Life Happens

Today’s Life Happens Show will be about children, especially those on the spectrum. Kim Hegwood’s guest today will be speech pathologist Meera Ravel. Ms. Ravel’s company, Super Speech Solutions is dedicated to helping individuals with speech impediments or challenges overcome these difficulties. Kim and Meera’s conversation: Title: Speech Therapy – Could This be the Solution for Your Child? Kim wi...

When a senior can no longer drive it can pose a huge challenge for both them and their families. With a need to get to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other places finding reliable transportation is a must. Lashay Dupree, a social worker and the owner of Impaq Transportation and Community Services understands this need. After working for seniors and their families for years Lashay decide...

Keeping seniors active can help delay the progression of both physical and cognitive decline. Our guest today, Edward Craft is passionate about finding different ways to help seniors stay active and socially connected. Today’s Show: Unique Ways to Keep Seniors Active A Few Questions Kim Hegwood will be asking Edward Craft will be: 1. What is Eldergrow and how do you help this organization? 2. Can...

Nationally recognized speaker Teepa Snow will be our guest on the Life Happens Show with Kim Hegwood today. Teepa is an expert in the field of dementia and her Positive Approach to Care has helped thousands of families. Today Kim and Teepa will talk about : How to Know When it’s Time for a Move to Memory Care Kim will ask Teepa: 1. How do you know when it is time to move a loved one into a memory...

Helping patients live better with neurological disease is what Creative Neurology is all about. Kim Hegwood is joined today with Saba Shahid, Chief Smiling Officer of Creative Neurology. Kim and Saba will discuss: 1. How do you help patients live better? 2. What is Micrographia? 3. What resources do you have available for patients? 4. How can art impact a person living with a disability? Bio: Saba...

The Houston Area Parkinson's Society, called HAPS has a wealth of resources for patients with Parkinson's Disease and their families. Celeste Harris, Director of Social Services with HAPS  sits down with Kim Hegwood to discuss the resources her organization has to offer. They will discuss: 1. What is Parkinson's disease? 2. When should you ask for help? 3. As a caregiver of someone with PD, h...

If you are concerned about an aging loved one’s ability to drive safely, there are options to minimize conflict and provide acceptable transportation alternatives, resources, and a specific plan to ensure a smooth and successful transition from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat.  Today Kim Hegwood will be speaking with Jack Angel about a program that is a valuable tool in helping older...

When a child has disabilities it is natural for parents to worry about their future as an adult. Kim sits down with Cynda Green the Texas Parent to Parent Pathways to Adulthood Transition Coordinator to discuss the steps you need to take and when. Here are a few of the questions they will be exploring: What are some of the biggest struggles for families who have a young adult who is transitioning...

Today's topic is a hot one. With the winter storms, Texas experienced this past year and the upcoming hurricane season safety of seniors in long-term care facilities is on the top of mind for many families and professionals. Kim invites Greg Shelley,-Program Manager, Harris County Long-term Care Ombudsman Program at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth to talk about upcoming legislation that has be...

As the Alzheimer's Association gets ready to re-open their doors post-pandemic they reflect on lessons learned and how to move forward. Sabrina Strawn visits with Kim Hegwood about upcoming events and how the association will move forward. A few of the questions Kim will be asking are: 1. What's happening in June at the Alzheimer's Association (The Longest Day and the Caregiver Symposium)? 2. What...

Kim's guest today build an organization from a need she and many other parents had in her community. Cristen Reat, Co-founder of Bridging Apps, a division of Easter Seals provides resources, education, and information on apps and mobile devices to help people with disabilities target and improve skills to reach their highest levels of physical and cognitive development. Today Kim and Cristen will...

Having a child with special needs is a challenge. Making sure to advocate to help them get the best education and care is important. But often parents do not know where to begin. Kim Hegwood is delighted today to be joined by Mary Jane Williams, executive director of Family to Family Network, a parent organization in the Greater Houston area. Kim will ask Mary Jane the following: What is Family to...

Moving is a challenge for anyone. But for a senior who may have lived in the same home for many years, it is especially difficult. Today Kim Hegwood and Gina Powell the owner of Caring Transitions in Houston, Texas will be talking about these challenges and how a senior move manager can help. Kim will ask Gina: 1. What does a senior move manager do? 2. I decided to downsize and move into a senior...

Kim Hegwood is joined today by Nelson Negron a financial advisor with Provident Oak Financial, LLC. Their conversation today is about planning for the future when a special needs child is in the picture.  Kim and Nelson will talk about: Typical vs Special Needs Retirement Average Retirement Cost vs Average Medical Cost for Special Needs Child When should you start planning? Special Needs Plan...

Planning for your retirement is something you should not take lightly. Today Kim Hegwood visits with T. Mark Rush, CPA about the Secure Act and how it could affect you are those you will one day leave behind.  A few of the questions Kim will be asking include: Have you reconsidered your beneficiary designations on your retirement plans lately? Do you know how the SECURE ACT will affect the he...

"In a nutshell, this is about improving care for people who have dementia, but it also includes providing support and resources for the caregivers. So that's the unique part about this study. It approaches what we call the dyad, which is those two people that are most affected by the dementia diagnosis." Alice Williams Alice Williams, the Community Education Specialist for the Sealy Center on Agin...

"If you look at your cell phone and you see all those apps on your cell phone and realize that every single one of those companies has your name, your email, maybe your password, and perhaps your credit card. Those are digital assets, electronic records." Betsy Ehrenberg Kim Hegwood is joined by her guest Betsy Ehrenberg the founder of Legacy Concierge. And their topic today is all about protectin...

"So, our system, our medical, and otherwise is kinda hard to navigate. And we don't have, I don't know, there's not a really big "how to system" out there" Andrea Zaite  Kim Hegwood has a conversation with Andrea Zaite about her role in helping seniors and their families as a Life Care Manager. A few of the questions Kim will ask are: What is an Aging Life Care Professional? What does an Agin...

"That's the beauty of joy! It's really not a magic trick. I like to tell people I work with that. It's not Hocus Pocus and you use a magic wand, but it's focused focus." ~Carmalyn McCracken Join Kim Hegwood and Carmalyn McCracken as they explore joy. Here are a few questions we will be asking Carmalyn What is the difference between joy and happiness? How do you find JOY during the difficult days?...

Who doesn't want to help their brain, right? Today Kim Hegwood and Ron Nevelow will be discussing how you can push back the clock on dementia. Kim will be asking Ron the following questions. Listen to find out Ron's answers. 1. Why is it important to know what works to keep a healthy brain? 2. What has global research-proven to work in getting/keeping a healthy brain? 3. What is the biggest mistak...

Often when families are faced with a dementia diagnosis they are confused about what steps to take next. Kim's guest today Brenden Shannon understands. And Brenden quickly found out that some of the people he reached to for help we only interested in making a sale. Thus Complete Dementia Solutions was formed. Kim will talk to Brenden about his company and how they differ and can help. 1.Can you Te...

These days there are a lot of different options for senior care and senior living. Sometimes it can be a bit confusing. In this episode, Kim Hegwood will be talking to Nate Manthey, the administrator for Light Heart Memory Care. These memory care homes are a great option for someone with dementia. Kim will ask Nate,  1) What is a Small Memory Care home? 2) Small Memory Care home compared to L...

When someone has dementia keeping them engaged is more important than ever. Kim Hegwood's guest today, Robyn Horn has some really great ideas and tips for how to do that. Kim and Robyn will discuss: 1. Why is it important to develop a daily activity plan for a PWD (Person With Dementia) (activities are "things we do" including taking a bath, playing games, etc.)? 2. What should the caregiver keep...

Qiana is the perfect guest for this show today. Not only does she have the professional knowledge but Qiana has been in caregiving roles with her own family. First with her beloved grandmother, affectionately called Mama Doll, and more recently with her father who has a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Today Qiana joins Kim to discuss how to balance your life, work, and caring for someone with De...

Caregiver Guilt! We all experience it. Even caregivers who appear to have it all together. Laura Wayman, known as the Dementia Whisperer, hears stories of guilt from her caregiver clients all the time. And the guilt serves no one, least of all the caregiver. Kim Hegwood will be talking to Laura about the different beliefs caregivers have that create the guilt they experience. 1. Other caregivers a...