The Whole Care Network

How can a system meant to care for our most vulnerable turn into our worst nightmare? Join us as we kick off a special series of Love Conquers Alz episodes, inspired by our soon-to-be-released documentary, "No Country for Old People." We’re honored to have Rick Mountcastle, former U.S. attorney and co-producer of our documentary, with us. Rick offers his eye-opening experiences prosecuting nursing...

Josh and Chris discuss Grandparents Day and the experiences of gay grandparents. They share personal stories and highlight the importance of community and support for aging LGBTQ+ individuals. The conversation emphasizes the value of chosen family and the impact of acceptance and love in the lives of grandparents. They also touch on the challenges faced by gay grandparents and the need for connect...

Paul Ptashnick is back with us continuing his story of his caregiving journey. When his father was diagnosed with Parkinson's shortly after retirement, Paul stepped up to provide support, navigating the complexities of his father's declining health. His story takes an unexpected turn when Paul's mother is also diagnosed with Lewy body Parkinson's, requiring him to juggle the care of both parents s...

Facing a Difficult Choice: Death with Dignity and Dementia Death with dignity, also known as medical aid in dying, offers terminally ill individuals the right to control their end-of-life decisions. But what happens when dementia enters the equation? This episode tackles the complex ethical and legal challenges surrounding death with dignity for individuals with dementia. We'll explore: The challe...

In this episode of Finding a Foothold, I discuss where to begin as you struggle to come to grips with the devastating news that your loved one has had a stroke. You are likely entering a new world full of unfamiliar medical jargon, different medical professionals, and so many moving parts. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information given to you, on top of the whirlwind of emotions cause...

If you or someone you love has recently had a stroke, this is a MUST LISTEN episode. Hear Lori and Mark's story of stroke survival, along with some of the most vital information to know if you or someone you love is recovering from stroke. #carelab #carelabit Find Care Equipment solutions at https://www.asksamie.com/ Find Caregiver Training at https://www.higherstandardscaregivertraining.com/ Find...

In this episode, Sarah interviews Sabrina Ortolano, who served as a caregiver for her spouse with cancer. They discuss how you can be there for your caregiver friends. You can find more of us at: Stelmach Brown Media llc Please like share and subscribe to our podcast, also if you enjoy our content and to provide us with additional support, you can tip us here https://ko-fi.com/caregiverchroniclesp...

In this podcast I share with you how, during a lift I took I had an amazing conversation. As we grow older, we become more aware of what we truly need. We all go through tough times, but often, we don't pay attention to how we're feeling. This lack of awareness makes it difficult to communicate our needs to others. Learning to recognize our emotions is crucial. Recognizing emotions involves pausin...

Being an advocate for someone in hospice care is a big job. MSW Jacob Kendall of Demystifying Healthcare is teaching us how to do it well. Advocacy for his own healthcare needs has taught him how to communicate with a healthcare team to get the best care possible. Jacob teaches about the various aspects that influence that care that’s available for patients, including time and communication. He’s...

Description When a close family member is diagnosed with dementia, it can be uniquely challenging for young adults to navigate this new reality. We are Nancy and Merritt Treaster. When Merritt was in his early twenties, his dad, who was 60 at the time, was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia. A few short years later, his grandfather, at the age of 85, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Mer...

Brandy, Emilia, and guest Nicole Cuervo share their secret superpower wishes, then get down to business discussing beautiful bras... and why everyone should have the chance to feel good in their underwear! #carelab #carelabit Find Care Equipment solutions at https://www.asksamie.com/ Find Caregiver Training at https://www.higherstandardscaregivertraining.com/ https://www.carelabpodcast.com/ Find m...

The Savvy Caregiver Program is a training program for caregivers like you. Caregiving is a role far different from being a spouse or child. Those terms describe relationships. Assisting and guiding someone who is living with a chronic illness is the definition of caregiving. It is work. The caregiving role has a “job description”. Putting together the tasks, the helping, the cleaning up, watching,...

In this wrap-up episode, we discussed the "Caregiving Youth Hidden in Plain Sight" special series, a collaboration between JJ and Natalie and My Care Friends CEO Todd Keitz and Katie Seymour (VP of Programming and Community). We were all amazed at how eye-opening it was to learn about the challenges faced by young people caring for family members with disabilities or illnesses. We highlighted the...

This Week: Josh's Beard Mishap leads to a discussion on the struggles and acceptance of the Aging Process. We cover: Ageism in the Media and Lack of Representation The Importance of Representation The Reality of Aging Conclusion: Embrace the Gray and Age Gayfully! A gay senior, Christopher MacLellan, and an ally, Josh Wilson, podcasting about life, love, liberty and travel. Don't Say Gay?... Say A...

Today, we will interview Dr. Kerul Kessel, who will share her inspiring life story and offer advice on navigating the caregiving stage of life. Dr. Kessel highlights that simple activities, like watching lighthearted TV shows or something as calming as walking the dogs, can provide the rest the body and mind need. Being in nature can also help us reconnect with ourselves and regain perspective. A...

In this heartfelt episode of AlzAuthors, we dive into the emotional and practical aspects of caring for loved ones with dementia, with a special focus on family memories and intergenerational bonds. Jeannette Fazzari Jones shares a particularly touching story about her experiences with her grandparents’ dementia, detailing both the struggles and joys she encountered along the way. She is the autho...

As co-founder of Empowered Endings, Dr. Bob Uslander, is working to shift the paradigm of End of Life Care by supporting, guiding, and teaching an empowered approach to Palliative and End of Life Care. He became aware of the gaps in hospice and palliative care that cause patients to struggle. The deaths of his parents and a dear friend provided a personal perspective into caregiving that formed Bo...

Sabrina Ortolano has been a caregiver for her wife, Cyndi, since 2014 when she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Sabrina and I talk about her identity crisis that sprouted from caregiving, the importance of body work, fundraising for brain surgery, asking for the right help, and managing judgment from others and unsolicited advi...

This episode highlights the impactful work of Lorenzo's House, supporting youth and families dealing with younger onset dementia. Featuring Olivia Compton, a 15-year-old youth leader, and Patti LeFleur, who leads the organization's youth programming, the discussion delves into empowering young caregivers. Olivia shares her journey, explaining how she found support and community through Lorenzo's H...

You don’t know the whole story about mental illness until you’ve heard it from a mother’s perspective. Sydney Graham of Families for Addiction Recovery (Canada), and Lindsey Hoggle, a Health IT Consultant, share their stories as mothers who have struggled for decades to get mental health services for their adult children -- in American and Canadian healthcare and social services systems that were...

You’re going to wish you’d known about padding hard corners earlier in your caregiving journey! We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan. Through our experiences as caregivers for our family members and loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned ensuring home safety is both vitally important and ever-changing. In this post, we’re sharing three main tips for managing safety — ...

Need some more podcast recommendations? Emilia, Brandy, and guest Dan Josebachvili share their current faves, then talk tech, senior safety, and how making senior tech beautiful can also make it more effective. #CareLab #carelabit Find Care Equipment solutions at https://www.asksamie.com/ Find Caregiver Training at https://www.higherstandardscaregivertraining.com /https://www.carelabpodcast.com/ F...

The transformative power of creativity can be a balm for both individuals living with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. For caregivers, engaging in artistic endeavors provides a much-needed respite from the demands of caregiving, offering a chance to relax, recharge, and reconnect with their own creative spirit. This self-care is essential to prevent burnout and maintain overall well-bein...

In this podcast, I share how, after a period of burnout, always feeling tired and stressed, and not being able to sleep well for months, I finally feel rested and liberated after a few days of complete disconnection. I tend to want to have control over everything and everyone’s life, and that is not functional for anyone, especially for caregivers, where there are multiple situations beyond our co...

In part 2 of our grief series with Grief Coach Shelby Forsythia, Shelby talks about identifying your grief allies, different grief styles, and how to create continuing bonds with the ones you’ve lost. As founder of Life After Loss Academy, she uses what she’s learned in the years after her mother’s death to help other grievers make their way through a grief journey. Shelby uses mindfulness techniq...