All Things Seniors: A Podcast For Caregivers

Latest Episodes:

S2E6: Helping Parents When They Refuse Help Dec 04, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that there are over 6.5 million Canadians over the age of 65? Our older adults and loved ones have some unique needs and evolving challenges. They need advocacy, they need a voice, they need a change in elder care system. A change in the mindset that enables and empowers our seniors in our communities.

Let's have an insightful chat with someone who has been in the elder care industry for over 30 years now--Joy Loverde. Joy has a reputation for being a path carver and a visionary when it comes to active ageing.

Knowing that planning is a key factor in creating a quality of life, Joy wrote "The Complete Eldercare Planner.” Six editions later, this trusted resource remains a bestseller in its category. The American Medical Association says it's the best book we have seen.

Her latest book, "Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?" is also making headlines. This book is an exceptionally worthwhile read says The American Society on Ageing.

Joy's work has taken her to every quarter of the world where she has personally interacted with thousands of family members as well as the professionals in the field of ageing.

Joy is frequently in the news. You may have seen her on the Today Show or read about her in the Wall Street Journal. In this episode, Joy is looking forward to sharing her strategies for the second time on the show.

Topics:

Her thoughts on what the caregivers go through as they take this new role
How to help when the patient refuses help
What's the secret sauce to successful caregiving
When a caregiver should start their training
How the relationship changes between the family caregiver and the loved one and how to cope with it
Example of parenting your parent
On bringing some other influencer
How caregivers can go forward and ask for help
Her self-respect tips to the caregivers
How she approaches a person with dementia
What her thoughts are on guilt in caregiving
On Rafiq's spiritual of souls and connection

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
Joy’s Website: www.ElderIndustry.com
Joy’s Email: JLoverde@ElderIndustry.com
Joy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyloverde/
Joy’s Twitter: @JoyLoverde

Did You Know Segment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXBAg5i-0PM&list=PL-KJWta_eCkKxktRPXu9LwpVx4_HFLkUT&index=12

S2E5: Who Will Take Care Of Me, When I Am Old Nov 27, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that a baby boomer is a person who was born between 1946 and 1964? This group represents nearly 20% of American and 30% of the Canadian population. By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65 and many won't have a family caregiver to help them take care of themselves.

Question is, who will take care of them when they are old? Yes, there are government programs that provide healthcare and other support but there has to be a change in the mindset that enables and empowers older adults in our communities.

How about we discuss this subject and have a heart-to-heart chat with someone who has over 30 years of experience in elder care industry? Joy Loverde has a reputation for being a path carver and a visionary when it comes to active ageing.

Her latest book, "Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?" is also making headlines. This book is an exceptionally worthwhile read says The American Society on Ageing.

Joy is frequently in the news. You may have seen her on the Today Show or read about her in the Wall Street Journal. In this episode, Joy is looking forward to sharing her strategies as you journey toward the future and what's next for you.

Topics:

Why she’s doing what she’s doing
What inspires her to do her work
The 2 challenges she sees older adults find themselves in when in an unplanned situation
How the caregiver industry is losing workers
What she will change in our society
On people who are resisting technology
On multigenerational families
What intergenerational is
On creating that family dynamics around the world
How to overcome the fear of making new connection
Her thoughts on LGBTQ elders and where they can go
Her tips to the listeners who are still struggling in communicating in another language
On having resources that are available
On protecting older adults in the future
Difference between patient advocate and people's advocate
On her book "Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?"

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
Joy’s Website: www.ElderIndustry.com
Joy’s Email: JLoverde@ElderIndustry.com
Joy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyloverde/
Joy’s Twitter: @JoyLoverde

Did You Know Segment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXBAg5i-0PM&list=PL-KJWta_eCkKxktRPXu9LwpVx4_HFLkUT&index=12

S2E4: The Energetic Caregiving - Sustaining Energy To Give Care Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that there are currently over 75 million unpaid caregivers in North America? Mostly, family caregivers of individuals who want to be able to care for themselves. Being a caregiver is arguably the hardest job in the world. What's the secret to being an excellent caregiver? Self-care—put your oxygen mask on first, show up for your self—so that you can show up for others.

In this episode, we discussed caregiving with Dawn Renee. She is the founder of Traveling Caregivers, a grassroots faith-based organization that operates in a holistic way. Dawn is a pioneer of holistic caregiving, integrating herbal medicine, Ayurveda, and energy work, along with emotional guidance.

Dawn has been a live-in caregiver and health coach for almost 15 years and knows that caregiving for others can easily take you away from yourself. She is passionate about helping other caregivers with their journey.

Topics:

What got her into caregiving
On her first experience as a caregiver
What made her stop doing a thing that made her happy
Her morning routine
How Traveling Caregivers came about
What holistic caregiving means
What plant-based healing is
Her advice to listeners from a plant-based healing perspective
Her tips on how to become a better caregiver

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
Dawn’s Website: www.TravelingCaregivers.com
Dawn’s Email: Dawn@TravelingCaregivers.com
Dawn’s Instagram: @TravelingCaregivers
Dawn’s Twitter: @TravelingCare
Dawn’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelingCaregivers

S2E3: Abuse, Social Isolation and Belonging Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that there are over 6.5 million Canadians over the age of 65? Almost 11 thousand of those are over the age of a hundred. Our older loved ones and community members have some unique needs and evolving challenges. They need advocacy and they need a voice.

In this episode, we have two such experts representing their organisations whose work over the years have proven pivotal and has helped older adults not only in Canada but around the world.

First, let me introduce Gregor Sneddon. Gregor is the executive director of Help Age Canada. He's passionate about social justice and working with the under privileged and marginalised. His many years working with older people inspires him to help them find a voice. Since 1975, Help Age Canada has been working for older persons and helping them overcome poverty, claim their right, challenge discrimination, and lead a dignified, secure, and healthy life.

Help Age Canada is a founding member of Help Age International and is part of a global network of organisations operating in 85 countries. Help Age Canada’s mission is to work in partnership with others to improve and maintain the quality of life of vulnerable older persons and their communities in Canada and around the world.

My second guest is Laura Tamblyn Watts. She is the president and CEO of CanAge. Laura is a lawyer, advocate researcher, and media commentator. Her work focuses on law, ageing abuse, accessibility law reform, governance, and knowledge mobilisation. She has served as Chief Public Policy Officer at the Canadian Association of Retired Person for the past two years and national director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law. She currently teaches at the University of Toronto where she is also a fellow of the Institute for Life Course and Aging.

CanAge is an independent non-profit advocacy organisation which educates, empowers, and mobilises people on the issues that matter most to older Canadians.

Topics:

What CanAge is and what they do
What Help Age Canada is and their work
Laura's thoughts on COVID-19
The infection control in affecting COVID-19
What Laura will fix in the system
How Gregor's organisation is helping older adults in this time of isolation
The isolation and loneliness in Canada
The effects of loneliness in people
Why isolation and loneliness is also a pandemic
Laura's thoughts on the financial aspects of home care
Different kinds of legislation to make the change
On the bigger questions like the value of life
How to help older adults who go are going through hearing loss
What Gregor sees in people reporting elder abuse
Gregor's tips to caregivers who want to become better version of themselves
Laura's tips 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

Laura's Website: https://www.canage.ca/

Laura's Email: laura@canage.ca

Laura’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-tamblyn-watts-a8ab61/

Laura’s Twitter: @ltamblynwatts

Gregor's Website: www.HelpAgeCanada.ca

Gregor's Email: gsneddon@helpagecanada.ca

Gregor's Instagram: @HelpAgeCanada

Gregor's Twitter: @HelpAgeCA

Gregor's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helpagecanada

Did You Know Segment:

www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000501

S2E2: Hard Of Hearing Community, and Their Caregivers Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that over 400 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss? By 2050, that number would be over 900 million people! Hearing loss may result from genetic causes, infectious diseases, exposure to excessive noise, and ageing among other reasons. Whatever the cause are, hearing loss has functional, social, emotional, and economic impacts on an individual. From the frustration of the inability to communicate to feeling isolated, the hard of hearing community lives a challenging life to say the least.

There are many organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to ease some of these challenges. One such tireless advocate is with us today, Alle Rhames. Alle has been advocating on behalf of the hard of hearing community for over a decade now. She has a Masters in Counselling Psychology and focused on seniors and the Alzheimer's community. She helps people find balance between health and living. She believes in experiencing life no matter what avenue it takes us.

Topics:

How Alle started
What Meniere's disease is
Why isolation promotes depression
On losing the sense of communication and connection
The challenges the hard of hearing community faces
How it affects their safety
How it affects their employment opportunities
What her work and organization does and its impact on people’s lives
What captioned telephone is and how it has changed people’s lives
Support group she has created
How a caregiver can help their family members or patients who are going through hearing loss
Her tips to listeners on how to protect their hearing
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
Alle's Website: https://www.oeius.org/profile/allerhames
Alle's Email: Alle.Rhames@oeius.org
Alle’s Instagram: @AlleWeldy
Alle’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/captel

Did You Know Segment:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss

S2E1: How this show has changed my life - Host, Rafiq Punjani Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to season 2 of our show! I am feeling so humbled. When we started season 1, we didn't know we’ll call it season 1 because we didn't know there will be season 2.

We were not sure how our listeners will take the concept, how they will listen to it, and how they will engage with it.

But the way we have been getting some of the most loving messages, it's heart warming when you see that your work has been able to help others. And not only here in Canada as the show has been listened to in over 35 countries!

Topics:

Why he started the podcast
What he learned from the guests on the show
How the podcast has helped him personally
What to expect in season 2 and the upcoming episodes

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

Episode 24: Season Finale, Highlights of Season 1 Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that our podcast is now listened to in 30 countries? When we started the “All Things Seniors” podcast, I never imagined that our efforts of creating the show will be accepted so positively around the world and that we will be given so much love and support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Topics:

Rafiq's backstory and how he came to where he is today
How the “All Things Seniors” podcast came about
How the podcast made him a better caregiver
Things he learned from the guests on his show
What's next for the podcast

Links:

Rafiq's Email: rafiq@seniorspodcast.com
All Things Seniors’ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors/

Episode 23: COVID19 - It's impact on Financial and Psycho-Social Health, for Seniors and Caregivers Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that although coronavirus (COVID-19) is primarily a health challenge, its impacts on financial markets is very significant as well? On one hand, global death toll has gone over 100,000 people and on the other hand financial markets have gone down by over 30 percent. To address the elephant in the room, I decided to invite a health and financial expert over.

In this episode, we’ll talk about the deep impact the pandemic has on people's retirement savings and cash flows. To help us figure things out, we have Doug Buss with us today. Doug has over 33 years of experience and is considered a veteran in the financial industry. Doug works with over 1,200 families and has been on the podcast before.

To cover topics related to elderly care and the role of caregivers, we have Taz Lakhani with us today. She is the director of care for Right At Home - Greater Winnipeg Area. She has been in the industry for over 15 years now. Taz works with various community organisations and lots of families who are dealing with dementia or various other elderly challenges. She's working at the grassroots level.

Topics:

How coronavirus affects older adults especially on the health side of things
What to do to prevent the spread of the virus
Difference between social distancing and social isolation
On utilising technologies
The impact of the pandemic on older adults from a financial perspective
Taz's thoughts on what caregivers should be doing at times like these
What Taz sees in the community right now
How Doug helps some of the families he’s working with in terms of retirement savings loss
What Taz sees while working in the community of people with dementia
Taz's advice to caregivers to make this journey easier for them in times like these
Doug's tips to caregivers in terms of finances
Their advice on what caregivers should do

Links:

Zoom: https://zoom.us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com

Taz's Company Website: https://www.rightathomecanada.com/winnipeg

Taz's Office Contact: 2043185554

Doug's Company Website: https://www.yourstylefinancial.ca/

Doug's Office Contact: 2042276395

Doug Buss' Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/episode-2-how-much-do-i-need-for-my-retirement/id1490462770?i=1000459492474

Teepa Snow's Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/episode-6-using-a-positive-approach-to-dementia-care/id1490462770?i=1000460272808

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

Doug's Company Website: www.yourstylefinancial.ca/

Doug's Book: www.yourstylefinancial.ca/bookpurchase

Doug's Facebook: www.facebook.com/yourstylefinancial/

Doug's Twitter: https://twitter.com/dougbuss

Doug's Email: doug@yourstylefinancial.ca

Office number: 204.474.2929

Tazz's Website: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg

Taz's Email: Taz@RAHWinnipeg.ca

Taz’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RightAtHomeWinnipeg

Did You Know Segment:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Episode 22: Entrepreneurship as Retirement Career Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that a 50 plus year old startup founder is almost 3 times more likely to have a successful business compared to a 25-year-old startup founder? I would have thought that due to positive stats like that there would have been more and more support to grant fundings available to this older entrepreneur group but no, we don't see that.

However, there are great people in our society who see the need for that kind of support for older entrepreneurs and they take action.

One such awesome person is with us here today, Wendy Mayhew. Wendy is an author, educator, and entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience. Her most recent businesses are "WISE - Seniors in Business" and "WISE 50 over 50 Awards.” WISE - Seniors in Business was formed to change how older entrepreneurs are perceived and to guide older entrepreneurs in deciding if entrepreneurship is for them.

Wendy has quickly became Canada's leading expert on older entrepreneurship. She has an extensive research in understanding the challenges. She is a sought after speaker and workshop facilitator of many business organisations. Now, she's starting to realise the importance of serving this newest group of entrepreneurs.

Topics:

Why she created the WISE 50 over 50 Awards
Who decides who is going to receive the award
The biggest challenge of older entrepreneurs
What she sees people use as an alternate option
On finding different avenues of financing
How people approach entrepreneurship if their family is not supporting them
What the role of the local Chamber of Commerce is
Her thoughts on seeing some people venture into different things
Her advice to people when preparing for a change
On her book
Her advice to people who are retired and wants to venture into entrepreneurship

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

Wendy's Website: www.Wise-SeniorsInBusiness.com

Wendy's Email: Wendy@LaunchItRight.com

Wendy’s Twitter: Wendy_Mayhew

Wendy’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wiseseniorsinbusiness/

Wendy’s book: WISER: The Definitive Guide to Starting a Business after the Age of 50

Did You Know Segment:

https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/a-study-of-27-million-startups-found-ideal-age-to-start-a-business-and-its-much-older-than-you-think.html

Episode 21: Family Caregivers, Need Help Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that nearly half of the Canadian population has cared for an ageing, ill, or disabled family member or friend at some point in time? This is according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.

Despite little or no training, family caregivers are expected to provide care at home while trying to navigate our complicated healthcare system. On top of that, they also serve as substitute decision-makers.

As a society, we need to do more to support informal caregivers. The question is, how? Do we have a silver bullet? No. There is no definitive answer or approach as yet. Therefore a lot of research is being done to identify ways and methods we can use to support family caregivers.

In this episode, we have a prolific and renowned national researcher, Michelle Lobchuk. Michelle is a registered nurse and an associate professor at the College of Nursing, University of Manitoba.

Her research, spanning over almost two decades, has focused on communications support for professional and family caregivers. Michelle has held Canadian cancer society research scientist award and recently, a research Manitoba chair in caregiver communications.

Topics:

What caregivers’ iceberg means
Actions that help improve caregiving
On building confidence in caregivers
What high-risk family caregiver means
Two red flags
Tools developed in Canada
The red flag questions
Myths about caregiving
Current percentage of male and female caregivers
Methods taught to students
The course they offer
Who they offer the course to
Responsibilities of healthcare providers
Importance of open-ended questions
Her message and tips to family caregivers
The action item she gave
On her warning factor

Quotes:

“We have to remember, especially with our ageing population, that more and more families are serving in the role as our care partners.”

“So I think environments, in terms of our systems, is a huge barrier in terms of how we can practice holistic care.”

“The world seems to say, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ I think it takes a village to help and support family care.”

“In a moment of calmness and in the moment where the pressure is not very high, remind yourself that you have to ask for help when you feel like your health is not doing well.”

“I wanna give you permission to love yourself and to pay attention to the needs that you have always addressed perhaps your whole life.”

“Keep a list of things that people can do for you.”

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

Michelle's Email: Michelle.Lobchuk@umanitoba.ca

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

Michelle's Email: Michelle.Lobchuk@uManitoba.ca