Finding A Foothold

Caregivers are often overwhelmed with concerns and uncertainty about their loved one when they are in the hospital, it is an emotional time and it takes everyone out of their normal routine.   When they have had a surgery, it even makes things more stressful.   Discharge day is usually full of unknowns as hospital staff perform last minute lab work, and several different medical professional are p...

Finding A Foothold Podcast is devoted to lightening the load of family caregivers who show up, to provide  care to their loved ones.  Many caregivers have concerns and questions and need guidance on how to make the caregiving journey easier.  Finding A Foothold is a community of caregivers who band together to provide support, to help caregivers navigate the caregiving journey with the least about...

Finding A Foothold Podcast listens to the heart and concerns of the caregiver,  hearing what their struggles are and then offering recommendations on how to improve how they are doing things, with the goal of helping to make the load lighter. Today's podcast addresses concerns from daughter Marcie  who is concerned about her Dad who recently had a hospital stay due prostate surgery and a blad...

Today's episode is the first of Finding A Foothold's 5-minute words of encourage.  As a caregiver, I know that there are moments of isolation, when you just don't get to attend events and often feel left out as the world continues to spin and people are gathering and lingering and having fun and you often miss out on many events due to your role as a caregiver. While this is unfair...

Finding A Foothold Podcast listens to the heart and concerns of the caregiver,  hearing what their struggles are and then offering recommendations on how to improve how they are doing things, with the goal of helping to make the load lighter. Today's podcast addresses concerns from Vicki who is concerned about her Mom who wants her to help her more than what is actually needed.  Vicki indicat...

Finding A Foothold Podcast listens to the heart and concerns of the caregiver,  hearing what their struggles are and then offering recommendations on how to improve how they are doing things, with the goal of helping to make the load lighter. Today's podcast addresses concerns from Sophie who is concerned about her Dad coming from the hospital after falling in the bathroom and having a minor...

Welcome to Season 2 of Caregivers Finding A Foothold Podcast.  The podcast for teaching and guiding caregivers to a place of hope in the midst of caregiving. Caregiving is hard, and can leave you feeling defeated, with no place to go for answers on how to better live out your calling as a caregiver without always arriving at the  end of each day feeling lost, with physical pain and an overwhelming...

Katie has been caregiver for her husband for almost a decade, he had a stroke about 8 years ago.  He was in his mid 50s, and while he was not able to return to work, he was able to somewhat care for himself at home while his wife remained employed full-time. Husband is now with other illnesses and increased physical limitations  and now requires assist with all mobility and personal care.  Wife is...

Meet Roz Jones.  Owner and CEO of Jacksonville's Best Caregivers.  https://www.rozjonesent.com It has been an honor to meet and talk with Roslyn Jones, a CEO and author who has a compassionate heart for the elderly community and she also has a passion for caregivers who endeavor to provide the best care possible for their loved one. In this episode, we discuss some of the factors which must b...

Falls happen more often than you think.  Some result in minor injuries and some with very serious ones.   They can happen to anyone.  Falls occur inside and outside the home.  On this episode, meet "Ms. Sarah."  “Ms. Sarah” was going out to the mailbox, like she has done almost daily, for nearly 50 years at her current home.  This time she made the wrong step and down she went —into the...

Falls in the home are a great concern to many adult children who have aging parents who are still living in their own homes.  Many adult children have limited incomes, and are even struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. Many parents are still home alone, even though their children are at work and they worry about their parent's safety.  They do not want them to fall. Having therap...

Amputation of a leg is a hard thing to endurance, and it can usually mean use of a wheelchair for the individual, which means a big lifestyle change for them and the caregiver.  Accessibility into the home, into bedroom, into bathroom and kitchen area should all be prioritized based on what you desire to see happen.  Start with easy access into the home then look at those changes that will result...

When you become the caregiver to a loved one, you bring into your role a history that may be filled with good and bad.  Be prepared to work through some hurts.  You may need to seek professional help, there may need to be a healing and forgiveness to take place.  If you had a very loving history and you enter into caregiving with the goal of meeting every need of your loved one, you may need to ta...

It's hard knowing what to do as a caregiver! Should they stay in their own home? Should they move in with me? Should I move in with them? Should I hire a sitter? Should I look at long term placement? etc. There are so many questions and just as many opinions from others on what you should be doing. Yes, it is good to ask for advice from those you trust and value because sometimes we can'...

It is so easy to get into the trap of doing everything for your elder parents or disabled spouse after they have sustained an injury or have a debilitating diagnosis.   You may feel that you are making life easier for them when you cater to their every need but you could in fact be making things more difficult for them in the long run. Yes, there is a time during the recovery phase that they requi...

An illness or injury can really change how a loved one can function in their home.  It doesn’t take much for the elderly to become weak and debilitated, resulting in them not being able to do the basic things for themselves that they use to do. A common thing that I’ve seen lately is that many of the elderly patients that I am servicing are not admitted into the hospital for treatment after diagno...

We all respond to a crisis in different ways, but a common initial response that we all have is that we wish it wasn’t happening to us, that we could blink and make it go away! You may not be human if this isn’t the way you initially react to devastating news. I have seen that choosing to remain hopeful and focusing only on things that you can change or improve is key to surviving, being available...

When parents are aging, have a debilitating diagnosis or have undergone an injury or surgery, they are not able to move about in their homes like they use to. They appear to be fairly cognitively intact, but they have bodies that are weak, frail and with pain —bodies that just don’t cooperate with what they want to do.   They have already fallen, many times.   It’s only a matter of time before the...

Louisiana has just incurred a storm -- Hurricane Ida which has caused much destruction and damage to our coastal parishes.   Caregiving is also a storm, which touches many lives and if not properly entered into, it too can cause much destruction and damage to lives. Caregiving is important.  It is in fact a very honorable role to assume.  It demonstrates a heart of love that look beyond only focus...

As a child, we often see our parents as strong and capable.  It's tough seeing them age and becoming frail.  We often see it happening, and there is nothing we can do to stop aging but we can do our part in keeping them safe.  Diane is a listener who called into the call-in line who, like myself, knew that I would one day be my parent's caregiver.  Knowing that you will undertake the rol...

Caregiving has many challenges.  There are some caregivers who have developed a team of support that allows them to care for their loved one and still be able to live fulfilled lives. They have the physical support and the financial resources  and all is well. This is great, but... Well, it is rare.  This is not the case in the lives of many many caregivers.  There are many caregivers who are stru...

Meet Mr. Rubin, full-time caregiver for his wife of 55 years.  Hear his heart, his desire to take care of his wife in their home.  Hear how he evolved into his role, how we worked together to address some of the struggles he was having in caring for his wife, and how he made the adaptations in his technique and his environment which improved how he cared for his wife. Also hear him share how self-...

Caregiving brings many challenges and concerns.  As a new caregiver, even when the role is temporary, because your loved one will likely fully recover, it can still be stressful.   There are things that are unfamiliar and there is the possibility of there being an injury due to improper techniques. Episode 16 features calls from caregivers into the Caregivers Finding A Foothold podcast  call-in li...

Caregiver-focus podcast.  Meet Mr. Milton. Mr. Milton is the primary caregiver to his wife who was recently hospitalized after having several falls in the home.  She was hospitalized and diagnosed with a severe urinary tract infection and dehydration.  Upon discharge, it was recommended that she be admitted into a skilled nursing facility located in side of a nursing.  There, she was to receive in...

Caregiving brings many challenges and concerns.  It can be stressful because the role often come at a time when we are busy raising families, starting careers or planning for retirement.  Episode 14 features calls from caregivers into the Caregivers Finding A Foothold podcast  call-in line.   It’s a FREE call  with the responses aired on our podcast. Caregivers Questions: Listen to Episode 14 and...