Focused Healthy Family Podcast

Facing Feelings - Part 3: In this heartfelt episode of the  Focused Healthy Family Podcast , Gina and Don Grothoff  open an honest conversation about the emotional challenges faced by personal caregivers. Drawing from their experiences as mindset coaches and family advocates, they explore the complex feelings that often accompany caregiving—chronic stress, guilt, anticipatory grief, anger, resentm...

Facing Feelings - Part 2: In this heartfelt episode of the  Focused Healthy Family Podcast , Gina and Don Grothoff  open an honest conversation about the emotional challenges faced by personal caregivers. Drawing from their experiences as mindset coaches and family advocates, they explore the complex feelings that often accompany caregiving—chronic stress, guilt, anticipatory grief, anger, resentm...

When a family is caring for an aging loved one, everyone is affected—but often the emotions of the aging person themselves are the least talked about. In this episode of Focused Healthy Family , Gina and Don begin a new series exploring the emotional experiences of every member of the family during the aging journey. Today's focus is on the aging loved one: their fears, frustrations, grief, loss o...

As a new year begins, many families feel the pressure to "set goals" and hope this year will be different. But should we really be focusing on goals at all? In this episode of Focused Healthy Family , Gina and Don take a thoughtful look at the New Year mindset and ask an important question: Are goals setting us up for success—or disappointment? Referencing research shared by Psychology Today , the...

Gina and Don replay #186 Dementia. In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Jennifer Douds from AnswersforAging.com to dive into the world of Care Management. We explore what Care Managers do, how they guide families through complex senior care decisions, and why their role is such a valuable support system for caregivers. Jennifer also shares insights abou...

Gina and Don replay the #149 about naturopathic healing. Dr. Julia Ward is a compassionate and pioneering physician with over a decade of expertise in functional medicine, offering a holistic, patient-centered approach to health and wellness. After earning her medical degree from the University of Southern California and serving in the U.S. Navy, where she practiced general, urgent, and emergency...

Gina and Don playback #178 Aging in Place. In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Don and Gina welcome Stuart Madow from Visiting Angels to explore the importance of compassionate in-home care for seniors. Stuart shares his extensive experience working with families to help older adults age in place safely and comfortably. The conversation highlights the many services Visiting Ange...

Gina and Don replay #184 talking with Sydney about fraud. In this episode, Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett of Hartnett Health to discuss an important and timely topic: senior scams and fraud prevention. From health insurance scams to the growing problem of Medicare fraud, Sydney shares her expertise and practical tips to help protect aging loved ones from becoming victims. We explore th...

Gina and Don replay #170 Talking Parkinsons with Rich London. Richard London has been an accomplished businessman, entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker.  He is a 22 year cancer survivor and has lived with Parkinson's disease for the last 20 years. His books, A Handbook for Life and A Handbook for Happiness, and audio CDs, 10 Things Every Person With Parkinson's Must Know and 10 Things Ev...

Today Gina and Don replay #172 Reconnecting After 60.  In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don dive into the importance of staying socially connected after age 60. Inspired by a Healthline article, they share simple, meaningful ways to expand your social life—from joining walking groups and taking classes to volunteering and using tech to stay in touch. They explore how socializing...

As part of our best of 2025 we want to replay this podcast. In this past episode #153 of Focused Healthy Family, we dove into the unique challenges and rewards of being part of the sandwich generation—those who find themselves caring for aging parents while raising their own children. We explored the emotional, physical, and financial toll this dual caregiving role can take, as well as strategies...

The holidays often bring everyone back home—adult children, grandchildren, and multiple generations gathered under one roof. In this episode of The Focused Healthy Family Podcast , Gina and Don explore why these moments together may be the perfect opportunity to have meaningful conversations about the future. Rather than waiting for a crisis, the holidays offer a natural and loving setting to talk...

In this empowering episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast , Gina and Don sit down with Rita Garnto , founder of Simple Self-Care by Rita , to explore what many experts are calling a global epidemic of stress . With more people than ever living in constant fight-or-flight , Rita brings her calm, grounded wisdom to explain why our nervous systems are overwhelmed — and what simple steps we can...

In this episode of the  Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don dive into an important but often overlooked topic— how to keep pets safe, calm, and healthy during the holiday season . Using expert guidance from NC State University's "Holidays and Pets: How to Keep Them Safe This Season" tips, they unpack the common holiday hazards pet owners should know about, along with simple, proactive way...

In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Paul Bill from Veterans Bridge Home , an organization dedicated to helping service members successfully transition back into civilian life. Paul offers an inside look at the challenges many veterans face when the uniform comes off—identity shifts, employment struggles, mental and emotional transitions, rebuilding com...

In this festive holiday episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don share practical, real-life tips to support both the youngest and oldest members of your family during the busy season. Whether you're navigating holiday meals with picky eaters , planning safe and stress-free travel with aging parents , or creating a warm and accessible home for visiting grandparents and energetic...

Join Gina and Don on this powerful episode of Focused Healthy Family as they sit down with elder-law specialist Louise M. Paglen of The McIntosh Law Firm ( https://mcintoshlawfirm.com ) to dive into the critical legal issues that affect aging loved ones and the families who care for them. With over two decades of experience in estate planning, guardianship, long-term care planning, Medicaid and VA...

In this warm and practical episode of Focused Healthy Family , Gina and Don talk about preparing your home for aging loved ones visiting during the holidays. Whether it's Christmas, Thanksgiving, or another family gathering, a few thoughtful adjustments can make a world of difference for comfort, safety, and peace of mind. From preventing slips and falls to making seating and lighting more accessi...

As the holidays approach, Gina and Don invite you to take a deep breath and rethink what this season can truly be about. Instead of getting caught up in the hustle, the shopping, and the endless to-do lists, what if you chose calm over chaos? In this episode of Focused Healthy Family , they share simple, heartfelt reminders to slow down, be present, and enjoy the moments that matter most—with your...

In this episode of Focused Healthy Family , Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett and Sal Marafioti from Hartnett Health to shed light on one of the most confusing — yet essential — topics for families and seniors: Medicare . Together, they break down the two key parts of Medicare — Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage — helping listeners understand what each offers, what's covered, and h...

It is another republished past from Gina and Don, this going to Claire Martin and her venture into a Single Mom. Enjoy. Today Gina and Don interview Claire Martin and now in her own words she will describe who she is and why we love talking to her: Hi, I'm Claire Martin the founder and host of "Strong, Single and Human" Podcast. So, who the hell am I? I moved to Australia 13 years ago for love!!!!...

In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Jennifer Douds from AnswersforAging.com to dive into the world of Care Management . We explore what Care Managers do, how they guide families through complex senior care decisions, and why their role is such a valuable support system for caregivers. Jennifer also shares insights about the Second Wind Dreams Virtual D...

In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast , Gina and Don take a thoughtful ride through the journey of driving—from the excitement of getting your first driver's license to the difficult reality of taking the keys away from an aging loved one. They explore what driving represents: independence, freedom, and identity. But when safety becomes a concern, families face tough decisions. How...

In this episode, Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett of Hartnett Health to discuss an important and timely topic: senior scams and fraud prevention . From health insurance scams to the growing problem of Medicare fraud , Sydney shares her expertise and practical tips to help protect aging loved ones from becoming victims. We explore the different types of scams targeting seniors, why they a...

Gina (half-awake): "Ugh... Don, wake up… again." Don (groaning): "Seriously, Gina? Another alarm? Is this what adulthood is supposed to feel like?" Sound effect: Alarm continues, faint sunrise ambiance fades in. Welcome back to Focused Healthy Family ! In this heartfelt episode, Gina and Don wake up—quite literally—with a jolt, setting the stage for a warm and approachable dive into a sleep strugg...