Caregiver Help Radio – Elaine K. Sanchez

How do we know when it’s time to end life-prolonging medical treatment and let nature take its course? When do we say, “Enough!” and stop chemotherapy and radiation? If a doctor tells a patient and his/her family that continued treatment won’t change the outcome and suggests managing the pain rather than continuing life-extending treatments, would you think the doctor is … Read more about this episode...

If your elderly mother is difficult, demanding and demeaning, or if your dad has recently increased the intensity of his diatribes, you’ll want to join us as we visit with Dr. Joseph M. Casiani, Founder and President of Concept Healthcare, a company that provides online education and training for those working with older adults. Dr. Casciani has a distinguished … Read more about this episode...

In memory of her mother and in recognition National Caregivers Month and World Alzheimer’s Month, Elaine tells listeners how they can get a free one-year membership to CaregiverHelp.com. This new online, video-based caregiver support program was developed by Elaine and her husband, Dr. Alex Sanchez. The program is divided into modules – sort of like chapters in a book. … Read more about this episode...

Do you ever panic when you’re with one friend and see another one approaching because you’re blanking on one of their names? Do you sometimes walk purposefully into a room and stop suddenly once you get there because you can’t remember what you’ve come for? Do you spend a lot of time looking for things you’ve lost or misplaced? If … Read more about this episode...

If you’re caregiver, you’re probably tired of hearing people say, “You need to take care of yourself.” It’s likely that you generally put meeting the needs of your care receiver before you even begin to think about caring for yourself. There are a number of reasons that isn’t a good plan, starting with the fact that unless you’ve been blessed … Read more about this episode...

If you’ve tried to buy healthcare insurance since open enrollment began under the Affordable Care Act, you have probably experienced significant delays and frustrations. If you’re like most people, you are coming up with a lot more questions than answers. If you’d like to hear a clear, concise explanation on whether ObamaCare is the right choice for you, (without any … Read more about this episode...

If you’re upset about the politics behind the Affordable Care Act . . . If you’ve had it with the mean-spirited rhetoric that’s being spewed on television programs that purport to be “News Channels”, and you’re looking for something hopeful and positive, you’ll want to listen to this show from start to finish. Elaine reflects on why she believes the … Read more about this episode...

Our brain is the control center for our lives. Everything we do, think, or feel is processed in our brain. The way our brain functions defines who we are, how we live, and how we interact with others, so when a brain is damaged, the results can be devastating to the individual as well as to his or her family … Read more about this episode...

Maintaining your own physical, emotional, and mental balance while caring for a loved one, meeting the demands of a career and the needs of other family members is tricky. (To say the least!) It’s a lot like trying to hold a beach ball under water. Just about the time you think you have your arms around it, the ball shoots … Read more about this episode...

Most of us will face a difficult challenge at some point in our lives. We get upset over problems at home and at work. Financial crises keep us awake at night. Broken relationships pierce our hearts. Our parents get sick and die, and our own health starts to deteriorate as we age. If we’re lucky, we find ways to adapt, … Read more about this episode...

There are lots of reasons people cross the line from anger to violence. Fear, pain, confusion, delirium, chemical imbalances and mental illness can all contribute to aggressive, even homicidal behavior. On today’s program we discuss two recent crisis events. One ended tragically. The other ended triumphantly. Join us as we visit with Lynda Crandal, a gerontological nurse who is currently … Read more about this episode...

When a person loses his or her ability to walk or to hear, life gets complicated in a hurry. And when a loved one has a dementia-related illness or injury, communication can become just as frustrating for the care receiver as it is for the caregiver. If you have ever struggled to lift a wheelchair out of the trunk of … Read more about this episode...

When it becomes apparent that a loved one is no longer capable of managing all of their day-to-day needs, how do you determine how much and what kind of help is appropriate? Would it be possible for your parents to stay in their home a little longer if they just had someone come in once in awhile and help? Should … Read more about this episode...

If you’ve ever tried to tighten a screw with a knife or a coin instead of a screwdriver, or if you’ve ever used the heel of your shoe instead of a hammer to pound in a nail, you know it’s possible to accomplish almost any task if you use a little ingenuity. However, if you want to get things done … Read more about this episode...

Your life is going along fine, and then one day everything changes. Your mother falls and breaks a hip. Your dad gets lost on his way home from the grocery store. The doctor confirms that the shaking in your husband’s hand and the expressionless look on his face are undeniable symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Whatever the event or diagnosis, you … Read more about this episode...

PBS, in partnership with ProPublica, sent A.C.Thompson, Jonathan Jones and Carl Byker on a 14 month mission to research complaints and lawsuits against Emeritus, the largest chain of assisted living facilities in the U.S. Last week’s Frontline’s program, “Life and Death in Assisted Living Facilities”, exposed a stunning and heartbreaking story of neglect and abuse experienced by residents in the … Read more about this episode...

When you watch ads on television about prescription medication and listen to the possible side effects, have you ever wondered if that medication would cause a person more harm than good? Do you know where to go to find out what drugs are known to have adverse effects on people? And if you have a loved one who has Alzheimer’s … Read more about this episode...

If you are a member of the “Sandwich Generation”, you may have been too busy to notice that July is your “National Month”. This is the month that people who are caring for their children as well as their aging parents are celebrated for their dedication, patience and generosity. It’s nice to know that others recognize how difficult it is … Read more about this episode...

Are you confused about the Affordable Care Act? Were you aware that as of January 2014, all Americans will be required to have some type of healthcare insurance? Do you know how much a policy will cost, what it will cover, and whether it will be paid for by you or your employer? Do you know what benefits every insurance … Read more about this episode...

When you’re caring for loved ones who are chronically ill, disabled, or aging, it’s not at all unusual to be interrupted with a phone call that alters every plan you had for the day (or for the next week). Perhaps you suddenly become aware of the fact that your parents simply cannot manage on their own any longer. You think … Read more about this episode...

Advances in technology are making it easier for us to access information and conduct business from our homes than ever before. But regardless of how efficient we become at communicating electronically, nothing will ever replace person-to-person caring and contact. Join us as we talk with Melissa Lindley from Willamette Valley Hospice in Salem, Oregon and Dr. Steven Fuller, president of … Read more about this episode...

Do we have a spiritual connection to loved ones from beyond the grave? When we encounter them in the middle of the night, is it a dream or are they really there? Do they watch over us? Are we inspired, motivated, or encouraged by them? Is it possible that they have a hand in arranging the events in our daily … Read more about this episode...

Anger is a normal and predictable response to situations over which we have little or no control. As a caregiver, the number of people, situations, and events over which you have little or not control is practically limitless. If you’re a caregiver, the question is not whether you’re going to get angry – because if you are a living, breathing … Read more about this episode...

Today’s program, Rising from the Ashes – Life After Caregiving is based on the mythical Greek bird with fiery plumage called a phoenix. Near the end of its life, the phoenix settles into its nest, which suddenly ignites with intense, raging flames. When the nest and bird are reduced to ashes, a fledgling phoenix arises – renewed and reborn. The … Read more about this episode...

What do you do when a loved one’s behavior becomes unpredictable and unreasonable to the point of being unbelievable? What are your choices if it is no longer safe for your mother to live in her own home but she refuses to accept help from anyone except you? What do you do if your father gets so upset that you … Read more about this episode...

When we’re young and healthy, our vision of old age is sweet. We imagine a slightly wrinkled version of ourselves rocking happily away on a sunny porch surrounded by well-behaved grandchildren who pay rapt attention to us as we recall our life’s adventures. Nice fantasy, but if that was reality, no one would have ever developed the slogan, “Old age … Read more about this episode...

When a person is told he/she has Parkinson’s Disease, it can be tremendously frightening. You want to know how it will progress. You’ll ask what treatments are available. You’ll want to know how it’s going to change your life and the lives of your loved ones. You might even ask how bad it’s going to get and how long you … Read more about this episode...

Finding the balance between supporting aging parents and micromanaging their lives is delicate. Wouldn’t it be great if you could support an older person who wants to live independently without feeling the need to check in several times a day? Imagine how nice it would be to have a two-way conversation rather than a one-way interrogation. Join us as we … Read more about this episode...

The average life expectancy for people in the U.S. has increased by more than 60% in the last century. In Japan, there are currently 50,000 people who are over the age of 100. Is longevity a good thing? Of course it is . . . providing you have good health and plenty of money. But what if things aren’t going … Read more about this episode...

Have you ever searched for an answer to something but felt overwhelmed and confused by the volumes of information out there? Have you ever wished you could just pick up the phone and call an expert? Wouldn’t it be great if you could connect with a human being and get real-time advice? Join us as we talk with Gloria Latanzio, … Read more about this episode...

No one likes to think about disability and death. When it comes to making decisions about end-of-life care or about the distribution of worldly possessions – nothing is fun. That’s why so many people avoid making plans and end up hoping that things will just work out. Here’s the bad news – NOTHING about end-of-life planning or the distribution of … Read more about this episode...

Sixty-five million Americans are providing unpaid care for aging, chronically ill, and disabled loved ones. One in six people (approximately 10.8 million caregivers) are working full or part time. Imagine you’re at work and the phone rings. You learn that your father has had a stroke, or your mother has fallen and broken a hip. What’s your first move? How … Read more about this episode...

Would anyone expect an employee to work around the clock, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year with no breaks, no vacation, no pay, and no benefits? Of course not. Even robots require down time for maintenance. So why would anyone think a family caregiver should be able to meet all of the needs of a loved one who … Read more about this episode...

One out of three people over the age of 85 has Alzheimer’s. There’s no cure, and there’s no way to slow it’s progression. It’s tragic for anyone who gets it, and it is especially devastating when people in their 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s learn they have it. Diagnosing Early Onset Alzheimer’s is difficult. Doctor’s don’t expect it, and they often … Read more about this episode...

Do you ever feel like you’re out of the loop regarding the condition of a loved one who’s being cared for by family members or home health care professionals? Do you sometimes wonder if anyone really is paying attention? Join us as we talk to Robert Herzog, an entrepreneur who founded ecaring.com, as a result of the frustration … Read more about this episode...

People sometimes feel like they are shirking their responsibility and being cruel when they put a loved into memory care. They also think that working on an Alzheimer’s unit must be incredibly depressing. Join us as we talk to Charles Schoenfeld, and learn why that simply is not true. At age of 56, Charles retired as a UPS delivery … Read more about this episode...

Imagine being awakened in the middle of the night and hearing that your athletic, healthy 23-year-old son has had an accident. You arrive at the hospital as he’s being prepared for surgery. The doctor tells you that your son’s neck is broken and he will be paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life. If the surgery … Read more about this episode...

The word “Alzheimer’s” has the power to strike fear in our hearts and send chills through our bodies. The thought of losing our memories and the connection to our loved ones is terrifying and heartbreaking. Based on the seriousness of the disease, you might fail to see the humor in the sometimes surprising behaviors exhibited by individuals with Alzheimer’s and … Read more about this episode...