The Care Plan

Bevi Kothare has lived the full spectrum of aging care. From gerontologist to memory care leader to running tech companies building software for older adults, she's seen where the system breaks down from every angle. Now, as General Manager at enABLE Care Management and finishing her PhD in Leadership and Gerontology, she's on a mission to fix one of the biggest failures in aging tech: we...

Dr. Peter Abadir isn't your typical geriatrician. As Co-Principal Investigator of the Johns Hopkins Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratory for Aging Research, a $20 million, five-year initiative from the National Institute on Aging that he co-leads, he's literally building the future of aging. From discovering that your blood pressure medication might actually prevent frailty...

Most of us plan our vacations more carefully than we plan our aging. This Wednesday for National Family Caregivers Month, we're sitting down with Sharon Peska and Mary Ann Buckley, two Licensed Social Workers with over 45 years of combined experience working with older adults and families, to talk about why that has to change. Sharon and Mary Ann have worked in hospitals, nursing homes, hospic...

What happens when your spouse becomes your patient? Or when your parent suddenly needs you to parent them? This November, for National Family Caregivers Month, we're diving into the invisible emotional architecture of caregiving with Alison Carelli, LCSW-C, a psychotherapist and care manager at Aging Network Services. With 53 million family caregivers in America providing an estimated $600 billion...

"Am I doing this right?" If you're caring for someone with dementia, you've asked yourself this question 1,000 times. This November for National Family Caregivers Month, we're sitting down with Jessica Young, BS, CDP, President and Aging Life Care Manager at Ferretto Young Care Management Consulting, to talk about why that's the wrong question. Jessica has spent two decad...

Join Nirvana Tari and Dr. Lauren Blake, co-founder of Alstara, for a captivating conversation on how AI is transforming the future of drug discovery for Alzheimer’s and other neurocognitive diseases. As fellow members of the prestigious National Institute on Aging Startup Accelerator, Nirvana and Dr. Blake dive into the science, stories, and startup journey behind Alstara’s groundbreaking work. Th...

Join Nirvana Tari and Dr. David Casarett for an inspiring conversation with Gina Upchurch, the small-town pharmacist who made it all the way to Washington as a national voice for patients and seniors. From founding Senior PharmAssist in Durham to serving on MedPAC advising Congress on Medicare, Gina shares how one local pharmacist can drive national change. Hear her take on medication insecurity,...

Join Nirvana Tari for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation with Felicia Norrington, social work director at Georgia State University, as she reflects on twelve years of caregiving for her mother while building her career in higher education. Felicia shares hard-won lessons on burnout, balance, and the power of asking for help, while reframing caregiving as a form of leadership. This episode off...

Join Nirvana Tari and Dr. David Casarett for an eye-opening conversation with Joanna Duran and Monica Bryant, sister lawyers and co-founders of Triage Cancer, as they uncover the hidden legal realities of navigating cancer care. Learn how understanding just a few key health insurance and employment laws can save patients thousands and protect their rights during treatment. This episode is a must-l...

Dr. Dani Cabral, neurologist and founder of BrainLove, shares how connection, purpose, and innovation are transforming Alzheimer’s care. Hosted by Nirvana Tari of CareYaya, this inspiring episode explores new hope for patients, caregivers, and families.

In this special in-person episode of The Care Plan, hosts Nirvana and Neal talk with Dr. Arif Kamal, an oncologist, palliative care physician, and the first-ever Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society, about transforming cancer care to meet patients and caregivers where they are. You’ll learn:- What really drives health system change- The launch of ACS Cares: the first patient-facing...

In this episode of The Care Plan, host Nirvana speaks with Natalie Leary LCSW, Director of the Duke Dementia Family Support Program, about the realities of living with and caring for someone with memory loss. Natalie shares candid, practical, and compassionate advice for every stage from early warning signs to innovative ways to preserve independence. You’ll learn:- The first conversation to have...

On this episode of The Care Plan, hosts Nirvana and Dr. David Casarett turn the tables on the legendary GeriPal Podcast hosts, Dr. Alex Smith and Dr. Eric Widera. Known for interviewing hundreds of experts in geriatrics and palliative care, Alex and Eric swap roles to answer the big questions themselves about aging, advance care planning, moral injury from insurance denials, and how AI could chang...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Nisha Chellam, a Board-Certified Internist and functional medicine pioneer, opens up about the health crisis that forced her to rethink everything she learned in traditional medicine. At the age of 42, despite “normal” labs, she felt like she was falling apart. Migraines, fatigue, brain fog, and mood swings plagued her daily life until she discovered the transformativ...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Dr. Corita Grudzen, head of Supportive and Acute Care Services at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and one of America’s leading physician-innovators, is rewriting the rules of how we care for seriously ill patients. From transforming the ER into a place of compassion, not chaos, to pioneering in-home emergency care and bridging palliative care...

In this powerful, thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Daniel Thomas, one of the youngest and most forward-thinking geriatricians in the U.S., shares the real secrets to aging well. Trained at Johns Hopkins and now practicing at Penn State Health, Dr. Thomas blends cutting-edge science with deep human insight gained from years of listening to his senior patients. In this episode, learn- The 3 habit...

Join us as we dive into the world of AI with Rick Robinson, VP of Innovation at the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP!AARP is the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan U.S. organization dedicated to empowering people aged 50+ through advocacy, services, research, and benefits. The AgeTech Collaborative from AARP is an ecosystem launched by AARP that brings together startups, investors, enterprises, testbed...

Join us as we sit down with the amazing Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Advocacy and Campaigns at Caring Across Generations, special education attorney, and family caregiver. We discuss:00:00 Intergenerational Relationships and Caregiving01:59 Inadequate Support Infrastructure for Caregivers03:59 Innovations and Caregiving Models06:12 Federal and State Level Changes for Caregivers07:31 Reshaping Attitudes...

We sat down with the amazing Debbie Weiss, caregiver since she was 17 and author of the book "On Second Thought... Maybe I Can!" Join us as we discuss Debbie's caregiving experience, managing caregiver burnout, overcoming limiting beliefs, and more!

Today, we are honored to meet with Senator Gale Adcock, a North Carolina Senator and family nurse practitioner for 37 years. Join us as we discuss:- Family caregiving in the workplace- Importance of intergenerational connections- Strategies and policies addressing caregiver shortages- Fostering future healthcare professionalsAnd more!

Today, we are speaking with the incredibly interesting Dr. Alexis Drutchas! Dr. Drutchas is a Palliative Care Physician at Mass General Hospital, and she was recently promoted to Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School! Join us as she takes us on a fascinating journey through her eventful life thus far! Listen as she discusses the importance of palliative care, caregiving, and st...

Today, we are joined by Dr. Mitch Clionsky! Mitch is a Board Certified Neuropsychologist who, with his wife, has a combined 70 years of experience! Listen as he discusses the role of caregivers in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Also, hear him share his personal experience with dementia and offer advice on grieving and embracing change!

Want to get inspired? You’re in the right place! On today’s episode, we are joined by the amazing Fitz Koehler! Fitz is a fitness innovator, race announcer, author, speaker, and more! She is a breast cancer crusher who uses her positive energy to encourage others to live happier and healthier lives. Also, hear her thoughts on how to balance fitness and caregiving! Listen now to hear her inspiratio...

On today’s episode, we are joined by Joyce Massey-Smith. Joyce is the Director for the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services. She has been a champion of the aging policy field for a long time! Listen as she explains why she finds her work so important in the world we live in today, as well as resources that could benefit you!

Today, we are joined by Dr. Carolyn Clevenger. Dr. Clevenger is a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner who leads the Integrated Memory Care Clinic. Listen as Carol describes this one of a kind clinic model and how it is making revolutionary changes for people living with Dementia and their care partners!