Monthly Archives: March 2013

March 31, 2013 · 10:30 am

Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio

Caregivers: Join Us on a Caregiving Cruise!

On Tuesday April 2nd I welcome “Your Vacation Specialist” Jerry Dismarais from Cruises Inc to our show. You can listen to the show by clicking here.

Jerry is a Certified Travel Accessible Advocate and has been instrumental in helping Denise Brown from Caregiving.com and me, ‘The Bow Tie Guy’ plan our Caregiving Cruise for this coming November. Concerned about bringing your Caree on a cruise, Jerry will bring his knowledge and expertise on the Cruise and Travel Industry and how they provide for those of us with a special needs in order to make traveling easy, safe, enjoyable and comforting!

Through our conversation with Jerry his information and knowledge of the cruise and travel industry will help us all ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’

To Listen to our show live on Tuesday at 1:00pm (est), simply click here.

Cannot listen live, NO Worries! All my shows are archived so that you listen at a time that is convenient for you by clicking here.

For more information on our Cruise and how to book the Cruise, click here.

Best Time of the Year to Go on a Cruise, Cheaply (epicatravel.com)
A Conversation About Our Cargiving Cruise (thepurplejacket.com)
Join our Caregiving Cruise: November 11-15, 2013 (caregiving.com)
A Conversation About Our Cruise (caregiving.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ On Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)

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Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as Blog Talk Radio, cruise, Travel

March 25, 2013 · 8:30 am

Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio

On Tuesday March 26th at 1:00 pm (est) we welcome Dr. John J. Garnand, author of ‘Cancer Caregiver Roles: What You Need to Know’ to our show. You can listen to our show by clicking here.

Dr. John J Garnand

John is a lifetime educator, award-winning instructor in the general areas of business strategy, management operations and ethics. Yet I am sure John will tell you that his most important role he has had in his life, is that of a Caregiver!

His book, ‘Cancer Caregiver Roles: What You Need to Know’ is John’s effort to pull together all the information that he learned over nine years of attending to his cancer patient loved one. John’s book is well worth reading!

Through our conversation today, John will help us all learn how to ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’

You can listen to our show live at 1:00 pm (est) by clicking here.

Cannot listen live, NO WORRIES, all our shows are archived so you can listen at a time that is convenient for you by clicking here

Purchase John’s book by simply clicking here

Visit John’s blog by simply clicking here

Visit John’s Facebook page by simply clicking here

End Of Life Wishes: Sometimes You Just Have To Ask. (thepurplejacket.com)
A Live Person On The Phone…YES! (thepurplejacket.com)
LGBT Aging Through the Lens of Gen Silent on ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
Spotlight On Jacqueline Marcell: ‘Elder Rage’ Author, Radio Host and Caregiver Advocate (assistedlivingtoday.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ Every Tuesday on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
A Guide for the Cancer Caregiver (everydayhealth.com)

Are Your Advance Directives Up-To-Date?

As Caregivers, we often have a number of daily responsibilities on our mind in relation to the (physical) health and wellness of our Caree. However, there are other important responsibilities that we as Caregivers have to attend to that is not always on the daily schedule. One of those responsibilities is to assure that all the Advance Directives are current and up-to-date!

We have been talking about reviewing our Advance Directives since we returned full-time to Florida last year. Recently we visited with our attorney Jake Miller to review our advance directives and did not realize until we sat down with Jake, that our directives were more than six years old. (Time does fly, even in Caregiving!) While our ‘instructions’ and ‘wishes’ were still the same, we learned from our visit with our attorney that Florida Law had changed quite a bit over the years and that we were in need of an update on our directives!

‘The Little One’ with our attorney, Jake Miller, Esq.

Here are some pragmatic reminders that will help us all ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’

Review your advance directives on a yearly basis:
Be mindful that State Laws do change and updates are needed on a regular basis:
When having ‘the talk’, reassure your Caree that this conversation is about their wishes, not yours:
Don’t pressure, reassure:
Keep a hard copy of the advance directives in your car at all times:
Consider storing your advance directive in an electronic database: I recommend Docubank :
Keep an updated copy of your Caree’s medications with the Advanced Directives;
Always have a ‘hard copy’ of your advance directives readily available at home for emergency personnel including up-to-date information on medications:
Learn about the ‘Five Wishes‘ by clicking here:

While having ‘the conversation’ in regards to Advance Directives is not always easy, assuring that your Advance Directives are up-to-date, will help reduce stress in an emergency!

Listen to:

Every Tuesday at 1:00 pm (EST) by simply clicking here!

Related articles

Needed: Your Stories About Decisions (caregiving.com)
A Live Person On The Phone…YES! (thepurplejacket.com)
This Weekend, USA Today Includes a Caregiving Supplement (caregiving.com)
State seeks input on issues facing older adults, caregivers (yumasun.com)
The CareGiver Partnership Announces ‘Get Back Into Life’ February… (prweb.com)
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LGBT Aging Through the Lens of Gen Silent on ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio

On Tuesday, March 19th at 1:00 pm (est) we are thrilled to welcome Stu Maddux, Director & Producer of the critically acclaimed film, Gen Silent to our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio.

Stu Maddux receiving an award

The real life stories of love, commitment, discernment, hope, happiness and despair told through the lens of “Gen Silent” are gut wrenching, yet important for all audiences in order to understand the plight of LGBT seniors in America. Producer/Director Stu Maddux does a splendid job in piecing together these LGBT pioneers who helped paved the way for what we know today as Gay Pride.

As the Huffington Post said: “The film is heartbreaking, personal and the issues are real.”

Our conversation with Stu will not only focus on the film itself, but how Gen Silent has brought awareness to LGBT Aging issues in today’s society. Through our conversation, Stu will help us all learn how to ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver.’

To listen to our show live on Tuesday at 1:00 pm (est), simply click here.

Cannot listen live on Tuesday, NO WORRIES! Each one of our shows is archived for your listening convenience by clicking here.

It is an honor to have ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ selected as a ‘Featured Show’ by the folks at Blog Talk Radio for Tuesday, March 19th!

Visit Blog Talk Radio’s front page on Tuesday March 19th for details by clicking here

Documentary ‘Gen Silent’ raises question: Do LGBT seniors need to go back in the closet (miamiherald.typepad.com)
Wengroff: LGBT equality is on us to achieve (vtdigger.org)
U.S.: One-third of LGBT Immigrants Are Undocumented (advocate.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ Every Tuesday on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
CHMP’s Envision Health: Film & New Media co-sponsors The LGBT Film Series at Hunter College April 15, 20, 26th (centerforhealthmediapolicy.com)

3 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as Be A Healthy Caregiver, Blog Talk Radio, Bow Tie Guy, Caregiver, Caregiving, Gay pride, Gay Seniors, Gen-Silent, Huffington Post, LGBT, LGBT Seniors

March 13, 2013 · 5:23 pm

A Conversation on Home Health Care

On Tuesday’s episode of ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio, I had the pleasure of visiting with Ernst Olivas from Nautilus Senior Home Care, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Selecting a Home Health Care agency is a critical decision for any Caregiver and their Caree. Many States are now regulating Home Health Care agencies to assure that proper guidelines are being followed, especially when it relates to hiring competent and qualified staff. During the conversation with Ernst, I appreciated how he goes the extra mile to ensure his staff is properly trained and placed with family caregivers accordingly.

As Caregivers, we often want to do it ourselves and sometimes giving up control can be difficult. Yet Home Health Care can provide family Caregivers, and their Caree, with the needed respite care that is critical, so that everyone can ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver.’

When considering a Home Health Care Agency, here are some simple questions to ask when interviewing an Agency:

Does the Agency offer a Patients Bill of Rights:
What are the screening and hiring policies of the agency:
What are the training policies of the agency:
How does the agency handle employees who do not report for their shift/what are the backup plans:
How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality:
What are your fees/ hourly/ daily/ overnight:
How closely does the supervisors work with the staff to ensure quality care:
Is the agency licensed:

To listen to Tuesday’s show on Home Health Care simply click here.

To contact Ernst, please visit Nautilus Senior Home Care website by simply clicking here.

Join us on Tuesday March 19th on ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ as we welcome Stu Maddux, Director and Producer of the critically acclaimed film Gen Silent to our show!

You can access all our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ episodes on

Simply click here

‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ Every Tuesday on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
Keep Your loved ones independent (elderlycareservice.wordpress.com)
How to Choose the Right Care Home (epicafinance.com)
Home Care for Seniors (frontrangehomecare.wordpress.com)

4 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as Be A Healthy Caregiver, Blog Talk Radio, Family caregivers, Health, Home care, Home Health, The Bow-Tie-Guy

March 11, 2013 · 8:30 am

‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ Every Tuesday on Blog Talk Radio

On Tuesday, March 12th at 1:00pm EST we welcome Ernst Olivas, Jr from Nautilus Senior Home Care to our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio.

As A Caregiver, we are always looking for safe and competent help for our Caree. As the owner and operator of Nautilus Senior Home Care, Ernst is ‘hands-on’ when matching his clients with his staff.

Through our conversation today, Ernest will demonstrate to all of us how home health care can help is all ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver!”

Visit Nautilus Senior Home Care website by simply clicking here.

Our show is available live at 1:00 pm with optional chat room for you to ask questions to our guest. (Our show is archived so you can listen at your convenience.) To access our show, simply click here.

You can access all our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ episodes on

Simply click here

Challenges of caregiving ‘weigh’ on Chris MacLellan (thepurplejacket.com)
A Live Person On The Phone…YES! (thepurplejacket.com)
“America’s Safe Retirement Coach”, Jack Tatar (thepurplejacket.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ On Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
Caregivers: It’s Time To Get Healthy with ‘VRide’ (thepurplejacket.com)

6 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as Be A Healthy Caregiver, Blog Talk Radio, Caregiver, Florida, Health, Home care, Home Health, home health care, The Bow-Tie-Guy

March 9, 2013 · 8:08 am

Monarcares Blog

Water is the largest single substance in the human body and is vital for us to live. Every cell, tissue and organ requires water to function properly. Dehydration amongst adults 60 years of age and older is one of the most frequent causes of hospitalizations. There are a number of factors which impact an older adult’s ability to properly hydrate themselves.

Hormone changes-As the body ages, older adults experience a reduction of the hormones which signal the brain when the body is thirsty;
Medication side effects –Many of the medications that older adults take for treating chronic health conditions can increase the chances of becoming dehydrated such as blood pressure medications, diuretics, antidepressants which can cause body fluid loss;
Cognitive impairment –People with Alzheimer’s disease often take anti-psychotic drugs which can cause the body to lose fluids.
Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating and high temperatures are the most common…

View original post 78 more words

Caregiving and Those Silly Hats

I will be the first to admit that I have hit a dry spell recently in my writing. When chatting with other bloggers about this, I have learned that hitting a dry spell, or ‘The Wall’ as it has been described to me, is not uncommon. When you are a working family caregiver, there is often this tug of war between what you want to do, versus what you have time to do, coupled with the fact of what you have to do. No matter what role you might have in life, finding that balancing act is always a challenge.

A great example of finding that balancing act in life happened this past weekend at a fundraising event for work. While I always like to include ‘The Little One’ in on as many events that he feels up to attend, this past weekend I was quite surprised when we both went ‘all in’ at SunServe’s Garden and Hat party. Creating crazy looking bonnets is not something that we do on a regular basis, yet we had a great time together shopping, creating and wearing ‘those’ hats on Sunday.

While we did not win the crazy hat contest, the weekend event reminded me that bonding over something that is fun is essential for both of us. If you’re a caregiver like me, I am sure you get caught up in the daily routine of making sure everything is prefect for your caree.

The past few months, ‘The Little One’ has been blessed with more good days than bad, for which we are both grateful. Yet to ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ it is essential to find those times when we can take our mind off of things that we cannot control (cancer), and have fun with something that we can control (crazy hats). Letting go of control can be hard, yet in those bonding moments, there is a sense of freedom that for a moment, helps take all our worries away. Come to think about it…having one less worry in our day, helps us us find that elusive balance in our lives that we so constantly strive to achieve.

We Might Have Cancer…

…But Cancer Does Not Have US!

82: Who Would Have Known? (thepurplejacket.com)
How to Recognize Signs of Caregiver Burnout (thepurplejacket.com)
In Six Words, What’s a Caregiving Fear? (caregiving.com)
Caregivers: It’s Time To Get Healthy with ‘VRide’ (thepurplejacket.com)

3 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as Be A Healthy Caregiver, Caregiver, Caregiving, Health, LGBT Seniors, The Bow-Tie-Guy

March 5, 2013 · 5:11 pm

“America’s Safe Retirement Coach”, Jack Tatar

On Tuesday’s ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio I had a wonderful conversation with author Jake Tatar, “America’s Safe Retirement Coach.” Jack’s holistic approach to retirement planning is refreshing and right on the mark! All too often we work our lives through silo’s, yet when we focus on health, wellness, mental attitude and staying physically involved in life to our full capacity, we can maximize our retirement years to our benefit!

Jack’s sound advice for adult children having “the talk” ‘early’ on with parents provides each one of us, key insights on how to approach delicate topics such as financial planning, retirement and transitions. To listen to an archived version of Tuesday’s ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio, please click here

You can connect to Jac via his Website, please click here.

Jack’s new book, Having the Talk: The Four Keys to Your Parent’s Safe Retirement is also at Amazon by clicking here. Jack’s book, Safe 4 Retirement: The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement is also available from Amazon by clicking here.

Join us every Tuesday on Blog Talk Radio for ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog talk Radio. Next Tuesday’s guest is Ernest Olivias, Jr from Natulaus Home Health Care.

You can access all our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ episodes on

Simply click here

Retirement planning in Rockville-Wheaton, Maryland (bankrate.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ On Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)

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Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as advocacy, advocate, Be A Healthy Caregiver, Blog Talk Radio, Bow Tie Guy, Caregiver, Caregiving

March 4, 2013 · 9:55 am

Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio

On Tuesday, March 5th at 1:00pm EST we welcome ‘America’s Safe Retirement Coach’ Jack Tatar to our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio.

Because of his holistic approach, Jack has a unique perspective on retirement that focuses on health, wellness, mental attitude and staying involved as keys to living a long and safe retirement.