All Things Seniors: A Podcast For Caregivers

Latest Episodes:

S2E16: Increasing Family Harmony While Caregiving Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

Now, let us talk about facts concerning caregiving in society today:

Number 1: Did you know that an estimated 50 million-plus people in North America are caregivers for a family member or a loved one?; Number 2: Approximately 75% of caregivers are women who may be spouses, partners, siblings, children, or neighbours even.; Number 3: About 15% of caregivers care for two or more people, right, so that is an even bigger job.; Number 4: Although men were traditionally not in the role of family caregivers, that trend is changing, for example, about a third of people with cancer are cared for by a man, this group may have to take on tasks which they have never performed before like things like laundry, shopping, cooking, which are a different set of skills needed.; Number 5: 85% of caregivers found the satisfaction of caring for the loved one to outweigh the disadvantages, but 10% found caregiving to be a burden that is a challenge for sure.; Lastly, Number 6: caregivers report higher levels of insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, poor appetite, and even depression, that is higher compared to non-caregiving counterparts.

Challenges of caregiving evolve through time. Some emerging concerns not imminent before are here today, which adds to the many challenges of caregivers. It includes males shifting roles as a caregiver. It can be reduced to a certain extent if there is harmony in the family. Caregiving matters need to be talked about to make meaningful conversations happen. Caregiving is not easy, which is why we have experts on the subject today to guide us and help us make this happen.

Today we have with us Dr. Amy D’Aprix. She is an internationally renowned expert on lifestyle issues related to ageing, caregiving, retirement, and family dynamics. She is a life transition expert, social entrepreneur, coach, speaker, author, and consultant to North American organizations in ageing and financial services.

Topics:

What essential conversations mean and when should it happen
What kind of conversations you should have to better prepare as a family
Caregiving: planned or decided during the crisis
Reasons why there is no essential conversation happening
Obstacles to these conversations
What to consider to determine who should be the primary caregiver
How caregiving tests relationships
Her advice on reaching out to others for support
What facing life transitions with grace means
Who should be involved in these conversations
Tips on caregiving for the listeners to make life easier
Action items for the listeners
Her Caring Cards and Life Memories Journal

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Dr. Amy's Website: www.DrAmy.life
Dr. Amy's Email: Amy@DrAmy.life
Dr. Amy's Twitter: @DrAmyDAprix
Dr. Amy's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dramydaprix
Dr. Amy's Conversation Cards: https://store.dramy.life/collections/frontpage/products/caring-cards

Did You Know Segment: https://www.oncolink.org/support/caregivers/resources/did-you-know-facts-about-caregivers

S2E15: Dementia Tips For Caregivers Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

Did you know that 60% of people with dementia will wander? Anyone who has memory problems and can walk is at risk for wandering. It is risky for dementia patients because they may not remember their name or address and can become disoriented even in familiar places. It is just one of the many potential risks and challenges a caregiver has to work around while caring for a loved one with dementia.

Today, we have Karen Tyrell, a dementia expert, who has over 25 years of experience on this subject, to share her knowledge about dealing with dementia and the risk of wandering among dementia patients. She will also talk about some tools that will benefit caregivers to provide better care to their loved ones with dementia.

Karen is a dementia consultant, educator, and author. She is the CEO of Personalized Dementia Solutions Inc. Karen shares her expertise through speaking engagements and conducting dementia workshops for both families and frontline staff. She also facilitates weekly online family caregiver support groups working one-on-one with family caregivers to provide emotional support and creative solutions to alleviate everyday challenges associated with dementia.

Topics:

What dementia detective means
What PHATCS is
Why using therapeutic reasoning is beneficial
Examples of therapeutic reasoning and becoming creative
Her work focusing on wandering
Possible reasons why people wander
What to do when a person is wandering and lost
Her advice for caregivers on wellness
The importance of self-care
What we can do to remain healthy
The five regions of the brain and game exercises-
Her tips for caregivers to make life easier
Her action item for the listeners

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Karen's Website: www.DementiaSolutions.ca
Karen's Email: info@DementiaSolutions.ca
Karen's Twitter: @Dementia__Help
Karen's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenTyrell
Karen's Book: https://amzn.to/3t6nWVo

Did You Know Segment: https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/wandering

S2E14: Navigating Dementia Through Grief and Guilt Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

Did you know that women have a higher risk of dementia? Nearly twice as many women have Alzheimer's disease as men. Alzheimer's disease also worsens more quickly in women.

Also, did you know that heart disease can raise the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease? Other conditions that cause heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and deficient diet are all links to a higher risk of getting Alzheimer's disease.

Whatever the gender or the cause, once dementia (Alzheimer's disease) happen, it forces families to change their lifestyles. Dementia is always a very stressful and worrying time.

Today, we have with us someone who live this life, walk this path, learn from her experiences, and now she has made her life mission to help others with dementia families who are going through this journey, Vicki Tapia.

When Vicki's parents were both diagnosed with dementia within a few months of each other, she became their caregiver. Out of that experience came her first book "Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia." What began as a journal to help her cope with the many challenges her family face, morphed into a roadmap for others.

Her work shares encouragement, insight, and lessons learned along the way. It is named one of the "Best Alzheimer's Books Of All Time" by Book Authority. Vicki's memoir brings hope to those whose lives had been intimately affected by dementia, letting them know that they are not alone.

She's also a founder and a director of the non-profit AlzAuthors, an evergrowing global community of over 250 authors united to light the way for others with the vision to lift the silence and stigma surrounding Alzheimer's and other dementias through sharing of personal stories.

Topics:

Her life when her parents both diagnosed with dementia and becoming a family caregiver
What "Graduate of the dementia caregiver school of hard knocks" means
Her tips to the listeners on redirecting the conversation
Situation with her mom on redirecting the conversation
On protecting the love ones valuable
Her advice to caregivers on having dark moments
Her fear for her future on having dementia
Things she did to make sure it doesn't happen to her
On convincing the love ones to go for an evaluation
Her approach to making her mom move into her own home
Her tips with the listener to make their life easier as dementia caregivers

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Vicki's Website: www.AlzAuthors.com
Vicki's Email: VickiTapia@gmail.com
Vicki's Twitter: @vicleetap @AlzAuthors
Vicki's Facebook: www.facebook.com/SomeBodyStoleMyIron
Vicki’s Book: Some Body Stole My Iron

Did You Know Segment:

https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-facts

S2E13: Shifting Dementia Care from Crisis to Comfort Jan 22, 2021

Show notes

Did you know that there are over 10 million new cases of dementia every year? That is one new case of dementia every three seconds or so. By the time you will be finished listening to this episode, that will be close to a thousand new cases of dementia worldwide. That is scary! It is not a country-specific challenge but a worldwide phenomenon.

It is a fact that there is no cure for dementia. However, some great minds are playing their part to make a dementia caregiver's journey relatively tolerable. One such advocate is Lori La Bey.

Lori is a change agent from Minnesota known around the world when it comes to dementia care. Recognized by Oprah, Maria Shriver, Dr. Oz, AARP Minnesota, and the National Institute of Dementia Education who all recognized her cutting-edge approach to shifting global dementia care from crisis to comfort.

Her mother has lived with dementia for 30 years. Lori left the long successful career as a residential realtor and launched Alzheimer's Speaks, advocacy in a multimedia company that gives voice to all, including those living with dementia.

Her mission is to educate, raise awareness, shift perceptions, and to share resources with families and professionals regarding all forms of dementia and caregiving.

She is also the co-founder of Dementia Map, a global dementia resource directory.

Topics:

On dementia is a global problem that needs to be address
What made her became the new Alzheimer's expert
Her transition from realtor to an Alzheimer's expert
On people with dementia that are in denial
What "Shifting dementia care from crisis to comfort" means
Why she created Your Memory Chip
How listeners can apply the journal tools in her website
On accepting dementia from a different point of view
On asking ourselves what lessons in the pain that we go through
What "Are we going to be the next to forget or to be forgotten" means
What Betty the bald chicken is and how it relates to us

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Lori's Website: www.AlzheimersSpeaks.com
Lori's Email: Lori@AlzheimersSpeaks.com
Lori's Twitter: @alzspks
Lori's Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlzheimersSpeaks
Lori's YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/AlzheimersSpeaks

Free Educational Training Videos:

Dementia Chats Webinar: “https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/dementia-chats-webinar”

Did You Know Segment:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia

S2E12: Tips for Caregivers - Pets, Assistive Technology, & Conversations Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

Did you know that according to the 2019 University of Michigan National poll on Healthy Aging, 55% of participants age between 50 and 80 own at least one pet and majority of these older adults felt aging was easier, both physically and mentally, because of their pets? Approximately 80% participants said pets reduce their stress. Also, over 25% of pet owners reported that their pet's needs take priority over their own health needs.

These stats and more prove that pets play a very important role in the lives of older adults. So what are the impacts of losing a pet for older adults? How does it affect the purpose and activities in their lives? How can we as caregivers help and communicate with our loved ones during that tough time?

To discuss this and many other topics about our communication with our loved ones, let's have an expert on the subject of caregiver relationships, Debra Hallisey. Debra's most important role these last five years is being her mother's caregiver. She lost her job due to caregiving issues and as a result she founded Advocate for Mom and Dad.

Her mission is to support and educate family caregivers primarily in 3 ways;

Number 1, through her blog www.advocateformomanddad.com which is filled with information to help answer the questions where do I start? what do I do next? kind of things.

Number 2, in her book, Your Caregiver Relationship Contract she explains how to say yes to help and how to create a support network for yourself and your loved one.

And number 3, Debra also consults with family caregivers helping them to navigate the minefield of new family dynamics.

Topics:

On her nomination for Caregiving Visionary Awards 2020
What she means by “growing old is not for the faint of heart and it needs careful planning”
What she means by elder orphan
On older loved ones that are reluctant to share sensitive information
Why relationship is really important
Her thoughts on bringing professional consultant or a caregiving company
How to convince our loved ones to use technology
Figuring out what self-care looks like for a caregiver
On finding new and different ways to keep us going in terms of self-care
Her tips to caregivers to make their lives easier

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Debra's Website: www.advocateformomanddad.com
Debra's Email: hallisdl@gmail.com
Debra’s Twitter: @advocatemomdad
Debra’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/advocateformomdad

Debra’s Book: “Your Caregiver Relationship Contract: How to navigate the minefield of new roles and expectations” - www.shorturl.at/hBIU4

Did You Know Segment:

https://people.com/pets/poll-pets-make-aging-better-senior-citizens/

S2E11: Creative Care, for the Elderly with Dementia Jan 08, 2021

Show notes

Did you know that worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year? Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older adults worldwide. Not only it impacts the life of a person affected by dementia it can be overwhelming for the families especially their caregivers.

Physical, emotional, and financial pressures can cause great stress and support is required from health, social, financial, and legal systems from governments and organisations. One such organisation is TimeSlips which provides support to caregivers and families of people suffering with cognitive challenges like dementia.

Today, we are very fortunate that we have Dr. Anne Basting, founder of TimeSlips. Dr. Anne is a leader in transforming aging and elder care. Also, she is the recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant.

Dr. Anne is the founder of the non-profit TimeSlips which implements her innovative approach to memory care. She is the author of three previous academic books and the new book "Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care."

She is also the Founding Director of UWM's Center on Age and Community. She was also featured in the PBS documentary The Penelope Project in 2011.

Topics:

What she means by creative care
On creating positive experiences
Structure of adopting her new approach
On building memory and creating new connections
Storytelling in present moments
How she came up with this approach
How her approach is helping the community
How our relationships are emotional
How her work is helping her family as well
Her tips to the listeners and what they need to do to make their caregiver journey easier
How human being connects through storytelling
How she came up with TimeSlips
Free resources that people can use from their website
Her action item to the listeners to bring the meaningful change in their caregiver role

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Dr. Basting’s Website: www.TimeSlips.org
Dr. Basting’s Email: Anne@TimeSlips.org
Dr. Basting’s Twitter: @TimeSlipsCreate
Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care: https://amzn.to/3j2TVj2

Did you know segment:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia

S2E10: Dementia Care and Social Isolation - Tips and Tricks Jan 01, 2021

Show notes

Did you know that for most people a routine is pleasant and useful to keep us grounded during the stressful time?

For those with dementia, routines are key components of staying healthy. Typically, people with dementia have trouble forming new memories and learning new information. For them, routine and repetition are critical to function. While they can learn new things, it is very difficult and takes much longer.

A good routine includes consistent sleep and wake times, hygiene, meal times and key activities. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted much of these. Disrupting the routines of those with dementia creates a lot of stress for someone who cannot track information. This may lead to an increase in confusion and memory issues. The good news is that this is most often temporary and can stabilize once people get back to the routine.

To discuss these and many other Alzheimer's and dementia related matters, let's start our chat with Teepa Snow. Teepa is an occupational therapist with 40 plus years of clinical and academic experience. She presents with extraordinary expertise and humor to audiences, large and small, throughout the world.

Her company Positive Approach to Care was founded in 2006 and provides online and in person education and products.

Topics:

How pandemic affects the Alzheimer's community
Why social isolation is devastating
How the PPE affects the approach to people with dementia
On creating new routines in using PPE
On learning the tone of your voice
On using online resources
What she means by helping through spiritual connection
What challenges she see during lockdown
On using technology
The challenge of hearing loss
How we can identify people with hearing loss and give some support
What she mean by Assist to sit

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Teepa’s Website: www.teepasnow.com
Email address: pollyl@teepasnow.com
Twitter: @teepasnow
Instagram: teepasnows_pac
Facebook: www.facebook.com/teepasnow.dementiaexpert
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/teepasnow

Did you know segment:

https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/caring-someone-dementia-during-coronavirus-pandemic

S2E9: Aging In Place: Home Modifications - Causes and Effects Dec 25, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that according to a 2020 Aging in Place report, 86% of baby boomer homeowners in Canada's key metro areas want to live in their current home for as long as possible? Thirty six percent of those are likely to move. So, why do people feel that they will be compelled to move?

Almost half of the survey participants referred the reason to be their mobility or their ageing needs—things like elevators are now required. Also, a large portion used safety as their reason for moving. Place of living has huge impact on the quality of life.

Let's have our today's chat with an occupational therapist whose mission is to help people age in place, Marnie Courage. Marnie is the owner of Enabling Access Inc., an occupation therapy company which she established 15 years ago, with an executive certificate in home modification from the University of Southern California.

She sets on the Canadian Home Builders, Home Modification Council, and The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapist Home Modification Task Force.

Marnie stablished Aging in Place Manitoba to support people living with disabilities and those wanting to age in place. She is a dynamic public speaker and educator presenting in her field Canada-wide.

Topics:

What aging in place is
What are the types of modification
On changes in the mobility dynamics of the family
What age-friendly communities are
On her role as an occupational therapist
The modification she usually sees people doing
On people who are afraid of making changes
On how to make the house more visitable
How she helps people change those attitudinal barriers
On rephrasing the sentence of limitation in a conversation
What she sees in terms of accepting technology
On people who are resistant technology
Her tips to listeners on how to start modification
The aging in place they have in her company

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Marnie’s Website: www.EnablingAccess.ca & www.AgingInPlaceMB.ca
Marnie’s Email: Marnie@EnablingAccess.ca
Marnie’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marnie-courage-439844b/
Marnie’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/enablingaccess
Marnie’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/enablingaccessinc/
Marnie’s Facebook: www.Facebook.com/enablingaccess/

Did you know segment:

https://sothebysrealty.ca/insightblog/2020/03/04/2020-generational-real-estate-trends-report-aging-in-place/

S2E8: Healthcare At Home Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that baby boomers represent nearly 20% of the American and close to 30% of the Canadian population? By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65. Most people want to age in place (i.e. they want or they love to continue living in their homes).

But for many older adults, the decision of ageing in place comes with it's own challenges like transportation needs, limited socialization opportunities, meal preparation help, or medication reminders. There are many needs that still need to be served. To understand how to circumvent these challenges, we have today with us Merrily Orsini.

Merrily is considered a thought leader in the in-home care industry and is evolving numerous organisations providing insight and advice. She is a leader in the Help Choose Home Initiative where she is a podcast creator and host. She focuses on educating how and when to choose health care at home.

Merrily won a lifetime achievement award in business at the 2017 Stevie Awards for Women in Business and she also guards the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1996.

She was recently Chair of the Private Duty Homecare Association of America and has served on the boards of The National Association for Home Care and Hospice and The National Association of Geriatric Care Managers now Aging Life Care Professional.

Topics:

Why aging in place is important
Her tips when considering a home care partner
How COVID-19 changed the perspective of families about home care
The challenges the dementia family face from an ageing place perspective
The myths and misconceptions in the home care industry
On educating the community that home care makes the age in place experience better
Why she started her podcast
Her tips to family caregivers on how to lower the hospital readmission
How to help people in addressing one of the difficult conversations about end of life care or palliative care
Her advice to caregivers on how to become a better version of themselves
Her action item to the listeners

Links:

Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com
Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg
All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors
Merrily’s Website: www.HelpChooseHome.com
Merrily’s Email: Merrily.Orsini@corecubed.com
Merrily’s Twitter: @MerrilyO
Merrily’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Helpchoosehome

S2E7: Memory Cafes, and How They Assist Dementia Families Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that barring a medical breakthrough, the number of people aged 65+ with dementia may nearly triple by 2050? It means there will be more need for dementia care.

On the other hand, according to a 2020 survey of primary care physicians, nearly half of those physicians say that the medical profession is not prepared to meet this increased demand. Bottomline is, there is a huge gap between the need for dementia care and what our current medical system is offering.

To fill this need, various community-led initiative are emerging across the globe. One such initiative is Memory Cafe Directory, and we have with us today Dave Wiederrich. Dave is the owner and operator of MemoryCafeDirectory.com, a global directory of all memory cafes.

Memory Cafes are dementia-friendly outings for people living with any cause of dementia or other cognitive impairments along with their care partners.

Topics: