Caregiving Checklist: What You Need to Know EP 32

About 53 million Americans, most of them women 45 and over, serve as unpaid caregivers for family members – often aging parents -- who need help. They are the backbone of homecare in this country, and are true unsung heroes.

You might be one of them. In fact, Rosalynn Carter once said, “Here’s the reality: you are a caregiver, or have been a caregiver, or will be a caregiver. And maybe one day you will need care yourself.”

In this episode, host Barbara Hannah Grufferman speaks with one of the country’s leading caregiving experts, Amy Goyer, about something that should be done early on in the caregiving journey: creating a checklist for caregivers of documents and people to put on your caregiving team, so you’re not in a position of pure panic if a crisis ever arises.

While the discussion centers on creating a caregiver checklist for people who are caring for others, everyone should think about these things for yourself, too. No one wants to think about getting older and possibly needing caregiving . . . but the more organized you are now, the easier it will be for everyone, including you, down the road.

Amy Goyer, author of Juggling Life, Work and Caregiving, serves as AARP’s national Family and Caregiving Expert. A passionate champion for caregivers, Amy walks the walk of the caregiver: she has been one her entire adult life, caring for her grandparents, parents, sister, and others. Amy has more than 35 years of experience working in the field of aging and is a Certified Aging-in-place Specialist (CAPS). She shares her personal caregiving journey as well as practical, actionable tips for caregivers in her columns and videos.

A widely quoted media authority, Amy is a frequent guest on NBC’s the Today Show.

Amy serves as the moderator of AARP’s Facebook Family Caregivers Discussion Group – an incredibly helpful forum for caregivers, especially those who are just starting the journey.

Connect with Amy:

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Website: amygoyer.com

Find more great caregiving tips, tools, and resources at www.aarp.org/caregiving.

Amy’s book: Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving

Connect with Barbara:

Instagram: Barbara Hannah Grufferman

Facebook: Love Your Age

Website: https://www.barbarahannahgrufferman.com

Do you have ideas for topics or guests? Email us at [email protected]!

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