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 have to step into the role a third, fourth, or even fifth time?

In this episode, my guests, Dr. Emily Mroz, and Amanda Piechota, from the Yale School of Medicine share their research and findings on how second, third, or multiple-time caregivers thought about their roles and whether they’re more prepared and willing to take this responsibility on again.

Would you do this again for others, such as a parent, family member, or even friend? You might be surprised to learn how other who have cared for a loved on - men and women alike in this role - are managing the second, third, and even fourth time around.

Here's a link to the Been There Done That: A grounded theory of future caregiver preparedness in former caregivers of parents living with Dementia study.

#dementia, #caregiver, #alzheimersdisease, #familycare #elderly #dementia #medicalstudy #yale #yaleschoolofmedicine #dementiacare

GUESTS: Emily Mroz Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Yale School of Medicine, where she’s focused on geriatric medicine and caregiver research. She completed her doctorate in Psychology and Gerontology at the University of Florida. Her research examines pathways to positive and maladaptive psychological outcomes for seriously ill individuals and their informal family caregivers. Dr. Mroz also develops tools and techniques to improve palliative care communication.

Amanda Piechota, is a research assistant at the Yale School of Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Host: Nancy May, Author of How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After! is an expert in managing the path of step-by-step caring for aging parents, even from over 1200 miles away. For a free, fillable File-of-Life go to www.howtosurvive911.com. Nancy is also the Co-Founder of CareManity LLC, and the private FaceBook group, Eldercare Success.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show guests and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of the host or the producer CareManity, LLC. The information discussed should not be considered or used as medical, legal, or financial advice. Please seek the advice of your own medical, legal, or financial advisors as each person’s situation differs. (c) Copyright 2023 CareManity, LLC all rights reserved.

CareManity and Eldercare Success are trademarks of CareManity, LLC. "There is a Better Way" is a Service Mark of CareManity, LLC

Caregiving Blues: Beating Them Before They Beat You and Your Parents, too!

In this episode of Eldercare Success, Nancy May delves into a topic that resonates deeply with nearly every caregiver at some point in time - battling depression while caring for aging parents. Renowned for her insightful guidance and compassionate approach, Nancy tackles the emotional toll of caregiving with practical, uplifting advice.

Why Listen?

For anyone feeling the weight of caregiving, this episode is a must-listen. Nancy blends some rather personal anecdotes with expert advice to offer strategies that not only uplift caregivers but also help them recognize and address the emotional needs of aging parents. This episode promises to give you some good tools to keep the caregiving blues at bay and foster a more positive, resilient mindset.

P.S. (from Nancy) I was dealing with a rather blue day when recording this episode. Listen to the very end to learn why and what happened next.

Key Points:

• Discover simple yet effective practices to rejuvenate your spirit and enhance your well-being.
• Learn how to create a robust support system - and what/who to avoid through your caregiving journey.
• Ways to understand the signs of depression in elderly loved ones and explore creative ways to boost their emotional health, too.

Helpful Links: 📌

• PDF Blues & Depression Signals to watch for in yourself, and your parents.
• Podcast: Eldercare Success (please share with those you care about)
• Book: How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, and After
• Eldercare Success on YouTube
• Eldercare Success, link to ask Nancy a question: A small blue tab on the right side of the page says "Send a Voice Mail Message to Nancy." Click on that and follow the directions on the pop-up. Then, send me your comments and questions so I can answer them on the show.

💪 How you can help:

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a friend, family member, or even someone you see at your local coffee shop who might be dealing with similar caregiving challenges. Don't forget to subscribe to "Doing it Best with Eldercare Success" on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a five-star review. Your support helps us continue to bring valuable content to caregivers everywhere. Visit EldercareSuccess.Live to leave Nancy a voicemail with your questions or comments for a chance to be featured on the show.

🎧🎤Host: Nancy May has gone from the Boardroom to the Emergency Room to care for her aging parents and educate business owners, corporate employees, and leaders with more strength and confidence in doing well and doing good. Nancy is the five-star author of How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After! and an award-winning expert in managing the complexities of caring for an aging parent or family member, even from over 1200 miles away, or more for a Free File-of-Life to www.howtosurvive911.com.

Nancy is also the Co-Founder of CareManity LLC and the private FaceBook group Eldercare Success.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show guests and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of the host or the producer CareManity, LLC. The information discussed should not be considered medical, le...

Show Host: Nancy May, Author How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After! Expert in managing the path of step-by-step caring for an aging parent or family member, even from over 1200 miles away, or more. For a Free File-of-Life to www.howtosurvive911.com

Guest: Doug Levy , Author, Public Emergency Communications Expert and CEO Doug Levy Communications, LLC

Ever wonder who first responders and healthcare authorities turn to when they need to reach and talk with those of us at “street level” during a large public emergency? Doug Levy is the pro to whom the healthcare responders and local and state government groups turn to for advice.

Doug will relay tips on how to increase your chances of a better outcome if you ever face a natural or manmade disaster. He even gives us an inside view of how medical facilities determine who to care for when their own systems get overwhelmed, and what you can do to get care in those times. Knowing how your healthcare system will respond to your needs could result be a life saver (or not, if you don’t know).

Doug Levy is the author of The Communications Golden Hour, When Every Minute Counts. He has spent his career in the middle of emergencies, bringing calm to chaos. He has been a firefighter, emergency medical technician, lawyer, award-winning reporter, and communications executive at three top universities. One of the first to embrace social media as an emergency communications tool, Doug developed the Communications Golden Hour to streamline emergency communications planning and response so that it works effectively and efficiently. An adviser to public safety agencies, he’s trained emergency officials in how to get clear messages to the public when minutes count. He was a health and technology reporter for USA Today, and his investigative reporting won a Peabody Award in 1987.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show guest and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of the host or the producer CareManity, LLC. Information discussed should not be taken as medical, legal, or financial advice. Please seek the advice or you own personal medical, legal or financial advisors as each person’s situation is different. (c) Copyright 2021 CareManity, LLC all rights reserved. CareManity is a trademark of CareManity, LLC

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 effects. Why did the FDA review panel not want to approve the most publicized breakthrough (noted to have side effects of brain swelling and bleeding)? What alternatives have been used for years that are known to have fewer side effects?

But maybe there are ways for our aging parents, who might have dementia or Alzheimer’s, to help us help them. And:

• Can someone live well with dementia or Alzheimer’s?
• How can we determine if there are medication side effects that users can’t describe to us?
• How are our loved ones being treated or drugged by others when we don’t know about it?

There’s a lot more in store in this episode of Eldercare Success.

Links:

• Dr. Allen Power
• Book: Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being
• Help for Alzheimer's Caregivers
• CareManity website
• Book: How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After
• Free: File-of-Life
• Eldercare Success on YouTube

Guest: G. Allen Power, MD is a renowned geriatrician, international educator, musician, composer, and author specializing in transformative care for older adults with changing cognitive abilities. He holds the Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Waterloo Research Institute for Aging in Ontario and is a clinical associate professor at the University of Rochester, NY.

Dr. Power is the author of "Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care," which won a 2010 Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, and "Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being." In addition, he was honored as one of the "Five Leaders of Tomorrow" by Long-Term Living Magazine. His influential work has earned him recognition as one of the "Five Leaders of Tomorrow" by Long-Term Living Magazine.

As a sought-after speaker throughout the world, and is a powerful advocate for person-centered dementia care.

Host: Nancy May, Author of How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After! is an expert in managing the path of step-by-step caring for aging parents, even from over 1200 miles away. For a free, fillable File-of-Life go to www.howtosurvive911.com. Nancy is also the Co-Founder of CareManity LLC, and the private FaceBook group, Eldercare Success. She is also the new voice of the Caregiving Network.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show guests and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of the host or the producer CareManity, LLC. The information discussed should not be considered or used as medical, legal, or financial advice. Please seek the advice of your own medical, legal, or financial advisors as each person’s situation differs. (c) Copyright 2023 CareM...

Can you become Co-Dependent on the Caregiving Role? What's that about?

In this episode of 'Doing It Best with Eldercare Success,' host Nancy May addresses the profound challenges and emotional journey faced by those caring for multiple elderly family members and what happens when our “job” in caring for them is over. Have you identified so much with being a caregiver that you become stuck in knowing who you really are? How do you move forward? How do you get the right support from friends and family? When is their support detrimental to your own well-being?

Nancy’s guest in this episode is Joined by Dr. Evan Plys, a PhD a board certified geropsychologist and professor at Harvard Medical School. Listen in as Dr. Plys and Nancy delve into the impact of caregiving on personal identity and emotional well-being.

Their discussion covers the struggle with accepting the term 'caregiver,' redefining roles beyond caregiving, and managing the emotional highs and lows associated with long-term caregiving. They also provide practical strategies for dealing with grief and transitioning to a new normal after a loved one's passing.

This episode of Eldercare Success is rich with insights and recommendations for you and other caregivers to maintain balance and mental health while fulfilling their caregiving duties.

Key Takeaways: How to. . .

• 📓 Better understand your role and position as a caregiver
• 🌟 Redefine your life after caregiving
• 📝 Maintain your personal identity
• ⚖️Normalize caregiving experiences
• 🧘‍♀️Get the right support from friends and family at the right time
• 💔How to move with strength.