This Caregiver Life

In this episode, Jenn and Mar dive into the realities of the “Flex Life,” exploring the constant need to adjust and adapt to the demands of caregiving, often at a moment's notice. They discuss how these quick pivots impact their day-to-day lives, emotions, and personal goals. Join us as we unpack the unique resilience required in a caregiver's journey.

In this episode, we are sharing all the feels about #thiscaregiverlife. From gladiolas, to grace, and even guilt, Mar and Jenn share the ups and downs of caregiving. Key takeaways: plan your rest time, allow yourself to be flexible (it's okay, really), and use your back burner when plans need to change. Read Anne Lemott's “Bird by Bird”: https://amzn.to/4cangDX. Try the Ozlo Sleep Buds: https://amzn.to/3VcBHk6. Let's be friends on the FINCH self-care app: https://app.befinch.com/invite/Yns6. (Invite code F1XZ6E6VMM). SHOP MarHaven originals on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CottageAtMarehaven. ….until next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thiscaregiverlife/message

Hello! We had hoped to drop a podcast every month this year. We started strong until we hit February. Sound familiar caregivers? We did record this one, technically, in February. It's taken a few days to get back to writing show notes and publishing. In this podcast we focus on eating well. It's an overall way of caring for ourselves every day. Eating nutritious meals and snacks has a way of helping us feel better even under stress. It doesn't take our stress away but can often help us manage it better. Neither of us is a dietician or nutritionist. We do, however, have to eat. We have a collective experience of over a hundred years of eating. Often during those years, we have cared for others who need guidance and assistance with eating, which includes food choices. We hope you will learn a thing or two from us. More than anything, we hope we have encouraged you to take care of YOU through good eating because you matter. Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a good place to begin! Feel free to drop us a note at either or both of our emails. maryhahnward@gmail.com jenniferjenkins724@gmail.co --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thiscaregiverlife/message

Jenn and Mar welcome in 2024 with a new podcast episode! In "Give Your Mind a Rest" they chat about the usefulness of developing a meditation mindfulness practice. Food meditation is one of their favorites because, you know, why not. Food is a source of joy at times, so why not incorporate it into your daily practice? There are a variety of meditation practices to employ. It is our hope you will find one that works for you and it becomes one of your many supportive tools in your caregiver toolbox. See below for links to meditation mindfulness resources. Reclaim Yourself The Power of Meditation Tara Brach - Guided Meditations Calm App Koru Mindfulness We would love to hear from you if you enjoy other mindfulness meditation resources and would like to share them. Mary's email: maryhahnward@gmail.com Jenn's email: jenniferjenkins724@gmail.com This Caregiver Life Facebook page --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thiscaregiverlife/message

Mar & Jenn are excited to reconnect with you. We have all new episodes coming for 2024, but of course our episodes are always evergreen. We look forward to hearing from you on our social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn. Please let us know what's important to you as you live This Caregiver Life. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thiscaregiverlife/message

As we near the end of 2023 Mar gives a quick update and a look ahead to 2024. We look forward to posting more episodes in 2024. As always we hope to hear from our listeners on ideas for future content, questions they may have, and thoughts they'd like to share. Our Facebook page can be found here: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife⁠ Mary's email: maryhahnward@gmail.com Jenn's email: jenniferjenkins724@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thiscaregiverlife/message

We're back! After a year-long sabbatical, Mar and Jenn return to discuss #thiscaregiverlife. In this episode, we chat about good sleep, good maintenance tips for caregiving, and ways we have learned to cope with all things caregiving. Interested in a Meditation Mouse? Find one for yourself here: https://amzn.to/3J19dVl Coming soon: Navigating the NICU Jenn explores tiny miracles of life inside the hospital's most precious, and sometimes scariest, ward: the NICU. Want to connect with Mar & Jenn on social? Follow Mar's lavender adventures and more via @thecottageatmarehaven, and find Jenn on all the channels as @caregivertalk. As always, until next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thiscaregiverlife/message

Are you a caregiver looking for meaningful employment? Is your company making room at the table for caregivers? In this episode, we discuss the challenges caregivers face in the workplace, how employers can support caregiving employees, and the many assets caregivers have that can add to, not take away from, a company's culture and productivity. Our guest is Sharon Grassi, a caregiver who has experienced workplace roadblocks. Whether you're a caregiver or an employer, you won't want to miss this episode! If you're an HR professional or work in the C-suite and want to share your company's wins for caregivers, send us an email: thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. We'd love to have you on the show. And if you'd like a guest speaker for your organization, Jennifer is available. Email for details: jenniferjenkins724@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Jenn and Mar take a deep dive into caregiver burnout and distrust. Between them, they have 50 years of caregiving. Over the years they have had their emotional, and physical, ups and downs as caregivers. They have had, and still have, periods of burnout. Burnouts are more quickly resolved now than in years past. They talk about essential coping strategies that have shortened burnout periods and have developed, and encourage others, to use their list as it is or as a starting point for developing one of their own: Use a "Feelings Wheel" to help identify what you are experiencing. Allow yourself to share your vulnerabilities with someone with whom you are comfortable. Identify your caregiver tribe who will understand you without judgment. Identify your support system - family, friends, community organizations. Develop a care plan for yourself: Care Plan for the Caregiver. The Care Plan is specifically for the caregiver to remain as healthy as is possible on all levels: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They both believe wholeheartedly that their Care Plan helps them in the short term, on a daily basis, and the long term, over their lifetime. YOU are every bit as important as the person you care for. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Dr. Naomi Baum joins Mary and Jenn to talk in-depth about resiliency. Self-care is an overused phrase today. It's so common that it's easy to overlook its value and to be intentional about it. The same can be said for resiliency. The term, the concept, is used frequently though not necessarily effectively. Dr. Baum breaks it down for us. Dr. Baum is a psychologist and resiliency expert. Over the last twenty years, she has dedicated herself to "creating and implementing resilience-building programs for those exposed to trauma, be it terrorism, war or natural disaster." (https://www.naomibaum.com/about). Dr. Baum is also a published author, and resides in Israel with her large, and growing, family. To learn about Dr. Baum, please visit her website: https://www.naomibaum.com/ Mar and Jenn are reading Dr. Baum's book, IRESILIENCE: What Israelis Can Teach the World. In upcoming episodes, they will share their thoughts on the book. We encourage our listeners to do the same, read it, and share their thoughts with This Caregiver Life either by email: thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com or by dropping us a voice message using this link: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message. Resilience resources IIRESILIENCE: What Israelis Can Teach the World: https://www.amazon.com/ISResilience-What-Israelis-Teach-World-ebook/dp/B08H8GHP5F/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=iresilience+dr+naomi+baum&qid=1630923589&s=books&sr=1-2-spell Building Your Resilience: https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/resilience-training/in-depth/resilience/art-20046311 Resilience: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/resilience --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Jenn and Mar took some time off to tend to their gardens. They each have two gardens. One is where they grow their indoor and outdoor plants. They share the ways in which gardening, toiling in the soil, has positively impacted their mental health and how it lends itself to mindfulness. It helps to lighten the load. It took Mar quite a while to embrace gardening, she wasn't an easy convert...feel free to drop a line of encouragement for her. The other one, the one closest to their heart, is their families. Each of their families has had growth over the past few months. Jenn shares her family's abundant growth with us! We think you will agree that she is at the top of the abundance chart. We are so excited for her! If you would to send her a message of congratulations please do so. We love voice messages that we can share on the podcast or written ones that we can read on our next episode. Send us a message at ThisCaregiverLife@gmail.com or go to our Facebook page "This Caregiver Life" to send us a message or drop us a line by visiting our website "This Caregiver Life". In addition to their personal experiences the following articles were used to inform them of the positive value of gardening: Gardening is Self-Care: The Health Benefits of Gardening How Plants Can Help People Grow How Gardening Became the Self-Care Staple I Never Knew I Needed The Healing Power of Gardens: Oliver Sacks on the Psychological and Physiological Consolations of Nature --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

We're so excited to have Theresa Coomer join us for this episode in celebration of #MilitaryCaregiverMonth. You may remember we read an excerpt of Theresa's writing during episode 63. She's a mother, educator, caregiver, and author of the blog "Peanut Butter in My Purse, Vitamin C in My Pocket".  Theresa is an example of a caregiver who knows she has limits, but also knows she can set them super high because she also has boundaries.  It's not easy to set boundaries for yourself. As caregivers, we are programmed to say yes, to help others in any way we can, but boundaries are a necessary part of our own self-care. And we aren't just talking about boundaries with others, we're also talking about setting boundaries with yourself! Along with boundaries, caregivers need to weigh and adjust their expectations - boundaries and expectations go hand-in-hand. By setting AND keeping them, caregivers can find more enjoyment in their own lives.  Does this happen overnight? Not a chance! It takes ongoing practice to acquire the right tools to build boundaries and realistically set expectations. And there will be trials and troubles along the way to finding yourself "well-adjusted", in fact, none of us really has the capability to maintain "well-adjusted" 100% of the time. This caregiver life is fluid, but the more we train ourselves to recognize the ebbs, the more easily we can go with the flow.  ---- Thanks to everyone who is participating in our writing challenge! Don't forget to email your submissions for on-air reading to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. We just might have you as a guest on our show. Here's this episode's prompt: -List the cultural texts that informed your childhood. (examples: nursery rhymes, lullabies, books, films, poems) -Pick 1 and write about the significance it's had on your family storyline.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

What keeps you up at night? In this episode of #thiscaregiverlife we explore insomnia related to caregiving, tactics to help you cope, and resources you may find useful. We also read an excerpt of writing from caregiver and listener, Theresa Coomer. Read Theresa's blog, Peanut Butter in My Purse and Vitamin C in My Pocket: https://coomercaregiving.blogspot.com/. If you're like a lot of caregivers, you likely find yourself saying "I'm exhausted", or "I can't sleep through the night". Fall asleep or waking up and being unable to return to sleep plague caregivers like us! Here are a few tactics shared by other caregivers that may help: use a meditation or sleep assistance app practice mindful breathing listen to white noise/nature sounds-here's our favorite: https://amzn.to/3v98F6d speak with your primary care physician - some caregivers benefit from taking supplements like melatonin or changing their diet practice good sleep hygiene, aka healthy habits such as getting up at the same time every day and keeping your room cool try aromatherapy such as an infuser, oils, Vicks patches, or using a laundry detergent like DIVA We also review a book this week! Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhD. Lots of great tips in this book. My favorite is, "if you fall asleep reading this book, it's a compliment!". You can purchase the book here for under $15 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sCon8l. Thanks for joining us and we hope this episode helps you get some much-deserved Zzzzs! -Mar & Jenn --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

We all know how important it is for caregivers to focus on themselves. In this episode, Mar and Jenn discuss the powerful impact writing can have in the life of a caregiver. From journaling in a notebook to poetry and novels, caregivers everywhere are discovering the healing power of writing. Learn about writing prompts, which we will share in upcoming episodes and on social media. Want to dig deeper? Read Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird. Your hosts are authors, too. Though they have six books between them, they aren't done yet! Each has another book in the works! Jenn's books: Friends for Life: Strangers Brought Together by the War in Iraq, Reassurance: Treasured Christian Poems, and Amateur Apothecary Mar's books: Letters Home, Paws At Work, Thinking Through VA Benefits and Care: A Resource for Veterans with ALS and Their Caregivers and her blog: http://www.maryhahnward.com/ We'd love to read your writing on an upcoming episode. Email an excerpt to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. Thank you for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

After receiving an Alexa Echo Show for Christmas, Jenn found there were a number of tools that for caregivers and their loved ones, including the Care Hub. This free feature of Alexa-enabled devices works with the Alexa App and allows caregivers to remotely check in on care recipients. With an Echo device at your loved one's home and the Alexa app on your phone, you can see if they are being active, help set reminders and make list, and even get notified if they ask Alexa for help. Listen in as Mar and Jenn discuss technology and caregiving, and join the conversation on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Join us to celebrate our 60th episode and two years of podcasting. Mar and Jenn are thankful for your support and to everyone who has shared this podcast to help other caregivers get through this caregiver life. If you are an author and would like your book considered for review on a future podcast, please see our website for submission details. Do you care for a loved one with Alzheimer's or memory disease? Visit wearehfc.org to find support and resources. *Hear strange noises during this episode? No worries, that's our special guest, Jenn's three-month-old granddaughter, Freyja. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Our guests in this episode are Melissa Johnson and Melissa Comeau with the American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN). Melissa Johnson's husband is a combat veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm and was wounded in Iraq in 2006, leaving him with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and blindness. Melissa reflects on the past 15 years of caregiving and shares her advice with those new to the challenge: Learn to live in recovery Recognize the cycles of caregiving Adapt to the transitions Accept today, don't worry about tomorrow Melissa Comeau has been a caregiver for 10 years to her husband, a Marine Corps veteran with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. She stresses the importance of controlling what you can and organizing what you can't! Her advice: don't lose yourself! Melissa has found journaling to be healing, and we encourage you to read her book, Sleeping With the War. Follow updates and learn how to purchase a copy: https://www.facebook.com/sleepingwiththewr/. Learn about MVCN's use of the Rutgers Reciprocal Support Model, giving to yourself as you give to others. To connect with the American Red Cross directory for ALL caregivers, visit redcross.org/caregivers and herocare.auntbertha.com. A great resource for anyone grieving a service member or veteran: taps.org. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Well, we made it to the end of 2020. What will 2021 look like? Who knows, but what we do know is that we will move forward with deliberate actions to make a difference. We wrap up the year with a reflection on our phenomenal growth. Thank you to our listeners around the globe, including those in the UK, Canada, Ireland, India, and Jamaica! This year we published over 1200 minutes of content over 33 episodes, and our followers increased 240%! Links we mentioned in the show: David Kessler and Brené on Grief and Finding Meaning, https://brenebrown.com/podcast/david-kessler-and-brene-on-grief-and-finding-meaning/ If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. Admiral McRaven's life lessons, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jflUvxQLkgs This Caregiver Life is tough, and we appreciate each of you for sharing this journey with us. Best wishes to you and yours for Happy Holidays and a Bright 2021. - Mar & Jenn --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Author and Caregiver Denise Brown is our guest for this episode of This Caregiver Life. After nearly 25 years running an online caregiving platform, really the first of its kind, Denise launched Through The Caregiving Years Training Academy in April of 2020, Denise offers training and leadership development opportunities for family caregivers and former family caregivers. Denise is currently caring for her parents, now 89 and 86, who live nearby in their own apartment. She currently manages two online networks — HealingOurWay.com, focused on grieving and overcoming loss, and CaringOurWay.com, centered on resiliency and harnessing energy. In April 2021, she will host The Caring Conference which will feature workshops and sessions that reflect the conference theme, Our Resilient Spirit. Three days a week Denise poses Caring Questions, encouraging family caregivers to share their experiences by answering one question. Sharing our stories not only he's us heal, but it helps others on their journey, too! Connect with Denise: • Caring Our Way: https://join.caringourway.com/ • Healing Our Way: https://join.healingourway.com/ • The Caring Question: https://caring.substack.com • The Caregiving Years Training Academy: https://www.careyearsacademy.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

To kick off National Caregiver Month Megan Swanson joined us as our guest. Megan is the caregiver to her husband, Matt, a veteran, and the mom of three young boys. Megan is learning to find time for her mind and body this past year. She is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree and is actively engaging her body with kickboxing. In fact, when we chatted with Megan she had just returned from a kickboxing session and was radiant! We are giving a big shout out to Gabrieles Martial Arts for helping Megan achieve her fitness goals. One aspect of caregiving that we talked about that is a challenge for so many of us who live This Caregiver Life is social inclusivity by non-cargivers. This resonanted deeply with Jenn and Mar. November is the month we nationally recognize family caregivers from all walks of life. The theme this year is "Caregiving Around the Clock". The pandemic has burdened caregivers more than ever with all kinds of difficulties: more isolation, more lonesomeness, and challenges in accessing healthcare for their loved one and themselves. Because of the serious affects of COVID-19, more people need family caregivers than ever before. Mar and Jenn have shared the challenges they have faced, and continue to confront during the pandemic, know you are not alone. To share your story and/or share an idea for an upcoming podcast email us at ThisCaregiverLife@gmail.com. #CaregivingAroundTheClock #ThisCaregiverLife #Caregivers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

"When I'm 64" is a brand new podcast by the Stanford Center on Longevity, and in this episode, Mar and Jenn chat with the show host, Ken Stern. Ken's worn many hats during his career, including 10 years at NPR where he was CEO. He's also an author, family man, and these days, a podcaster. "When I'm 64" explores topics from Altzheimers to caregiving in your 20s, and also features celebrity interviews with Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen who were inspired to start the nonprofit Hilarity for Charity, inspired by their first-hand the challenges of caregiving. During this show, we talked to Ken about UCLA's Steve Cole and his research on the link between our health and caregiving. Not only can stress make you sick, but giving and being kind can make you healthier! We learned a lot of Ken, and you will, too. Thanks for listening! Thanks for joining us, and don't forget to like us on Facebook, send us a Tweet, and visit our website, where you can send us questions or even share your story. . We also ask that you give us a 5-star rating so we can reach even more listeners. We appreciate your support! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

We LOVE International Podcast Day! Many podcasters are broadcasting live on September 30th International Podcast Day but since Jenn and Mar are super busy with all of the living life things like working, caregiving, self care, etc they did a special record! self-care. We love podcasting, it's that simple. It's one of the best endeavors we have ever involved ourselves in. Every single time we record a podcast we think about all of our sister and brother caregivers across the world living This Caregiver Life. We live it right alongside all of you, every day. We know the ups, downs, and in-between times. Podcasting has been and will continue to be, a way to share our caregiver stories and resources. Join us in celebrating Internation Podcast Day by listening to This Caregiver Life podcasts, as well as, other podcasts. Mar recently started listening to Brené Brown's podcast: Unlocking Us. The first episode she relates to so well because she super struggles on 'first' and in particular thought, she would never be comfortable podcasting...yet here she is 54 episodes later and she loves it! There are so many good ones these days. Which ones do you like? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at ThisCaregiverLife@gmail.com or find us on social media at This Caregiver Life on Facebook and Instagram. #ThisCaregiverLife #Podcasting #InternationalPodcastDay --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Did you know there's an app that helps family and friends stay connected while caring for a loved one? Yep, there sure is. And best of all, it's FREE! During this episode, Mar and Jenn chat with Mike Eidsaune, Founder and CEO of Carely, Inc. The Carely brand includes a free app for caregivers and a platform tool for care providers as well as the vast library of resources found at Caregiving.com. Also joining us for the convo is Matt Perrin, a member of the Carely team, and a caregiver for his mother and father-in-law. Matt tells us how his experience with the app has helped simplify the sometimes daunting task of caregiving and has made it easier to ask for and accept help. Communication is the lifeblood of caregivers. Sharing information with loved ones, care providers, and peers is essential to getting through this caregiver life. Once caregivers find communication channels that work for them, they can create a habit, and once that habit is established they'll find it relieves stress and is even comforting! Thanks for joining us, and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating so we can reach even more listeners. We appreciate your support! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Join us for a candid conversation about veterans, their caregivers, and suicide. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and a subject Mar and Jenn are passionate about supporting. Our country is facing a mental health crisis that has only worsened in the wake of a global pandemic. Suicide is a tough and complex issue, but seeing how you can do your part in helping yourself and those around you can make all the difference. Our guest this episode is Sherman Gillums Jr., Chief Strategy Officer of American Veterans (AMVETS). Learn more about AMVETS and connect with Sherman: Call (833) VET HEAL Email vetheal@amvets.org DM Sherman on social media, @SGillums If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available 24/7/365, agents speak both English and Spanish. Phone: 800-273-8255 For our listeners who care for veterans and are interested in more information about the VA Caregiver Program, please visit caregiver.va.gov. Facts mentioned in this episode: According to a recent CDC report, 31% of unpaid family caregivers reporting seriously considering suicide in the past 30 days, compared to 11% of other adults. Unpaid family caregivers also reported having more symptoms of depression and anxiety and starting or increasing substance use to cope with the stress of COVID-19 on top of caregiving. The survey was administered to 5,500 adults between June 24-30th. According to SAMHSA, in 2018 only 4% of adults had serious thoughts of suicide. The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at crisistextline.org, or send a text message to 741741 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Remember, you are not alone. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

We welcome Emily Emmons as our guest on today's podcast: Hawaii - Life-Changing For This Caregiver & Her Veteran. Emily, like so many of us, has a number of different roles in life. Emily is first and foremost Emily. She follows her heart. She is a mom, a caregiver to her husband, John, a post 9/11 veteran, she is a lover of animals, farming, living off of the land, a strong advocate for veterans and caregivers, and Executive Director at Ho'ola Farms located in Hawaii. The mission of Ho'ola Farms is fantastic: GROW and to serve military veterans, caregivers, first-responders and their families by providing opportunities to heal, connect, learn, grow, and thrive. Emily shared how the Farmer Veteran Coalition has been extremely supportive of veterans in agriculture. Emily and Mar met a few years ago in Washington, D.C. as Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellows. They were sitting next to one another during an event that bonded them for life. The keynote speaker, Dr. Amit Sood, who runs the "Happiness Clinic" at the Mayo Clinic spoke about gratitude and that resonated deeply with them. These are the short clips and TedTalk links she shared with me to share with all of you: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/how-to-be-happy/art-20045714 https://youtu.be/fSP_fEQTUcg Emily, and her husband, John, are an amazing couple who went all in for a better life several years ago with the goal of sharing their bounty with others. If you would like to reach out to Emily you can email her at: grow@hoolafarms.org If you would like to reach out to us, Jenn and Mar, at This Caregiver Life website or email us at at thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

We are excited to share that this is our 50th episode of “This Caregiver Life” podcast! After thanking our listeners for tuning in we spent a few minutes giving ourselves virtual high-fives and pats on the back. When we recorded our first podcast, we had no idea we would grow as swiftly as we have since our first episode on January 10, 2019. We have nearly 3,000 listeners, 50 episodes of rich content, and a sprinkle of bonus episodes. We thank you, our, listeners for tuning in! You come from all parts of the globe: the United States, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Canada, India, Ireland, Bermuda, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Nicaragua, Germany, Australia, Kenya, Netherlands, Ghana, Czechia, Puerto Rico, Panama, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Japan, and Portugal. The age range is 18 to 60+. You are made up of 51% female, 36% male and 13% not specified. Caring for others knows no geographic boundaries, no specific gender, or age. The caregiver life finds you wherever you are and often when you least expect it! We know how challenging it can be. We share the stories in the hope that it makes your life a bit easier. We welcome all of you, always. We’d love to hear from you. Please visit our website: www.thiscaregiverlife.com or email us at ThisCaregiverLife@gmail.com Until the next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

In this episode, we visit with Dr. Liz Barnett who helps individuals and organizations implement an evidence-based communication style called Motivational Interviewing (MI) to enhance their ability to engage and motivate others. Caregiving often challenges communication in a relationship, and that's where MI comes in. Dr. Liz helps us understand how caregivers can modify their communication tactics when working through behavior changes with loved ones. While the natural response to change is resistance, Dr. Liz helps us see how cooperation and careful discussion planning can take some stress out of this caregiver life. Learn more about motivational interviewing by visiting: DrLizBarnett.com. "Change is never painful, only the resistance to change is painful." -Gautama Buddha --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

When Mandi Bailey's stepdad, Fred Drinkwater, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2017 it was a fast and furious two years. Every day Fred experienced a decline. Mandi's mom, Susan Drinkwater, struggled to keep up with the demands of the disease. One day they were planning for their golden years and the next day they were planning for how to get through the minutes and hours of each day to keep up with the demands of ALS. Mandi was a secondary caregiver for Fred and emotional support for her mom. She remains strong support for her mom. Fred was a Vietnam Veteran. He was service-connected for ALS. For reasons unknown, veterans are more than twice as likely to get ALS than non-veterans. If you are a veteran with service-connected ALS and need some guidance on VA resources and Care this is a useful tool: Thinking Through VA Benefits and VA Care: A Resource for Veterans with ALS & Their Caregivers After Fred's death, Mandi committed to putting her efforts into ALS advocacy for viable treatments and a cure. She has a Call to Action. She asks listeners to help by contacting your senator and representative in Washington, D.C. to support this legislation: H.R.7071: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act Mandi advocates with the following organizations and invites others to join her: ALS Therapy Development Institute I Am ALS --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Jenn and Mar took some much needed time away during the month of July. They share the value of taking a pause from the heavy demands of their caregiving responsibilities, work, podcasting, and other activities in life that pull on them. They talk about how it is not easy to take time away for respite or to go on a retreat while living This Caregiver Life yet how powerful it can be to do so. There are some resources available for caregivers who need respite and may need some assistance in getting it: National Respite Network: https://archrespite.org/ Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance Center: https://lifespanrespite.wildapricot.org/consumer National Family Caregiver Support Program: https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/national-family-caregiver-support-program Specifically for military/veteran caregivers: hiddenheroes.org/respite Caregiver stories are the backbone of This Caregiver Life podcast. It is the stories of others that can often help us in our time of need. If you are a caregiver and would like to share your story on This Caregiver Life podcast we'd love to hear from you. Email us at thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com and give us a brief overview of your caregiver life. We look forward to hearing from you! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

In this episode, Mar & Jenn are joined by Speech-Language Pathologist and Life Coach Tsgoyna Tanzman. She's helped thousands of people transition after stroke and brain injury to the next stages of their lives. Tsgoyna is an expert at helping people find their inner and outer resources using her unique approach that combines traditional and holistic speech therapy along with the life coaching practices. She is best known for her down-to-earth practicality, enthusiasm, and sense of humor while compassionately guiding caregivers and survivors through recovery. One size does not fit all when it comes to recovery or caregiving, and in this show, we discuss Tsgoyna's 5-part 'secret sauce' of recovering: faith, curiosity, persistence, humor, and gratitude. We also talk about the importance of HOPE, why you should have, why your care recipient needs it, and why the best medical providers share it! Check our her book Hope After Stroke for Caregivers and Survivors: The Holistic Guide to Getting Your Life Back. Tsgoyna’s humor and poignant life stories appear in 15 differentiations anthologies of Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has also been featured by Huffington Post, CNBC News, USA Today, Glamour Magazine, Woman's Day Magazine, the LA Times and the Chicago Tribune. Connect with Tsgoyna Tanzman online: https://www.facebook.com/Tsgoyna and https://hope-stroke.com, or email hopeafterstroke@gmail.com. Find resources for stroke and aphasia by visiting aphasia.org and https://enableme.org (which also has a simplified version for stroke sufferers). Thanks for listening! Find us on social media: twitter.com/thiscaregiver, facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife, and instagram.com/thiscaregiverlife. We’d love to receive your thoughts and request, so send us an email or even a voice memo to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. …until next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

In this episode, Mar and Jenn are joined by Raquel Derrick, Founder of Family Operating Base in the last of our 4-part collaboration. We discuss the complex issues of caregiving we've explored in this series and the takeaways we hope listeners can use in their lives. We're still working from home. We're still experiencing the COVID-19. Stay at home, don't stay at home, take a million precautions. You can go here but not there. We're still in the midst of that. So life is still complicated. Just like this caregiver life. Whether it's during this time of COVID, or in the future, this caregiver life is all about making connections and communicating with one another, and that's what this series with Family Operating Base has been all about. Thanks for listening! Find us on social media: twitter.com/thiscaregiver, facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife, and instagram.com/thiscaregiverlife. We’d love to receive your thoughts and request, so send us an email or even a voice memo to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. …until next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

In this episode, Mar and Jenn are joined by Shawn Moore, LMSW, Executive Director and Founder of Caregivers on the Homefront and Raquel Derrick, Founder of Family Operating Base. We discuss the challenges of caring for yourself while caring for a loved one, and ways we can show ourselves the grace we show others. What is grace? The definition tells us that it's simple elegance or refinement of movement, courteous goodwill, or do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one's presence. Showing one's self grace can be challenging, so we discuss ways to make internal grace a reality. Thanks for listening! Find us on social media: twitter.com/thiscaregiver, facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife, and instagram.com/thiscaregiverlife. We’d love to receive your thoughts and request, so send us an email or even a voice memo to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. …until next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Mar and Jenn are joined by Larry Niesenson, Genworth Financial Chief Commercial Officer, the parent company of CareScout® Caregiver Support Services. A caregiver for his father who was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Larry is passionate about solving the problems caregivers and employers face in the workforce. In this episode, we explore those challenges for caregivers and employers. Larry is an expert and wants to connect. Feel free to email him at larry.nisenson@genworth.com. Caregivers and the workforce: Nearly 60 percent of all family caregivers work full or part-time Caregivers frequently experience feelings of guilt and remorse when leaving their loved ones to go to work Employers often offer paid leave or related programs that can help employee caregivers, though employees who don't identify as caregivers may not be aware of their benefits. Helping employers understand the need by self-identifying can expand offerings such as flexible work hours, employee assistance programs, and telecommuting opportunities. Click through to AARP for more information about caregiving & employment and to read Jennifer's employment case study. We also discuss long-term care insurance. Did you know by the time you reach 65, there's a 50% chance that you’ll require paid long-term care (LTC) someday? Paying out-of-pocket averages $140,000! Only 7.2 million or so Americans have planned for this expense by purchasing LTC insurance, which covers many of the costs of a nursing home, assisted living or in-home care expenses that aren’t covered by Medicare. Thanks for listening! Find us on social media: twitter.com/thiscaregiver, facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife, and instagram.com/thiscaregiverlife. We’d love to receive your thoughts and request, so send us an email or even a voice memo to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. …until next time! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Mar's guest today, Michael Bullen, was a caregiver to his spouse, Lisa, who had an aggressive form of ALS. They were married for twenty-five years. The last fourteen months of their marriage they battled an aggressive form of ALS together. Michael is committed to a lifelong ALS awareness campaign that includes the need for treatments, a cure, and kindness to those who have ALS and the people who care for them. The form of ALS Lisa had is bulbar ALS. To find out more about ALS please visit this site: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/als/conditions/als_amyotrophic_lateral_sclerosis.html To view the ALS PSA video at the beginning of this podcast please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L03JETqtS3k #ThisCaregiverLife #Caregivers #ALS #EndALS --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Mar and Jenn are joined by Dan Miller, Wounded Warrior Project Warriors Speak spokesperson, and Raquel Derrick, Founder of Family Operating Base. In this episode, we explore the complexities of grief and talk about the differences between ambiguous and anticipatory grief. Some facts about grief: According to a 2005 study by Dr. Katherine Shear, Dr. Ellen Frank, and Patricia Houck, most people experience the deepest grief in the first few weeks and months following a loss, but for 10% of people, grief can last years, or even indefinitely Every year 2.5 million people die in the United States, leaving an average of 5 grieving loved ones Symptoms of grief can be emotional, physical, social or religious in nature The seven emotional stages of grief are: shock or disbelief, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, and acceptance or hope Grief is a natural reaction to loss. It's both a universal and personal experience. Talking about our grief can be therapeutic and we hope listening to this podcast helps inspire you to find a peer network, a tribe, of support. We all have tribes, and we hope you find yours. Read Sebastian Junger's book TRIBE: https://amzn.to/2CalXcx Find us on social media: twitter.com/thiscaregiver, facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife, and instagram.com/thiscaregiverlife. We’d love to receive your thoughts and request, so send us an email or even a voice memo to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. …until next time! More links: Jenn’s pro tip is to learn to say NO! Read her article about this underused strategy, https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/newsroom/the-art-of-saying-no-as-caregiver/ Mar’s Blog has a plethora of pro tips, https://www.maryhahnward.com Join the Family Operating Base FOB Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyoperatingbasecommunity/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

This Caregiver Life is excited to collaborate with Family Operating Base to produce a 4-episode special highlighting caregiver best practices that anyone can learn from. Each episode will feature Family Operating Base Founder Raquel Derrick along with a special guest who will share their ‘Pro Tips’ for overcoming challenges. Our 4-part special will explore the following topics: Part 1: Living Virtually, featuring Independent Travel Agent and Homeschooling parent Amanda Fleener Part 2: The New Normal and the Complexities of Grief, featuring Wounded Warrior Project’s Dan Miller Part 3: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body Part 4: Resiliency in the Face of Diversity During Episode 40, we explored the challenges and rewards, of living virtually including work-from-home pro tips and an inside look at successful homeschooling. We’d love to hear from you, too. Please tag us in your posts about living virtually using hashtag #thiscaregiverlife. Find us on social media: twitter.com/thiscaregiver, facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife, and instagram.com/thiscaregiverlife. We’d love to receive your thoughts and request, so send us an email or even a voice memo to thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com. …until next time! More links: Jenn’s pro tip is to learn to say NO! Read her article about this underused strategy, https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/newsroom/the-art-of-saying-no-as-caregiver/ Mar’s Blog has a plethora of pro tips, https://www.maryhahnward.com Join the Family Operating Base FOB Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyoperatingbasecommunity/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

On this bonus episode, Continuing On, Mar interviews her husband, Tom, about his interest in oil painting. Talent v Effort. Mar and Tom have been married for nearly forty years. Tom had encephalitis in 1993. She has been caring for him since then. To know them is to know they are partners in life, and for life. Spouses first, caregiver, and care recipient second. Encephalitis, a brain infection, impacted Tom's working memory and executive functioning. It did not, however, affect his optimistic, positive outlook on life. Even after a diagnosis of service-connected Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2010, his spirit remains indomitable. He doesn't give in. He doesn't give up. Take a listen as he shares his take on why painting matters, and matter, to him. To see some of his paintings visit Mar's Fine Art America website. Prints are available for sale. Among other things, Mar shares their journey on her blog. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Mar and Jen review recent #caregiverchaos, doing deep work on self-care, and giving yourself permission to course correct. Show us how you take time for YOU. Post a pic or share a story on social media, tag us, and use the hashtag #selfkindness. You may just win a surprise from This Caregiver Life. Mar recently received a surprise gift box from Bitty & Beau's Coffee: more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee – it’s an experience. The shop is run by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities-check them out! https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/ The National Alliance on Caregiving 2020 survey results are in. Read the results here: https://www.caregiving.org/caregiving-in-the-us-2020/ Want to be one of the coolest 11,000 people on the planet? Follow Mar's blog: http://www.maryhahnward.com/ Have an idea for our podcast? Want to share your thoughts with our listeners LIVE? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a link to your favorite resource. thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com Love our show? Please leave us a 5-star rating and don't forget to share our show on your social media. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @thiscaregiverlife and Twitter @thiscaregiver ...until next time... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Raquel Derrick, Ph.D., of Family Operating Base, joined Mary to share with our listeners how we are partnering in a four-part series. Family Operating Base, FOB – Community, is an effort created by Raquel: When I first envisioned the FOB, it was to be a brick and mortar place of community support for military-connected families. Recent times have called me to revisit and revamp my idea. After all, brick and mortar areirrelevant at this time and we could all use a little community connection, military affiliation or not! Please join our private Facebook group for daily posts to promote a little sanity and hope during these strange times! New members are welcome. As caregivers we have much to offer non-caregivers in this post COVID-19 pandemic life. We are versatile, flexible, understanding, and compassion that runs deep. In cooperative effort TCL and FOB are creating the following four podcasts with caregivers as subject matter experts in pandemic life before there was a pandemic. The topics we will explore are: 1. Adapting to a Virtual Life 2. Adjusting to a New Normal 3. Healthy Mind, Healthy Body 4. Resilience --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Meet Terry Moore who sees the light. When his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2016, Homeolux's Founder and CEO Terry Moore paused his retirement and dedicated his focus to searching for a scientific solution to provide hope and help for his family. Homeolux was born out of Terry Moore's drive to help his wife, and other families facing cognitive decline. The Beacon40™ is a light system that fits seamlessly into regular routines to support brain health. Scientific research shows, when a disturbance in the brain's gamma rhythm occurs, cognitive function decreases. Beacon40™ utilizes precise engineering to deliver lights pulsing at 40Hz, mirroring the brain's healthy gamma rhythm, which has been found to improve mental acuity, memory, and attention. Learn more: https://homeolux.com/ Terry Moore found out he'd been tying his shoes the wrong way his whole life. In the spirit of TED, he takes the stage to share a better way. https://www.ted.com/talks/terry_moore_how_to_tie_your_shoes/transcript?language=en Please note we did have some technical interruptions in the middle of our podcast. We suspect it's all those gamers working from home competing with our bandwidth! Turned out just fine because it gave Mar a chance to tell us a little story about her experience with a sex therapist! Have an idea for our podcast? Want to share your thoughts with our listeners LIVE? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a link to your favorite resource. thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com Love our show? Please leave us a 5-star rating and don't forget to share our show on your social media. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @thiscaregiverlife and Twitter @thiscaregiver ...until next time... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Mar and Jen catch up, 21st century-style, and discuss all the ways we can tell stories. Mar shares how her love of photography has been affected by limited travel, exploring the ups and downs of adjusting our hobbies to meet current lifestyle restrictions. Learn more about Mary's journey through life behind the lens and read evergreen blog articles at: http://www.maryhahnward.com/ Jenn's life-long love of storytelling led her to co-author the book Friends for Life: Strangers Brought Together by the War in Iraq, along with two other published nonfiction titles. Jenn is the proud recipient of the Eric Hoffer Award for Legacy Nonfiction. She is currently writing a novel set in the 1970's of a childhood interrupted by family strife and economic struggle. Have an idea for our podcast? Want to share your thoughts with our listeners LIVE? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a link to your favorite resource: thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com Love our show? Please leave us a 5-star rating and don't forget to share our show on your social media. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @thiscaregiverlife and Twitter @thiscaregiver ...until next time... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Jenn & Mar check in with each other as the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders continue. We talk about the self-care medical professionals practice, as exampled in an episode of Mar’s favorite tv show NEW AMSTERDAM, and we discuss the pros and cons of mentoring other caregivers. Have an idea for our podcast? Want to share your thoughts with our listeners LIVE? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a link to your favorite resource. thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com Love our show? Please leave us a 5-star rating and don't forget to share our show on your social media. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @thiscaregiverlife and Twitter @thiscaregiver ...until next time... 4/17/2020 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Jenn & Mar check in with each other as the COVID-19 Crisis Progresses. On a scale of 1-10, where are you? Use these links to explore the resources from today's show: Meditation is the beginning of mindfulness. Get started with guided meditation by Tara Brach: https://www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditation-basic-meditations/ Download the Calm App: www.calm.com Read Brené Brown's "Gifts of Imperfection": https://amzn.to/2UVSIRz Read Stars & Stripes article featuring Jenn & Mar: https://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/with-what-ifs-and-isolation-coronavirus-risks-weigh-on-caregivers-for-veterans-1.624720 "Safety Shaming" is all over social media. Shaming of any time is a bullying tactic. Bullying is never okay. Learn about bullying: StopBullying.gov Quote from Gautama Buddha: "There is one thing that, when cultivated and regularly practiced, leads to deep spiritual intention, to peace, to mindfulness and clear comprehension, to vision and knowledge, to a happy life here and now, and to the culmination of wisdom and awakening. And what is that one thing? It is mindfulness centered on the body." Have an idea for our podcast? Want to share your thoughts with our listeners LIVE? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a link to your favorite resource. thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com Love our show? Please leave us a 5-star rating and don't forget to share our show on your social media. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @thiscaregiverlife and Twitter @thiscaregiver ...until next time... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted millions across the globe. For caregivers, this time is uncertain and frightening. In this episode, Mar and Jenn discuss the effects of the Coronavirus on their families and ways anyone living this caregiver life can try to cope. To listen to Episdoe 11: Worse Case Scenario, find a link to your favorite platform here: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/episodes/E11-Worst-Case-Scenario-e56s91 As mentioned, AARP Community Connections helps people find or start a mutual aid group so they can help the people in their community most affected by the Coronavirus: https://aarpcommunityconnections.org/ Military and Veteran caregivers looking for support and resources can visit the Elizabeth Dole Foundation website: https://hiddenheroes.org/coronavirus/ Please connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter EMail - thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com Thanks for listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

March is Brain Injury Awareness and we're focusing our efforts on increasing awareness of traumatic brain injury and the challenge. Throughout the month, Mar and Jenn will speak with experts working in the field of TBI, provide strategies for coping and share resources to educate the community. In this episode of This Caregiver Life, we are joined by Alex Balbir, Ph.D. Alex serves as the Independence Services and Warrior Care Network Director at Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). A graduate of University North Carolina and John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Alex is also an officer in the US Navy Reserve. During our conversation with Alex, we explore the multi-layered topic of Traumatic Brain Injury, known as TBI. What is TBI? A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild” (i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss after the injury). People with TBI may experience moderate to severe disabilities that can interfere with their regular activities and quality of life. Cognitive function (e.g., impaired attention or memory); Motor function (e.g., extremity weakness or poor coordination and balance); Sensation (e.g., loss of hearing, vision, perception, or touch); and Emotion (e.g., depression, anxiety, aggression, loss of impulse control, or personality changes). Caring for loved one with TBI can be challenging, exhausting, and sometimes even overwhelming. In this episode, we discuss those challenges, the ways WWP helps veterans and caregivers, and ways we can all support those in our community who are living with TBI. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project and its mission to WWP mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org Have an idea for our podcast? Want to share your thoughts with our listeners LIVE? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a link to your favorite resource. thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com Love our show? Please leave us a 5-star rating and don't forget to share our show on your social media. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @thiscaregiverlife and Twitter @thiscaregiver --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Dr. Norman joins us on this podcast to share her impactful work in the field of Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, rehabilitation. To say it is work is a misnomer. It is Dr. Norman's passion in life. When speaking with her it is easy to absorb her love for what she does every day for those with TBI's. Not surprisingly Dr. Norman also gives of her time in a volunteer capacity by serving on the board of TBI Warrior Foundation. Dr. Norman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. She earned her undergraduate degree from Florida International University, her Master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her training, Dr. Norman was an American Speech-Hearing Association New Century Scholar and an NIH Predoctoral Fellow. In 2018, as a new faculty member at UT Health, she received both a School of Health Professions Pilot Grant and a Texas Society for Allied Health Professions Research Grant. Her research has been published in various peer-reviewed journals such as Brain Injury, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Military Medicine, Neuropsychologia and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Her research centers on improving the lives of individuals with concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). She primarily uses experimental methods to investigate cognitive-communication disorders after mTBI. As a recent recipient of the KL2 career development award at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Dr. Norman will use innovative methods such as discourse analysis and electroencephalogram (EEG) measures to richly characterize language output and shed light on the underlying cognitive mechanisms of language performance after mTBI. Dr. Norman aims to standardize assessment for mTBI-related communication disorders and use precise measurement to develop appropriate behavioral interventions to improve life participation for the mTBI population. In the fall of 2019, Dr. Norman was awarded a Teaching Excellence Award and the George Kudolo Award for Excellence in Research at the University of Texas School of Health Professions. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Judi Logan joins us on this podcast, Hold on to Hope. Judi's son, Justin, was in a terrible accident in which he flipped his pick-up truck. Justin suffered a serious traumatic brain injury, TBI. He was in a coma for two and a half weeks. Judi shares with us the powerful story of becoming a caregiver to her 17-year-old son. #TBI #TraumaticBrainInjury #ChangeYourMind #Caregiver #ThisCaregiverLife --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Sherri Piper joins us on the podcast. Sherri is married for 25 years to her husband Jay. They have four sons. Sherri has been a caregiver to her husband for six years. Among his other injuries he has a mild traumatic brain injury, TBI. She is the executive assistant for TBI Warrior Foundation. TBI Warrior Foundation is our sponsor for this episode. What does Sherri do for fun? She is a background actress. When asked Sherri what thoughts she could share for a caregiver just starting on this journey she said: Ask For Help. Such great advice. #TBI #TraumaticBrainInjury #ChangeYourMind #Caregivers #ThisCaregiverLIfe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

Dr. Quinard Webb, a physical therapist, works closely with TBI Warrior Foundation. He provides physical therapy to TBI Warrior Foundation clients. He also participates in their caregiver training workshops. Dr. Webb is a wealth of information on rehabilitation and wellness. He shares with us on This Caregiver Life ideas on how to prevent injury for the caregiver through the concept of self-regulation. Dr. Webb has a growing mobile practice in Texas: RenewU Therapy & Wellness. He is located in the San Antonio, Texas area. However, anyone who would like to seek him out for therapy can do so as long as they live in Texas. He uses technology for those who do not live in close proximity to Austin. If you would like to reach out to Dr. Webb you can do so via his Facebook page: RenewU Therapy & Wellness or email at q.webb@renewutherapy.com. #TBI #TraumaticBrainInjury #ChangeYourMind #PhysicalTherapy #Caregivers #ThisCaregiverLife --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

The month of March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Meet Crystal Holdipp who cares for mom with a brain injury as a result of a stroke. Crystal's caregiving extends to her dad as well. Her dad is battling cancer. She is an amazing young woman. Currently, Crystal is doing advocacy work for persons who have disabilities and impairments through Inspire Bermuda and works on their leadership team as a board member. In ministry, Crystal is a youth leader at Cities of Refuge Ministries where the pastors are Rev. John Woolridge and Rev. Oral Barnett. Recently, she has been given the task to oversee a ministry component called ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ as an outreach to youth and adults. Crystal is also a published author: Poems From The Heart #BrainInjuryAwareness #ChangeYourMind --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message

This podcast, Let's Talk Intimacy, Jen Ransil joined us for an open conversation regarding intimacy and disabilities for couples. Jen is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Pennsylvania; Adjunct Professor, Human Development and Family Science, Messiah College and Adjunct Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Evangelical Theological Seminary. When Jen is not teaching she has a private practice in which she sees clients with couple/family issues, mental health, trauma and PTSD, and pre/post-deployment, as well as, wounded veterans' families. She specializes in sex therapy and relationship issues within military families. #ThisCaregiverLife #Intimacy #TBI #ChangeYourMind --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/message