Life Happens

“I believe that a person who has early-stage dementia should move into assisted living, depending on their behaviors and what they're struggling with, so that they can adapt to the environment and really start getting that stimulation to get the highest level of care and stimulation and nutrition so that they stay where they're at. They don't decline as fast. And we can't guarantee that, but we're...

“Dad, I'm going to be visiting you on March 15th and my flight arrives at. And so that means, you'll see me at approximately this time." That created all kinds of stress for him. "When is it when Irene getting here? Is it March 15th yet?" You know, he'd be bugging the staff. And they said you don't need to tell him ahead of time that you're coming, just come. So, I did, I just arrived. He would go...

“She asked him to come so she can have a vacation. That's the best way for that sibling to find out really how mom can live safely in her own home. When she puts the coffee pot in the refrigerator, when she opens the door to strangers, when she wants to write a check to the person that calls on the telephone, he's going to know, yeah, this isn't safe for mom.” Linda Johnson Today Kim Hegwood has a...

“And just for the folks out there, even a window can be an escape artist. Which you don't know of until it happens, and I've seen it happen. So, if somebody has dementia, we'll look at the home, there are some homes that are licensed with dementia as well. So, we could take care of them there at a small community that's certified with dementia. We look into them to make sure that they are a good f...

“I think one of the most important things about navigating the emergency department, preparing for a trip to the emergency department, is making sure that you have a list of all medications, an up-to-date list. Make sure you have a list of all allergies that a patient may have. It's helpful to have a list of their physicians, with or without phone numbers. And it's important to bring patience beca...

“I'm a physician and I know how to take care of things all by myself and yes, I had a hard time asking for help because I didn't think I needed help. I thought I could do it all by myself because I'm a strong person, but I did learn eventually to accept help. Right?” Today, Kim Hegwood and Dr. Renee Harmon will discuss why it is so important to have a caregiving team. Dr. Harmon will talk from her...

“I remember a moment, when a friend of mine came to visit my mother and which was very rare because a lot of people don't visit. So, I was very grateful that she even visited. But she immediately went to work on her phone and my mother turned to me and said she doesn't wanna be here. It’s important to really to be present.” Dani Klein Modisett Kim Hegwood will be asking comedian Dani Klein Modiset...

This is part 2 of When Caregiving Calls. Dr. Blight has so much great information last time he was on the Life Happens Show that Kim Hegwood decided we needed to have home back. Today Kim Hegwood and Dr. Aaron Blight will be discussing what to do When Caregiving Calls 1. In your book you talk about resilience. How do caregivers develop resilience? 2. How does a family member learn to fulfill the c...

  “They're able to really participate in enrichment activities. Things like the arts music, the Houston Symphony is one of, of our partners. We have art classes that are taught by local painters. We do a lot of movement through exercise and discovering our, how our bodies can move differently through Tai Chi and sit and be fit and very fun exercise activities.” Andrea Williams- CarePartners T...

“And then in the car,  on that day in 2006, when she was diagnosed, we were driving home and she was, I mean, dead silent. And I kept asking, you know, how do you feel? Cause she, of course, was near tears. And I said, how do you feel? What are you thinking? She's not saying a word. So, at a traffic light, I reach over into my console, and I get my bag of legos.” Loretta Veney Today Kim Hegwo...

You may have heard the term mindfulness, but have you practiced it before? By boosting mindfulness in day-to-day living, a caregiver can do practices that boost resilience and enhance overall comfort, ease, peace, and tranquility, no matter how chaotic and intense the caregiving duties are . Larissa Carlson Kim Hegwood and Larissa Carlson will talk about how you can practice mindfulness even when...

It is heartbreaking when you hear about a senior becoming a victim of a scammer. Unfortunately, this happens more than we like to think. “A lot of us get Robocalls. We pick up the phone, it says, press one for more information, we press one. Do you know what that scammer does? They take that phone number because they're trying to see if your phone number works. If your phone number does not work,...

The truth is most people are not prepared. A crisis happens and you jump in. Andrea Zaite is a Geriatric or Life Care Professional. Today she will help you understand what you need to do if this happens to you. Kim Hegwood will ask her the following questions. 1. When a crisis happens, adult children are often called to help. What are the first steps they need to take? 2. How can you find the reso...

If you suddenly find yourself taking care of an elderly parent, you will need to know how Medicare works. “You would want to get a durable power of attorney, perhaps medical power of attorney. And those are the typical things that people are aware of. And there's one form that most people don't know about.” Blanche Hayden Kim will talk to Blanche Hayden an experienced Medicare Agent and a senior h...

Mom wants to each chocolate all day. She has dementia. Should I make her eat a healthy diet and just let her enjoy this simple pleasure? “Because if you think about someone with dementia, the more options or the more choices or the busier, someone is going to be more confused. It's going to get harder for them to make a decision. So, then they just won't eat at all because there's just too much go...

You may think that speech therapy is just for kids. But the truth is there are many times when speech therapy is also beneficial for adults. Today Kim Hegwood and Kolby Jackson sit down to discuss the benefits of speech therapy for adults. A few of the questions Kim will ask Kolby include: 1. What is speech therapy? 2. How can speech therapy help adults? 3. Signs speech therapy may be beneficial....

You may have heard that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain. The great news is there is a lot you can do to protect both your heart and your brain. Our guest today, Lisa Milliken will discuss: Strategies to Manage Heart and Brain Health Risks 1. Why does managing heart risks matter to someone worried about the risk of dementia? 2. Are there some risk factors you cannot change? 3....

The truth is all of us will die one day. Do you want a smooth transition? Do you want to make your transition easier for both you and your loved ones? This may not be a topic you are comfortable with but take a few minutes to listen to what Kim Hegwood and Dan Morhaim, M.D. have to say about Choosing the Best End Of Life Possible Kim will ask Dr. Morhain: 1. As a former emergency room physician wh...

Chances are you probably know someone with diabetes. Did you know there is a connection between diabetes and dementia? Today Kim Hegwood will be visiting with Sue Minello an RN at UTMB about this subject. Some of the things they will be discussing are: 1. Is there a connection between Diabetes and Dementia? 2. How can you get diabetes under control? What treatments are available? 3. What is Lifest...

Many of us are unprepared when caregiving calls. “ When Caregiving Calls ” is the title of the book today’s guest has authored. In his book, Dr. Aaron Blight offers “ Guidance as You Care for a Parent, Spouse, or Aging Relative” Kim and Dr. Blight will discuss how you can fulfill your role as a family caregiver Additionally, Kim will ask Dr. Blight: 1. Why did you write your book, When Caregiving...

If you care for someone with dementia you may have heard about music therapy. Today Kim Hegwood with be speaking with Katelyn Blankenburg, owner of Texas Music Therapy. Here is what we will be talking about. 1. What is music therapy and how does it help dementia patients? 2. What kind of music is used in music therapy? 3. What makes music therapy different from listening to our favorite music? 4....

Knowing how to properly advocate for someone in the hospital is important, especially if they have dementia. Andrea Zaite, Geriatric Care Manager joins Kim Hegwood today to talk about what happens when you or a loved one is hospitalized. Hospitalized, Now What? Let's learn: 1. What can you do prior to ever being hospitalized? 2. Why is it important to have a list of people who can help you? 3. How...

Shonah Jefferson, the owner of Chefs For Seniors, joins Kim Hegwood once again. Celebrating Heart Month this show is focused on eating right for your heart. Shonah wants listeners to know that eating healthy doesn't mean compromising taste. 1. What is a heart-healthy diet and why is it important? 2. What are some heart-healthy foods? 3. What are some foods that should be limited on a heart-healthy...

Kim Hegwood sits down with Rick Casey, owner of Caring Senior Services to talk about pneumonia and the impact on seniors. Join us as we talk about Preventing Pneumonia at Home 1. What is pneumonia? 2. Why are seniors at risk for pneumonia? 3. How can you prevent a senior from getting pneumonia? 4. How can a home care helper help seniors stay healthy? 5. Why is activity so important to help avoid p...

Getting the right kind of care and understanding the differences can be confusing for many families. Kim talks to Kimberly Pittard today about different types of care. Learn about the differences between home care, home health, and provider services 1. What services does home health care provide? 2. Does Medicare pay for home health care? 3. Do I have to have a prescription for home health care? 4...