Caring Conversations

Empowered Family Caregiver Podcast EP: 27 with guest, Virginia Hunter Sampson.  Tune in for Virginia's 3 best tips for practicing self-compassion and more!  I had the privilege of interviewing Virginia Hunter Sampson on my Empowered Family Caregiver podcast. We had a great conversation about the importance of exercising radical self-compassion. Virginia offers some serious wisdom with 3 ways family caregivers can embrace self-compassion. She also shares a meltdown tip that is so easy it will blow your mind. During the "Take 5 With Tandy Round", hear Virginia’s advice on how to reduce caregiver stress, how she found her best during what seemed like her worst, what she is grateful for and her advice for keeping hope alive. Click the link below to hear our entire chat. See below for interview highlights if there is a particular part you are interested in hearing. More about Virginia: Virginia received her J.D. degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. She has been a practicing litigation attorney for almost 35 years. She started in the legal field when few women were litigators. She was a judge for several years.  She currently practices elder law helping seniors with their legal issues. She has been a full-time caregiver to her husband, a victim of domestic violence, a single parent to four children, a widow, a divorcee, a step-parent and more.  Her husband was diagnosed with ALS when her youngest child was two weeks old.  Learn more about Virginia and her NCC18 presentation on “Preventing Burnout HERE. Comment on your aha's on this episode for a chance to WIN one of her books! Comment here on our FB page: http://www.facebook.com/EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver and be entered to WIN! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Ep 26 of the Empowered Family Caregiver podcast with guest, Lynette Whiteman. Join us as we chat about:  Her caregiving journey and professional life. Lynette shares THE biggest thing you need to do when you first become a caregiver & how to get the help you need. She also uncovers the biggest things to remember when you're feeling guilty. During the "Take 5 With Tandy Round", hear Lynette's advice to reduce caregiver stress, how she found her best during what seemed like her worst, what she is grateful for and her advice for keeping hope alive.  Lynette Whiteman wears 2 hats. She is the Executive Director of Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey and also the caregiver for her mother who has dementia and lives with her. She began her career as a Physician Assistant and has a Masters in Geriatric Medicine. As Executive Director, she oversees a nonprofit agency which is dedicated to providing free support to older adults and caregivers who strive to remain independent. Through a vast network of volunteers, their programs include medical transportation, grocery shopping, friendly visits, calls and an Alzheimer's Respite Care Program. Lynette is also the founder of Caregiver Canines - a therapy dog program that provides free visits to the homebound and those with dementia for tail-wagging joy. Her caregiving journey began as her parents aged and her dad gave up driving. After her dad's passing in Nov. 2011, her mother became unable to manage day-to-day life and she moved into Lynette's home. Lynette is the host of the podcast “On the Frontlines of Caregiving” and is a contributing blogger for Caregiving.com.   Check out our interview highlights HERE and learn more about Lynette and where to find her across the web. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

As a caregiver myself, I know that it is not always easy to know how to talk about dying. It can be awkward, embarrassing and can cause a lot of fear. This can lead us to miss opportunities to connect on a deeper level with those who are dying or comfort those who are grieving.  Katie Chambers is an End of Life Doula for Holisticare Hospice.  In a kind and sensitive manner, Katie helps us prepare for the loss of our loved one so that when the time comes, we can face this time knowing we did everything we could.  Katie answers common questions dealing with how to approach an older person who says "I just want to die, I'm done' and when to seek help in the grieving process. One of the books that Katie recommends to the families she visits is Grief 365. She finds these daily meditations to be very helpful in bringing peace.  If you would like to contact Katie to ask any follow up questions, her email is: [email protected] and here is a link to  Hositicare Hospice. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Welcome to the Empowered Family Caregiver Podcast with Tandy Elisala  EFC: Ep 25 - 3 Ways to Bounce Forward From Option C (The Caregiving Club You Didn't Want to Join)  In this episode, I will share with you the 3 Proven Steps to decrease stress, improve your mindset and keep hope alive moment by moment so you can bounce forward with grace and ease. The general ideas around these 3 steps are: You have the power within!  I’m going to show you simple mindset tips to shift negative thinking so you can worry less. I used these tips to help heal.Navigating the emotional terrain -  I’m going to help you uncover the secret to keeping hope alive moment by moment even if you are in the middle of chaos.  See the Heart, Not the Chart –I’m going to share how to see beyond daily caregiving responsibilities so you can create profound meaning as a caregiver. Listen in as we break these ideas down. Follow/connect with our facebook page @EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver, where we continue the conversation.  Join our private FB Group @ facebook.com/groups/EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver Subscribe to this podcast and leave a review! If you find value in this podcast, please subscribe and give my show a + review.  Check out my Etsy store where I have caregiving products for sale: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoachingWithTandy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Welcome to the Empowered Family Caregiver Podcast with Tandy Elisala  EFC: Ep 24 - 24 Family Questions About 4 Senior Living Options   As a family caregiver, one of the most important and difficult decisions you will make is how to choose the right type of living community is right for your loved one when they aren’t able to age in place at home anymore.   The choices are many and include independent living, assisted living, nursing home, memory care and a continuing care retirement community or a life plan community. Asking yourself these questions will help you determine which community is the best choice for your family’s needs. How you answer these questions is a good indicator of what type of senior living community will be a good fit. We're chatting about:  1. Independent Living 2. Assisted Living 3. Memory Care  4. Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) or Life Plan Community    Follow/connect with our facebook page @EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver, where we continue the conversation. 9/9/18 - 9/15/18, I'm going live daily to chat about #NationalAssistedLivingWeek  Subscribe to this podcast and leave a review! If you find value in this podcast, please click the subscribe button, share with family and friends, and give my show a positive review.  One legal option I recommend is Legal Shield. Learn more about LS here: https://bit.ly/coachtandyls Check out my Etsy store where I have caregiving products for sale: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoachingWithTandy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Welcome to the Empowered Family Caregiver Podcast with Tandy Elisala  EFC: Episode 23  11 Ways to Keep Your Family Safe Financially    Here are some key ways to keep your loved one’s safe financially that we discuss in more detail in this episode:    1. Financial planning  2. Switch to generics  3. Find less expensive brand name drugs  4. Switch to a mail-order pharmacy  5. Find a better Medicare drug plan   6.Apply for the Extra Help program    7.Free or reduced medication costs.  Several sites to check include: www.needymed.com.  RxAssist.org 8. Negotiated medical bills  9. When evaluating nursing home options and if you opt to have a nursing home manage funds, find out if trust funds managed on their behalves are insured and bonded.  10. Seek legal counsel to evaluate your financial situation and needs. One option I recommend is Legal Shield. Learn more about that option here: https://bit.ly/coachtandyls 11.  Evaluate their expenses on a regular basis to ensure the appropriateness of spending patterns and habits.  I invite you to join my private FB group @ www.facebook.com/groups/EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver   Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoachingWithTandy? Subscribe to this podcast and leave a review! If you find value in this podcast, please click the subscribe button, share with family and friends, and give my show a positive review. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Geri Hall, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, will join Sharon Hall to discuss how to know when you need more help and how to get that help. Sharon cares for her husband, diagnosed with FTD in the fall of 2015, and moderates our weekly FTD chat on CareGiving.com. You can call into the live 30-minute show with your questions or email them to ftdpodcastquestions @ yahoo.com prior to the show. CareGiving.com hosts a chat for those who care for a family member with FTD every Monday at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. MT, 4 p.m. PT). About Dr. Hall Geri Hall, an internationally-recognized advanced practice nurse who holds a nursing doctorate, is widely respected for her research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. She developed the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold Model, a framework for planning care of dementia patients and measuring outcomes by studying the presence or absence of behavior symptoms such as agitation and depression. The model is widely by used by professionals in the United States, Australia and South Korea. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Welcome to the Empowered Family Caregiver Podcast with Tandy Elisala                                    EFC Episode 22: 5 Best Ways to Embrace the Now When Your Brain Stays in Overdrive    Tune in for 5 Best Ways to Embrace the Now When Your Brain Stays in Overdrive. As a caregiver, your mind is always going a mile a minute. Here are 5 tips to help your brain embrace the present moment.  Follow/connect with our facebook page @EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver, where we continue the conversation.  I invite you to join my private FB group @ www.facebook.com/groups/EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver   Subscribe to this podcast and leave a review! If you find value in this podcast, please click the subscribe button, share with family and friends, and give my show a positive review. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

Welcome to the Empowered Family Caregiver Podcast with Tandy Elisala                                          EFC Episode 21: 7 Ways You Can Combine Self-Care and Legacy    Tune in for my 7 best ways you can integrate self-care and legacy building activities with your loved one.    Follow/connect with our facebook page @EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver, where we continue the conversation.  I invite you to join my private FB group @ www.facebook.com/groups/EmpoweredFamilyCaregiver   Subscribe to this podcast and leave a review! If you find value in this podcast, please click the subscribe button, share with family and friends, and give my show a positive review. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message

This month, my co-host, Lisa B Capp, and I take a closer look at this question: How do we change our viewpoint on death? About Lisa B Capp Lisa is a blogger, an activist and a dementia caregiving survivor. As a High Tech Change Consultant, Lisa worked with leaders of global business, governments and non-profits. Her passion for empowering strength through transition in her professional work is now focused on those living a care partner life. For more information visit her website at www.lisabcapp.com. Connect on Twitter @lisabcapp and LinkedIn at Lisa B Capp. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/caring-conversations/message