Autumn Is Here

Today Paula Rice, a community educator, shares information and experience about Alzheimer's . She is the Community Engagement Officer for the Department of Neurology of the Aging Brain with Columbia University. She works to promote an international study called the DAWN study. This is a genetic study on Alzheimer's disease within the African American Community. Listen and learn more about...

Thank you for 150 shows. A message of peace and thank you for all. Caregiving is difficult and challenging. But what makes it more challenging is if there are unresolved issues, unanswered questions, or bitterness between family members. Family is complicated. No one's family is without issues. I'm encouraging you to make the peace now before you become a caregiver for one of your family m...

Please welcome back Patricia Battle as she shares how and why she became a AARP Volunteer. AARP has been around for years serving the older adult population in many different capacities. They also fight for better resources and research for conditions that affect our aging population. Patricia talks about some of the support they offer and the innovative programs they have. She also invites you to...

Today we speak with Shari Ross who is a Senior Living Specialist. She works with families and seniors helping them to navigate care and living arrangements. She is the author of Senior Living Made Simple, a book and workbook to guide caregivers through the difficult task of finding living facilities. This can be a daunting process for the caregiver and the older adult. Today Shari shares many elem...

Peter Murphy Lewis is a Documentarian who goes on a journey to learn more about CNA's and caregiving. A CNA is a certified nursing assistant providing direct care with patients under supervision. CNA's can work in the home or in a facility. Peter explores CNA's who work in facilities to help seniors. His travels take him through various senior living facilities were he learns how compa...

Today meet Jasmine Travers Altizer. She is an Assistant Professor at NYU. She has a career in nursing and has done many research projects focusing on older adult care. She is here to give us information about her findings concerning the situation of nursing homes, the gaps in care and understanding of older adults needs and some information for families and caregivers. Listen to episode 147 of Aut...

Today I have been introduced to Steadii. Steadii is a free caregiver support platform. It is unique in that, they listen to your specific needs and tailor their services to your request because every caregiver has different needs. No standard checklist of services for all. They have professionals who understand caregiving from a personal and professional standpoint. All their services are free. Th...

Takai Forde Hillman shares how she was born to work with older adults. As she grew up around her grandmother, she hung out with her grandmother's friends. She thought that was normal and she enjoyed it. As she got older she knew she wanted to serve older adults so now she does. She is a Licensed Social Worker who focuses on older adults. Even with being a social worker, caregiving was a learni...

Today we speak with Patricia Battle. She has been the caregiver of 2 men in her life. First, caring for her beloved father then for her loving spouse. Two strong independent, loving male figures that poured into her life. She shares how different it was but also the challenges for taking care of prominent male figures in her family. She shares in both situations, how life changed for her. It takes...

Today we speak to Michael Dwyer. He is the founder of Emplana Career. Emplana Career is career coaching agency that improves the prospects of their clients through career guidance. They help seniors reenter the work force by tapping into their skills and passions. Emplana can help caregivers, after they have finished their responsibilities of caregiving, to think about the next steps in their care...

Today we welcome a former guest Ms Stacey Hayes. She is a caregiver for her grandma, Miss Ester Mae. It's been 9 months since we spoke with Stacey. At that time she was discovering how difficult it was to care for someone you love with dementia. She was learning different approaches to an ever changing disease with no road map. Today she has found her way and this journey has enriched her and...

How do you distinguish between facial expressions, body reactions, and different emotions from your loved one that has dementia? Even if you are caring for someone that doesn't have dementia, you want to understand their reactions and what your approach should be. Watch today on Autumn is Here at 3pm to get some information on how to understand and interpret some of their reactions, expression...

Ruth Goldman (played by Kathleen Chalfant), an older woman with dementia, leaves her home for a date. But what she thinks is a hotel, turns out to be an assisted living facility. This film, Familiar Touch, directed by Sarah Friedland reveals a situation that many of us face with our parent. The bigger issue is how our parents copes with dealing with dementia in a new environment. It's a heavy...

Today we speak with Medge Adams. She is a Care Consultant for PSS Circle of Care. It is an organization that helps older adults and their families live a better quality of life. Support and advocacy is important. PSS has services that can empower families that are dealing with love ones with dementia and give them support that can help them navigate the care of their loved ones. Tune in today at 3...

Today Greg Olsen shares how the NYS Office For the Aging is there to support, inform and aid Older Adults. As the Director of NYSOFA, he has served for years to help older adults stay as independent as possible. Their practical and innovative programs are in place to help New York State and their 3.5 million and growing, older adult population. Please listen as he explains some services and how th...

Today we speak to Dona Giannotti from PSS. She manages the Dementia Friends New York initiative. Dementia Friends is a program that anyone who is passionate about learning more about dementia can join and share the information with family, friends or community. Listen as Dona explains more about Dementia Friends and how you can participate in this movement. Autumn is Here episode 137. #caregivers...

Today I had the privilege of interviewing a daughter who became a caregiver for both her parents after enduring an accident that forced her to retirement. Dealing with her physical challenges didn't stop her from stepping up to the plate and doing what she had to do. Today she shares her journey of assisting her dad and her mom as their health declined. Watch Episode 136 of Autumn is Here and...

I want to talk a little bit about Caregiving, Dementia and our Community. It's so important that our community gets involve with bringing awareness to Caregiving and Dementia. People hear the words but the pain and the suffering behind the words are sometimes not exposed. To help with this we need more public conversations about it. This episode of Autumn is Here is about just that. Let's...

Have you ever just didn't feel yourself? Have you ever retreated and did not engage with anyone for days or even weeks? Do you feel different from others around you? Or do you lash out in anger over the smallest of issues? This may be signs of anxiety. Today we speak to The Anxiety Avenger. Bonnie Brindle is a eco - psychotherapist who has suffered with anxiety for years. Now she helps others...

Sometimes caregiving will stop you in your tracks; without a warning. Today we are speaking with Sara Jackson better known as Sara without the H. She opens up about being a caregiver to her mom. It was a hard stop in her life but she deals with it in good spirits after learning that life as she knew it would change. Though it was a hard stop for her, she accepts her choice to be caregiver. Her fai...

Today we speak to two representatives from Brooklyn Org. Sabrina Hargrave and JoEna Bennett share how they help the community by making grants available and having a selection process that includes people from the community. Their intergenerational advisory board is specially selected and trained to make sure that the best candidate receives the award. There are so many creative grass root organiz...

With all the changes in the world today, we may have to take our own health in our hands. There are cuts to the CDC Department, they are also restructuring the CDPAP program. The CDC covers many different departments that helps under served communities and research on diseases that are plaguing our society. The after effects of all these changes and cuts can be devastating to our community. So we...

Today Keisha Hall a.k.a Big Keisha, an herbalist, shares how holistic remedies helped her personally and gave her the opportunity to help a dear friend heal. Keisha became a caregiver to her friend who is recovering from cancer. After the treatments broke his body down , Keisha came on board to build his body up. Using herbal remedies and physical therapy, Keisha has been successful in helping him...

Some people do not know their elder families history. Instead of waiting until it's too late, encourage them to share special moments in their lives. This is what Cyndi Freeman does. Her company is The Common Thread. She helps older adults share their stories. This caregivers encourages individuals and groups to share whatever they'd like to help others and to pass along to their family. T...

In this episode we celebrate social work month. Susanne Bengtsson, is a Social Worker, who works with Caring Kind. She is the Vice President of Family Support at Caring Kind. Caring Kind is an organization the supports Alzheimer's and Dementia care. Susanne Bengtsson is responsible for programs to help clients with Alzheimer's and Dementia. Caring Kind has an array of free programs to supp...