The Whole Care Network

This week, Ari Medrano delivers a powerful testament to the depth and complexity of caregiving. As a Mexican immigrant who came to the United States at age one, Ari's approach to caregiving is deeply rooted in her family's values of service, love, and compassion. Throughout the episode, she shares multiple experiences of caregiving, including caring for her cousin with bone cancer, a homeless woma...

Blending aromatherapy and sound bathing into the care of dying patients comes naturally to end of life doula and hospice nurse Carrie Oram. Carrie has witnessed deep, relaxing responses from clients as they experience the vibrations of Tibetan sound bowls. Regardless of diagnosis or disease progression, people who are at the end of their lives become more relaxed during treatments with aromatherap...

“An educated and confident family caregiver who knows what to do in their role is really the absolute best medicine for the care receiver.” Dr. Carolyn Clevenger Do you know extensive research specifically focused on dementia caregivers is being conducted? Are you aware of innovative studies designed to equip family caregivers with navigation skills? Now you will, and you’ll be learning about valu...

After filing formal complaints against the doctors who violated my husband’s patient rights, everything changed. In this episode, I share what happened next—how advocating for Gavin led to a new physician assistant, a new nurse, and finally, the right medications. It wasn’t easy, but standing my ground shifted the entire course of his care. Gavin was still in the hospital, newly reliant on a feedi...

Art Bowker cares for his mother who is living with Alzheimer’s while juggling multiple careers, including one as a cybercrime expert. Art has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement and corrections and co-authored a book to help us protect vulnerable adults from cybercrimes and provides guidance on surviving a cyberattack. In this episode we chat about cybercrime (like pig butchering), what...

Dementia family caregivers face an overwhelming journey—without adequate support or resources. Supporting someone with dementia is a complex, emotional, exhausting journey. Yet, dementia family caregivers face this challenge without the coordinated support, training, or resources needed to provide the best care possible. But that’s beginning to change. On July 1st Medicare is launching a new, firs...

In this episode, Sarah and Jeremy discuss the 48th season of "Survivor" and learn more about Eva Erickson, the first openly autistic contestant in the show's history. Check out all of our work at: Caregiver Chronicles | Stelmach Brown Media llc

In this engaging episode, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates are joined by fiction writer and caregiver,Alfredo Botello, and AlzAuthors’ acquisitions editor Ruth Stevens. Dive into a heartfelt and surprisingly humorous conversation as Alfredo discusses his novel, Spin Cycle , which explores the journey of a son caring for his mother with dementia. Alfredo, who transitioned from archite...

In this heartfelt episode of A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast , we speak with Deborah Armstrong, a specialist in senior isolation and loneliness. Deborah sheds light on a reality many older adults face: feeling disconnected from their families and the world around them. Whether it’s an inability to relate to the fast-paced conversations of their children and grandchildren or the impact of co...

We’re getting back to the basics of hospice, talking about Continuous Care with hospice nurse Gabby Jimenez of The Hospice Heart. Continuous care can be confusing. We’re talking about when it’s used, how it works, and where it happens. Here are some highlights from this episode:       • Continuous Care (CC) is a level of care within the Medicare hospice benefit. It’s also called Crisis Care. • CC...

Is your loved one in a memory care community, or are you considering moving them into one? Understanding how to build a collaborative relationship with the care team is crucial for ensuring the best outcomes for your loved one. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that creating a true partnership with care...

In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Jess Ronne shares her powerful caregiving journey, from supporting her late husband through brain cancer to raising her son, Lucas, who lives with profound disabilities—alongside seven other children. Jess is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, podcast host, documentary producer, and passionate caregiver advocate. She opens up about the stark c...

Welcome to a powerful episode of the AlzAuthors Podcast featuring acclaimed author Marita Golden and her novel, The Wide Circumference of Love , as part of the Aging & Amazing Book Club series. This engaging discussion dives into the storytelling craft, the nuances of family caregiving, and the realities of Alzheimer’s and dementia, especially in African American communities. An award-winning...

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with financial advisor Michael Lewis, who shares insightful perspectives on the intersection of brain health and financial planning. Michael points out that certain cognitive decline conditions can begin developing 7 to 10 years before any noticeable symptoms appear. With this in mind, he strongly recommends that just as we schedule annual physical check...

Christy Byrne Yates of Alz Authors has experienced all the unique challenges of sandwich caregiving.   Caring for both of her parents with neurodegenerative diseases (dementia and Alzheimer’s disease) while she raised young kids taught her lessons she now shares with other caregivers. In this open and honest conversation, Christy shares the good times and the struggles of her caregiving experience...

Adding a new caregiver to your support team can be a challenging transition, whether they're coming into your home, assisting your loved one who lives alone, or joining the care team in a memory care community. This transition can be particularly difficult for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's or dementia, as changes in routine can cause confusion and resistance. If your loved one doesn...

In this raw and unfiltered episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes, I walk you through the moment my husband finally faced what he’d been resisting: the need for a feeding tube. What should have been a moment of compassionate care turned into something else entirely—his physician assistant laughed, told him he made her job harder, and actually said we should pray to our lucky stars she could “wo...

In May we pay tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success. This caregiver spotlight episode echoes all of these sentiments. Meet Paurvi Bhatt, a dedicated family caregiver, care advocate, and second-generation Indian American with deep personal and professional caregiving experience. Raised in a family of...

If you or someone you love has ever faced a health scare, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. My guest today is Dr. Edward G. Rogoff, an accomplished educator and advocate whose personal journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Diagnosed with hemophilia as a child, Dr. Rogoff faced a lifetime of uncertainty—until a liver transplant in adulthood led to an unexpected cure. His experienc...

In this episode we're sharing the highlights from our recent interview with Carol Steinberg, whose children’s book,  Come Grandpa Meow, Let’s Fly , adds a much-needed resource for families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia. A Personal Story Sparked by Loss Carol’s journey began more than 25 years ago, during her own father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. She originally wrote the b...

In this conversation, Josh and Chris discuss the importance of authenticity in storytelling, particularly Chris' relationship with deceased partner Richard and their journey through terminal illness. Throughout the episode, Chris reflects on the emotional complexities of revisiting memories while working on a film adaptation of their story. The discussion also touches on the broader implications o...

Today on the podcast, we are joined by Miriam Bahar, a specialist in movement and transitions, who provides compassionate support to individuals—especially older adults—during the significant life event of relocating to a new home. Miriam shares how moving is not simply about changing addresses; it is a deeply emotional and meaningful process. For many seniors, parting with personal belongings can...

We’re getting back to the basics of hospice care with Hospice Social Worker Lisa Pahl to talk about who’s on the hospice team and what each person brings to the care of patients and caregivers. This episode focuses on the core members of the hospice interdisciplinary team (doctor, nurse, social worker, and chaplain) as well as hospice aides (Certified Nurse Assistants) and hospice volunteers. Each...

Meet Jim Cooper who has been married for 40+ years and cared for his wife who had brain cancer. Jim is a man of many talents and experiences. He has been a radio DJ, real estate broker, IT consultant, author, podcaster, and currently is a voice over professional who narrates audiobooks. In this episode, Jim and I discuss the value of staying connected to friends, family, health professionals, and...

Carrie Aalberts (AKA the Dementia Darling) supports dementia caregivers with her heart and soul, and a whole lot of strength. With a Master of Science specializing in Gerontology and over a decade of hands-on experience in various care settings, Carrie has established herself as a leading voice in dementia education and support. As the founder of Dementia Darling, she has cultivated an online comm...