The Care Collective Podcast

Morning routines can become surprisingly difficult for people experiencing memory loss, dementia, or executive functioning challenges. Tasks like brushing teeth, getting dressed, or preparing for an appointment may seem simple, but they actually require multiple brain functions working together. When those functions change, everyday routines can become confusing and overwhelming. In this solo epis...

What happens when you start noticing small changes in a parent, missed appointments, unpaid bills, or confusion over everyday tasks, and suddenly realize the caregiving journey has begun? In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , Mikayla sits down with Ellen Frazier to talk about stepping into the role of caregiver for her mother while navigating the uncertainty of an ongoing dementia diagn...

What is it really like to build a 30-year career in professional caregiving? In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, I sit down with Christina Potts, a retired home health aide turned caregiver advocate, to talk about the realities of working in home care for three decades. We discuss the hidden grief caregivers carry when clients pass away, why caregiving is often misunderstood as “just a...

Caregiver loneliness is real, and no one talks about it enough. In this solo episode of The Care Collective Podcast, we’re diving into a hidden layer of caregiving: losing friends and feeling isolated while caring for someone you love. If you’ve ever felt like your world has gotten smaller… Like you’re canceling plans more than you’re making them… Like friendships have quietly shifted since you be...

Caregiver burnout is real, and it doesn’t mean you’re failing. In this episode, we’re talking about the emotional stress of caregiving, the warning signs of caregiver burnout, and how to prevent exhaustion when you’re caring for an aging parent, spouse, or loved one with dementia. I’m joined by Kevin Lambing, co-owner of enhdme.com and longtime advocate for family caregivers. With a background in...

Who takes care of the caregiver? In this special Valentine’s Day episode of The Care Collective Podcast , Mikayla shares a love letter to caregivers who are feeling exhausted, invisible, or emotionally overwhelmed. Caregiving is one of the most loving roles a person can step into, but it’s also one of the most unseen. If you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, caregiver stress, grief while your lov...

How do you advocate for yourself at the doctor, especially when appointments feel rushed, medical records don’t always match, and you’re trying to explain months of symptoms in just a few minutes? In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , Mikayla sits down with two nurse practitioners to answer one of the most common healthcare questions patients and caregivers ask: 👉 How do you navigate m...

Talking about nursing homes, funeral planning, advanced directives, or medical decisions can feel overwhelming, and for many caregivers, these conversations feel almost impossible to start. If you’ve ever avoided end-of-life planning conversations with someone you love, you are not alone… and you are not doing anything wrong. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , we’re stepping away fro...

Making end-of-life decisions can feel overwhelming, emotional, and incredibly isolating, especially when you’re trying to do “the right thing” for someone you love. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , I’m joined by Kristy from @ownyourend.co (on Instagram) , who is changing the way we approach end-of-life planning with more clarity, compassion, and humanity. We talk about the emotiona...

Summary In this episode, Mikayla Cluxton reflects on her recent absence from the podcast, sharing personal challenges and the importance of community support for caregivers. She discusses her plans for a caregiver conference, the significance of grace in caregiving, and the healing process after personal trauma. Mikayla emphasizes the value of relationships and being present in the moment, especia...

In today’s powerful episode, Mikayla sits down with Logan Lee Lamson , a writer, cancer survivor, and former primary caregiver for his mom, Linda May. Logan first stepped into caregiving at just 26 years old when his mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fifteen months later, she passed away. Years after losing her, Logan received his own devastating diagnosis: Hodgkin lymphoma. Suddenly, h...

In this episode of The Care Collective , Mikayla dives into one of the most overlooked forms of grief that caregivers face: anticipatory grief . This is the grief that begins long before the final goodbye. Through real stories from past episodes, including Alicia’s grief over her mom never getting to hold her future baby and Sadie’s experience losing her dad to dementia as a teenager, this convers...

When you’re in your 30s, you don’t expect to be caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s. But for Alicia , that became her reality, and it changed everything. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , host Mikayla Cluxton sits down with Alicia to talk about the hidden side of caregiving in your 30s, from the emotional weight of moving her mom into memory care, to the financial strain of selling...

In this heartfelt episode of The Care Collective Podcast , author Jocelyn Jane Cox joins Mikayla to share the story behind her memoir Motion Dazzle, a powerful reflection on losing her mother to dementia while becoming a mother herself. Jocelyn opens up about navigating grief, the emotional and financial realities of caregiving, finding humor in hardship, and learning to hold both joy and sorrow a...

Episode Description In this powerful episode of The Care Collective Podcast , Mikayla sits down with Ashley Larimore , a caregiver, entrepreneur, and third-generation farmer who splits her time between Charleston, South Carolina and her family’s farm in Maryland. At just twenty-three, Ashley became the primary caregiver for her mother during an aggressive breast cancer battle , an experience that...

When we talk about caregiving, we often focus on keeping someone alive, but what about helping them finish well ? In this week’s episode of The Care Collective Podcast , host Mikayla Cluxton sits down with Kristy , a nurse practitioner with over 20 years of experience in palliative and end-of-life care. Together they explore what it means to prepare for the end with peace, love, and legacy in mind...

At just 11 years old, Sadie became a caregiver for her dad after he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. In this emotional and inspiring conversation, she shares what it’s really like to be a young caregiver — navigating grief, anger, and resilience while learning how to heal. Join us as we explore the emotional journey of caregiving through Sadie’s story — a powerful and heartfelt look at...

In this conversation, Michelle Scolaro, a therapist and transformational coach, shares her journey from working in senior care to focusing on helping individuals break free from burnout. She discusses the blend of therapy and coaching, the signs of burnout, and the importance of self-care, especially for caregivers. Michelle emphasizes the need for community support and the significance of finding...

In this episode, Sydney, a dedicated caregiver with a rich background in elder care, shares her story and experience. They discuss the emotional weight of caregiving, the challenges faced in long-term care, and the impact of COVID-19 on both caregivers and residents. Sydney shares her experiences balancing family life with her caregiving responsibilities, the importance of connection and teamwork...

In the first episode of the Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla Cluxton introduces the purpose of the podcast, which is to support caregivers and address the issue of loneliness among the elderly. She shares her personal journey in caregiving, the impact of loneliness on mental health, and the importance of community support for caregivers. The episode emphasizes the need for recognition and resource...