Episodes

In this episode of Eldercare Success , we discuss the answers to a question that everyone should ask themselves before and while caring for an aging parent: Is this a privilege, an obligation, or is it going to be a burden that I will regret? If you’re already on the caregiving path, knowing the answer to this will color every decision you make along the way. I recently asked this same question of other caregivers. Although a tough question to ask, the responses received surprised even me. It...

Who’s out there in the medical world fighting to protect our loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia? I address this big question, and others, with my guest, Dr. Allen Power , a geriatrician and noted expert in providing good care for and protecting aging adults. In this episode, we look at the most recent push for FDA approval of Alzheimer’s drugs - those “magic pills” that we’re all hoping will save our parents from a fate we even fear for ourselves. The most recent ones have some nasty side ...

Have you ever considered that your #career skills might be your secret weapon in helping you better survive caring for your aging parents well? In this episode, I dive into how to think, and work through your #caregiving years, a bit differently. I’ve often said that caring for our parents is like running a highly complex small enterprise. That sounds a bit cold, but the ups, downs, ins, and outs can often be best managed if we understand how to leverage our career skills well. Listen in as I...

In this episode, my guest Jeanne Denney and address how to talk about life's most difficult moments. When the end of life draws near, what do those you’re caring for want for themselves? It’s a question that stops many dead in their tracks (no pun intended). We are all drawn to, yet repelled from, asking questions about death and dying. Is it because of fear or some other reason? What fears and taboos do we hold onto that keep us from sharing our wishes? What should we be afraid of? Should we ...

What does it mean when your mom pleads with you and says, “ I want to go home ,” but she’s already at home? Even worse, your lead aide tells you what she really means is that she wants to die! There are all sorts of things that hurtful and even incompetent professional caregivers will say and do. Here’s what that phrase (which just might drive you nuts) really means. It’s not always an easy thing to resolve, yet, in this episode, we’ll give you a path to a better solution. Episode Links Elderca...

In this episode of Doing it Best with Eldercare Success , we unpack the ultimate sandwich-generation caregiving experience. If you’ve been caught between caring for aging parents, in-laws, a spouse, your own kids, and even yourself, you’ll find this episode funny and of value. Jennifer Hardy, podcast host of Fabulous Over 50, and I explore practical ways to manage those complex emotions and issues that arise in the caregiving journey, such as; successful ways to invite others to help you; learni...

In this episode of Eldercare Success, I address one of the more challenging issues you’ll have as a caregiver – “is it ever okay to lie to an elderly parent?” This is a tough question, and you'll see it's trickier than you might first think. A clear 'yes' or 'no' just doesn't fit here. It’s important to remember that our elderly parents are special and unique. So, with each twist and turn, your response will likely shift too. As one of the most googled queries by caregivers, lying to a parent ...

In this compelling episode of Eldercare Success, I speak with two esteemed experts on social security benefits. My guests are Marc Kiner and Jim Blair who know this subject from the inside out. This is an invaluable discussion for anyone caring for an aging parent. These two demystify the convoluted process of adjusting benefits, something that can help those caring for an aging parent avoid common financial mistakes. They also reveal how to uncover additional financial resources that may be du...

In this episode of Doing it Best with Eldercare Success , I share the top 10 mistakes that I made along the way in caring for my parents. These were not-so-proud moments in my journey. Hopefully, my experiences will help you avoid some of the landmines I stepped on. Caregiving can be filled with challenges. Even if there was a play-by-play or “Caregiving for Dummies” book, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for each of our journeys. They all have their unique ups, downs, and calm moments....

What happens when an infectious disease spreads through a care facility or nursing home? Just because the Pandemic has been declared over doesn’t mean our loved ones are safe in a facility, hospital, or even at home. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Diane Cervantes, Assistant Professor and Director of the MPH Epidemiology program at the University of North Texas School of Medicine. Dr. Cervantes has worked as an infectious disease expert for over 17 years, has been a Bioterrorism Response Micr...

In this episode, I unearth some of the ways that those “free services” abuse you while proposing to help you find a place for your elderly or infirm parents to live. Most are very adept at pulling on your emotions. They all are aggressive, and, in being so, ask for some very personal information. This is so they can better “help you and your parents.” How do they get paid? Are they really working for you? Is there actually a good way to use these services to help you narrow your choices? Epi...

In this episode, you’ll get an insider’s look into some issues related to anesthesia and some unspoken fears about it when a loved one undergoes a medical procedure. Anesthesia, despite its benefits, can also present problems for the body and mind, especially for an aging person. The last thing any one of us wants is for someone we care for who has “gone under” for a procedure and woken up forgetting who you or they are! Nor do we want to experience the other life-threatening complications tha...

Managing the cost of a parent’s care can be like running a small, complex enterprise. Discussing the ins, outs, and intricacies of financial oversight and care can sometimes bring up all sorts of emotions among siblings. In this episode, I dive headfirst into a few ways to prepare for those “money talks” around the cost of care with your siblings, or even a parent. Reminding yourself of the end goal is a great way to start. However, when someone else has a different goal, your motives might c...

This is part two about the caregiver and the feelings and hurt from betrayal. My guest Holli Kenley , is a licensed therapist, author, and well-known expert on the subject of betrayal and healing. While few caregivers want to discuss this topic, many of us suffer invisible wounds from past experiences. Holli and I dive into how betrayal costs us more than trust. It can contribute to our loss of self. Holli covers the depths of our caregiver experience on this front: what lurks beneath the surf...

In this episode, I discuss the challenges of hospital-induced delirium. This syndrome can affect people of all ages, not just older individuals. Drawing from a personal conversation with someone who experienced this, I explain how this happens, and how to reduce the chances of this affecting your parent, spouse, or even your child when hospitalized. Highlights: Personal Stories : One caregiver shares her experience with an aging parent who was hospitalized. Another, my own, on how we managed to ...

This is part one of a two-part episode featuring my guest, Holli Kenely, a licensed therapist, author, and well-known expert on the subject of betrayal. While few caregivers want to discuss this topic, many of us suffer invisible wounds from past experiences. Holli and I dive into how betrayal costs us more than trust. It can contribute to our loss of self. Holli covers the depths of our caregiver experience on this front: what lurks beneath the surface and how to heal and find strength again....

This episode even caught me by surprise. In this segment, I dive into research about how the daily pressures of caregiving can take a serious toll on our own memory, and a few ways to manage stress better. While extreme stress hasn’t been found to cause Alzheimer's, it has been associated with accelerated brain aging and can even lead to temporary memory loss. In addition, you’ll get some invaluable strategies for handling persistent caregiver stress, while finding more balance at home and wo...

How do you cope with an aging mom? So many assume this is the eldest daughter’s job. However, when the one who steps in and steps up had to be a son, things might be different. What do you need to overcome, as a son, to help your mom bathe, or dress, or even use the toilet when you’re her son? The same kinds of challenges can hold true with daughters and their dads. How will you hold it all together? Pride and modesty will need to take a backseat for necessity and practicality. Creativity and...

Concerned about recent bank financial failures? Your aging parent may be too, but they might not tell you. When you’re on a fixed or reduced income, every penny counts. In this episode, my guest, Philip Van Doorn from Market Watch explains, simply, how to calm your parents’ fears and help them protect their assets. We also talk about finding additional ways to earn money on their deposits and how to find extra dollars for them. We also cover how to make sure that their investment brokerage i...

If you’re working full time but also caring for an aging parent, the stress and feeling of isolation can be significan t. Adding to that stress can be a fear (real or imagined) of potential retribution from your boss or peers if they find out. Even if you’re not working full-time, or part-time, you can find yourself isolated from the rest of the world – except for doctors, or other care providers. For those employed and caring for a parent, understand that 56% of our colleagues who are also ca...

Being a caregiver has its joys and tough times, too. Sometimes we step into the role thinking that we are knowing what our job will be. But it’s hard to foresee how being a caregiver will interrupt our families, jobs, finances, relationships, and lives. If you are or have been a caregiver, are you ready to do this once again? Do you feel more prepared now for surprises, and think you know how to do the job better, or just as well as you did? What happens when you’ve done this twice and now you...

What happens when you get a call from your dad who says: “ don’t worry, Mom’s just been taken to the ER ,” then hangs upon you? You’re 1200 miles away and on your way to work! The first you think: OMG what happened? The second thing: What else can go wrong? Yes, mistakes happen do happen in the ER. In this episode, I share the top seven things that can make going to an Emergency Room a potential disaster, and how to avoid joining the 10 million people a year who get worse in the ER, not better...

What happens when your father, who appeared to be just fine, surprises you by telling you he has Alzheimer’s Disease? Watching anyone’s steady cognitive decline is always difficult. However, my next guest, Peter Maeck took, along with his other siblings, a different and rather poetic approach to their dad’s caregiving. His father even joined in on the creative solutions that they discovered together. You might be surprised about how creativity, analytical thinking, and caregiving can all come ...

What’s Senior Dumping and can it happen to your parents without you even suspecting? In this episode, I share a conversation that I had with a GoDaddy customer service person who had this issue with his dad. While running for several days from work to home to bring his dad to the hospital, and then to rehab, he was hoping to get some relief by returning his dad back to his care facility. Unfortunately, once his dad was ready for discharge from the hospital, the care facility’s management refu...