Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate Podcast: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!

Don't ignore the debt of a loved one after their death. Family members are often unprepared to handle end-of-life financial responsibilities. Listen in for more insights.

Proper fitting shows in our elderly loved ones is essential! Watching a family with an elderly loved one at the grocery store, I saw a disturbing and scary situation. Flip-flops were on the feet of this person. Dangerous! Listen in for more insights!

During our lifetime, we collect a lot of stuff and things. Some are needs that enable us to maintain the lifestyle of our choosing, but many are our wants. He declared that survival needs must be satisfied before we are satisfied with the stuff and things of life, which include love and belonging, friendship, and family. Listen in for more insights!

We all agonize over hot weather! But, our loved ones and those with chronic medical conditions must be watched and monitored when temperatures are extreme. Specific prescription medications and over-the-counter medications (OTC) can have dangerous consequences for our elderly if not managed during the hot climate. Listen in for more insights!

I often share…do not fear hospice, fear pain and suffering, that a loved one may experience when disease and trauma overtake one's earthly body. There has always been a misguided fear of hospice. Most of the fear stems from a lack of knowledge of practices and outcomes rendering care. Listen in for more insight.

In extreme temperatures, the livin’ may not be so easy for our elderly loved ones. These are the times when vigilance is vital. Several factors must be taken into consideration when high temperatures are forecasted. Listen for more insight.

With aging, illnesses and undeniable medical conditions may arise that require extra attention and consideration to keep health status stable. Your role as the caregiver is valuable when special attention to detail is required. Listen in for more insights!

The challenging role of caregiving can lead to burnout. At times the role can offer a lot of ambiguity, as well as challenges. What to do? Listen in for more insights.

What do you wish you would have known before becoming a caregiver? What is the real reality of being a surrogate? Listen in for more insights.

As we age, so does our brain and its ability to function as it once did. There are many reasons for cognitive decline. The safety of our elderly loved ones must always be in view. Listen in for more insights.

As we have ended mental health month, we still need to be mindful of what triggers our health and wellness as it relates to mental health. Listen in to learn to be proactive as you check in with yourself.

One of the most exciting things about being a life-long learner is learning new things. Did you know that May is Older American Month(OAM)? I was reading my AARP magazine a few days ago, and read that Older Americans have a month! What you say! Listen in for more insights!

Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens of your eye, and, in many circumstances, an artificial lens is inserted. The lens of your eye is clear, but as we age, so does our vision. When cataracts develop over time, they cause the lens to become cloudy, causing blurry vision and increasing glare from lights which eventually affects your vision. Listen in for more insights.

Elderly spouses as caregivers have increased over the past decade. People are living longer. During my years of working in the acute-care setting, many of the elderly patients under my care had elderly spouses and no immediate family. I never considered the amount of the situation until my second look and the calls I received about the care concerns of our elderly. Listen in for more insights!

When we hear or read the word,' coping,' related to caregiving, does one's mind go to the terms of stress and burnout? Why is that? Did you know that coping is the use of an array of countless techniques that attempt to reduce feelings of stress and discomfort that occurs from a situation or event? These dynamic responses may be grouped into words like secure/insecure, effective/ ineff...

Personal experiences and conversations with others help fuel my discussion on situations that caregivers face. Let us start by declaring pain is not normal. When someone complains or describes feelings of discomfort and pain, it needs addressing, especially in our elders. We know the causes could stem from an array of conditions. The condition we will discuss is gout. Listen in for more insights!

I am very intentional when blogging. Much of what I have learned either through my professional career or caregiving experiences, hope is, that the knowledge will help all who read my work.  I stand on the premise that it is vital that lived- experiences are shared. This is my mission! We know caregiving has many twists and turns. Listen in for more insights.

The women in our world are what the acronym stands for. I must admit, I made it up! It’s significant and I hope it is for you. Where would we be without women in our world? The ones I am writing about are our S isters, W ives, D aughters, M others, M entors, and lest we forget the wise council of our G randmothers. I realize everyone may not have had the same experiences...Listen in for more insig...

We have ended Black History Month and what is no better way to say ‘ until next year’s to highlight eldercare issues in the black community? I like to start by saying that… a family that prays together stays together; with a few hiccups, here and there. The foundation of the family is its elders. They share wisdom and guidance based on their lived experiences and struggles. Listen in for more insi...

Do you have a safe place where important documents are kept? Do family members know where to find them? Who is in charge of family health and end-of-life affairs ( if you cannot )? New Flash…Your cellular devices and computers may be handy, but important documents must be kept where you can put your hands on them( hard copies ) when necessary. Listen for more insights!

Since February is the month we highlight Black History, and the struggles, cultural excellence, as well as disparities, the conversation today is on nursing homes where African American family members are residents. Healthcare systems like nursing homes are grappling with the issue of adequate and acceptable care. Listen in for more insights.

As we continue to highlight Black History Month, looking at the value of palliative care and hospice care in the African American family is our topic.  Characteristically, educating a culture of people is often well-received, if the knowledge is coming from individuals that look like them. Listen in for more insights.

February is heart health month! What can you do to take care of your heart? Listen in for more insights!

Our future, meaning the younger generations, must be reminded that caring for the family, especially our elders is an expectation. It's what we did back then and it’s what we must do now! Anyone in the family could be considered a caregiver. Listen in for more insights.

It’s no secret that as we age, our vision has a mind of its own. Our vision does not consult with us asking if we want to see more or less. Populations everywhere suffer from glaucoma and cataracts, which are known to result in blindness if untreated. All we know is how often magnifying tools and reading glasses become searchable items to read our books, newspapers, and medication labels. We place...