Tag Archives: Caregiver

Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio


BHC_fb

 

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.

JG

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 CCRcoverKnow’ 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.

cjmbtr (1)

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

Related articles

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Are Your Advance Directives Up-To-Date?


be-healthy

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!

TLOjake4

TLOjack3

                  

TLOjake2

TLOjake1

‘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: 

cjmbtr (1)

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

 Related articles

Leave a comment

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

LGBT Aging Through the Lens of Gen Silent on ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio


BHC_fb

 

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.

shapeimage_6

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.

gensilent

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.

cjmbtr (1)

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

 

3 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

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


be-healthy

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.   

ernest 1

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.

img_19122012_204936

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

blogtalkradiologo Simply click here

 

6 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Caregiving and Those Silly Hats


be-healthy

 

 

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.

The Mad HattersWhile 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…

img_19122012_204936

But Cancer Does Not Have US!

3 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

“America’s Safe Retirement Coach”, Jack Tatar


BHC_fb

 

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.

 

img_19122012_204936

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

blogtalkradiologo Simply click here

 

 

4 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio


be-healthy

 

On Tuesday February 19th  at 1:00 pm,  we welcome  Frank Ruppen from  “You’re Covered Insurance Services to  our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio .

logoYC

Understanding Life, Health and Long Term Care Insurance can be complex. This has been exacerbated with the passing of the Affordable Care Act.

Through Frank’s hands on approach to educating and ensuring his clients understand and have the proper coverage at the best rates, Frank will help us all ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ by sharing his expertise on all the upcoming changes to the Affordable Care Act.

 

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.

img_19122012_204936

 To access all our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ episodes on

blogtalkradiologo Simply click here

Leave a comment

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio


be-healthy

On Tuesday February 12th  at 1:00 pm,  we welcome  Dr. Loren Olson  author of ‘Finally Out: Letting Go of Living Straight, a Psychiatrist’s Own Story’  to our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio .

Loren Olson 2-200x300 Loren Olsonjpg Dr. Olson will be talking about his book ‘Finally Out: Letting Go of The Straight Life, A Psychiatrist’s Own Story’ , along with his upcoming appearances in Florida as well as his unexpected Caregiving experience.

Average … he’s not. Not only did Dr. Olson complete medical school, serve four years as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy, and embark upon a successful career as a psychiatrist; he also had a compatible eighteen year marriage and raised two daughters with his attorney wife, Lynn, before facing up to a difficult truth about himself: he is gay.

Through Dr. Olson’s expertise, we will all learn how to ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ 

To visit Dr. Olson website and to purchase his book, simply click 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.

img_19122012_204936

 To access all our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ episodes on

blogtalkradiologo Simply click here

 

 

3 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

VRide for Caregivers Health: Update Week 3


be-healthy

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.  Jim Davis 

IMG_1743

Week 4 Weigh Inn
You’ll have to look close! 🙂

This past week in dieting has been a challenge, but I have learned plenty of good lessons this week,too.

  1. Schedule Time for your exercise 
  2. Adhere To Your Schedule
  3. Excuses are for whiner
  4. See # 1

 

While I make it a point to walk every day this week, I only got in 10 miles on the bike.  Why is that…Busy at work, busy at Caregiving, but too busy for myself 

Photo Credit: Free Digital Photos.com

Photo Credit: Free Digital Photos.com

So, since you can’t really see the scale…it is important for me to own up to it… I gained 1 lbs back this week.  Not to bad when you come to think about, but I come out of this week knowing that I have to make more time for myself.   If I am going to Be A Healthy Caregiver, I have to take care of myself too!

Luckily with the support of our #VRide team at Caregiving.com , I know that I can get back on track.

Speaking of our #VRide Team, did you see our first virtual visit today to one of our family caregivers.  Check out the  video of our #VRide moderated by Denise Brown at Caregiving.com.  You can seen the video by simply clicking here.  

Now that we’ve made it to our first stop, we are now planning our  second virtual  visit, we’ll be announcing that soon!  

Check out all our #VRide participants at Caregiving.com 

Continue to follow my progress here at ‘The Purple Jacket.”

We Might Have Cancer…

heart

But Cancer Does Not Have US!

Related articles

Leave a comment

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ On Blog Talk Radio


be-healthy

 On Tuesday February 5th  at 1:00 pm,  we welcome author, Dr. Diana Denholm of  The Caregiving  Wife’s Handbook’ to our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio .

master photo M

Dr. Diana Denholm

CWH_cover_final(1)

Drawing from her own Caregiving experience and those of six real life Caregiving wives interviewed for her book, Dr. Denholm offers her readers creative ideas, inspiration and lots of practical tools women can use to deal with the most common issues faced when husbands suffer from a protracted illness.

Through her work and experience, Dr. Denholm is going to show us how we all can ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver!’ 

 Our show is available live or archived online for your convenience, by clicking here.

 

img_19122012_204936

 

To access all our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ episodes on

blogtalkradiologo Simply click here

 

5 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket