Caring Conversations

Kara joins us to share how she manages the care of her brother, Rafe, and her career.  Rafe has a serious and persistent mental illness, which has been exacerbated by his loss of vision. His daily and ongoing needs are complex and unique. Following an incident, while he was hospitalized at a reputable psychiatric hospital, in which he blinded himself, he spent many months at a second large mental hospital with insufficient psychiatric support. This hospital was unable to provide comprehensive therapeutic and transitional care required for Rafe to progress in his recovery. Kara was able to find an out-of-network, private mental health facility in Connecticut, Silver Hill Hospital, which agreed to meet Rafe, and ultimately accepted him into their program. Kara has been a tireless caregiver for Rafe, unabashedly using all of her resources to help get him the best care available and making sure there is wrap-around care to address his very complicated needs. She also cares for more personal things, like buying him a guitar for Christmas (he loves playing!) and making sure he can get his hair and nails cut, too. There is nothing too big or too small when it comes to Kara caring for Rafe and his overall well-being. Read more about Kara: https://www.caregiving.com/ncc19/coty-kara-guerriero/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Sharon Hall will be joined by Teresa Webb, the founder of FTDARN. She will discuss how FTDARN came into existence, what its mission is, and how they have helped FTD families. She will also make a very exciting announcement that will show how much this small, all volunteer, non-profit is reaching out to help FTD families. This is the organization that produced the brochure many of you use, listing the symptoms of FTD and featuring the Johnson Family, Teresa, and another board member, Amy Shives. They know what it is like to live FTD and they know the financial burdens that can come with FTD. To learn more, or donate to their efforts, visit www.ftdarn.org and join us for the big reveal!!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Dean Regan and Frank McKenna have been together for 23 years and married in 2008. They live in a 3-bedroom midcentury ranch home in San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Recently Dean’s mother and sister moved in with them creating a household of senior citizens. They use their love for one another and their faith to establish and nurture this new family dynamic. Through their business, “Living in Concert with Life!,” Dean and Frank have a personal commitment to supporting people’s choices for living their best life. The four use these principles along with their faith to work through this big transition for the family. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Brenda, one of our Certified Caregiving Consultants™, is also now a Certified Caregiving Educator™ and Certified Caregiving Facilitator™. Brenda is also one of our 2019 Family Caregiver of the Year Award winners. Brenda is the proud and passionate caregiver of her 25-year-old daughter, Nikki, who has significant physically and developmental disabilities that make her medically fragile and dependent on technology for survival. Brenda was part of the first Family Faculty at her regional children’s hospital, teaching healthcare providers and students about the needs of children with health challenges and their families. She participated in the inaugural healthcare and caregiver collaboration aimed at enhancing the transition of children from pediatrics to adult healthcare services. Most recently, she started Coaching for Caregivers Canada in an effort to provide support and guidance to caregivers whose needs are often overlooked in their caregiving journeys. Above all else, Brenda’s meaning, wisdom, and inspiration is found in being mother to Nikki, a young lady who brings infectious love and laughter to the world everyday! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Claire E. Day, Chief Program Officer, Alzheimer's Association Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter join us to discuss the latest release of Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Sharon Hall will be joined by Rebekah Wilson, MSW (agingcarecoach.com), to discuss what makes families scratch their heads and be resentful, anosognosia. When someone is diagnosed with FTD, they often say there is nothing wrong with them, you are just trying to make them sick. They insist they can drive, grocery shop, work, and be totally independent. Yet, they have accidents, bring home only cookies from the store, get fired due to someone else's fault, and leave the front door wide open when they leave the house. We will discuss this weird word, anosognosia, and give advice on how to work around it when you have an FTDer who is "just fine" and will not give up driving, independence, or applying for jobs.We will realistically discuss what "might" work and definitely discuss what will "never" work. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

The kitten roar of a gentle breeze sweeping past you. The trumpet blasts of car horns on a busy urban street. The hymns you hum to yourself without even realizing. These are the songs of life that surround you. I pray that your soul finds peace in the harmony that surrounds you today. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

A 30+ year caregiver for his wife, Gracie, who lives with severe disabilities, Peter Rosenberger understands the caregiver’s journey, and is on a mission to strengthen the family caregiver.  Through his books, music, and weekly radio show heard on more than 200 stations, Peter demonstrates an unswerving commitment to those who put themselves between a vulnerable loved one and even worse disaster. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

So often, the end of the day can bring with it the weight of guilt as you think on all of the promises you made that were unfulfilled. But when guilt threatens to overwhelm, there is the promise of love and grace to sustain you another day. This episode is a prayer for you to rest in that promise. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Mike Eidsaune created Carely, a free mobile app designed for caregivers, in order to create a purposeful communication environment that empowers family caregivers to come together around the care of their loved one. In planning for the business, Mike made the decision that, no matter what, the app would always be free for families to use. After five years, and multiple iterations, that decision still holds true. The Carely family app is available on any smart device and can be utilized by families for free. Families use Carely to communicate, coordinate, make decisions, and support one another. It helps families, who are often busy with work or spread apart geographically, answer the simplest questions: “Who saw mom/dad last?”; “Who’s going to see her/him next?”; and “How did those visits go?” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message