The Whole Care Network

Josh and Amanda talk more about restaurants, tackle public restrooms, and take a listener question about kitchens. Music: "Super Familiar", "Wilson Tron" by Josh Wilson "Bullhog" by Andrew Wilson - AJCW - Find him at  electricsheap.bandcamp.com/music  or search "AJCW" on iTunes, Spotify, and other music sources. Familiar Wilsons Media produces content to bring people together. We are curious, hope...

Kris has been the full-time family caregiver for her Grams, Mary, since 2017. They started sharing their life and love as they navigate Alzheimer’s together on Instagram that same year. Now with nearly half a million followers on TikTok Kris continues to create connections with fellow caregivers while sharing the special bond she has with her Grandma during the progression of this disease. Leading...

 When Sandra Strauss' husband, Rick, was diagnosed with dementia overnight, she was determined to uncover the truth behind the cause--but what she discovered was far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Unbeknownst to them, Rick had a rare genetic predisposition that made him highly susceptible to environmental toxins--a factor that could be making countless people sick. Sandra's journe...

In celebration of National Poetry Month, we hosted a gathering of poets on April 18, 2023, to share work inspired by their dementia experiences. We understand that storytelling, of any kind, but especially through poetry lightens burdens. For many caregivers, poetry can be a means of expression, of sharing their experience, opening hearts to joy, or drowning sorrows. Finding the right words to tel...

In celebration of National Poetry Month, we hosted a gathering of poets on April 18, 2023, to share work inspired by their dementia experiences. We understand that storytelling, of any kind, but especially through poetry lightens burdens. For many caregivers, poetry can be a means of expression, of sharing their experience, opening hearts to joy, or drowning sorrows. Finding the right words to tel...

Cathy Sikorski's caregiving journey started with taking care of her beloved grandmother. But as she became the “go-to” person for all her family members and friends who needed help, she realized the complexities of caregiving. In this eye-opening confession, Cathy shares her practical experiences and the importance of having an elder lawyer by your side.  Becoming a caregiver for her nana was a de...

Josh and Amanda talk more about restaurants, tackle public restrooms, and take a listener question about kitchens. Music: "Super Familiar", "Wilson Tron" by Josh Wilson "Bullhog" by Andrew Wilson - AJCW - Find him at  electricsheap.bandcamp.com/music  or search "AJCW" on iTunes, Spotify, and other music sources. Familiar Wilsons Media produces content to bring people together. We are curious, hope...

Healthcare professional Cassie Abel brings over twenty years of experience to our discussion on caregiving's emotional challenges and the guilt that sometimes accompanies them. Cassie's caregiving journey with her mother, Carol, diagnosed with ALS in 2020, has shaped her outlook on caregiving. Carol inspired Cassie's love for healthcare, and when her health began to decline, Cassie stepped in to p...

Palliative care - the often misunderstood, under utilized, yet empowering option in medicine.  Today my guest is Dr Caitlin Barron an internal medicine physician specializing in palliative care at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington and co-founder and chief medical director of EpioneMD . She also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Palliative Medicine. Her clinical...

Death doulas Jo-Anne Haun and Karen Henderickson are bringing value to the care of people with serious illnesses. They’re the co-founders of Death Doula Network International (DDNI), a passionate community committed to connection, support & education for ANYONE interested in Death Literacy & Positivity.   As a team Jo-Anne and Karen are pragmatic and heart-centered Death Educators and faci...

Pitching a new restaurant idea, can children work in the kitchen, virtual social awkwardness, also, do ya need help making a triangle? Music: "Super Familiar", "Metal Eagle", "Jazz Hands, "Happy/Hurt" by Josh Wilson Familiar Wilsons Media produces content to bring people together. We are curious, hopeful, and try not to take ourselves too seriously - admittedly, with varying degrees of success. A...

Whether it's a wedding or an office party, socially awkward situations abound, and there are none better equipped to fix these than Amanda and Josh. Music: "Super Familiar", "Cheese Shoes" by Josh Wilson "Bullhog" by Andrew Wilson - AJCW - Find him at  electricsheap.bandcamp.com/music  or search "AJCW" on iTunes, Spotify, and other music sources. Familiar Wilsons Media produces content to bring pe...

Today's episode features a guest who shares her story of courage. We will return to our format of addressing your concerns called in to the call-in line, on our next episode. My guest for this podcast episode is Eve Hill. She is a Californian. She was a former sitcom writer, grant writer and a community liaison for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She is a licensed California realtor and a...

Today’s guest Katrina Spade is changing the landscape of death care as CEO/founder of Recompose, an organization offering human composting as an environmental-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation.   Katrina is the founder and CEO of Recompose, a public benefit corporation leading the transformation of the funeral industry. She’s the designer and inventor of a system that transf...

Amanda and Josh love our animal companions but feel that the experience can be better. Herein lies the solutions. Also, helping baby's self esteem, plant accessories, and the missing left sock problem. Music: "Super Familiar", "Electric Dean", "Made of Aluminum (featuring Dan Belson)" and "Metal Eagle" by Josh Wilson Familiar Wilsons Media produces content to bring people together. We are curious,...

This episode addresses a topic that is brought up frequently by caregivers who are facing the decision of placing their loved one into care. They ask how do I know when it is the right time? How do they make this "hardest decision"? Contained within are some nuggets to consider when facing this decision - from the book Nursing Homes and Assisted Living: The Family's Guide to Making Decisions and G...

Matthew Cauli became a full-time caregiver to his wife, Kanlaya, after she experienced two massive strokes and an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Matthew and his wife are in their thirties and raising their 6-year-old son Ty. In this episode, Matthew displays his dedication to keeping his family physically, emotionally, and financially afloat. We chatted about how his family’s life was turned upside0dow...

Tena Scallan cared for her parents and her uncle through hospitalizations and end of life events. She was introduced as a family caregiver very young when her mom was diagnosed with liver cancer. Later, Tena worked in healthcare where she developed her passion for supporting family caregivers and sharing her secrets. In this episode, Tena and I reveal secrets around squeezing in time for yourself,...

When Janet Brennend devoted her life to caring for her daughter Leanne, she never expected the incredible twist of fate that would ultimately lead to Leanne's twelve years of independent living. But that was only the beginning of Janet's incredible journey - as she went on to help countless others reach their full potential and live independently, her unwavering commitment to independence and empo...

Janet Brennend's journey as a caregiver began in childhood, a role she took on out of resilience and strength. But her true empowerment came when her daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, leading her to advocate fiercely for her daughter's rights and those of other caregivers. Janet Brennend's story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, from a hardworking Appalachian family to an inspi...

In episode 71, Don and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to   Gail Weatherill, RN BSN CAEd,  AKA the   Dementia Nurse. Gail is a practicing RN for 43 years, a board-certified Alzheimer's Educator, a fearless advocate, and the author of  The Caregiver's Guide to Dementia: Practical Advice for Caring for Yourself and Your Loved One .  Gail became a family caregiver herself when a beloved client with no f...

Hospice nurses Nancy Heyerman and Brenda Kizzire are on a mission to transform the end-of-life experience through education and support. They know what it takes to be a caregiver for someone with a serious illness. Between them Nancy and Brenda have over 40 years of hospice nursing experience. They’re The Hospice Queens! Like so many hospice nurses in the US, Brenda and Nancy have watched caregive...

When Licia Thompson began her caregiving journey, she thought she knew what to expect. But little did she know that through the unexpected twists of her father's health journey, she would discover the power of a shared experience and the importance of adapting to life's challenging situations. What will this newfound understanding bring? Licia's journey as a caregiver began when her mother's healt...

Cathy VandenHeuvel, host of the Caregiver Cup podcast, is helping working women caregivers fill their cups. She’s got a lot of caregiving wisdom to share. Cathy and her siblings formed a caregiving team to care for both of their parents at the end of their lives. Drawing on their individual strengths, they managed both care experiences - one without hospice care and one in partnership with a hospi...

New Podcast Debuting on The Whole Care Network "A Time to Care; The Caregivers Podcast Featuring Isabel Melgarejo! It all starts with Mom asking for help in running a couple of errands, we gladly accept because we know we can make her happy, and we are running errands for ourselves anyways. Soon, those few errands become more frequent. One day, mom falls and hurts herself, you run to her home to t...