Episodes

Do you ever feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed in your caregiving role? You're not alone. As a caregiver myself, I've faced those panic moments too. Caring for an aging parent or frail spouse can put us on an emotional rollercoaster, even if we're strong! In this week’s episode of Eldercare Success, I get real about caregiver stress and anxiety. I'll share some practical and easy-to-use tools, that I even use to cope when things feel like they're getting out of my control or ability to cope....

Inside the ER in a crisis with an emergency department doctor this is a must-listen episode of Eldercare Success, as Nancy May sits down with Dr. Brittany Lamb, an experienced emergency room doctor with a special interest in elderly patients and dementia care. Join us as we demystify the often-intimidating world of emergency medical care, offering invaluable insights for families of all ages. Why Listen to every word? You'll learn about the essential steps to take during an emergency, understand...

Caregiver 911: Three top ways to help you avoid ER nightmares Emergencies are every caregiver's worst nightmare , but being prepared can make a world of difference. In this episode of Eldercare Success, host Nancy May gives you the top three things to do when the unthinkable happens, and you need to call 911 for elderly loved ones. From getting them to the hospital faster, especially in rural areas, to ensuring doctors have the critical information they need for life-saving care, Nancy shares i...

Elder Romance Scammers: Safeguarding Hearts, Wallets, and even Grandchildren! In this eye-opening episode of Eldercare Success , Nancy May delves into the alarming world of elder romance scams, with her guest, James Feldman a fully accredited Professional Relationship Coach and romance scam protection expert . In our conversation, we dive into this $3.1 billion industry (as reported by the FBI ). We explore the heart-wrenching reality of not just how retires lose their life savings, but also how...

Ways you can help identify, question, and begin to resolve concerns about a love scam that might be happening to your parent. In this episode of Eldercare Success , your host, Nancy May explores three essential considerations for adult children worried about their aging parents' new love interests, especially in cases where loneliness may make them vulnerable to exploitation. This includes observation tips, and the dynamics of the relationship, the importance of open conversations about the natu...

In this episode of Eldercare Success, Nancy May deals with the issue of caregiver Fear. Fear is common among all caregivers. It's unavoidable, but not insurmountable. This episode doesn't just acknowledge that fear is part of the caregiver's experience; it focuses on practical strategies to manage and mitigate this fear. Whether it's the anxiety of what the future holds, the stress of current challenges, or the dread of the unknown, we're here to offer you concrete steps to handle these fears e...

What happens when you leave your loved one behind in a care facility? In this eye-opening episode of Eldercare Success , Nancy May , alongside eldercare expert Eilon Capsis PhD , unveils the hidden realities of eldercare facilities. Eilon, with his extensive background, brings to light the often-overlooked pitfalls and alarming practices within these facilities. This compelling conversation explores the intricate balance between profit and care, the nuances of elder mistreatment, and the critica...

Navigating the Storm of Caregiver Anger with Eldercare Success In this emotionally insightful episode of the Eldercare Success Podcast, host Nancy May kicks off the New Year 2024 by addressing, head-on, a critical emotion in the caregiving journey: anger. This episode, part of the Eldercare Success Winter Shorts series , is specially designed to help caregivers manage and understand the complexity of anger, an emotion that can often leave us feeling out of control and overwhelmed, and even more...

Sounds That Can Heal: Brainwave Entrainment Tools In this episode of Eldercare Success , Nancy May engages in a fascinating discussion with Morry Zelcovitch , a Brainwave Entrainment Engineer, and creator of The Morry Method. Morry has used this innovative tool to help save his own life and help others with less complex issues. Their conversation delves into the potential of brainwave entrainment to alleviate stress, anxiety, and sleep issues for caregivers, offering valuable insights into its p...

The holidays often overwhelm us, caregivers, especially if we are the primary caregiver. As a result, we often forget or forgo our own wants and needs. In this episode of Eldercare Success , I give you several ways to tap into what YOU want and need -- physically and emotionally. And, no, it is not selfish at all. In fact, asking for what you want – from your parents, your family, medical, and other professionals, can help you find more strength to continue through the months and years ahead. I...

This is the 100th Celebration Episode of Doing it Best with Eldercare Success ! Caring for an aging parent is not easy: it can take up much time, effort, and even money. But when your job as their caregiver ends, it often stops abruptly. For many of us, it becomes one of the most difficult transitions we'll go through in our caring journey, especially when we still have questions to ask, and things to learn. This is our 100th Episode of Eldercare Success and I wanted to mark this occasion with ...

In this episode of Eldercare Success , I dive into how to help your parents adjust to change(s) without it becoming a stubborn battle of wills. Most of us know that change is a constant, and quite often necessary part of living. Yet sometimes we forget this when change becomes dramatic, such as when we see our parents or loved ones become older, trailer, or even infirm. Sometimes their own fears, especially if unshared, lead to misunderstandings and relationship-breaking points among family me...

As Caregivers, we're all under tremendous pressure and sometimes that leads us to say things we regret. S#*-T happens and it can lead to short and long bouts of anger. However, anger doesn’t just happen, it grows from something small, lingers, takes over, and can blow up suddenly. Anger begets more anger. Sometimes the parents we love and care for get intensely angry at us. We get angry at them. Siblings get angry at us, and we back at them. The list can go on. Caring for an aging parent c...

This is my Eldercare Success holiday gift to you who have been here with me and others while caring for your mom, dad, spouse, or partner. It's a short episode on h ow to get better, more restful sleep . As caregivers, we all typically have far too many worries or issues running through our minds about what to do next, or what might happen next to our loved one, and us?! For me, it's even worse in the middle of the night, and those first early hours well before sunrise. However, all of these ...

This is an Eldercare Success Black Friday Special . I (your host, Nancy May) want to share a rather interesting and enlightening discussion I had with the original jolly old man himself: Santa. What does Santa have to do with aging or elder care? Well, a lot more than you might realize. He’s also got some insightful ways to bring younger children into the caring process. Santa also revealed how to create special gifts for those who say they have everything, how to manage grief during the holid...

Keeping up your spirits through the Thanksgiving holiday while caring for an elderly or frail loved one isn’t easy. Yet, there are ways to find time to catch your breath, stop, and get others to do some of the heavy lifting for you. This is a Thanksgiving holiday short Eldercare Success Episode with caregiver tips, tools, and ideas to make this time of year just a bit easier for you and someone you care for. Even if you’re doing this alone, with family members who swoop in and think they can d...

In this episode of Eldercare Success, I tackle a common, yet overlooked, caregiving obstacle: the loss of family treasures. Whether it's an antique, jewelry, or a sentimental photo, these items often disappear. They can be accidentally misplaced and never found again, stolen, or taken by an antique dealer offering to pay cash for them – this was what happened in our case. Either way, the loss of a family treasure, can leave you angry, distraught, or frustrated in not understanding why, or how s...

In this inspiring episode, I dive into a journey of resilience, innovation, and tranquility with my guest, Jennnifer Fink . She not only cared for two aging parents with Alzheimer's, but she also knows how it's impacted three previous generations. When facing recurring waves of caregiving, a unique stress can arise that often goes unnoticed: it takes an emotional and mental toll on everyone, especially when Alzheimer's disease runs in the family. Jennifer has a unique way of managing anger and ...

What are some of the most common unseen caregiver wounds, and how to understand PTSC? In this episode of Eldercare Success, I shed light on a less discussed but critically important topic: Post-Traumatic Stress for Caregivers (PTSC). While the conversation around PTSD become pretty much mainstream, PTSC remains in the shadows, often overlooked, even by family and those of us experiencing it. If you're caring for an aging parent, family member, or loved one, this is an episode you'll want to tur...

What are “go-go,” “slow-go,” and “no-go” years, and which of these phases are your parents in? What happens when they can’t cover the cost of their own care and you need to step in financially? How can you create ways to protect their assets – at different stages in their lives - so they don’t become a financial liability for you, your siblings, or your own children? What’s safe and what’s not? There’s a lot that falls into the money bucket when we take over caring for our parents. Even if we...

In this episode, I discuss what can result from being caught between our parents when each thinks the other is losing their marbles. What do you do when each says to you, confidentially, “Something seriously wrong with him (or her)”? Or even worse, one parent, out of fear or concern, unintentionally “gaslights” the other into thinking that they have cognitive issues, when it may be the other way around! This is an unnerving position when you’re just about to step in to care for your parents. ...

I’m guessing you’ve seen some of those older actors, in TV ads, promoting reverse mortgages. One of whom got jammed up as the firm he was representing was pursued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over concerns that they were misleading seniors. Even I became skeptical, afterward, on this subject. However, my guests, Peter Tourigny and Jason Nightingale, shed some light on this topic in our next discussion, including:· How they work Who can benefit and who won’t Related costs (yes, t...

What happens when we, the primary caregivers, get sick or injured? Can our elderly parents, frail spouses, or other dependents help care for us? Too many of us let our own health fall short of where we need to be. This can make us miserable and add to the financial burdens on our families and others we love and care for. In this episode, I share several ways to get help from work colleagues, friends, neighbors, those we care for, and even from a few sources you might not have thought about. I’...

What’s it like to be diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia when you’re an entrepreneur running a successful business? How can you recognize its symptoms for yourself or a loved one? Can good things come out of a Lewy Body diagnosis? Can someone continue to lead a meaningful life, run their business, and contribute to the world, society, or community after diagnosis? How do family and friends usually behave, once they hear about the diagnosis? What are the “silver bullets” that can help someone wit...