EPAGA University

"I'm just a Montana kid trying to make a difference in the world." And what a difference he is making! This week, we are simply overjoyed to welcome Mr. Doug Overman, Kalispell Chief of Police, to the podcast to discuss phone scams, frauds, and cons. Join us as we dive into why these types of attacks are so prevalent—and all-too-often successful—as well as how we can better protect our community's...

Join us this week as we talk about the glue that holds the sandwich together... or is it the bacon that holds the family together? Regardless, being a part of the sandwich generation is a unique situation to be in. Don't face these challenges alone; Inga and Julie dive into techniques to better navigate daunting family dynamic, encourage communication and contribution among your family members, ho...

This week, we welcome EPAGA Home Care caregivers, Robyn, Nicci, and Becky to the podcast! Listen in to learn more about their experiences at EPAGA including some pretty comical stories! Show Notes: Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNepEAWZH0TBu7dkxIbluDw/videos Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.guideposts.org/caregiving/hope-and-inspiration/daily-...

We as a society have been working to break the stigma around mental health, however, there is still work to do, especially around mental health in seniors. Join Inga and Julie as they discuss what mental health in the elderly looks like, how to open the conversation around mental health, as well as treatment options. Show Notes: Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/...

Show Notes: Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.kpax.com/positivelymt/glacier-national-park-ranger-facilitates-special-reunion Area IX Agency on Aging: https://flathead.mt.gov/aging/ General Program Details: https://dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/aging/areaagenciesonaging Follow Inga & Julie! Connect with Inga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inga-lake-4857301b8/ Connect with Julie on L...

This week, Julie and Inga were joined by Kerry Nagel, CNA, CDP, and Jennifer Crowley, BSN, RN, CLCP, MSCC, CADDCT, CDP. Though finding themselves on very different paths throughout their lives, Nagel and Crowley both have made an incredible impact on the dementia care field. Show Notes: Bonnie Upton's Alzheimer's To-Do List: www.epagahomecare.com/s/Alheimers-To-Do-List.pdf Inga's Uplifting Story o...

Show Notes: Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.noec.coop/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/NE-Connection-October-2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1nbQdkpgfC5XuqJ-4gLFIjiiQYFFavXRwAfTR_UKyO4Hppvz_YsWSkmjc Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.today.com/popculture/watch-cher-surprise-mom-who-has-alzheimer-s-video-call-t215804 Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/F1nd2NXpuLU Read the Article: www.ep...

Show Notes: Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxeBp8lPMQ/?utm_medium=share_sheet Watch the video: https://youtu.be/TBDNZ5GyRYM Follow Inga & Julie! Connect with Inga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inga-lake-4857301b8/ Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-brubaker-3a89b2114/ Follow Caregiven on Instagram: https://www.instagra...

Show Notes: Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8010707/Talk-BLOOD-hound-Labrador-Stumpy-Britains-biggest-canine-donor.html Watch the video: https://youtu.be/oXUE6EYp7Gg Follow Inga & Julie! Connect with Inga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inga-lake-4857301b8/ Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-brubaker-3a89b2114...

This week, we’re talking about another topic that often makes those that we care for groan—doctor visits. It’s not unusual to dread these visits, but they are so important! Being seen regularly by your physician is so crucial to preserving your health. Most people wait until there’s a problem to treat instead of being focusing on prevention and proactively staying ahead of issues. Join us as we gi...

On this week’s episode of Caregiven, we are joined by special guest, Jennifer Schaffner of Encompass Health Hospice to discuss a topic that many initially associate with fear. Hospice, when approached from the right perspective, can be a very beautiful thing. Jennifer Schaffner explains how it is simply providing the most pain-free, comfortable, and beautiful way to end your life. Throughout the e...

This week, we are talking all things safety! As you can imagine, this is our biggest concern for our clients and their families. We wanted to break down a few things that can help you and your loved ones feel safer in their home and hopefully prevent any accidents along the way. Show Notes: This Week's Uplifting SOTW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdGTkKdSuC0 Read the Article: www.epagahomecare....

This week, we want shed some light on a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough—end of life planning. Formulating and documenting your end of life plan will bring so much relief to your loved ones as they will know for certain that they are doing exactly as you wished. For families carrying out our end of life tasks without any prior planning, emotions can fester and disagreements can become es...

This week, we’re talking about how to navigate the holidays with your loved ones who need in home care, as well as how to support those who are caregivers. As we age, holidays can become more and more difficult for many reasons. The expectations of holidays can be stressful, old memories attached to painful emotions can be conjured up, thus eliciting confusion, sadness, and even anger around a tim...

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the foundation of caregiving and will determine how individuals receive care. Like we talked about last week, ADLs have a large impact on what programs are accessible to you. Join us as we explore more about what ADLs are, what they might look like for your loved one, and much, much more! Show Notes: Read the Article: www.epagahomecare.com/letstalkadls Watch t...

For anyone that’s explored home care, one question always rises to the top: How on earth do we pay for this? Luckily, families have several options to explore that can help get loved ones the care they need to stay in their homes. This week, we are discussing the 6 most common types of payor sources we handle on a day-to-day basis. Since our experience largely lies on serving families in Montana,...

This week, we wanted to talk about some very special people in the EPAGA family, James and Michelle Olson. The Olson’s are the first EPAGA franchisees and we are very excited to have them on this exciting journey of growing the EPAGA brand across Montana and the US! Show Notes: Follow James and Michelle's journey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epagahomecareofhelena Read the Article: www.epa...

It’s completely normal for us to have high expectations when it comes to our family’s care. It’s a part of who we are. But often times, these expectations can get in the way of reaching the level of care the senior needs. This week, we're discussing expectations and the importance of committing to being flexible with the expectations we set for ourselves and our loved ones. Discussing what we expe...

Hiring a caregiver for your loved one can be very overwhelming. But fear not! This week, we are discussing how to find a caregiver, what to expect when vetting agencies, questions you should be prepared with, and more! Show Notes: Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pizza-man-hug-toddler-boy-rushes-to-hug-delivery-man-goodbye-without-knowing-he-just-lost-his-daughter/ Read th...

If you’re considering extra care for your aging loved one, one of the first questions you should ask is “What makes a great caregiver?” Finding the right caregiver is the most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to in-home care. This week we wanted to give our opinion on the 5 most important traits a caregiver should possess. Let's go! Show Notes: Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.n...

Many families struggle with finding the right moment to engage an in-home care agency with their loved one. This decision is often very difficult, especially when you are the primary caregiver. Many families begin providing care for their loved ones, but as their conditions progress, they may lack the technical skill to adequately care for their loved ones. Others face burnout from their overcommi...

Assisted living facilities are probably the first, and maybe only option that comes to mind when discussing what to do about your mother who is declining in health and cannot live alone any further. While Assisted Living Facilities, or ALFs are of the most common care options to consider, did you know that there is another option? Join us this week as we explore, compare, and contrast care alterna...

Historically, family units provided care to elders; it wasn’t unusual for grandparents to live alongside their children and grandchildren. Think of the classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory scene! For centuries, this was the best and most common way for seniors to get the help they needed. Join us this week as we dive into how caregiving has evolved from what your elderly loved one once knew i...

After months of planning and recording, we are so excited to be launching our very own podcast, Caregiven! The show will feature amazing stories from our experience caring for families and their aging seniors. We also hope to provide helpful insights and tips to those who find themselves on the journey of caring for a loved one. Each week we will come to you with a new podcast episode and an accom...

The Caregiven Podcast is coming soon. Follow or subscribe to be the first to hear our first episode!