#caregiver_tips

Your parent looks at you, confused. They don’t remember your name. You smile, holding back tears, because today is a hard day. You’re not alone in this journey.Caregiving for a loved one with dementia is an emotional and often overwhelming experience. But you’re not alone. In this interview, Betsy Wurzel spoke with Kathleen Bjork—a longtime educator, caregiver, blogger, and author—who turned her personal experience into a valuable resource for others. If you’re looking for encouragement, practical tips, and real-life stories, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

In this insightful interview, we focused on grieving during the holiday season. Claire offered invaluable advice, such as embracing sadness, accepting and validating your emotions, and practicing self-kindness. She also emphasized the importance of self-care, including staying hydrated, getting proper rest, and maintaining good nutrition during difficult times.We talked about my personal experiences with grief and how, thanks to Claire's guidance, Betsy feels more prepared to cope with this holiday season.  Claire also shared her experiences with holiday grief and introduced the "Empty Chair" concept—acknowledging the absence of a loved one, starting new traditions, and building a supportive environment. She encouraged having a "quiet room" where people can take breaks from festivities, free from self-judgment. We also explored the "Lumpy Legacy" concept – the idea that life is full of challenges and changes and that this is not the end of your story. This interview is a must-watch for anyone navigating grief. Claire will return in March 2025 to discuss grief in the workplace. Betsy highly recommends Putting Out the Fire, a book that significantly helped her healing journey, even though her loss of her husband Matt was four years ago.

The conversation also touched on the significance of spreading light, love, and kindness by sending simple text messages—checking in on others, expressing love, and showing appreciation. Betsy and Tammy emphasized how meaningful it is for caregivers to know people are thinking of them. Tammy shared exciting news about an expanded edition of her book, set for release in April 2025. This new edition will include additional messages from 2023 and 2024, along with other surprises. She also discussed how her knowledge of book marketing, publishers, and the industry has grown over time, and how learning from mistakes fosters growth rather than being seen as failure. This interview is both engaging and inspiring, and Betsy highly recommends Tammy’s book as a perfect holiday gift. In her view, Tammy’s passion for spreading messages of love, kindness, and support is much needed in today’s world.

Christine is the founder of her business, "PreAct Your Age." In this insightful interview, Christine talked about the inspiration behind her books, what they cover, and the personal motivations that led her to write them. We also explored her decade-long experience as a caregiver for 100 people, what she has learned, and the gaps in resources and information surrounding Alzheimer’s, aging in place, and evolving perspectives on aging. We also touched on the importance of self-care for caregivers, staying active, and finding joy in life as we age. Christine shared her thoughts on how societal views on aging are shifting and the growing focus on quality of life for seniors. Additionally, we discussed grief and why she highly recommends her book "CareGRIEVER Kit," which offers valuable insights for those going through the grieving process.  Christine's live-streaming podcast, "Aspects of Aging," brings in experts who provide resources on aging in place, caregiving, financial planning, and self-care. Betsy had the pleasure of being a panelist on the podcast twice!

We explore the financial challenges caregivers face and the risks to their own health. Dr. Greenhut outlines the importance of distinguishing between a "what to do" list and a "have to" list, urging caregivers to establish priorities and seek outside assistance when needed. Furthermore, we discuss the significance of knowing available resources, such as geriatric social workers, caregiver advocates, and geriatric nurse managers, who can provide invaluable support and guidance in planning and accessing local resources. Dr. Greenhut shares a sobering statistic: 63 percent of 70-year-old caregivers die before their loved ones. Drawing from her own caregiving experiences with her parents and others, she offers practical insights and advice. For more information on this podcast with Betsy Wurzel:  https://bit.ly/43PhHaZ

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chatting-with-betsy--4211847/support. In the discussion, Sheron candidly shares her caregiving journey, underscoring the vital importance of self-care, continuous learning, and advocacy. She recounts a touching anecdote revealing the profound impact of attentive caregiving on her mother's well-being, highlighting the significance of vigilance and open communication in such circumstances. Drawing from her wealth of experience, Sheron also offers invaluable insights into her professional domain as a book and publishing coach, shedding light on how aspiring authors can navigate the intricacies of the writing process with expert guidance. Additionally, she passionately delves into her journey towards embracing a plant-based lifestyle, reflecting her dedication to vegan cooking and its myriad benefits. As the conversation concludes, Betsy and Sheron discuss meaningful ways to honor caregivers not just on National Caregiver's Day but year-round, while also inviting listeners to explore Sheron's culinary creations through her acclaimed cookbooks available on Amazon.com. For more information for Sheron and Betsy, use this URL! The Journey as Entrepreneur and Caregiver

In their conversation, Bina sheds light on the motivation behind creating Compassionate Callers, a distinctive calling service designed to aid caregivers and their loved ones. The collaboration between Compassionate Callers and Parent Projects™ has given rise to Compassionate Concierge. Bina and Betsy delve into the essential role played by Parent Projects™ and the significance of having a dedicated resource for adult children supporting their parents aged 55 and above. Bina emphasizes that individuals can easily schedule an assessment through a phone call or the website. These assessments are tailored to each person, with services carefully vetted for the individual's local area. We are providing more information on this topic for all caregivers at this URL: Resources for Adult Children of Aging Baby Boomers

The conversation delves into the profound and unconditional love that spouses experience during the caregiving journey, the inherent desire to fix our loved ones, and the realization that some challenges are beyond our control. Darlene hopes that readers will glean from the book the importance of self-prioritization, emphasizing the need to take care of oneself first and advocating for a better understanding of a loved one's diagnosis. Betsy and Darlen explore the additional difficulties faced during the pandemic, as loved ones found themselves in hospitals or facilities, adding layers of grief, isolation, and heartbreak. Darlene Fuchs maintains a dedicated Facebook page, "Get in the Boat," inviting readers to connect and share their experiences. For more additional information: Navigating the intricate dance with dementia