Life Happens

In this episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood is joined by Nancy Ruffner to discuss the vital role of independent patient advocacy and how it empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare journey. Nancy begins by explaining what independent patient advocates do and how they assist people in navigating complex medical situations, providing much-needed support and guidance. The conver...

In this episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood is joined by Katie Duncan to discuss her book The Dying Process and shed light on what happens during the final stages of life. Katie begins by sharing her background and the personal experiences that inspired her to write the book, offering listeners insight into her motivation to educate others about this important topic. The conversation covers...

The Differences Between Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: "So mild cognitive impairment is you're noticing those changes more than the typical aging changes a little bit more, but mild cognitive impairment may not necessarily be interfering with your daily, you know, activities that you're doing."— Paige Neumeyer Title: Dementia Diagnosis -What now? Welcome to another episode of Life Happens...

Choosing the Right Health Plan: "Your neighbor's plan is not going to necessarily be the best plan for you."— Lori McGalin Title: Why is Medicare So Complicated? Welcome to another episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood, where we help Texans safeguard their legacies and prepare for life's second half. Today, we're excited to welcome Lori McGalin, a Medicare expert, to demystify the complexities...

"Even though they can't be able to remember exactly what you said and exactly what you're trying to get them to do with time, over time, they remember the feeling they get when you are around."— Natali Edmonds Title: Getting Someone with Dementia to Do What You Need Them to Do? Welcome to another insightful episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood. Today, we are thrilled to have Dr. Natali Edmonds...

"If you want someone to really grasp what you're saying, get on their dominant side. The brain receives that information differently." Carol Howell Title: Let’s Talk Dementia with Carol Howell Welcome to Life Happens with Kim Hegwood! In today's enlightening episode, Kim interviews Carol Howell, a certified dementia practitioner and author of "Let's Talk Dementia" and "Let's Talk Dementia Take 2."...

"The care assessment gives us pretty much a broad picture of what the resident the seniors needs are, whether they're in their home, they're in the hospital, they're in a senior living community, they can be pretty much anywhere."— Jan Kaiser Title: What is Care Management and why do I need it? Welcome to another episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood! Today, we're joined by the incredible Jan K...

In this enlightening episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood welcomes David Gober from Capstone Hospice to discuss the often misunderstood world of hospice care. David begins by addressing some of the most common misconceptions about hospice, providing clarity on what hospice truly offers and dispelling myths that often surround it. Kim and David explore how to recognize when it might be the rig...

In this special episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood welcomes guest Darlene Fuchs for a heartfelt discussion about her book, which delves into the emotional journey of a spouse caring for a partner with dementia. The episode begins uniquely, with Darlene reading a short excerpt from her book to set the tone and provide listeners with a glimpse into the profound experience of her father caring...

In this insightful episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, guest Samuel Pacheco from Therapy 2000 joins the conversation to discuss the vital role of therapy in children's development. Samuel starts by addressing when parents should be concerned about communication problems in their children, offering guidance on early signs and intervention strategies. The episode dives into the benefi...

In this episode of Life Happens, host Kim Hegwood is joined by Zoe DeBruhl to shed light on the critical aspects of navigating Medicare and Medicaid. Zoe begins by explaining the fundamental differences between Medicare and Medicaid, clarifying the unique benefits and eligibility requirements of each program. The discussion then shifts to the steps families should take to prepare for a move to a n...

In this uplifting episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, special guest Robyn Horn discusses her new book, Transforming the Mundane into Sacred: Spirituality in Caregiving for the Elderly. Robyn begins by sharing what inspired her to write this heartfelt book, offering insights into her personal journey and the experiences that shaped her perspective. Kim and Robyn explore the meaning behin...

In this enlightening episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, Dr. Brittany Lamb, an ER doctor and founder of a company dedicated to supporting dementia patients and their families, shares her unique perspective and expertise. Dr. Lamb begins by discussing what inspired her to start a company focused on dementia care, emphasizing the critical need for specialized support in emergency situatio...

In this insightful episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, guest Lizette Cloete from "Think Different" Dementia joins the conversation to share her expertise and personal journey in dementia care. Lizette, an experienced Occupational Therapist, begins by explaining what inspired her to shift her focus from working directly with individuals with dementia to supporting their caregiv...

Colton Hall from Kaduceus Pharmacy joins the conversation to discuss how their approach to pharmacy services stands out in the industry. The episode begins with Colton explaining how Kaduceus Pharmacy is different and what it means to be a full-service pharmacy, detailing the comprehensive care and support they provide to their customers. Kim and Colton delve into the three biggest challenges seni...

This episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, Nicholas Porter from Medical Behavioral Hospital of Clear Lake joins the conversation to discuss critical aspects of psychiatric hospitalization. The episode begins by addressing when families should start considering hospitalization for their loved ones, offering guidance on recognizing the signs that professional care may be necessary. Nicholas...

In this heartfelt episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, Debora Nixon from Nixon Home Care joins the conversation to share her inspiring journey in eldercare. The episode begins with Debora recounting the personal story behind her motivation to start Nixon Home Care, detailing how her father's experience with dementia profoundly shaped her mission and vision for the organization. Kim a...

In this enlightening episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, Vanda Crossly from EXP Realty joins the conversation to share her expertise on navigating the transition to senior living. The episode begins by addressing how families can determine the right time to move a loved one to senior living, offering insights into the key indicators and considerations. Kim and Vanda discuss the essentia...

This episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood and special guest Mike Houston from Proveer at Northgate Senior Living joins the conversation to discuss Memory Care and its impact on those with cognitive challenges. We begin with an exploration of what Memory Care entails and how it differs from Assisted Living, offering insights into the specialized support and care provided in a Memory Care s...

In this thoughtful episode of Life Happens with host Kim Hegwood, Becky Davis from Gentiva Hospice joins the conversation to discuss the often overlooked aspect of grief support for family caregivers. They begin by exploring how caregivers tend to prioritize their loved ones' needs over their own, even after the death of their loved one, and how this can impact their well-being. Becky highligh...

Innovations in Accessibility: "Even the simplest ideas can be life-saving for people or game-changing for sure."— Cindy & Christina In today's episode of Life Happens, we will be discussing the importance of adaptive equipment and proper care tactics for those providing care at home. Our special guests, Cindy and Christina from AE Corner, will share their insights into a variety...

Navigating Conversations Around Dementia: "We have a free tool for caregivers of somebody with dementia. If somebody's early in the progression of their disease, you likely can still talk to them about some of the questions that come up."— Kate Debartolo   Tune into a thought-provoking episode with special guest, Kate DeBartolo from the Conversation Project on the "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood" p...

Understanding Memory Loss in Aging Family Members: "One of the classic differentiators is if you've forgotten where your car keys are, that's normal. If you've forgotten what the keys are for, that's maybe a sign of something a little bit more serious."— Sarah Gorenstein Welcome to the latest episode of Life Happens with Kim Hegwood! In this episode, our guest Sarah Gorenstein joins us to discuss...

Smart Home Integration for Elder Care: "Bigger in the meaning that, it also can have some kind of smart devices, moving sensors, fall sensors, mode detectors, remote lockers, all these types of stuff. And all these devices, all these sensors will provide you with some kind of information, right, you need, to make sure that the person you're carrying on, it's okay."— Tomas Poska In this week's epis...

Living with Dementia: "You live for many, many, many years often with dementia, and can live pretty well. But once you get to the point where you begin to either die from dementia or there are side effects from the medications, the medications for dementia at this time are just band-aids."— Anne Kenny MD In this episode of "Life Happens with Kim Hegwood," we are joined by Dr. Anne Kenny, a geriatr...