She took care of him 24/7 and that brought it on twenty years earlier."Title: Navigating Family Conflicts in Dementia CareHow to Contact MaliaIn this episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood, we dive into the complex worl...

"Empowering Participation": "I mean, truthfully speaking, it's just not a great feeling to feel like you're so 100% dependent on everybody around you." ` Krista MontagueTitle: Tips and Tools to Help the Dementia CaregiverOn this week's episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood," we're thrilled to welcome Krista Montague, the founder of Dementia Success Path. Krista shares insights from her extensi...

"Giving Ourselves Grace": "Look at what you're doing. You're doing all the things for someone else on top of being a human yourself. So we gotta remember and give ourselves some grace, which I know is so hard." ~ Carrie AalbertsTitle: Caregiver Cruise- Do it for you and for the one you loveWelcome to another insightful episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood." This time, we dive into the world o...

"Adapting Tasks for Alzheimer's Care": "Things need to be on a good schedule, and their tasks, their daily life tasks need to be simplified, very much simplified." Sharon CantrellTitle: Early Education Provides Hope for Dementia CaregiversIn this episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood, we dive into a crucial topic for many families: how early education can provide hope for dementia caregivers. O...

Unexpected Conversations: "I thought we'd talk about automobiles, old cars, you know, this sort of thing, 57 Chevys. No. It took us to another place. He began to talk about his time in Vietnam during the war." ~ Tom Brenner, Gerontologist -Engaging with a Dementia PatientTitle: Engaging Dementia Patients Through Hands-On Montessori MethodsWelcome to another insightful episode of "Life Happens with...

Discovering Hidden Depths in Dementia Patients: "I remember I did a workshop in, Arkansas in a nursing home where I was training the caregivers in the dementia unit. And when they started working with this process, they were so amazed at how much they learned about the person who was a resident there. And they say, oh, I never even realized that Joan had all this in her, that all this stuff was go...

Parenting Challenges: "We might be handing off our car keys to our teenager, right, our newly minted driver, at the same time trying to wrestle keys from mom or dad because they shouldn’t be driving anymore."Title: Thriving in the Sandwich GenerationWelcome to another insightful episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood." Today, we are thrilled to have Christy Yates, an accomplished author and psy...

Navigating VA Benefits for Home Care: "If someone is already on VA benefits, it usually takes just a phone call to the right person at the VA to get this, motion going to get home care started and paid for by the VA."Title: 3 Reasons You Need Home Care and Who Can Help You Pay for ItWelcome to another episode of Life Happens with your host, attorney Kim Hegwood of Your Legacy Legal Care. Today, we...

In this episode of Life Happens, Kim Hegwood sits down with Alexis Baker to explore the profound impact of music therapy on individuals living with dementia. Alexis explains what music therapy is and how it goes beyond simply listening to music. She shares why music resonates so deeply with individuals with dementia, even as other memories fade, and highlights research that reveals how music affec...

In this episode of Life Happens, Kim Hegwood speaks with Demi Rizzo about the essential role of caregiver training in navigating the progression of dementia. Demi, an expert in occupational therapy, explains how this form of therapy benefits the adult and geriatric population by promoting independence and improving quality of life. She introduces Brain Fit, a specialized treatment program for indi...

In this episode of Life Happens, Kim Hegwood is joined by Debra Berlyn to explore the intersection of AI, technology, and healthy aging. As technology rapidly evolves, Debra shares insights into how these advancements are shaping the lives of older adults and their caregivers. The discussion begins with a look at key statistics and unique characteristics of today’s aging population, providing cont...

In this episode of Life Happens, Kim Hegwood welcomes Zack Butler to discuss an important topic for veterans and their families: Are you leaving money on the table when it comes to veterans' benefits? Zack provides an overview of the various veterans' benefits available to those living in Texas and shares practical advice for navigating the often-overwhelming benefits process. He highlights common...

In this episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood sits down with Michael Ritchie to discuss an important financial tool for retirees: reverse mortgages. Michael begins by breaking down what a reverse mortgage is in simple, easy-to-understand terms and addresses the misconceptions that often give them a bad reputation. Together, they explore scenarios where a reverse mortgage can be a smart option...

In this episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood sits down with Zach Herbst to tackle an essential yet often misunderstood topic: life insurance. Zach begins by breaking down the purpose of life insurance and why it’s a critical part of financial and family planning. The discussion explores the different types of life insurance, helping listeners understand the options available and what might wo...

In this episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood welcomes Christen Clayton Beckham to discuss the crucial topic of funeral pre-planning and how it can alleviate stress for families during difficult times. Christen begins by addressing the most important things to know when faced with a loved one’s passing and the steps involved in funeral planning. The conversation delves into veteran death benef...

In this insightful episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood sits down with Joanna Wyckoff to explore the often-overlooked federal benefits available to veterans and how these can significantly enhance their quality of life as they age. Joanna discusses the most underutilized veteran benefits, detailing how they can support aging veterans during their later years. The conversation then shifts to s...

In this episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood sits down with Christina Keys to explore the emotional journey of caregiver recovery after a loved one has passed. Christina shares her powerful story of caring for her mother and the deep impact of losing her father during that time, revealing the emotional challenges she faced as she balanced grief with caregiving responsibilities. As Christina r...