EPAGA University

Have you ever envisioned yourself as a business owner, but never knew quite where to start? Looking to lead a more purposeful life AND build a prosperous business? We're currently helping people just like you own and operate a successful business that focuses on providing meaningful employment and fulfilling a desperate need in their community. It's time to create a future you're proud of. We're c...

For many of us, grandparenting means a weekend together every now and then, an afternoon play date, an evening babysitting, a summer vacation, or chats on the phone and email exchanges here and there. But when life circumstances change—through divorce, the death of parents, or changes to a parent’s work or school-related responsibilities, for example—it often falls to grandparents to assume full-...

What a blessing it was to have Rev. Tonnes Pollestad join us this week! Reverend Tonnes Pollestad is the Development Director of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC). He graduated from the Association Free Lutheran Bible School (now called Free Lutheran Bible College) in 1972 and the Association of Free Lutheran Seminary (now called Free Lutheran Seminary) with his Masters of...

Have you ever received a diagnosis, treatment, or basic advice from you or your loved one's doctor and found that all of it went in one ear and out the other? This week, we discuss what it means to be health literate, for the purpose of understanding the intricacies of your own health, as well as the health of your aging loved one. Diseases, unnecessary side effects, and even death in some cases c...

Boy howdy, do we have a good episode for you this week! We are excited to welcome Polly Cavill, RT and End of Life Specialist, to the podcast this week. As we've discussed in episodes-past, the last thing that most of us want to talk about is death. But because it is the one thing on this Earth that is ultimately inevitable, when death is near for you or for a loved one, a little bit of planning a...

This week, we talk about the POLST form; your Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. Join us as we walk you through this important form, step-by-step, giving you the confidence to get it done for yourself or with your aging loved one! Show Notes: Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.guideposts.org/caregiving/resource-center/5-ways-to-plan-for-the-final-years Inga's Uplifting St...

This week, we are beyond stoked to welcome a couple of very special individuals to Caregiven, Dave and Jessica (Jess) Kostecki! This husband and wife duo are just as excited as we are to bring much-needed caregiving services to the Bitterroot Valley here in Montana through opening EPAGA Home Care of Missoula! Join us as we learn more about who Dave and Jess are, a little bit about what they did th...

This year at our 3rd Annual Loving Through Alzheimer's - Alzheimer's and Dementia Seminar, we were stoked to welcome nationwide speaker on Alzheimer's care and author of Creating Moments of Joy, Jolene Brackey! Jolene invited us to join her in looking beyond the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and focus more of our energy on creating moments of joy. It’s impossible to create a perfectly wonderfu...

"The number of Americans over the age of 65 is projected to more than double by 2060, rising from 46 million to more than 98 million.1 Baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) will be the first wave of this elderly population boom. As the elder boom unfolds, the number of seniors with substance abuse problems could increase significantly" (Thomas 2021). Join us this week as we deep dive in...

"The stairs are getting so hard to climb." "Since my wife died, I just open a can of soup for dinner." "I've lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home." These are issues so commonly experienced by our aging population. You may share the often-heard wish — "I want to stay in my own home," or rather the common fear — "I don't want to end up in a retirement home." The good news is, is t...

It's hard to ignore that with aging comes a bit of loneliness. Those closest to us pass on or move away, and decreasing mobility strips us of our confidence to get out of the house and get involved in our communities. No matter how old we are, pets bring indescribable joy into our lives. But how do you know if the addition of a pet in your aging loved one's home will be a smart choice? OR if it wi...

Sometimes we don't know how we're going to act in a situation if we've never been in it—and we shouldn't be expected to. Navigating home care, whether it's on your own or with 10+ family members contributing, can be daunting. Family dynamics can speed up, simplify, and ease OR slow down, complicate, and add difficulty to the process. Every situation is different, just as every family is different....

Traveling isn't necessarily something that everyone LOVES to do, but for those who do love to travel, the aging process can sometimes put a damper on future endeavors to see more of the world. But it doesn't have to. Join us this week as we discuss ways to accommodate your aging loved ones on vacations, tips and tricks for a more successful trip, and how to be more prepared to better serve your lo...

We've talked about what to expect when you're expecting a home visit (Episode 16)... but what about after you commit to an agency and their services and it's finally time to welcome that familiar stranger into the home for the first care shift? We've got you covered! This week, Inga and Julie dive into everything you didn't think you needed to know about preparing for you or your loved one's first...

Strength. Resilience. Hope. No one models these three words better than Marty Meyer, recently deemed the Flathead's Local Hope Dealer . But becoming a dealer of hope didn't come without incredible heartbreak. This week, we are honored to welcome Marty to Caregiven to share her story. Several years after enduring a tumultuous season of suffering, Marty has transformed her life for the better only t...

"My needs are not as great as my mom's." "I will focus on taking care of myself later; my dad needs me now." "Am I doing enough?" "I am not doing enough." "I am not a good enough caregiver." These are all things that, as caregivers, might run through our heads from time to time. Caring for a loved one is such an emotional investment. If we bottle up our emotions and frustrations, we tend to have o...

"At my age, the only pole dancing I do is holding onto the safety bar in the bathtub." - Unknown Join us this week as we talk about ways to slow the aging process, all while making the most out of each day. Our best strategy? Go at it with a little bit of humor and a whole lot of grace. Show Notes: Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.guideposts.org/bible/deepen-your-faith/two-of-the-m...

Join us this week as we welcome Cinnamon Davis-Hall from the North West Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry here in Kalispell, MT! "The North West Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry is dedicated to extending a helping hand up to homeless, low-income, and at-risk veterans and their families. These heroes have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution and people of the United...

Show Notes: Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://medium.com/motivationapp/the-obstacle-in-our-path-6060a4361e4e Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/592529/san-francisco-muttville-senior-dog-cuddle-club#:~:text=Cuddle%20Club%20Is%20The%20Best,Senior%20Dogs%E2%80%94And%20Senior%20Humans&text=Two%20to%20four%20times%20a,are%20on%20a%20waiting%20list. Wa...

We've all heard of the 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But we don't talk as much about how we can support someone throughout their experiences in these five stages, especially in our aging population. Join us this week as we dive into the stages of grief, what to expect from our loved ones when they are grieving, tips for how to support them, and a list of...

This week's topic is an awfully important one. We're talking about dreaded falls; what causes them, how they can affect our stability in the future, and things we can do to put ourselves in the best position to avoid them. Show Notes: Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.guideposts.org/better-living/health-and-wellness/living-longer-living-better/bible-prayers-for-aging-with-grace Inga...

Join us this week as we talk about healthy brains; the simple things you and your aging loved one can do to keep your mind youthful and sharp. Show Notes: Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://kayanddan.blogspot.com/2016/10/shake-off-your-problems.html View the Full Article + Checklist: https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/brain-health-checklist-8-proven-things-healthy-aging/ Watch the Video:...

Happy New Year! 🎉 This week, we dive into your rights as a client, as well as what responsibilities come along with them. While every agency's Client Rights may differ slightly, the main ideas remain the same, and the most important thing is that you know them and understand what they mean. Join us as we dissect these rights, tell stories of best- and worst-case scenarios we've experienced, and l...

This week, we are excited to bring our favorite good news story to life! We welcome Barbara St. John, self-proclaimed "Bag Lady" to Caregiven to tell us more about her journey in keeping Kalispell's homeless warm this winter via donated "bags," or coats that convert into to sleeping bags. We met Barb through rendering services for her daughter, Jenny, at EPAGA Home Care, so it's only fitting that...

Growing up with Type I Diabetes, Cody understands firsthand what it means to navigate and manage the social and physical challenges that infiltrated her life without warning. Although incidence of both types of Diabetes are rising across the country, very few choose to pursue educating themselves and others of the risk factors, physiological processes, and treatment options for those diagnosed wit...