Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate Podcast: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!

On the news today, I heard of a family who consolidated their living to take care of each other. What an amazing thing to do. Can you just imagine the support available? Many cultures have maintained this practice for years. I thought about what lessons can we learn from generational household living. Listen in for more insights!

Since caring for a loved one in the home is becoming increasingly common, specific ways to organize and give exceptional care is individualized for every caregiving case. No caregiving experiences are the same, but the mission must always be the same. Listen in for more insights!

Who has felt like a slinky as a caregiver? Be honest? I sure have! Have you heard the old Proverbial saying, if it can go wrong, it will go wrong?  How about… any job worth doing is worth doing well. How about… put 100% effort into everything you do. How about…your mental approach to your job dictates the outcomes you'll receive. How about...leave no stone unturned. What about…better safe tha...

The term elder orphan is a real term and a real reality for many older adults. Some find themselves within the population because they remained single and childless. What about a population where there are children, grandchildren, or maybe an X-spouse who has not shown themselves responsible or willing to step in when care is needed. Getting older has its own set of stressors, but being alone on t...

A colleague asked me…" Why are you called Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate?... Here is my answer. At 15-years old, I saved the life of my pool manager. I was a lifeguard back in the day. He left the pool office to change a chlorine tank. I found it odd that it took him a while to return. Upon searching for him, I found him semi-conscious and bearly breathing because he had inhaled chlorine gas. M...

The health and wellness of our most vulnerable population, our elderly loved ones, is the responsibility of family members. Helping them age in place, while tending to their needs is our role in the circle of life. It will be our turn one day to receive care. We all have a part to play… Yes, You Do! Listen in for more insight!

As many know, I have a passion for eldercare and seniors living their best lives with caregiver support. I was trying to find a way to share my pain and anguish in the current situation in Ukraine, watching the mass exodus of its people, especially the elders. I recently read that more than two million older people in Ukraine are at great risk as a consequence of the Russia storming the country. T...

Caregiver advocacy matters when it comes to providing support to our loved ones as they age. The level of responsibility to ensure their wellbeing must be a top priority. A dear friend is facing the understanding of advocacy up close and personal. We know the desire for autonomy with our older adults will always be paramount until it is no longer feasible. Listen for more insights.

Many loved ones lose the capability to do activities they once loved. As caregivers, we have a unique opportunity to be innovative and help our aging care recipients to enjoy activities they once held dear. Fun and laughter go a long way to bring joy in the caregiving space. Listen for more insights.

I am facing the challenge of managing heart failure in my family, up close and personal. Since it is heart health month and I am a registered nurse with many experiences of caring for cardiology patients, personal experiences make such good conversation. Firsthand experiences are testimonials to help others going through health challenges and illnesses. I wanted to share a few pointers to help oth...

Hypothermia is a genuine concern for our elderly. As a nurse, I have seen first-hand how cold weather can impact our vulnerable populations. I have witnessed amputations due to frostbite. Did you know it can occur inside the home? For our elderly living in older homes, where insulation is not the best, the extreme cold can cause real problems, especially if the cold temperatures are prolonged. Sin...

It is often taken for granted, as simple as communication seems to be.  We assumed that all understood what came out of the hole in our face.  However, with the elderly population, we have to be concerned about the best way to communicate with our loved ones as we care for them. Slow down when speaking with the elderly. Listen for more insights.

The feelings aligned with being an informal caregiver do not go away when the loved one passes on. From time to time, the associated factors that were a part of what goes on from day to day can often cause sadness or even depression. Listen in for more insights.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is not so much about the man but more about the mission. How would our elders rate us? The racial justice of my mother's time, the 1930 and 1940, have shown slight growth. Our role in the 20th Century... Remember! Celebrate! Act! Listen in for more insights.

What did we learn in 2021? Have you heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result? We made it! Welcome to 2022. If you are like me, most don't mind kissing 2021 goodbye. Grateful that God has granted us the presence of another year. We have been through a lot, and for many caregivers, the New Year brought the same challenges that require us to navig...

Caregivers, I salute you! I appreciate you! I value you! I respect you! I know your struggles. I know your pain! I know your challenges, and guess what? They will continue in 2022. Take heart; we have each other. Listen in for more insight.

Caregivers continue to work despite the holiday season in Caregiverland. Caregivers may smile, but the reality is that the work continues, even during the holidays. The bathing, dressing, feedings, turnings, paying attention to the health conditions, maintenance of medical equipment, ensuring medications are given, washing clothes, drying clothes, changing linen, handling business affairs for your...

You may or may not know my dissertation centered on nutritional health in the baby-boomer populations. The population has retired or is close to retirement. This population also has adult children and grandchildren. The eating habits of the family typically are cultural and generational. Once we begin to watch over our elderly, we have to think about preparing meals for those in our family who bec...

On yesterday, I had an outstanding interview with Pastor Michele Irby Johnson, as we discussed helping our aging parents age in place. I was so proud to hear that she and her husband took the blinders off and relocated to be close to her aging mother. It really warmed my heart. Listen in for more insight.

Being a caregiver to an aging loved one can be a genuine challenge overall. However, with cold weather on its way, I felt compelled to share my insights as a professional nurse and healthcare practitioner. Lay-caregivers do an excellent job caring for loved ones; however, sometimes, they may not know all the ins and outs of what to pay attention to with the elderly. Listen in for more insights.

Being a caregiver for a loved one is a commitment like non-other. You give up the life you once knew and take on life with uncertainties. You may ask what matters most to a caregiver. I will tell you that it is a true desire to make a difference in someone’s life, with compassionate care and support. Listen in for more insight!

Eldercare is a rising concern, especially in the home where caregiving is necessary for our loved ones. As society ages, diligence is crucial, especially if there are travel plans for seniors. Many seniors use adaptive aids, require oxygen, are on dialysis, need daily wound care and daily tube feeds. With these kinds of demands, proactive steps are essential before traveling anywhere with loved on...

While caring for my mother, I would ask myself, what kind of caregiver am I. The question would often fall on my deaf ears because of my professional background. I had a working knowledge of the ins and outs of the "laying on of the hands"- taking care of humankind. Most of my movements centered on my training as a nurse. What type of caregiver are you? Listen in for more insight.

Many senior citizens feel trapped in their own homes. The inability to move about and get out as they once used to can cause depression and sadness. Open up the blinds, pull back the curtains, and let our loved ones take in all the natural light they can handle.  Listen for more insight.

CAREGIVER...We are in it together! All About the Love of Caregiving! Celebrating 100 blog posts that share many of my experiences of being a caregiver for 20-years. Listen in and enjoy!