Season 1. Meet the guests who started it all.
Each week, Bobbi and Mike host thought leaders who share invaluable insights and helpful tips on the challenges caregivers face.
Looking for a particular guest or topic?
EP 60 :: Benevolent Probing :: Charlie Young
Charlie Young is the CEO of SYNERGY HomeCare which is one of the largest franchisors of in-home care services.
“Our mission is to help people thrive at home,” Young says. “Benevolent probing minimizes that feeling of threat while making it possible for you to accurately assess how your parents are doing.”
It is common for seniors to strongly guard their independence and feel threatened when topics arise that risk the lifestyle they are comfortable living, so benevolent probing is a simple way for adult children to assess their loved ones' needs from a distance. It minimizes that feeling of threat while making it possible for you to accurately assess how your parents are doing Benevolent probing is a combination of careful observation and considered conversation designed to gather information in a gentle way to gauge a loved one’s condition, during virtual or physical gathering.
“Remember that there are amazing resources for senior care that allow your loved ones to remain independent while still receiving care, support, and companionship,” Young explains.
“The advice I would give to anyone who is looking to bring a caregiver into their home is that the first phone call is an important one,” Charlie explains. “And it is connecting with the person who's running the agency, talking to them about scheduling, and telling them what your needs are,” Charlie explains.
You can find out more about SYNERGY HomeCare and benevolent probing on their website and follow Charlie Young on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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EP 59 :: I Became A Better Me :: Susanne White
Susanne White talks with Bobbi and Mike about her journey as the caregiver for her parents and ways to become a more self-confident caregiver.
“I believe caregivers are warriors, fearless, courageous, and passionate about protecting those they care for,” Susanne says.
Susanne White is the founder of Caregiver Warrior. She was blessed with the opportunity to care for her parents and ventured out on a caregiving journey that would change her life. Susanne blogs about this journey and shares her experience, strength, and hope with others so that they too may survive caregiving with grace and empowerment.
“I think caregivers are warriors and that their battlegrounds are in the health care system. I mean, we fight a battle every day. Caregivers are confronted with very scary things and we move ahead anyway,” Susanne says.
You can find Susanne on Facebook, Twitter, and learn more about Caregiver Warrior on her website.
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EP 58 :: LBD - Losing Your Life Skills :: Norrms McNamara
Norrms, as his friends call him, was diagnosed with early onset dementia at age 50. In the 10+ years since his diagnosis, he has done more to educate the world about the disease than most of us can imagine doing in a lifetime.
"Dementia is one of the biggest health crises in this country at the moment, and we've got to try to understand it so we can deal with it,” Norrms says.
“Dementia is not forgetfulness. Dementia starts affecting your life skills, which means that when you sit there for lunch, you have forgotten what to do with your knife and fork. When you get up in the morning and have forgotten how to put a shirt on, or just walk out with nothing on. That’s dementia.” Norrms says.
In addition to three face-to-face meetings with Prime Minister David Cameron, his accomplishments include organizing the first ever Dementia Awareness Day (now an annual event), founding the Torbay Dementia Action Alliance, speaking to police and other first responders about their role in the dementia crisis, and authoring four books.
“We implore people, doctors, and clinicians’ consultants to get these diagnoses right before you prescribe any drugs. If they're prescribing drugs for Lewy Bodies when you have dementia, it could have an adverse effect and vice versa,” Norrms explains.
When diagnosed with a type of dementia,” Norrms says, “Always ask, How do they know it’s that type of dementia? How has the conclusion been arrived at, and how does it differ from other types of dementia.”
Find out more about The Purple Angel Dementia campaign and World Rocks Against Dementia 2021 on their websites. And friend Norrms on Facebook..
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EP 57:: Millennial & Gen X Family Caregivers :: Jennifer N. Levin
Bobbi and Mike talk with Jennifer Levin about how common her situation of becoming her divorced father’s parent at 32 is and how the Facebook support group she started Caregivers Collective – 1,100+ strong –connects, finds support for, and shares resources with Millennial & Gen X family caregivers.
“There are so many crazy things that exist in our societal structure that are antithetical to taking care of your family at home,” Levin says.
Jennifer N. Levin is a writer and caregiver advocate. She has been published in The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, LA Weekly, and other publications with a focus on social and cultural issues both in the US and abroad. In television, she has worked in the writers' room on a variety of dramas, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
“My parents were divorced and I'm an only child, so really as my dad was navigating this, I was the one doing it with him. At a certain point, I was the one that took over his care,” Jennifer says.
“There are a lot of things that an older person might be able to learn from us as far as shortcuts using an app or something like that,” Jennifer observes, “and there are a lot of things that a younger person might learn from somebody who's been doing it longer.”
You can join Caregiver Collective on Facebook, follow Jennifer on Twitter and read more about her caregiver journey through her Cosmopolitan article.
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EP 56 :: Memory Minyan :: Rabbi Michael Goldman
Bobbi and Mike talk with Rabbi Goldman about creating the world’s first dementia-friendly Shabbat prayer and meal experience in a synagogue. Caregivers can invite old friends to worship and share a meal in a space they have shared for years.
“Companionship, connection, and community is important for those with dementia and their loved ones. A person dropping into the scene wouldn’t have known right away who had dementia and who did not,” Rabbi Goldman said.
Rabbi Michael Goldman is the Director Emeritus of Seivah, a non-profit organization whose work and mission is to create better emotional and spiritual lives for people with dementia and their care partners.
Rabbi Goldman began rabbinical school the year his grandmother, who had vascular dementia, died. Observing how she became less attached to worrying and more attached to nature, great grandchildren, and other things that she loved, Rabbi Goldman concluded that having dementia does not preclude having a spiritual life.
A Memory Minyan is a meditative, melodic, joyous Sabbath service, followed by a traditional meal. It is tailored to a minyan – group – of people with dementia and their loved ones, joined by a group of volunteers.
“Prayer and music is just something that is best community experienced and that's part of the mission and work of my organization. It's hard for me to conceive of a definition of spirituality without that communal aspect,” Rabbi Goldman said.
You can learn more about Rabbi Goldman on the Seivah website and Facebook page.
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EP 55 :: The Ripple Effect of Kindness :: Gina Martin
Bobbi and Mike talk with Gina Martin about being a daughter of Alzheimer and how her parents taught her about the importance of giving.
Gina Martin is the founder and executive director of the Bob and Diane Fund and the managing account executive, International Editorial Sales, for National Geographic Creative.
The fund honors Bob and Diane Martin, high school sweethearts married for 49 and a half years. In 2006, at the age of 65, Diane was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, and she passed away 5 years later. Bob, her husband, loyal partner, and devoted caregiver, died just 3 months later.
“When we first heard about my mom’s diagnosis, we know that we had to be there to support our dad too as he would be her caregiver and living with her. Our first thought was how it's harder on the caregiver than the person living with dementia, so we really had to make sure that we were supporting him.” Gina said.
The Bob and Diane Fund is excited to announce Iranian photographer Jalal Shamsazaran as the 2020 grantee for his photo project, The Loss of Oral History. This yearly photography grant is to support visual storytelling about Alzheimer's and dementia.
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EP 54 :: Ambiguous Loss :: Lori Nisson, LCSW
Bobbi and Mike talk with Lori Nisson, LCSW, about ambiguous loss and how it leaves a person searching for answers, thus complicating and delaying the process of grieving, which often results in unresolved grief.
“Caring for someone with dementia can create an ongoing awareness of loss as the person with it is present but physically different from who they once were,” Lori says.
Ambiguous loss is a familiar experience for many care partners and families living with and/or caring for a person with dementia, even if they don’t know it. Being prepared to identify, address, and respond to ambiguous loss is an important facet of dementia services.
Lori Nisson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has spent more than 20 years specializing in leadership and clinical positions supporting the needs of patients and families coping with emotional, movement, memory, and behavioral problems.
“I think for all families, whether their loved one is in early, moderate, or advanced stages of dementia, the key is to understand the changes that come with the disease. What to expect, when, and the critical importance of getting support and resources as the disease progresses.” Lori says.
“There's this lack of awareness by your loved one, so the family often thinks that the person is in denial of the disease. Denial is something that happens when you're drinking a lot of alcohol and hiding it. You know that you're drinking too much and it's becoming a problem, but you're hiding it from other people. This is different, as there's actually a psychological term called “anosognosia,” and it means that you just have absolutely no awareness into the problem,” Lori explains. “And that's because this is a brain disease. It affects your frontal lobes so that your ability to have good judgment, good insight, and awareness is impaired.”
You can find out more about ambiguous loss, Lori, and Banner Alzheimer Institute on their Facebook page and website.
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EP 53 :: Elder Orphan:: Terry Korth Fischer
Bobbi and Mike talk with Terry Korth Fischer about the rise in “elder orphans” across the U.S and her experience as the caregiver for an elder orphan.
Many elder orphans are woefully unprepared and stressed out over their current situation, and what the future may bring them.
Terry Korth Fischer writes mystery, memoir, and short story. Her memoir, Omaha to Ogallala, was published in 2019.
After a friendship that spanned more than a decade, Terry spent eighteen months as the primary caregiver for Anna Fogelman, a 95-year-old unmarried woman, who loved life and learning until she forgot her passions. Guiding Anna through stay-at-home care and then into assisted living, Terry became her friend’s lifeline in the baffling world around her.
“We like to say that we were sisters of the heart. People would always say, ‘Are you her daughter?’ Anna got a kick out of that, and then would say, ‘No, we're sisters of the heart.’” Terry said.
About 22% of older adults in the United States can be considered elder orphans or solo agers, or are at risk of becoming one. Elder orphans are older people who don’t have a spouse or children they can depend upon, while solo agers are older adults who are living alone and never had children. In either case, this is a population of older people who don’t have a safety net if they need support, whether that’s physical, emotional, or practical.
“I did go through the whole procedure of becoming her financial power of attorney and her health power of attorney.” Terry said. “I live in Texas and so those things are governed by the state. You pretty much have to be a blood relative in order to do anything and but we were able to accomplish it.”
Find out more on Terry’s website, her Facebook page, and follow her on Twitter.
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EP 52 :: Lewy Body Dementia : Memory vs. Thinking :: Dr. Melissa Armstrong
Dr. Melissa Armstrong is the Director of the Mangurian Clinical-Research Headquarters for Lewy Body Dementia at the University of Florida Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases.
“With Lewy Body, the memory and thinking problems are there right up front, often with visual hallucinations, and the Parkinson symptoms can either be there right away or they can come later,” Dr. Armstrong said.
In Lewy Body dementia, some of the things that make it different from diseases like Alzheimer are the hallucinations and delusions. The most common hallucinations in Lewy Body dementia are usually formed objects like bugs, pets, and people. The delusions involve someone believing something completely that is not true and absolutely nothing can convince them to the contrary.
“So, in people with mild cognitive impairment, or when the memory and thinking aren't quite what they are used to be but they are still independent, then the goal of shared decision-making is still to let them make their decisions with assistance from their team and their family,” Dr. Armstrong said.
“I try never to disenfranchise the person living with dementia and make sure at my appointments that I talk to them,” Dr. Armstrong explained. “I often start by asking them what they want to tell me even if their caregiver is going to give me most of that history.”
You can find out more about Dr. Armstrong on her website and follow the Institute on Twitter.
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EP 51 :: Bedtime Stories for Dementi Therapy :: Robyn & Philip Etherington
Robyn & Philip talk about Dementia Hypnotherapy with Bobbi & Mike.
“A partner or caregiver can read the stories to the person living with a dementia-related illness when they are ready to retire for the day but still awake and fully conscious just prior to journeying into the Alpha state,” Robyn said.
Robyn Etherington has a diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy and has been practicing throughout South East Queensland for over seven years. Philip Etherington is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Disability Support Worker practicing in South East Queensland. He is currently studying Dementia Therapy at the University of Tasmania.
“You don't need a hypnotherapist to come to your house and do the process. You can do it at home, be your own hypnotherapist, and it's not damaging. It's safe, you can't do anything wrong,” Robyn said.
“Reading is a great way of giving some of yourself to somebody. You're giving 5 minutes every night for them to have somebody care enough to read them a story. It's also important to remember with the bedtime stories that they're not a one off, in that you read it tonight and then don't read for three weeks. The program is designed that you read for at least four days because you need to do it – repetitively for four days to release it into long-term memory otherwise the neurons don't fire in the brain. It takes about four days for that process to start,” Philip said.
You can find and follow Robyn and Philip on Twitter and Facebook.
Their website has detailed information on Dementia Hypnotherapy.
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EP 50 :: Millennial Caregivers :: Ashley Stevens
Ashley Stevens talks with Bobbi and Mike about the unique challenges facing millennial caregivers.
“Really educating millennial caregivers about the financial piece is key. If long–term care is even an option for them, or if they need to look into Medicaid services, benefits, or other programs,” Ashley said.
Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in gerontology (the study of aging) from Bowling Green State University and she received her master’s degree in social work from UNC. Her graduate certification is focused on dementia care practices, aging, and global research. She currently works for the state of North Carolina, counseling families and individuals impacted by dementia.
“At the tender age of 6 years old, I was introduced to Alzheimer’s disease as I watched it take a toll on my great grandma Trollie and my entire family. Decades later, as a millennial, I’ve found myself organically in the midst of the dementia world, collaborating with families – and I refuse to look back! It’s not just a job for me – it’s my passion. My calling,” Ashley said.
You can learn more about Ashley on her website, and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
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EP 49 :: Nurses Against Violence: Patient Abuse of Caregivers :: Dr. Sandra Risoldi
Dr. Sandra Risoldi, MSN Ed., DNP, RN, CLNC, talks with Bobbi and Mike about the physical and mental challenges that nurses and caregivers face caring for their patients, and about the mission of Nurses Against Violence.
“I've had traumatic incidences where I have lost patients, and unfortunately you do get a little bit desensitized when it comes to that. But you still cry at the end of your shift,” Dr Sandra said.
Dr. Sandra Risoldi is the mother of 2 beautiful children and has a passion for advocacy, safety, and educating healthcare workers.
“Throughout my career, I have witnessed nurses being yelled at, hit, spit on, and even attacked for no reason. Over the past 10 years, it has grown to be a common issue no matter where I have worked or the state I have lived in. Whenever there would be a mean patient or unruly patient, I would volunteer to take them. After a while that was my assignment; thus, I received first-hand experience of the varying behaviors of patients, how to best approach them and teach others what I learned,” Dr. Sandra said.
The mission of Nurses Against Violence Unite is to bring awareness, educate, empower, and eliminate violence in healthcare.
“It's very important that we understand that it's not just dementia and Alzheimers. There's more to that person – there's an actual, living, non-perfect person that's out there and it absolutely amazing,” Dr Sandra said.
You can find out more about Nurses Against Violence on their website, Facebook and Twitter.
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EP 48 :: There’s Nothing I Left Unsaid to Him :: Helene Berger
Helene Berger, author and caregiver, talks with Bobbi and Mike about how she developed a solid foundation of constant mental stimulation and emotional support, and built the scaffolding that gave Ady, her husband of over 50 years, the best chance for the best outcome possible.
Helene Berger’s first book, Choosing Joy Alzheimer’s: A Book of Hope, was inspired by the unanticipated positive results that her husband achieved after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Helene refused to surrender to the implications of her husband’s diagnosis, choosing instead to inspire him to join her in making every moment they had together meaningful and precious.
“No one is ever truly prepared for this role they did not choose,” Helene says. “Most of us tumble into caregiving without understanding the magnitude of the transformation that has just taken place and the learning curve ahead of them.”
In Ady’s final years he again became known for his radiant smile, greeting friends by name, returning to the piano, playing chess, even drawing and writing nightly notes.
You can follow Helene on Facebook, Twitter, and find her book on Amazon.
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EP 47 :: Caregivers Are Vitally Important Members of the Care Team :: Jo Ellen Wilson, MD, MPH
Jo Ellen Wilson graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2009. She is board certified in both General Adult Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine (Consultation Liaison Psychiatry). Her recent research efforts include studying the prevalence, severity and diagnostic structure of catatonia across multiple medical settings. Her current work includes a prospective cohort study, studying the prevalence and clinical relevance (depression, dementia) of delirium and catatonia in the critical care setting.
“Things that we know that we should be doing to probably reduce our risk of developing dementia and improve our cognition once it's present are all the good lifestyle things like: eating a healthy diet, exercising, and engaging our brains in challenging tasks that we enjoy like crossword puzzles, sudoku, or playing a game of cards.” said Wilson.
“We know that delirium hits the brain pretty hard, so it may be possible that in the future there are different ways that we may be able to rehab some cognitive function once it's lost,” Wilson said.
You can find Jo Ellen on the web and follow her on Twitter.
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EP 46 :: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiving: The New Normal :: Rebecca Collins RN
Rebecca Collin’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, then after he passed, her mother was too. Rebecca served as the primary caregiver for both – a role that left her financially, emotionally, and physically exhausted.
Rebecca, a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist, talks with Bobbi and Mike about the challenges of being a caregiver and offers some good tips on how to work with the nursing staff – not against.
“The biggest thing is to make sure you have a power of attorney. If you are not married, make sure you bug and call everybody. Don't worry about being a pain in the butt, don't worry about if you bother them, or if he or she is going to have less care.”
“Nurses have iPhones on the floors, so if you have an iPhone, or some kind of other video (device), you can call that nurse and video chat with your loved one.” Rebecca Collins said.
Rebecca has spent the last 12 years as a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist with the last two years as a Registered Nurse in the Critical care environment of the Cath Lab performing procedures such as emergency cardiac and peripheral Stents, Pacemakers, Aortic Aneurysms and Carotid Artery repairs. Prior to her RN work, she spent 10 years working as the manager of residential group homes for dual diagnosed residents including children on the autism spectrum and Developmentally delayed elderly with Alzheimer's / Dementia.
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EP 45 :: A Florida woman takes a dishwashing job so she can visit her husband with Alzheimer's during the pandemic :: Mary Daniel
Bobbi and Mike talk with Mary Daniel about becoming a dishwasher for a memory care facility, as it allows her to spend time with her husband even as family visits have been restricted.
"It's incredibly sad to see that these patients are significantly declining because they are isolated," she said. "We are isolating these patients to save them, but the isolation is killing them."
“I'm thrilled that I'm there, but there are so many like my husband Steve, so I started a Facebook page called Caregivers for Compromise - because isolation Kills, too! And the response has been enormous. I have over 10,000 members right now. And we do believe there are ways that we can get to them. We seek a safe and reasonable reopening of Nursing Homes and Long Term Care facilities so that we can stop the unintended consequences of this prolonged physical separation and isolation on our loved ones’ overall health and well-being.”
You can join Mary’s Facebook group, Caregivers for Compromise - because isolation kills too!, here.
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EP 44 :: Family Is The Crutch That Holds The System Together :: Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos
Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos is an Associate Teaching Professor at Ontario Tech University who specializes in unpaid family caregiving. She talks with Bobbi and Mike about how Canadian officials have failed to adequately balance the risks of isolation against the risks of transmission.
“Essential family caregivers can be easily trained in PPE use and other safety protocols. What cannot be easily reversed are the serious adverse effects of isolation and the demonstrated dangers that come with an abrupt end to operational transparency,” Vivian Stamatopoulos said.
“When families are present with their loved-ones inside care facilities, their active involvement reduces the staff’s burden. A lot of these facilities are understaffed, thus family notoriously is filling in the gaps.”
“I've always been someone where you see injustice you do something, I get angry and that fuels my action.”
“More facilities need to accept the evidence on the dangers of confinement.”
You can follow Vivian on twitter.
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EP 43 :: You Always Feel As If It Wasn’t Enough :: Dr. Carole Lieberman
Joining Bobbi and Mike this week is Dr. Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H. They discuss Rodger’s schizophrenia, the challenges with caring for a loved one at home, and the guilt, overwhelming anxiety, and depression caregivers can feel.
Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H. is a board-certified Beverly Hills psychiatrist and an award-winning and bestselling author. She has appeared on Oprah, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News, HLN, ET, ABC, CBS, NBC, and many more.
“The best antidote for combating caregiver guilt is thinking about the good times,” Carole said. “What helps is if you write down those positive memories, so that whenever your mind goes to all the coulda, shoulda, woulda…you just need to keep reading over the positive things that happened and realize that you did do a huge amount.”
You can find Dr. Carole on Facebook and learn more about her on her website.
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EP 42 :: The Caregiver Has To Take Care Of Themselves :: Karen Johnson
Karen Johnson is a Certified Dementia Care Specialist. On this episode she talks with Bobbi and Mike about how to prepare to care for a loved one and the importance of not forgetting to take care of yourself.
A caregiver's physical, emotional, and mental health is vital to the well-being of the person who has Dementia. To be a good caregiver, you must be good to yourself.
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EP 41 :: How Can You Say Good-Bye When You Haven’t Run Out Of Hellos? :: Bruce Williams
Todays’ guest, Bruce Williams, is a semi-retired Mechanical/Biomedical Engineer, inventor, and full-time caregiver for his wife of 33 years Ann. Listen as Mike and Bobbi discuss with Bruce his experiences caring for Ann, how they handle the feelings of isolation, and his battle not to be the second victim of the disease.
“Happiness is fleeting as we know, and joy is longer term.”, says Bruce. “We wanted, I wanted, to try to maintain the quality of life that she set up for herself as long as I possibly could physically.”
More than 34 million Americans are providing care (or have done so within the past 12 months) to someone age 50 and older, and of those about 3.7 million are caregivers for their own spouses.
You can follow Bruce on Facebook.
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EP 40 :: Gen Silent: A Film About Aging in the LGBT Community :: Joe Applebaum
Bobbi and Mike talk with documentary film producer Joe Applebaum about The Clowder Group’s award-winning film, Gen Silent.
The film explores the issue of aging in the LGBT community and features six seniors discussing the growing trend of going back in the closet so as to avoid discrimination in their golden years.
“It is incredibly important, the need as you age, to have a support group.” Joe says. “I'm sure that you will agree with me, but that's even more so in the LGBT community because of what's happened in our community.”
“I can't say enough about what we have to do to make the elderly in the LGBT community feel safe and welcome in caregiving facilities.” Joe says.
Learn about “Gen Silent” or find out more about his latest film.
Check out The Clowder Group and follow them on Facebook.
EP 39 :: Meeting the Needs of LGBT Elders :: Dr. Tim Johnston
Bobbi and Mike talk with Dr. Tim Johnston, Senior Director of National Projects at SAGE, about the need to improve senior care for older LGBT adults.
Despite increasing advances in gay rights and acceptance, many aging members of the LGBT community struggle to find supportive senior living options.
“LGBT folks are more likely to be supported by groups that we call chosen family so folks that aren't biological or legal relatives.”, says Johnston, “…but creating a care plan that involves LGBT people will often require pulling back from just that nuclear family and really thinking who are the folks who are truly your support network and how can we make sure those people feel empowered to be helping care for you.”
You can find Dr. Johnston on the web, twitter, and Facebook.
His book is available on Amazon.
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EP 38 :: Financial Planning Strategies for Caregivers and Their Parents :: Kay Bransford
Bobbi and Mike discuss with Kay Bransford – Founder and CEO of MemoryBanc – how caregiving can be both emotionally and physically challenging but also a rewarding, selfless act. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of your own financial health and well-being.
The lesson here for caregivers is to start planning now for your own future care.
Kay has spent the last seven years helping seniors and other adults organize and manage a myriad of details and accounts related to their personal, financial, medical, online, and household assets
You can find out more about Kay on the MemoryBanc website, and follow her on Facebook, and Twitter.
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EP 37 :: Caring for the Caregiver :: Saskia de Quaasteniet
In this episode, Bobbi & Mike speak with Certified Caregiving Consultant and Educator, Saskia de Quaasteniet, about the importance of caring for yourself while caring for a loved one.
Saskia works with busy professionals whose life, health and career are affected by the ongoing challenges of caring for their parents or an elderly relative. She is an expert in providing coping strategies, tools and resources that help find relief from personal resentment, guilt and stress that may lead to burnout during the caregiving journey. With over 12 years of gained experience in the Caregiver Service Industry working with elderly and their adult children, plus hundreds of hours of research, Saskia is skilled in unique and effective solutions necessary to support yourself so you can support your parents the best you can. These methods instantly bring a sense of peace and fulfillment and improve wellbeing and life balance. She has been a family caregiver herself since 2004, caring for her father and mother in law, who both passed away. She is currently a long-distance caregiver for her mom who lives overseas.
You can find Saskia on LinkedIn, Facebook, & YouTube. You can also join Saskia for “Caregiver Huddles”, an online support community. Empowerment, encouraging words and ideas from others are often so valuable to help you through difficult times, overcome worries and feel more love.
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EP 36 :: Building Trusting Relationships While Caregiving :: Dr. Warren Hebert
You can listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts.
Bobbi & Mike speak with Dr. Warren Hebert, CEO of the HomeCare Association of Louisiana, a nursing professor, and a home health nurse of over 30 years.
“The family caregiving journey is filled with hard changes, sometimes long in duration, and heavy in relationship stewardship. Being intentional about a slow approach, savoring the moments in the caregiving experience, can offer a deeper appreciation of the gifts, in the sacred space we call home.” - Dr. Hebert
Dr. Warren Hebert is a relationship person, a networker, a convener, and since 1985 has been a home health nurse. Hebert is also a nursing professor, a family caregiver, and a radio host. Dr. Hebert has been CEO of the HomeCare Association of Louisiana since 1998, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and was recently invited to serve as an Adjunct Member of Rutgers’ University’s Institute for Health, Health Policy, and Aging Research. Dr. Hebert has taught doctoral, masters, and undergrad courses in health policy, ethical & legal aspects of healthcare, community-based care, health systems innovation, and scientific writing. In February of this year, Warren was invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging to discuss home health in rural areas of the United States. Warren is an alumnus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Executive Nurse Fellows Program, where his three-year capstone project was on relationship-centered care.
You can find Dr. Hebert on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. To find out more about HomeCare Association of Louisiana on their website.
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EP 35 :: The Precious Gifts a Caregiver Receives :: Gregor Collins
Listen to this Episode on Apple Podcasts.
Join Bobbi & Mike as they talk with Gregor Collins, author of “The Accidental Caregiver”, about his life-changing experience of caring for Holocaust refugee, Maria Altmann.
“We’re all caregivers at the deepest part of ourselves. The moments you have in life where you can take care of somebody else are the ones that are going to change you forever,” Gregor Collins.
About a decade ago I'm pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles when my friend Tom answers an ad on Craigslist to be a caregiver for a 92-year-old woman. He gets the job, moves into her house, and tells me about this "amazing" woman he's living with. One day he says they need another caregiver and asks if I'm interested. The answer is easy: no. I tell him I came to Hollywood to be an actor, not a caregiver, and besides, I'm not even remotely qualified, I'm medically challenged, and, like any actor, self-obsessed. But "You're the only person I trust to do it," he insists. I agree to meet her. But that's it. No promises.
Thirty seconds into the meeting and my life was never the same again.
You can find his book , The Accidental Caregiver: How I Met, Loved, and Lost Legendary Holocaust Refugee Maria Altmann on amazon.
Starting his career in Los Angeles producing reality TV, Gregor eventually shifted gears to acting, performing on stage, on television, and in independent feature films. His writing and acting have been featured in The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Publishers Weekly, Cinema Editor Magazine and many others, as well as on Off-Off Broadway stages across New York. Gregor travels around the world as a keynote speaker for his books, “The Accidental Caregiver” and "The Accidental Caregiver Part 2".
You can visit Gregor’s website to find out more about him.
EP 34 :: Advocating for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury :: Dr. Chrisanne Gordon
Listen to this Episode on Apple Podcasts.
Join Bobbi and Mike as they talk with Dr. Chrisanne Gordon, founder of Resurrecting Lives, about the connection between Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Dementia. Dr. Gordon’s organization provides a national networking community to assist the nearly 450,000 veterans currently affected by TBI.
Over the past 30 years, research has linked moderate and severe traumatic brain injury to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia years after a head injury occurs.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic Brain Injury: Any injury to the brain caused by an external force
If you have been injured in military training or in a deployment setting, by such mechanisms as Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), mortar or heavy artillery, of if you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, fall, sports injury, or training incident resulting in a blow or force to your head, you may be struggling with the affects of TBI.
You can find Dr. Gordon on Facebook, Twitter or her website.
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Ep 33 :: Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm :: Loren Gelberg-Goff
Listen to this Episode on Apple Podcasts.
Mike & Bobbi discuss with Loren what it takes to balance work and family life.
One of the hardest habits to break when you’re a caregiver, and probably the hardest to see objectively, is the tendency to deprive yourself of the care you need to stay healthy, happy and clear-headed enough to honor and pursue your own desired outcomes. This is especially true currently as we all deal with the added stress of the COVID19 pandemic.
Loren Gelberg-Goff, LCSW psychotherapist, author and speaker is best known for creating the powerful, life-changing program for caregivers: “Take Back Your Life: The Importance of Self-Care”. She believes that everyone has the power to live free of chronic, daily anxiety and overwhelm without having to constantly feel guilty, angry &/or resentful. Loren’s latest book is especially for caregivers; Take Back Your Life: The Caregivers’ Guide to Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm.
Loren believes self-worth comes from within and can be achieved by learning how to nurture, respect, and fully care for oneself.
You can find Loren on the web, Facebook, Twitter, and at Facebook group for caregivers.
EP 32 :: Educating Care Partners One Heart at a Time :: Gail Weatherill
This episode, Mike and Bobbi discuss with Gail Weatherill – author, RN, BSN, CAEd – how, when caring for someone with dementia, your own mental stability can be the single most critical factor in your loved one’s quality of life.
Gail is a Registered Nurse and board-certified Alzheimer's Educator. Her career has spanned four decades and many settings. From an intensive care head nurse in Saudi Arabia to the Director of Nursing in a Virginia nursing home, Gail has done it all.
She has been specializing in the care of people with dementia and their families for over twenty years. Her irreverent approach to the American health care machine makes her an effective and sought out advocate for those in deepest need.
Gail became a family caregiver herself when a beloved client with no family moved in with her and her family for her last few years of life. She understands the demands of 24/7 care of a loved one with dementia.
You can find out more about Gail on her website and find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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EP 31 :: Researching a Cure :: Dr. Melanie Chadwick
Listen to this Episode on Apple Podcasts.
This episode’s guest is Dr. Melanie Chadwick, a gerontological nurse practitioner, from the Georgetown University Memory Disorders Program. Dr Chadwick talks with Bobbi & Mike about the innovative research and clinical studies that she’s working on at GU.
“The benefits of the clinical trial,” Dr Chadwick says, “really do outweigh the risks of participation, so you have a chance to play a more active role in your own healthcare and can gain access to potential treatments that wouldn't be widely available to the community.”
Right now, in the U.S. there are about 5.5 million people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and roughly 5% of that population are under the age of 65.
You can apply here to participate in a study with the GU Memory Disorders Program.
You can find out more about the Memory Disorder Program on Facebook and their website.
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EP 30 :: There Is No Greater Therapy Than The Love Of A Dog :: Billie Smith
Billie Smith – Executive Director for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs - talks with Bobbi and Mike about how dogs are an antidote to depression – and an easy pill to take. Life in a long-term care facility can be lonely and boring and a visit from a therapy dog can break the daily routine and stimulate the mind in dramatic ways.
Billie, “…It is not only very important for the people who we go and visit, because they do love seeing the dogs as well as the younger people, it's also important to teach the kids that volunteering is very important.”
ATD’s objective is to form a network of caring individuals and their special dogs who are willing to share smiles and joy with people, young and old alike.
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You can find out more about the Alliance of Therapy Dogs on their website and their Facebook page.
EP 29 :: Blank Stares :: Jay Allen
Today's guest, Jay Allen, went viral after releasing a song he wrote for his mother who passed away at age 54 from early-onset Alzheimer’s titled, “Blank Stares”.
Listen as Mike and Bobbie discuss with Jay his emotional story and how he came to write the song. “One morning”, Jay said, “I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that even though my mom looked at me with a blank stare — and even though I knew her memory was fading — she was still in there and still loved me”.
Since the song’s inception and release, Jay has played Alzheimer’s Association events all around the country and he has helped raised over $35 million for the organization.
You can listen to his latest song War For You or Blank Stares on-line.
Follow Jay on Facebook and Instagram.
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EP :: 28 A Positive Approach To Care :: Teepa Snow
Today's guest, Teepa Snow, is an occupational therapist with forty years of clinical practice experience and is one of the world’s leading educators on dementia care.
Listen as Mike and Bobbi discuss with Teepa her philosophy for living well with dementia by focusing on the interpersonal dynamics of coping with a loved one who has an ever-changing brain.
Teepa, “People are precious and in the right setting can shine,” Snow said. “We’re not losing the person; they’re still there but we need to modify our expectations and setting.”
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You can find out more about Teepa on her website and follow her on Facebook. and Twitter..
EP 27 :: Getting Smart About Your Aging Parents :: Anne Tumlinson
Anne Tumlinson – CEO of ATI Advisory and founder of Daughterhood.org - talks with Bobbi s Mike about her experiences coaching women and men to insist on excellent care and a meaningful experience for their parents.
“Taking care of frail, old people is really complicated. You feel like you need a social work, business, law and medical degree to even understand what you need to know.”
Anne Tumlinson has spent the last two decades working on improving how America cares for its frailest, most vulnerable older adults.
You can find Anne on Facebook, Twitter and there’s much more about her on her website.
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EP 26 :: How to Survive as a Caregiver :: Shirley Riga
An advocate for self-care for the caregiver and teacher of meditation, Shirley is a Certified Psychosynthesis Counselor and a Spiritual Director. She is the mother of two daughters and her life changed dramatically in 1981 when her youngest daughter was born with a terminal liver disease.
For her own sanity, Shirley searched for tools she could use to help herself, and her family, and she found Dr. Susan Jeffers’ book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. This book became an anchor through many difficult years and events.
Having spent several decades as a primary caregiver for her youngest daughter Shirley authored a workbook - Tools for the Caregiver - with tools and insights for the emotional survival of a caregiver. The workbook is designed to help those feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities and demands on their caregiving journey. Riga’s goal is to help caregivers cope with their daily lives and maintain a connection with themselves in the process.
Shirley has became a licensed instructor for Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Integrating a spiritual dimension into her Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway work has allowed Shirley to connect at a deeper level with caregivers.
As a spiritual guide, she can help people explore their connection to the divine however they define that. Shirley is effective in helping people who are at a crossroads in their lives or at a standstill, because fear is always an operating factor.
Shirley is active in the community supporting women's fight for their rights and recognition. She is a producer of the highly-acclaimed musical We Did It For You! Women's Journey Through History.
You can find her on Facebook and twitter.
Visit her website
Ep 25 :: I Could Heal Myself by Helping Others :: Carlene Altom
Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Younger-onset Alzheimer's affects people younger than age 65 with around 220,000 people affected by this form of Alzheimer’s.
In this episode Bobbi and Mike talk with Carlene Altom – The founder of the Early-onset/Young Alzheimer’s Female Spouses Caregiver Support Group – about early onset dementia, what it is like caring for her husband Patrick – diagnosed in 2017 - and the unique challenges people with young-onset Alzheimer's disease face.
Carlene, “When I tried to get Patrick diagnosed, they laughed at me and the doctor wrote down on a prescription pad for him to listen better to his wife”
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You can join Carlene’s Facebook Support Group
You can find Carlene on Twitter and Facebook.
Learn more about Young-onset Alzheimers
EP 24 :: When Dementia Meets the Coronavirus Crisis :: Julie Halpert
“Among the greatest challenges is how to minimize disruption in care that is intensely personal. “Care for dementia patients is ‘high touch,’” said Peter Lichtenberg, a professor of psychology and director of the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University. He recommends that caregivers take measures to avoid their own exposures by having provisions delivered, disinfecting surfaces and employing proper hand-washing techniques.”
Julie Halpert is an award-winning freelance journalist with more than three decades of experience writing for many national publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and AARP. She writes the Second Acts stories in The Wall Street Journal about those who have switched to new types of careers and passions late in life. She is also the co-author of Making Up With Mom, which focuses on generational differences between women and their mothers and how to resolve them. She has focused extensively on issues of aging, writing about the many ways that boomers are redefining retirement and reinventing themselves during this period of life, as well as the challenges of caregiving.
Read the full NY Times article
You can find Julie on Facebook and for more information visit her website.
EP 23 :: There’s More To A Person Than Their Dementia :: Jane King
In this episode Bobbi and Mike talk with Jane King - lead for the Dementia Friendly Alexandria, VA initiative – about the need to ensure that communities across the U.S. are equipped to support people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Dementia Friendly Alexandria educates and inspires Alexandria organizations and residents to respond more confidently to the needs of someone with dementia regardless of their relationship to that person. It is affiliated with Dementia Friendly America (DFA), a nationwide collaboration working at the state and local levels to advance dementia friendly communities across the United States.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages — 5.6 million of whom are older than 65 — are living with Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia. Nearly 60 percent of people with dementia have not had to move homes as a result, or have moved within the same community, and one in seven live alone.
Dementia Friendly Alexandria is part of Dementia-Friendly America, a national network of communities, organizations and individuals seeking to ensure that communities across the country are equipped to support people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Dementia Friends USA
Dementia Friendly America Dementia Friendly Alexandria website
EP 22 :: Safer Senior Living :: Bonnie Elliott
Bonnie Elliott infuses her passion for people and their well-being into helping families connect with optimal senior care solutions. Making the decision to transition to senior living can be difficult and overwhelming. Bonnie has personally experienced the stress and complexities of choosing the right care. She and her family navigated the journey with 4 senior parents who had various needs. She knows the pitfalls of making an inappropriate choice; however, she has seen the countless ways a senior thrives in a living situation matched to their unique requirements.
Before becoming a CarePatrol Senior Advisor, Bonnie received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland. She is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and has completed the Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) requirements. As a member of the National Placement and Referral Alliance (NPRA), she is part of an exclusive group that took the first Certified Senior Placement Specialist (CPRS) exam in the country.
Bonnie is uniquely familiar with the breadth of senior services, care communities and facilities available. Bonnie believes seniors and their families can benefit greatly from her professional guidance.
EP 21 :: Caring for Someone Who Abused You :: Jonathan Maberry
New York Times bestselling author, 5-time Bram Stoker Award winner, and comic book writer Jonathan Maberry talks with Bobbi and Mike about the choice he and his his wife made to care - over many years - for his Dementia stricken father.
Their discussion ranges from revealing that in one of his novels he gave dementia characteristics to its zombie characters, to the emotional challenges that arise in caring for a loved one who had been abusive as a parent.
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EP 20 :: Family Takes Care of Family :: Pat Wagner
Today's guest, Pat Wagner, was the facilitator of an Alzheimer caregiver support group for over 15 years in Defiance, Ohio.
Pat, “People need to realize that they don’t have to walk this walk alone, there is so much out there to help in so many ways. My mother had a lot of medical issues herself so therefore she needed help desperately. At the time I lived across the street with was married with three very small children and so I became the person that she would call continually and dad was a wanderer so we would have to find him of course, so that that led to three little children being shoved in a car sometimes 6 or 8 times a day. It became quite hard for me. So, my husband suggested that we add on to our home and bring them into our home to care for them and that is what we did. "
“ I had promised my father that I I would not put him in a home which was probably the wrong thing to do as the years went on and the demands were great but my mother decided that it was too much for me because it was 24/7 with dad he was up all night and he would not listen to anybody but me.”
Bobbi, “I often tell caregivers when I do a presentation don't ever tell your family member that you would never have them in a facility as you just may not be able to keep that promise because sometimes it becomes the right decision for both of you as try to keep them at home. Sometimes we have to be strong enough to make that tough decision.”
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EP 19 :: Home Caregiving Affects The Entire Family :: Connie Siskowski
There are an estimated 1.4 million caregiving children ages 8-18 years old in the U.S. Of these, 38% provide care for a grandparent and 34% provide care for a parent. Bobbi and Mike discuss with Connie Siskowski - Founder and President of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) – the need to support and connect with our younger caregivers.
Connie Siskowski, “We, as adults, are supposed to be taking care of children, they're not supposed to be taking care of us. What goes on behind closed doors nobody really knows."
ACCY provides specific expertise and knowledge in the areas of education, awareness, research and direct services for younger caregivers, as well as serving as a resource to increase awareness of the needs of this under-served population.
You can find out more about ACCY on their website.
Follow them on Facebook, and Twitter.
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EP 18 :: The Working Caregiver :: Michele Darwin
1 in 4 people are directly affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia thus you have businesses whose workforce is directly impacted by the disease. In this episode Bobbi and Mike talk with Michele Darwin, executive director of the Windward foundation, who works to educate employers on the financial impact that dementia has on their business, and how they can support and educate their employees on what resources might be available to them. Lost productivity and short term disability challenges all come into play when dealing with a short-term health crisis.
It’s important that a caregiver reach out to their HR departments about the resources available to employees regarding dementia.
Michele is the co-founder and executive director of the Windward Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to ease the burden of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Michele played a significant role in caring for her father when he was diagnosed in 2010 and saw first-hand the devastating effect that the disease can have on the unpaid family caregiver and their family.
You can find out more about the Windward Foundation on their website.
Follow Michele on Twitter and Facebook.
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EP 17 :: Long-Term Care Planning :: Rory Clark J.D.
Bobbi & Mike discuss with Rory Clark - managing partner and founder of The Legacy Elder Law Center. – what Elder law is, and how unlike virtually every other field of law, is not focused so much on any one particular subject matter, but on the needs of a particular type of client—seniors and their families.
Rory brings to his practice more than 30 years of elder law, estate planning, asset protection, and special needs planning experience. He not only understands the complex legal issues involved as a professional but also the intense emotional issues as a caregiver. His father, a World War II veteran, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for 11 years and eventually had to reside in a memory care facility. His mother battled Parkinson’s disease for 14 years. She was able to live independently in her own home for most of that time but did have to move to a nursing home near the end of her life for safety's sake. He also has a son with Asperger’s syndrome and severe anxiety disorder. Helping his family cope with these issues has given him a unique experience that has underscored his empathy and motivation to provide for all of his clients with the compassionate, skilled, and personal attention they deserve.
Elder law, unlike virtually every other field of law, is not focused so much on any one particular subject matter but on the needs of a particular type of client—seniors and their families.
You can find out more about The Legacy Elder Law Center on their website.
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EP 16 :: Managing Behaviors & Emotions - Part 2 :: Bobbi and Mike
Navigating our loved one’s behaviors and our own emotions is crucial to caregiving success. However, no one has a clear path to making that happen. Listen as Bobbie and Mike continue their discussion on managing your loved one’s behaviors and emotions.
This episode includes tips and ideas about; how to keep your loved one from wandering, ensure that they are sleeping well at night, and how to ‘dementia’ proof your house. Remember that having dementia doesn’t mean that your loved one isn't thinking.
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EP 15 :: Managing Behaviors & Emotions :: Bobbi and Mike
Loved ones living with dementia don’t realize they’re being difficult
Navigating our loved one’s behaviors and our own emotions is crucial to caregiving success. However, no one has a clear path to making that happen. Listen as Bobbie and Mike discuss specific advice on managing your loved one’s behaviors and emotions.
They start with discussing how caregivers can find emotional support, then offer specific tips on ways to encourage loved one’s to change their clothes, bath, and agree not to drive. They also offer suggestions on how to ensure that the doctors believe you when you tell them about certain behaviors your loved one is exhibiting and why it’s important to let your local police department know that you have someone living with you that has dementia.
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EP 14 :: Getting the Best Care :: Margaret Fitzpatrick
Margaret has been a critical care nurse and nurse anesthetist for over 20 years. Her experience caring for patients as well as her experience coming as the last of 16 siblings, has shown her the many pitfalls that can come to vulnerable people in the healthcare system.
Too often, older patients are put on a healthcare conveyor belt, enduring tests, procedures and medications that offer little benefits. Caring for both of her parents as they aged into their 90’s showed Margaret the importance of establishing individual healthcare goals that reflect your values. That is the key to staying off of the healthcare conveyor belt. Helping people to have a more rational relationship with healthcare as they age inspired her to write her latest book,
Getting the Best Care. Margaret is a busy speaker on these issues and consults with private clients to help them to negotiate the healthcare system, often as they are helping older loved ones with medical issues.
You can lean more about Margaret on her website.. er book, ‘Getting the Best Care, Rescue Your Loved One from the Healthcare Conveyor Belt’ can be found on Amazon.
EP 13 :: Celebrating the Caregiver :: C. Grace Whiting
There are 44 million unpaid elder caregivers in the U.S. and 75% are employed. Today's guest, C. Grace Whiting, the President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. NAC recognizes that family caregivers provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well-being of those in their care.
Core Challenges for a Caregiver include:
Anxiety for the future, worrying constantly “what’s next” • Balancing attention between Debbie and her own family • Understanding of the situation when she isn’t there • Figuring out what to expect in the future • Making sure her mother is safe • Keeping her relationship in tact with her mother • Making work a priority • Remembering to take care of herself.
The direct costs to American society of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in 2017 totaled more than $259 billion. In 2017, Medicare and Medicaid spent an estimated $175 billion — 67 percent of total costs — caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This is largely a result of the high cost of care in the last five years of life, with the average totaling more than $287,000 (in 2010 dollars). By comparison, the last five years of life for a person with heart disease or cancer costs on average $175,000 and $173,000, respectively.
NAC is a nonprofit think tank based in Washington, DC, focused on improving the quality of life for family caregivers and those in their care through research, advocacy, and innovation. To find out more about NAC go to caregiving.org.
EP 12 :: How to Manage the Effects of Dementia On Speech :: Dr. Roger Kreuz
Roger Kreuz is a professor of psychology, an associate dean, and director of graduate studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Memphis. He earned his graduate degrees in experimental psychology at Princeton University. Dr. Kreuz conducts research on discourse, pragmatics, and nonliteral language. He is the coauthor (with Richard Roberts) of three books about language and communication, all of which are intended for a general audience.
Changing Minds: How Aging Affects Language and How Language Affects Aging was released in 2019. The material in Changing Minds that pertains to dementia can be found in chapter six. One section of that chapter, called, “The Destroyer of Minds” reviews the research on how language is affected by dementia. The focus is on the case of Iris Murdoch, the British author and philosopher whose final novel, Jackson’s Dilemma, shows evidence of language problems that are characteristic of the disease.
Linguistic changes associated with dementia include reductions in vocabulary size, the use of more lexical fillers (such as well or uh), and less specific nouns (we, they, something, everything).
Compared to those who autobiographical essays make frequent reference to negative emotions, expressions of positive emotions are associated with a longer life.
Just as a physician would encourage people to keep moving, we would encourage people to keep writing and to keep reading to maintain their cognitive health.
EP 11 :: Creating Travel Opportunities :: Kathy Shoaf
Today's guest, Kathy Shoaf, creates vacations for caregivers and loved ones who have accessibility challenges and/or clinical issues that often stymie travel. Listen as MIke and Bobbie discuss with Kathy how she arranges cruises with fun, friendly activities from onboard entertainment to off-board excursions which enable caregivers -- along with their loved ones who have specific diagnoses such as Dementia/ Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and MS -- to have their "Bucket-List” dreams finally come true.
Kathy chooses trips and ports of call based on accessibility, helps you participate in nearly any activity you want, including scuba, diving, swimming with dolphins, city tours, or relaxing on the beach, when you travel on one of her tours the opportunities are endless.
Kathy is a travel expert with 20+ years of clinical and management experience in geriatric, neurology, rehabilitation and senior housing as an RN and ATP. Her professional career has allowed her to be a public speaker, CEU educator, clinical consultant, and passionate travel advocate.
To find out more about Kathy’s cruises and excruciations go to her website and you can find her on Facebook too,
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EP 10 :: Lewy Body Dementia - Supporting With Love :: Norma Loeb
Bobbi and Mike discuss with today's guest, Norma Loeb the treatment and care for Lewy Body Dementia. Norma’s knowledge and experience with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) began with the personal care of her mother, Lillian, who had LBD for many years.
Lil inspired Norma to create the Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center (LBDRC). She formed the center to raise awareness of LBD and to help caregivers locate doctors, nurses’ assistants, and hospice agencies – as well as the smaller problems of knowing which local surgical supply store can help or where the nearest veterans’ organization is located.
Norma worked as executive assistant to the CFO at The New York Times Company for over 20 years. While there, she served as chairperson of the work/life committee of The Times’ women’s affinity group and initiated and ran their eldercare support group. Her expertise working with the top executives at The Times, as well as her managerial experience as executive director and a co-founder of the nonprofit organization, What BETTER Looks Like, has prepared her to direct this large project which is very dear to her heart.
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EP 9 :: Researching a cure :: Dr. Philip McMillan
Every 65 seconds someone in the U.S. develops dementia. Today's guest, Dr. Philip McMillan, does not accept that dementia is a normal part of aging and hopes to change that thinking. Listen as Bobbi and Mike discuss with Dr. McMillan how his research project seeks to give us all the opportunity to become involved in finding a cure for dementia and make dementia a thing of the past.
Dr. McMillan realizes that without dementia reversal, society will face an enormous task of caring for the elderly. Dr. Philip McMillan is a consultant physician who has been passionate about making a difference for dementia since his mother died of the disease.
He is an international keynote speaker and is devoted to using his medical expertise to make a difference for others, Don't forget to subscribe, download, and review to share your thoughts about the show!
Don't forget to subscribe, download, and review to share your thoughts about the show!
EP 8 :: Caregiving, dementia and you :: Penny Patnaude
Bobbi & Mike discuss with Penny Patnaude - certified caregiving consultant - the coming tsunami of those who will need full-time care due to dementia, how to prepare for it, and the importance of treating your loved one with tenderness, patience and kindness as Dementia overwhelms them, and you.
Penny is an advocate for aging in place, elder care, and caregiver support with a Masters Degree in Psychology and is the founder of Caregiver Strategist, a NJ based consulting and training company with a focus on Alzheimers and dementia care training for family caregivers. She has decades of experience as a caregiver and in her childhood home she watched her family assist the neighborhood elders, many of whom suffered from "Old-timers disease".
You can follow Penny on Facebook, Instagram, and find her on the web.
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EP 7 :: Dementia strikes all age groups :: Mary Salter
Dementia has been diagnosed in over 200,000 Americans under the age of 65. Today Bobbi and Mike discuss with today's guest Mary Salter the deadly effects of dementia on middle-age adults and how to cope with losing loved one's at such a young age to the disease.
Mary Salter lives in Alabama is currently helping to care for her grandchildren who affectionately call her ‘Mama Bear’, and who sadly lost her husband at a young age to a rare form of dementia.
Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Disease
DIAD is a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that causes memory loss and dementia in people typically in their 30s to 50s. The disease affects less than 1% of the total population. To find out more about Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer on their website.
Join the global research on Alzheimer’s disease!
Your participation and support can help us find ways to diagnose, treat and prevent inherited and other forms of Alzheimer’s disease.
You can find Mary on Facebook.
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EP 6 :: Are you ready for your caregiving journey? :: Debra Howard
Statistics show that only about 5% of families have taken the necessary steps to develop a fully thought-out care plan for their aging loved ones - it may be your parents, or your grandparents. Or your spouse or partner. Or a favorite aunt or uncle. Or even a close friend. For the vast majority, it takes a “trigger event” (a fall or diagnosis of illness such as cancer, Parkinson’s, dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc.) to force everyone to spring into action.
In the best case, the average time for making decisions about assisted living (or in-home help) is 2~3 months, with serious decisions being made under great duress.
AMI founder Debbie Howard's purpose with The Caregiving Journey is to help you to:
Plan and prepare better - and more in advance - so you have more options when the going gets tough
Take better care of yourself while you are caregiving
Inspire your options with “relaunching” once caregiving is done
Debbie made her entrance into the world of non-professional, family caregiving when her mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer at 74 years old. Up to that time, she'd been very healthy and mobile, hadn’t had any need for meds (other than vitamin C or calcium), and had been living independently and enjoying her retirement.
Find our more about Debra on her website where you can purchase her book,
EP 5 :: It’s not always possible to care for your loved one in your home :: Bill Ralston
Caring for your loved one in your home is not always possible, nor may it be the best option for them. Today Bobbi and Mike discuss with Bill Ralston how he actively cared for his parents while they lived several states away and how he is now caring for his wife in their home.
Bill currently resides in Purcellville, VA, had been the long-distance caregiver for his parents Harold and Junie who lived in Dayton, Ohio, and is now the full-time caregiver for his wife Cindy.
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EP 4 :: You can't control everything :: Dannelle LeBlanc
Bobbi and Mike discuss how important it is to enable your loved one to maintain some feeling of independence and for you to realize that can't control all aspects of your loved one's life with this week's guest Dannelle LeBlanc, a Certified Senior Advisor and Caregiving Consultant.
Dannelle merges her experience as caregiver for her father-in-law with 20+ years in educational training and patient support services related to chronic illness with a focus on connecting caregivers to meaningful support resources. She continues to be motivated by the endurance and determination of people who care for the most vulnerable in our communities. You can learn more about Danellle and her company’s website., and you can find her on twitter as well as Facebook.
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EP 3 :: With caregiving comes a change in relationships :: With Debra Hallisey
Bobbi and Mike discuss how caregiving transforms the relationship with your loved one with this week's guest Debra Hallisey a Certified Caregiving Educator and Dementia Practitioner.
Caregiving changes the everyday lives of the caregiver and their circle of loved ones. We are no longer just a child, a spouse, or a friend. And this means that our “relationship contract” with the caregiver must change. These “contracts” are most often unspoken, making it difficult for the people involved to identify their needs and responsibilities.
Debra is a caregiving knowledge expert, and an advocate for older adults and their families, Debra is a Certified Caregiving Consultant™ and Certified Dementia Practitioner®. She holds an MA in Leadership and Supervision and is currently taking additional training to become certified as a CCE – Certified Caregiving Educator and CCF – Certified Caregiving Facilitator.
She used the knowledge that she had gained to develop her website. Her site offers practical advice for caregivers and learn from others how they handled challenges on issues such as legal, financial, insurance, and caregiving.
EP 2 :: There is no way to be a perfect caregiver :: With Denise Brown
Bobbi and Mike Carducci discuss with Denise Brown -- the host of the National Caregiving Conference, author, and national speaker on caregiving -- how to be a caregiver, the value of joining a caregiver peer group, and how you can’t control how long someone lives but you can positively affect the quality of their life.
Denise M. Brown launched CareGiving.com in 1996. CareGiving.com was the first website to add online caregiving support groups, daily caregiving chats and blogs written by family caregivers. Through its blogs posts, podcasts and video chats, CareGiving.com holds one of the largest online libraries of caregiving stories.
EP 1 :: Meet Bobbi and Mike
For more than seven years, they were the caregivers for Rodger, Mike’s ailing father. They quickly realized they were unaware and underprepared for the demands of caring for someone with dementia. But with more patience and compassion than either thought possible, they cared for Rodger’s every need, through to his finally days.
Since then, they have dedicated their lives to sharing their personal journey with this cruel disease in order to support other caregivers. They offer emotional support, practical tips and coping mechanisms to caregivers who often find themselves overwhelmed with fatigue, grief and even anger.
Caregiving comes naturally to Bobbi. "I come from a long line of caregivers, starting with my Great Grandmother's sister, Nellie, who took in my grandmother's newborn sister when their mother died in childbirth. Since then every generation has had at least one person caring for loved ones. Family takes care of family is ingrained in our beliefs. That doesn't mean it's right for everyone. Being a home caregiver is incredibly hard and no one should feel guilty if they choose to allow others to step in. Not everyone is cut out to wrestle alligators while herding a dozen cats and being constantly tuned in to another's needs when sleep deprived and in desperate need to go to the bathroom."