Daughterhood The Podcast

Dementia family caregivers face an overwhelming journey—without adequate support or resources. Supporting someone with dementia is a complex, emotional, exhausting journey. Yet, dementia family caregivers face this challenge without the coordinated support, training, or resources needed to provide the best care possible. But that's beginning to change. On July 1st Medicare is launching a new, first-of-its-kind program called GUIDE—Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience—created to provide comprehensive, FREE support for dementia family caregivers. Daughterhood has partnered with PocketRN, an approved Medicare provider for the GUIDE program and a nationwide organization offering families 24/7 access to nurses—right from their pocket. My guest today is Jenna Morgenstern-Gaines, the CEO and co-founder of PocketRN. In our conversation, Jenna will share more details about the GUIDE program and its comprehensive benefits, including ongoing caregiver support, education and training, access to respite care, how to enroll, everything you need to know to access the program. Episode TRANSCRIPT Access Daughterhood's GUIDE page with information and locator HERE CMS website information on GUIDE

If you or someone you love has ever faced a health scare, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. My guest today is Dr. Edward G. Rogoff, an accomplished educator and advocate whose personal journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Diagnosed with hemophilia as a child, Dr. Rogoff faced a lifetime of uncertainty—until a liver transplant in adulthood led to an unexpected cure. His experience sparked a lifelong commitment to patient advocacy, organ donation awareness, and reshaping how we approach chronic illness. He's served on the boards of the Hemophilia Association of New York since 1980 and LiveOnNY, the major organ donor organization for the New York City metropolitan area, and now he's sharing his wisdom in his new book: "Scary Diagnosis: Navigating Fear, Finding Strength, and Securing the Health Care You Deserve." In this conversation, we explore the power of building the right medical team, managing uncertainty, denial, having tough conversations, staying resilient and how to not let a scary diagnosis overtake your life and keep it all in perspective. TRANSCRIPT Scary Diagnosis Navigating Fear, Finding Strength, and Securing the Health Care You Deserve  Daughterhood

Today, my guest is Amy Fuchs, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Aging Life Care Professional with over 15 years of experience supporting families through the complexities of caregiving for aging loved ones. As the founder of The Elder Expert, Amy combines her compassion, empathy, and expertise to provide personalized care and guidance for older adults and their families. In today's episode, we'll discuss a challenging and all too familiar struggle: denial in caregiving. Whether it's denial from our care partners, our siblings, or even from ourselves, it's an obstacle many caregivers face. Amy shares practical strategies and insights to empower, cope, and manage it all. TRANSCRIPT The Elder Expert Daughterhood

My guest today is Dr Mary Frances O'Connor, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Arizona, Director of Clinical Training and a grief researcher. Dr O'Connor shared such great insights the first time she was on the podcast, I'm so glad she's back to discuss her new book The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing. Today we discuss the physical nature of grief, the physiological response of your body and how grief affects every system, We talk about our immune system, brain fog, ways to cope with grief, how to rebuild after loss and so much more. TRANSCRIPT OF THIS EPISODE MaryFrancesOconnor.org Daughterhood

In these BONUS episodes of Daughterhood the Podcast, Daughterhood Founder Anne Tumlinson joins Rosanne to bring the caregiving conversation to a different level as we're joined by change leaders and policy experts. Today we speak with Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, where he is affiliated with the Tax Policy Center and the Retirement Policy Program. He speaks and writes frequently on aging and caregiving, as well as on tax policy. Howard is the author of Caring for Our Parents: Inspiring Stories of Families Seeking New Solutions to America's Most Urgent Health Care Crisis, as well as two blogs—TaxVox and Caring for Our Parents which you can find on Forbes.com. In 2016, I was a named one of the nation's top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. Today, we discuss the recent changes in Washington regarding potential cuts to Medicaid, changes to Medicare, drug production, The Older Americans act, the ACA and much more. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Daughterhood

Jerri McElroy is a full time in home dementia family caregiver and a Caring Across Generations Fellow. She is passionate about care advocacy and created first care for me to encourage family caregivers to prioritize self preservation for their own health and well being. Jerry is a published author, artist, minister, and also a Daughterhood circle leader. Aisha Adkins is an Atlanta based family caregiver, founder, writer, thought leader, speaker and organizer, who is passionate about building an equitable, inclusive and comprehensive public health and care infrastructure using media, storytelling, culture and policy change. She is committed to making an impact across the country for unpaid caregivers of color through her new venture, Caregivers of Color Collective. In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges faced by marginalized caregivers, sharing powerful insights into their experiences within the healthcare system and family dynamics. We also tackle critical issues like generational trauma, the vital role of allyship and much more. TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE Jerri McElroy's - Facebook Group - A Life for a Life: A Caregiver's Journey  https://www.facebook.com/groups/303568590482029/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT Aisha Adkins - https://aishaadkins.com/ Daughterhood

Boundaries. We know they are important in everyday life and even more crucial in caregiving. But how do we establish them? My guest today is Loren Gelberg-Goff, psychotherapist, author and speaker, who has become best known for creating the powerful, life-changing program for caregivers: “Take Back Your Life”. Loren and I explore the crucial topic of boundaries in caregiving. In this conversation we discuss how to create and maintain boundaries, how to feel good about yourself while practicing them, how to deal with others when you find your boundaries and much more. TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE Daughterhood LorenGelbergGoff.com

David Kessler is one of the world's foremost experts on grief and loss. and his insights are invaluable. He is the author of six books, including his latest bestseller, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. David also coauthored On Grief and Grieving with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross which updated her five stages of grief to include the grieving process.  David's journey into grief and trauma work began after witnessing a mass shooting as a child while his mother was dying. He has since taught professionals in various fields, including healthcare and law enforcement, about the end of life, trauma and grief. In this compelling discussion, Rosanne and David delve into the unique struggles caregivers face in their grief journey. They address the importance of allowing ourselves to process these emotions, the impact our personal grief narratives have on our lives, and the vital steps towards rediscovering our true selves amid loss. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to navigate grief and emerge stronger. TRANSCRIPT David Kessler - Grief.com DAUGHTERHOOD

In 2016, Kitty Norton left her job as an NBC assistant editor in Los Angeles, CA for her hometown of Portland, OR to care for her mother living with dementia.  While caring, she authored the dementia caregiver blog Stumped Town Dementia, writing tales of dementia life, not dementia death, which resonated deeply with readers around the world.  After her mother's death in 2021, Kitty took to the road in an RV to produce and direct her cross-country documentary film Wine, Women, and Dementia  This film honors the journey with her mother, as well as spreads awareness of the caregiver side of the equation in dementia, and celebrates family caregivers - to let them know they are not alone and that they are worthy of being seen, heard, and celebrated alongside who they are caring for on this difficult road to the end of life. In this episode we discuss common tropes and platitudes most often heard in dementia, the reality behind them, and how Kitty's caregiving journey led her to create her film. TRANSCRIPT

Cheryl Phillips, M.D., AGSF, is the immediate past president and CEO of the Special Needs Plan Alliance, and currently a Senior Program Consultant with the John A Hartford Foundation. She has extensive experience in health policy, Medicare Advantage and the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). As a fellowship-trained geriatrician, her clinical practice focused on the continuum. She served as a primary care health policy fellow under Secretary Tommy Thompson and currently chairs The SCAN Foundation Board of Directors and serves as a director on the SCAN Health Plan and Group Boards. Today, we discuss the 4 M's that will help you prepare for each appointment, the burden of being the connector and care coordinator with specialists, dealing with assumptions and expectations, the dangers of anesthesia and falls, and much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. TRANSCRIPT

Mental health is crucial for overall well-being at every stage of life. It encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing our thoughts, feelings, actions, stress management, relationships, and decision-making. Supporting your mental health is especially important during caregiving.  In this episode, we discuss the difference between depression and malaise, how to spot depression in our cells and our care partners, and practical strategies and resources to support our mental health on a daily basis. I hope you enjoy our conversation. TRANSCRIPT AND RESOURCES

When Alzheimer's dementia arrived without warning, Dr. Sheri L. Yarbrough (Praxis Senior Care-Giving Solutions)used her ability to view a circumstance from multiple perspectives to understand what her mother was experiencing. That became the genesis for her care management strategy, the Praxis for Care. Living the Praxis for Care helped create her motto: care-giving is what you do for your loved one; giving-care is what you do for both of you. In this episode, Dr. Yarbrough and I discuss a range of topics, including identifying your need for support and the specific type of support you require as a caregiver. We also talked about focusing on what remains rather than what is lost, allowing relationships to evolve through your dementia journey, and the important difference between caregiving and giving care. TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE Praxis for Care

Today my guest is Nancy Gentle Boudrie. For 35 years, Nancy helped Business Owners and Corporations achieve peak perform and create exponential success until she found her true passion and purpose working with people to manage high levels of stress and navigate unprecedented challenges.  She blends her business knowledge with her training from Jon Kabat Zinn's Mindful Based Stress Reduction and Naropa University's Mindful Leadership Training.  In this episode, Nancy and I discuss what mindfulness is, how to access it, the difference between detachment and dissociation, steps to mindfully accept your emotions, and simple techniques on how to incorporate mindfulness into your caregiving. SHOW NOTES Nancy's website - Awaken With Light

Traveling with your care partner can be stressful. Carol Giuliani of Senior Travel Companion Services is here to provide strategies and some little-known tips for caregivers. She has planned and executed over 125 domestic and international trips through all 50 states and across the globe. In this episode, Carol and I discuss tips for traveling with your care partner, everything from how to plan your trip, which airlines and resources can assist best how to handle long car rides, traveling with medical equipment, and everything in between.  SHOW NOTES

More than half of Americans take four or more medications a day. That number increases to at least seven when we add over-the-counter medications. All of these have side effects and interactions. Today my guest is DeLon Canterbury, Founder of Geriatrix.org who hopes to revolutionize the way we look at medications by educating the public on deprescribing. In this episode, we discuss the importance of knowing the medications your care partners are taking, what he considers dangerous drugs, the most over prescribed drugs and how to discuss deprescribing with your care partners physician. SHOW NOTES

Dementia. While we know it's a progressive, neurodevelopmental condition with over 200 types, there are still many questions of why and how it occurs.  My guest, Mitchell Clionsky, PhD is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with 45 years of experience evaluating and treating patients with cognitive impairment, dementia, ADHD, and traumatic brain injury.  Dr Clionsky, along with his wife and partner Dr Emily Clionsky have treated more than 25,000 patients with cognitive impairment. They have taken their experience and research and combined it with the most current scientific findings about to create their new book, Dementia Prevention, Using your head to save your brain a practical guide that empowers you to improve your brain's future.  We cover a lot of topics today - our genes, common health issues, sleep, hearing, our habits, and the lifestyle changes we can make to support ourselves. SHOW NOTES BRAINDOC.COM

Dr Allison Applebaum is an Associate Attending Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and also the Founding Director of their Caregivers Clinic the first of its kind in any Comprehensive Cancer Center in the US. Dr Applebaum amplifies the voices of family caregivers in her scientific journals, editorials and her research which focuses on developing innovative ways to identify, prepare and support caregivers. Through this work she also addresses the distress experienced as a result of increasing responsibilities. In Allison's new book, Stand By Me A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving. She brings not only her professional experience to the subject, but also her personal journey of caring for her beloved father, Stanley Applebaum. In our conversation today, we discuss her book, the experience of living in the in between as a family caregiver, and how caregivers can find meaning and purpose while juggling the responsibilities and emotional ups and downs.  Allisonapplebaum.com Book - Stand By Me - A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving SHOW NOTES

Today my guest is Barbara Karnes, an Award Winning Nurse and End of Life Educator. She was NHPCO (The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization) Hospice Innovator Award Winner of 2018 & the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year.  Barbara has put her 40 years of experience regarding education, care, and support of dying people and their loved ones into numerous books and resources. One book in particular Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience, published in 1985, has sold over 35 million copies world wide. Known in the hospice world as “the little blue book” it is the most beloved and widely used resource of its kind. All of her booklets are essential resources in navigating end of life care. Today we discuss how to prepare ourselves and our care partners including how to chose the right hospice, what happens with food and other physical and emotional issues at end of life and how we can be prepared and present as caregivers for those final moments.  SHOW NOTES Bkbooks.com

No matter the reason you enter a hospital, it's intimidating, and the process is not self-explanatory. Each step from admission to discharge to rehab to home is fraught with managing communication and decisions. My guest Dianne Savastano can help. Diane is founder and principal of Health Assist a Massachusetts based company founded in 2004 that specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. Beginning as a registered nurse providing direct patient care, Dianne's 25-year career includes roles as a hospital insurance and employee benefits executive. In our conversation today, Dianne will share how to prepare yourself for navigating a hospital trip the tools you need the questions to ask throughout the entire process, and how to make yourself part of the care team from beginning to end. SHOW NOTES

In today's Bonus policy episode, Howard Gleckman joins Anne in discussing policy changes in 2023. Howard is a published author and writer whose professional expertise is founded on long-term care, health care, elder care, tax policy, budget policy and economics.   Howard was also a senior correspondent in the Washington bureau of Business Week. In our episode today, we discuss some of the major policy happenings in 2023 - the GUIDE program, CMS staffing standards, the decision to cover Leqembi and more. SHOW NOTES Howard Gleckman.com

Connie Baher is a writer and speaker on caregiving and re-imagining retirement. Her latest book is Family Caregivers: An Emotional Survival Guide. Published in USA Today,  The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and The Boston Globe, she is also the author of "The Case of the Kickass Retirement." She is a Harvard MBA, an entrepreneur, and a former tech executive. Connie is A frequent contributor to Next Avenue and I had the pleasure of being a part of her article When the Caregiving Ends: Recovering from Loss, Rebuilding Your Life Today Connie and I discuss life after caregiving - The variety of emotions to wade through, dealing with others while you're grieving, that inevitable question of now what do I do and so much more.  SHOW NOTES www.conniebaher.com Connie's Book Family Caregivers: An Emotional Survival Guide. Next Avenue Article “When the Caregiving Ends: Recovering from Loss, Rebuilding Your Life”  Life Planning Network: https://lifeplanningnetwork.org/. Their mission statement: "The premier networking and professional development organization for life planners working with people over 50."

The challenge of caring through a broken healthcare system is something every caregiver lives through. My guests today, Daughterhood Founder Anne Tumlinson and Daughterhood Interim CEO Andrea Cohen know those challenges personally and professionally. Today we discuss their personal experiences as caregivers, what drives them to create change, the importance of being able to find practical resources and support - and how Daughterhood can help. SHOW NOTES

Courtney Hogenson is a registered nurse, entrepreneur, and innovator with over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry. As a certified care manager and a legal nurse consultant, Courtney has extensive expertise in elder care and patient advocacy and has served as a primary liaison and medical advisor for patients and families.  Courtney is the founder and chief caregiver of Call-Light, an on-demand healthcare platform that connects care seekers with trusted nurses and clinicians for in-home healthcare anytime, anywhere. Today, Courtney shares ways caregivers can provide care in the home, the importance of creating a care team, and strategies and pitfalls along the way. SHOW NOTES

David C. Grabowski, PhD, is a professor of health care policy in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. His research examines the economics of aging with a particular interest in the areas of long-term care and post-acute care.  From 2017-2023 Dr. Grabowski was a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which is an independent agency established to advise the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. He joins Daughterhood Founder Anne Tumlinson and I in discussing how policy affects nursing home quality, the fragmentation of payments in the LTC system, staffing requirements, accountability and how to advocate for change. SHOW NOTES

Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson is an Assistant Professor on the Tenure track at Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia.  She earned her BSN, MSN and PhD in nursing and specializes as a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.  In 2019, she earned her Ph.D. from Oregon health and science university where her studies focused on how the caregiving experiences of African American dementia pairs (i.e. , African American persons living with dementia and their African American family caregivers) were associated with their quality of life. In our conversation today we discuss her past and current research regarding African American dementia caregivers and their care partners, the challenges of accessing needed services, the disparity in healthcare, and the important need for support. SHOW NOTES

As a senior living expert, Star Bradbury has helped thousands of families make educated and informed decisions as they navigate the world of senior living and senior healthcare. Based on her 25 years of real-world experience, Star's book, Successfully Navigating Your Parents' Senior Years, offers a comprehensive guide that walks families through developing a flexible proactive plan that focuses on keeping loved ones independent for as long as possible no matter their age. In our conversation Star shares examples of How to talk to resistant parents who will not discuss their condition or their future plans, making those plans, aging in place, differences between life care communities, assisted living and skilled nursing and how to decipher it all. CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES

Sue Ryan has been in roles of family caregiving for more than 40 years. Her mission is to empower individuals to maximize and accept the potential opportunities that change will bring. As Sue shares, We're continuously in transitions – the process of going from where we are to what's next in our lives. Whether we're choosing the change – or the change is happening to us – intentionally navigating transitions in each area of our life means changing from ending up somewhere we may not want to be to waking up feeling confident and secure, knowing what we want and how to achieve it. In this episode, we discuss recognizing what is, giving ourselves permission, how to access our strengths, how our unconscious thoughts add to our patterns and how Massive Acceptance and Radical Presence are the keys to ultimate freedom. SHOW NOTES SueRyan.Solutions

Today Anne and Rosanne are joined by Karen Kavanaugh senior director, Strategic Initiatives at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. She leads the development and launch of the institute's initiatives designed to expand supports to strengthen caregiver health, resilience, and wellbeing. Her portfolio includes Working While Caring, and initiatives designed to deepen the research on effective workplace supports for caregivers and to expand access to those supports. She is also leading RCI's caregiving typology and bereavement initiatives. We discuss the challenges that affect caregiving employees, employer viewpoints and ideas and policy changes that can help. SHOW NOTES 

Marty Stevens-Heebner is the Founder & CEO of Clear Home Solutions and an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and podcast host. She is also the President of NASMM (the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers), with certifications in Senior and Specialty Move Management, Professional Organizing, and Aging in Place. Clear Home Solutions was the first nationally accredited firm in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. She was also the first Certified Senior Move Manager in the country. Today we discuss all aspects of moving, organizing, sorting, how to navigate a hoarding situation, moving someone with dementia, the process of where to start when it comes to moving and taking care of yourself along the way.  SHOW NOTES and resources mentioned.

Palliative care - the often misunderstood, under utilized, yet empowering option in medicine.  Today my guest is Dr Caitlin Barron an internal medicine physician specializing in palliative care at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington and co-founder and chief medical director of EpioneMD. She also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Palliative Medicine. Her clinical interests include palliative care in oncology and population community-based palliative care. Above all else, Dr Baran feels privileged to care for patients faced with serious illness, ideally working to help them live as well as possible.  Today we discuss the confusion over palliative care, helpful questions to ask your care partner and their providers, and how palliative care can empower caregivers and their care partners. SHOW NOTES EpioneMD.com

Barry Jacobs is a clinical psychologist, medical educator and writer fostering the well-being of families coping with serious and chronic medical illnesses.  Barry is the author of The Emotional survival Guide for Caregivers and co-authored with his wife Julia L Mayer, AARP Meditations for Caregivers and AARP Love and Meaning after 50. Since 2013 he has been a blogger on family caregiving and relationships for AARP.org. In today's podcast, Barry and I discuss the challenges of caregiving with siblings. He offers strategies on dealing with those who don't or won't help, the micromanagers, how past family dynamics play a part in the sibling friction, animosity and how to continue on after caregiving ends.  SHOW NOTES Loveandmeaning.com

This is a bonus episode of Daughterhood The Podcast. At Daughterhood, we hear your challenges in navigating the healthcare system and how it can be both frustrating and disheartening.  In each of these bonus episodes, I have the pleasure of speaking with Daughterhood Founder Anne Tumlinson where we will bring the caregiving conversation to a different level with change leaders and policy experts.  Today with speak with Dr. Joanne Lynn. A geriatrician, hospice physician, health services researcher, quality improvement advisor, and policy advocate who has Published over 300 peer-reviewed medical research and policy articles. Our conversation covers the looming crisis, the unpredictability of care, the necessity of change in policy regarding long-term care, how older Americans are viewed, and strategies all of us can use to change policy. SHOW NOTES Dr Joanne Lynn Daughterhood

Cynthia Hayes is a former freelance journalist, management consultant, marketing executive, executive trainer and cancer survivor. Cynthia used her 30 years of experience in interviewing, synthesizing information and telling a story to write The Big Ordeal Understanding and Managing the Psychological Turmoil of Cancer. Her research for the book included interviews with patients, caregivers, oncologists, psychologists, neuroscientists and recovery experts of all kinds. Cynthia and I speak about her book, the emotional response to cancer, the need for open dialog between caregivers and their care partners, the importance of support and the many facets of cancer caregiving.  SHOW NOTES The Big Ordeal Cynthia's Website

Lindsay DeLong is a licensed Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of experience working with adults in the home environment. She is the founder of EquipMeOT, with YouTube, TikTok and Instagram channels that house a library of instructional videos as well as product demonstrations and endorsements. Lindsay and I discuss the role occupational therapists can play in home care. She shares tips on what challenges to look for, how to plan for changes that may occur and strategies that can help the caregiver and care partner maximize quality of life.  Show Notes for this episode.

Here at Daughterhood, we receive numerous questions regarding governmental policy, and the myriad of ways it affects the healthcare system and each of us both as patient and as caregiver.  It was my pleasure to speak with two experts in the field and friends of the podcast - Howard Gleckman Senior Fellow at The Urban Institute as well as a columnist at Forbes, editor of TaxVox Blog for the Tax Policy Center and author of Caring for our parents.  And creator of Daughterhood Anne Tumlinson who is also the Founder and CEO of ATI Advisory a national research and consulting firm that shapes public policy and business strategy to reform care delivery for individuals with complex care needs and their families.  We discuss many issues like the challenges of trying to change policy, the importance of lawmakers hearing and understanding the challenges caregivers face, how policy shapes the care we receive and the importance of making our voices heard.  Daughterhood.org HowardGleckman.com

Patti Davis is an author, activist, advocate, and daughter of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. She is a frequent contributor to media outlets including the New York Times and The Washington Post and has written several works of both fiction and nonfiction. She is the founder of Beyond Alzheimer's, a support group program for caregivers of people living with dementia. Her latest book Floating in the Deep End: How Caregivers Can See Beyond Alzheimer's, recently released in paperback, is an extension of that support group. Part handbook, part memoir, Patti offers practical and important strategies for every stage of the disease. I believe this book is a must read for dementia caregivers. Patti and I discuss the book and the many ways your life changes as a caregiver, the power of showing up and the importance of support. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/floating-in-the-deep-end-patti-davis/1138668991

Naila Francis is a writer, grief coach, death midwife, ordained interfaith minister and creator of This Hallowed Wilderness which provides compassionate presence and holistic support for the journey of grief, loss and dying.  She holds space and offers ritual for people at many of life's sacred thresholds, including birth, marriage, death and other transitional passages. Her work is often informed by her love of poetry, the gifts of healing rooted in nature and community and her commitment to expanding our grief literacy and death awareness. She is a founding member of Salt Trails Philadelphia, A Community Grief Experience Honoring Grief Through Gatherings, Rituals and Art. Naila and I talk about expectations, permission and listening to what YOU need as a griever to move through the holiday season. This Hallowed Wilderness Salt Trails Philly

Andi Fetzner, PsyD is a co-founder of Origins Training & Consulting. Her training mantra is, “you don't have to be a therapist to be therapeutic.” Her decades of experience professionally and her personal caregiving story give her the unique perspective of living both sides. Andi and I discuss the challenges of dealing not only with your care partner's past trauma but also our own. She shares techniques we can use to improve our interactions and care for ourselves throughout our caregiving journey.  Originstraining.org

Compassion fatigue - as caregivers we've heard the term, but what does it mean and how can we prevent it from happening? Today my guest is Patricia Smith a certified compassion fatigue specialist with 20 years of training experience. As founder of the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project© www.compassionfatigue.org, she writes, speaks, and facilitates trainings nationwide in service of those who care for others.  She has presented to caregivers in numerous helping professions and has authored several books and training materials for caregivers, including the award-winning To Weep for a Stranger: Compassion Fatigue in Caregiving. In September 2016, she presented a TEDx talk on the subject. Today Patricia shares not only how compassion fatigues happens, but the strategies we can use to support ourselves through our caregiving journey.  Show Notes CLICK HERE CompassionFatigue.org Proqol.org

Miya Adout is a graduate of Concordia University where she received a Master of Arts in creative arts therapies after having completed a BA in cultural studies. Maya works with individuals of all ages and abilities and specializes in dementia care. Miya opened her private practice Miya Music therapy in 2015. With the purpose of empowering and enriching lives through music, Miya and I discussed the basis of music therapy, how to access it, its benefits, and how caregivers can incorporate music therapy with their care partners. For Show Notes Click HERE https://www.miyamusictherapy.com/ American Music Therapy Association Canadian Association of Music Therapists World Federation of Music Therapy

Today my guest is Dr Buffy Lloyd-Krejci one of the foremost authorities on infection prevention and control in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Her Phoenix-based practice, IPCWell, is devoted to reducing infections, antibiotic resistance, re-admissions, and death in healthcare settings across the country and around the world. She is a frequent contributor and interview source for national and trade press concerning infection prevention and control and mitigation. Dr Buffy is also the Author of Broken How the Global Pandemic Uncovered a Nursing Home System in Need of Repair and The Heroic Staff Fighting for Change. As she states in her book “The stories have all been the same: lack of support, lack of understanding, and a governmental approach that includes a system of bullying, fines, and punishment that dictate every change in this healthcare setting.” These issues were exacerbated during the pandemic. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases ran rampant in US nursing homes. Between one and three million infections resulted in 380,000 deaths among nursing home residents each year. That's over 1,000 people per day. All because the nursing home industry has been struggling with infection prevention and control practices (IPC) for decades. Dr Buffy and I speak about the challenges staff face when dealing with infections, the Quality Improvement Organization referred to as QIO's which is a group of health quality experts, clinicians and consumers organized to improve the quality of care delivered to people with Medicare, her observations about infection control that began during the H1N1 outbreak, the necessity and frustration of regulations and how you can help your care partner while they are living in these communities.  Click HERE for Show Notes doctorbuffy.com IPCWell.com/consumer Locate your QIO Program https://qioprogram.org/locate-your-qio National Healthcare Safety Network https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/index.html Ombudsman https://www.ombudsassociation.org/what-is-an-ombuds- 60 Minutes report on Kirkland Nursing Home https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-outbreak-nursing-facility-kirkland-washington-60-minutes-2020-11-01/ Nursing Home Resident Advocacy Group https://theconsumervoice.org/issues/recipients/nursing-home-residents/getting-quality-care#:~:text=Citizen%20advocacy%20groups%20(CAGs)%20are,concerned%20about%20nursing%20home%20residents

As caregivers, we are often reminded of the importance of being an advocate for our care partners, asking questions, understanding the situation and being their voice. Today, my guest is Phyllis Ivey, a social worker, consultant and life coach with over 30 years of experience in the mental health field, and a lifelong advocate for her parents. In this wide ranging conversation, we discuss how to advocate throughout the healthcare system, the value you provide, the challenges that arise and the strategies to help you navigate advocacy, no matter the situation. Phyllis also shares the importance of caring for yourself as an advocate. And as a caregiver. Click HERE for show notes.

Ironically, this podcast release date coincides with the one year anniversary of my Mother's death. While we can all acknowledge the emotional aspect of grief, our brains are very much a part of the process.  Today my guest is Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor, author of The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss. Dr O'Connor is also an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Arizona, and the Director of the grief loss and social stress (GLASS) Lab, where she investigates the effects of grief on the brain and the body. Her research focuses on the physiological correlates of emotion, in particular the wide range of physical and emotional responses during bereavement, including yearning and isolation.  Click HERE for show notes.

I speak with Dr. Leslie Kernisan about her book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician's Step-By-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety and More. This book is the ultimate guide in respectfully engaging your parent with a practical plan to get help for the most common worries, including safety concerns and memory loss while respecting your parent's dignity and autonomy. Click HERE for Show Notes.

Caregiving is inherently difficult, but navigating care for an estranged parent, or even one who challenges your boundaries, adds more layers of stress and emotional turmoil.  Today my conversation is with two people who understand this. Laura Davis is an author of 6 books, including I thought we'd never speak again, the road from estrangement to reconciliation and her first memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story which tells the story of her traumatic and tumultuous relationship with her mother which includes her caring for her at the end of her life. Karen Anderson is a life coach and the author of Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: A Guide for Separation, Liberation and Inspiration.  We discuss not only the challenges that accompany these relationships but how you can find peace in the midst of it.  Click HERE for Show Notes

Today my guest is Larisa Gilbert, Elder Law attorney at the Estate Planning & Elder Law Group of Duncan Galloway Greenwald in Louisville, KY  Larisa has extensive professional and personal experience in elder law. Along with being a brilliant attorney, Larisa knows first hand the challenges caregivers face when it comes to not only planning for current or anticipated needs, but also protecting their care partners assets. Larisa and I discuss the importance of Properly-drafted and robust powers of attorney, protecting assets, end of life planning, and the importance of Trusted Helpers.  Click HERE Show Notes

I spoke with C Grace Whiting, while she was serving as the president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. We spoke right after the infrastructure bill had been passed but the provisions that addressed caregiving and other social services had been removed. We had such an extensive conversation covering many issues and emotions that caregivers deal with including where caregivers can find support, the range of emotions and trauma we experience in our journey and even how Wonder Woman fits into caregiving. Click HERE for Show Notes

My conversation today is with Dr Katherine Shear, from Columbia's Center for Prolonged Grief. We talk about normalizing grief, the differences between grief and prolonged grief, and the challenges it creates for caregivers . Dr Shear also shares techniques the center uses to assist people in their grief, our psychological immune system and the importance of support.

Rajiv Mehta is the CEO of Atlas of Caregiving, a non-profit, which envisions a world where caregiving is valued and is supported, as a fundamental to a healthy society. Rajiv and I discuss the Atlas Care Map which helps caregivers better understand their current situation, plan for potential difficulties, identify missing people and services and provide empowerment going forward.

Questions and Answers with Dr Jessica Zitter regarding issues surrounding those last moments, days, weeks before death of someone you are caring for. We discuss morphine, hospice's role, the lack of support for caregivers and the shock and trauma of the events leading up to death.

Howard Gleckman is a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, where he is affiliated with the Tax Policy Center and the retirement Policy Program. In 2016, Next Avenue named Howard, one of the nation's top 50 influencers in aging. Howard and I spoke about the policies surrounding the caregiving crisis, how we got here, and his hope for going forward.