Navigating the World with Your Aging Loved One

The burnout rate for caregivers is alarmingly high. Stress plays a large role in affecting our health and our ability to properly care for our loved ones. How do we create an effective contingency plan should we or our loved one's caregiver fall ill or are unable to provide care? Stephanie Erickson, author of Plan for Aging Well, was born and raised in California. She has a Master's Degree in Soci...

Thinking of creating safe environments at home for our loved ones is top of mind- how do we create safe spaces successfully? If we find that our loved one needs to move into a senior living community what questions should we ask? How do we determine the "right" place for our loved ones? Today, we welcome Ellen Belk, she is the Founder of Keep In Mind, Inc. She is an innovative influencer in the ag...

How do we build trust, rapport and a valuable partnership between families and care teams? Communication. When families and care teams can be in partnership and work collaboratively our older adults are provided with "purpose" centered care-- the purposeful engagement between everyone involved in our senior's life. Serenity Engage is a HIPAA-compliant private group messaging application for senior...

CBD is a product that has grown in great popularity in recent years. There are so many different options to choose from. As a family caregiver, I have heard that there are many benefits of CBD for myself and the older adult in my life but we have questions- What are those benefits? How is it helpful? Where do I learn more about CBD? Today, we have the privilege of being able to speak with Nancy So...

Currently, there are 10 million unpaid Millennial caregivers. Black Millennials make up 34% of that demographic. Millennials make up the most diverse group of caregivers and have unique challenges, needs, and qualities. It truly is "life interrupted" as they navigate this new role. Millennial caregivers also bring incredible blessings to those they care for. Today we talk with Ashley Stevens, Foun...

We are facing considerable loneliness in our world right now. Not only for our older adults but our younger generation as well. We are searching for meaningful connections. How do we create connections and provide support systems for older adults and support them in their health and aging journey? We shine a light on people, stories, and businesses that bring about positive change and impact our w...

Having his father diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Matthew John Zuraw and his mother started to make RememBars for him. They are delicious and full of nutrient-dense ingredients that were good for his brain. They've since perfected the recipe with advice from nutritionists, dietitians, and food scientists. They are now available for everyone. We talked about their family's caregiving journey, how they...

I had the privilege of talking with Nigel Mould, CEO of StackCare. Nigel is an innovative Executive with a passion for making a difference in caregivers lives by preserving the independence and dignity of their loved ones. StackCare is an innovative passive monitoring system for older adults and vulnerable people. This technology allows seniors to age place using discrete infrared motion sensors a...

I want to connect with Grandma on Zoom but she doesn't know how to use it? How can I protect my data and passwords? Abbie Richie, founder of Senior Savvy, leads with kindness, simplicity, and helpful information when teaching older adults and their families technology. Senior Savvy offers zoom classes, workshops, and tech support for older adults, their families, and senior living communities. We...

I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Krystal L. Culler, DBH, M.A., Founder of the Virtual Brain Health Center. She brings her knowledge of scientific research combined with care and compassion. Dr. Krystal Culler translates all of the lasted research about brain health into actionable steps that people can take into their lives. We talk about practical ways people can add brain health to their...

We are joined today by Jill Sauber, managing attorney at Sauber Legal Services. They offer holistic legal representation and comprehensive estate and elder law services. The focus on making those life transitions easier and her ability to offer great council, provide support, and helpful resources led us to our conversation today. We discuss what to consider when moving a loved one into senior hou...

Loved ones frequently are asking the question, "should I move my loved one into my home?", during this time of Covid. We know this is a delicate topic and Liz Cloete, Occupational Therapist and owner of "Think Different" Dementia,  walks us through what practical steps to consider when making this decision. Her unique perspective of developing her OT practice in South Africa has shaped her lens an...

In this episode, we interview Cathy Braxton creator of Improv for Caregivers. We talk about challenging out-of-date communication patterns by actively submerging in the pillars of empathy and then utilizing the newly gained listening abilities with the rules of improv for a new gold standard in communication. We dive into advice for a new caregiver and how to incorporate the whole family in caregi...

In this episode, we are shining a light on gerontology, ageism, and the need for diversity, and aging information for people of color and our younger generation. Our country offers the gift of a wonderfully diverse culture and it needs to be represented- Christina encourages our millennials and caregivers by providing a valuable resource for them as they are searching for answers on aging. Health...

We talk with Gerontologist, Renee Skoglund about losing independence. When do I know when to start making decisions for my aging loved one? Is it ok to let them "struggle"? Are there any guidelines to follow when deciding to make those transitions? When is the right time to have this conversation? How can we make decisions together? We answer all these questions and more.  Renee Skoglund received...

We are joined today by Jill Sauber, managing attorney at Sauber Legal Services. They offer holistic legal representation with comprehensive Estate and Elder Law services. The focus on making those life transitions easier and her ability to offer great council, provide support, and helpful resources led us to our conversation today. We talk about the best way to financially prepare for caring for a...

How can we find connection? How can we engage with our loved ones during this time? Angela Burton, founder of Feet to the Fire Writers' Workshops® brings us through how to create purposeful experiences with our families and also ourselves. We also talk about the journey of Feet to the Fire Writers' Workshops®, the benefits of writing, and the powerful ways that writing and sharing our lives brings...

In this episode, we talk with Wendy Adlerstein, Executive Director and Co-Owner of FirstLight Home Care. She brings to us her insight into how she is seeing the perspective shift in aging, especially in a home care setting. The secret sauce that makes up a great caregiver, what to look for when you hire a home care agency, encouraging a younger generation to look at caregiving as a great way to sp...

We all need those bright spots in our day. We talk with Jill Mahoney, she has been visiting senior living facilities prior to Covid-19 and has now used her time to bring joy and fight loneliness by making phone calls and connecting to seniors in their home. We discuss how those calls bring joy to each of us, encouraging others to reach out and do the same.  We talk about those reasons behind those...

With Gerontologist, Renee Skoglund, we explore the power of human touch, how intimacy and sexuality play a powerful role in our lives regardless of age. Covid-19 has highlighted what we have always previously taken for granted- a simple touch, a hug, or a kiss.  A look back through the generations to see where we've been and how it's shaped our perceptions today. Is there a rise in STD's for our s...

Dr. Cameron Camp is the Director of Research and Development at the Center for Applied Research in Dementia. Dr. Camp is the creator of Montessori-Based Dementia Programming, an innovative approach to activities programming and daily life interactions that combines rehabilitation principles and educational techniques using the physical and cognitive abilities available to individuals. This method...

We've had so much fun interviewing the most amazing guests. We are continuing to record great episodes and connect with our audience. Thank you for your support and continued encouragement. We will be taking a fall break as we are getting our little ones started in school and completing a big project we are excited to share with all of you in a couple of months. Wishing you all the best and we'll...

"A life well lived is a story worth telling" We all have a story to tell and we need connection now more than ever. By the telling of our stories, we are able to build those bridges to our families and loved ones and leave a legacy for generations to come. My interview with Jessica Redmond of Storyteller highlights the importance of passing down the gift of memoirs to our loved ones- but it's abou...

In a mission to end social isolation, Jaya Manjunath, the founder of Seniors with Skills created a program to encourage and assist our younger generation to volunteer and change the lives of our elders. Hear how this non-profit is run primarily by university students, teaching all of us that you are never too young to change the world! Social isolation is a public health crisis for our seniors and...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Thomas Letourneur and Amy Bryant. We talk about the story of Famileo, a family newspaper that brings families together- an app that was created for families to share their pictures and messages digitally and how Famileo shares and prints a personalized newspaper that is sent to your elder loved one, what life in France looks like right now for ou...