Journey Back from Caregiving

02/22/22 • 47 min

Boomer Banter, Real Talk about Aging Well

Joanne Ellis lost her husband about 8 months ago to dementia. As an author, caregiver and wife, she writes and speaks honestly and with insight about the journey as a caregiver and the journey back.

When you lose someone to dementia, you do not get the kind of closure you might hope for. You lose them a little bit at a time, and more and more over time.

Joanne's story will tug at your emotions, as you hear her talk about the journey she has been one. She talks about feeling cheated out of the dreams she and her husband had, how becoming a caregiver felt like crossing to an unknown shore. And about isolation, how the isolation that sets in when you are a caregiver is the hardest part.

Find out more about Wendy's 6-week "What's Next Transition" Coaching workshop

To contact Joanne: [email protected]

You can purchase Joanne's book from her website at Breathe Deeper Book – Dementia Caregiver

Episode Take-aways

1. Learn the value of asking for help, keep asking and stay humble.

2. Validate that you are still a reasonable human being, because you care and you are still trying.

3. Take advantage of relationships found in support groups

4. Don't put off caring for yourself. It makes the journey a little less painful.

Joanne Ellis lost her husband about 8 months ago to dementia. As an author, caregiver and wife, she writes and speaks honestly and with insight about the journey as a caregiver and the journey back.

When you lose someone to dementia, you do not get the kind of closure you might hope for. You lose them a little bit at a time, and more and more over time.

Find out more about Wendy's 6-week "What's Next Transition" Coaching workshop

To contact Joanne: [email protected]

You can purchase Joanne's book from her website at Breathe Deeper Book – Dementia Caregiver

Episode Take-aways

1. Learn the value of asking for help, keep asking and stay humble.

2. Validate that you are still a reasonable human being, because you care and you are still trying.

3. Take advantage of relationships found in support groups

4. Don't put off caring for yourself. It makes the journey a little less painful.

Previous Episode

Living the Expat Life

Brad and Josselyn Majors made the move to the Azores when they retired 3 years ago. In this episode they share with us the discussion about financial readiness to move overseas. We talk about finding everything you need, from groceries to wine to internet service and cell phone service.

Healthcare was a big topic of discussion, both access to the healthcare provided by the government and private healthcare. Finding activities that were fulfilling was important to Brad and Josselyn and they share with us what they are doing.

Contact with friends and family, both in the Azores and back home in the US was an important consideration and you will be delighted to learn how that is turning out.

Find out more about Wendy's 6-week "What's Next Transition" Coaching workshop

To contact Brad, email him at b [email protected]

Episode Takeaways:

Lifestyle on the Azores has proven to be a very healthy lifestyle
Transitioning to retirement takes time, finding your balance and meaning and fulfillment.
The socialized healthcare offered in Portugal has been excellent
Many common items, like food and wine and cell phones are much less expensive than in the States
Don't wait! If you are thinking about retirement overseas, begin exploring now. They wish they had made this move sooner.

Thanks so much for listening.

Subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher , Google Podcast. or Spotify

You can email me with questions or comments at [email protected]

Next Episode

Parenting and grandparenting during social upheaval

Children today have lived through an unprecedented pandemic, school shootings, the insurrection at the Capital, violent speech broadcast on social media, and now they fear nuclear war with the Russian incursion into Ukraine.

In my discussion with Dr. Robert Saul, retired pediatrician and advocate for children, we talked about what we as parents and grandparents can do to raise young citizens and establish safe, stable nurturing relationships.

In Dr. Saul's first book, "My Children's Children: Raising Young Citizens in the age of Columbine" he lays out Five steps for Community Involvement.

We talked about the philosophy he lives by: "I am the problem, I am the solution, I am the resource," and reframed it by changing the I to We... "We are the problem, we are the solution, we are the resource." This means that not everything is my problem, but I also cannot hand off the problems in my community by saying it is "their" problem.

Dr. Saul's newest book, "Conscious Parenting" shares the idea of being above or below the Parental Awareness Threshold. It is a way to learn to be the best parent (or grandparent) you can be.

To support Hey, Boomer: Buy me a Coffee and thank you!

To contact Dr. Bob Saul, email him at [email protected]

Dr. Saul's website: https://mychildrenschildren.com

Episode Takeaways:

1. Raise your children and grandchildren to be good citizens.

2. Understand and practice forgiveness

Thanks so much for listening.

Subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher , Google Podcast. or Spotify

You can email me with questions or comments at [email protected]