Caregiver Relief Podcast

Diane Carbo discusses the health benefits of elderberries in this episode of Caregiver Relief. Elderberries, particularly the Sambucus Nigra variety, are commonly used medicinal plants with a rich folk medicine history. They are often used in supplement form to treat colds and flu, thanks to their high antioxidant properties. Studies show that elderberry extract can inhibit certain viruses, potentially reducing the severity of colds, flu, and respiratory infections. Elderberries are beneficial for heart health, can improve blood sugar levels, and have potential skin and immune-boosting benefits. They also show potential in addressing mild cognitive impairment and acting as a natural pain reliever. However, more research is needed to fully understand their health potential.

Dr. D Dubose, a renowned psychiatrist and certified transcranial magnetic stimulation physician, shares his insights on alternative treatments for mental health, particularly in his work with ketamine and TMS. He specializes in treatment-resistant depression and has seen the devastating impact of depression on individuals and their families. Dr. Dubose believes that the stigma and lack of knowledge about these treatments have been a barrier to people getting the help they need. Ketamine has been used since 1963 as an anesthetic, but it was observed 20 years ago that it had an antidepressant effect, which scientists researched and eventually led to the FDA approval of Esketamine, a nasal spray called Spravato. Ketamine and TMS have shown themselves to be effective modalities for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and other mental health problems. Dr. Dubose stresses the importance of patients having access to more options to treat difficult mental health problems.

The podcast features Diane Carbo, RN of Caregiver Relief and Care Team Partner, along with Pastor Dave Taylor and his wife Kelly, who are the co-directors of the Faith and Caregiving program at Care Team Partner. Dave is a pastor, nurse, and social worker. He and Kelly come from diverse religious backgrounds and have a passion for helping people through various illnesses, mobility issues, and other chronic diseases. They believe in providing person-centered care and developing resources to help people. Diane shares that many caregivers come to her for help because their churches have let them down. Dave and Kelly want to connect people to Care Team Partner's network of resources to help them get the support they need regardless of their faith or religion. They want to build a community that cares and has a focus on volunteerism to address the national caregiver crisis in the country.

The "Music for Dementia" campaign aims to make music a vital component of dementia care in the UK. As there is no known cure for dementia, the campaign seeks to provide access to music as an affordable and readily available form of therapy to aid in the daily care of those living with dementia.

In this podcast, Betsy Wurzel, a caregiver coach and dementia care specialist, discusses how to prepare for a doctor's appointment with Diane Carbo, a nurse and the founder of Caregiver Relief. The hosts stress the importance of being prepared for a doctor's visit, as doctors often have limited time with each patient. They advise listeners to bring a notepad, write down questions and concerns, and prioritize them in order to make the most of the appointment. They also recommend having someone with you to help you understand and record the doctor's answers, as well as being prepared for telemedicine appointments by having medications on hand and ensuring a good connection. Additionally, the hosts suggest reviewing all medications once a year and updating the doctor on any changes in health or recent visits to specialists or the ER. They note that communication is key and emphasize the importance of asking questions and not being afraid to reach out to the doctor for clarification. Finally, the hosts mention the challenges doctors face due to low reimbursement rates and government requirements, which make it difficult for them to spend adequate time with each patient.

Betsy Wurzel and Diane Carbo discuss how to avoid surprise medical bills. Betsy shares her personal story of how she received a high medical bill due to not checking whether her doctor and facility were in her insurance plan. The hosts emphasize the importance of checking your plan before going to a doctor or facility, especially with Medicare advantage plans which can be limiting. The podcast also highlights that insurance companies don't always continue to have agreements with doctors or hospitals, so it's important to do research before any medical procedure. Finally, they urge people to be detectives and do their research before seeking medical care, particularly if they are on a managed care plan or travel frequently.

The podcast discusses the topic of driving and retiring from driving for those with dementia. Betsy Wurzel, a dementia care specialist and podcast host, shares her experience with her husband who continued to drive despite showing signs of unsafe driving due to dementia. She emphasizes the importance of family members taking personal responsibility and not being afraid to have discussions about taking away their loved ones' driving privileges. Betsy regrets not having told the doctor to tell her husband he couldn't drive and advises others to learn from her experience. The podcast also mentions that denial and fear of loss of independence are common issues that prevent seniors from giving up driving, but it is important to consider the safety of not only the senior but also innocent people on the road. The podcast suggests that making the doctor or state the "enemy" can be helpful to avoid conflict in the family while taking necessary steps to ensure safety.

The podcast discusses the concept of a death doula, an end-of-life specialist who helps individuals and their families prepare for death, the dying process, and terminal illnesses. The services offered by a death doula range from writing advanced directives to post-death care and legacy work. The holistic approach of a death doula helps people face their fears and anxiety regarding death and dying. The discussion also mentions the concept of a death cafe, a safe place where individuals can meet to discuss death, the afterlife, and other related topics with like-minded people. The podcast notes that the need for death doulas is increasing as people look for alternative end-of-life care services that accommodate their desire to remain at home.

The podcast is about the benefits of having end-of-life conversations and planning for the end of life, including the fears and concerns that people may have about the subject. The speaker discusses the benefits of being able to make decisions about medical treatments, where the loved one will be when they pass away, how end-of-life care will be delivered, and what comfort measures will be provided. The speaker also highlights the importance of honoring the loved one's last wishes to avoid guilt or regret. Strategies for initiating conversations about end-of-life planning are also discussed, including avoiding family battles and making decisions before the loved one is too sick to express their wishes. The podcast also explains what an advanced directive and healthcare power of attorney are.

The podcast discusses the issue of driving safety and retiring from driving for aging drivers. Although getting older does not mean that one needs to give up the keys, changes in eyesight, physical condition, and slower response times may cause safety concerns. Aging adults face several fears related to giving up driving, such as isolation, increased dependence on others, and limited activities, leading to fewer social opportunities. It is essential to monitor the driving skills of aging adults and to address the issue of retiring from driving with them. Caregivers and friends should not avoid this topic because they fear anger or upsetting the aging senior. Instead, they must be honest with themselves as well as others and pay special attention to the limitations of senior drivers. It is also important to keep the lines of communication open and ask open questions about their thoughts and feelings on the subject. Finally, taking a driver refresher course and keeping up with medication changes can be helpful in maintaining driving skills.

In this podcast transcript, Betsy Wurzel, a dementia care specialist and caregiver coach, discusses her experience caring for her husband, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at age 56. Betsy explains that it was difficult to get a proper diagnosis, as her husband was misdiagnosed with depression and was not believed by the neuropsychologist. Betsy and the host discuss the importance of early diagnosis and the genetic component of early onset Alzheimer's. They also express frustration with the medical community's resistance to diagnosing early onset Alzheimer's, even when the patient showed clear symptoms and had an MRI showing significant global shrinkage.

The podcast discusses how to approach financial matters when taking care of aging loved ones. It emphasizes that discussing finances with loved ones can be difficult, and they may be private about the topic. The podcast offers suggestions on how to approach this issue with a caring and sincere concern, such as offering to assist in organizing financial documents, but avoiding making judgments or recommendations. Signs that a loved one may need help with financial matters include hoarding money, bills piling up, gambling, and scrimping on food or medication. The podcast also provides questions to consider while reviewing daily and annual expenses, income, and investment strategies. Developing a simple budget and expense file for receipts and bills paid can be helpful, and there are outside resources available for assistance. Ultimately, it is essential to build trust and respect when approaching financial matters with loved ones.

In this podcast, Diane Carbo, CEO of My Vital Alert, shares the importance of carrying personal health information when traveling, particularly for seniors. Carrying one's specific medical information helps avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary testing, especially during an emergency situation. The personal health information should include emergency contact information, a list of doctors and their contact information, medical conditions, past medical conditions, and medication lists including prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Allergies to food or drugs should also be included. Diane also recommends designating an emergency contact person who should have access to all relevant information. She suggests that people should store their personal health information securely but accessible when needed, for example, in a phone app or in a medical ID bracelet.

The podcast features Kim Doviak Van Hassel, a caregiver coach, as she talks about her experience caring for her aging parents. In this episode, she discusses how her life changed after her mother fell. Kim was an only child who had been doing long-distance caregiving for her parents for a few years. Her parents were in their 80s and had some health problems, but they were managing well until her mother fell. Kim had been at their house for a few days to help them get to the doctors, and her mother fell when Kim was on the phone. Kim and her father didn't know what to do, but they eventually called for emergency response. Her mother refused to go to the ER, but they eventually got her into rehab. While in rehab, her mother had trouble breathing, and she went to the hospital where they discovered she couldn't swallow. She developed aspiration pneumonia, and they were told she couldn't eat anymore.

The podcast is a conversation between Diane Carbo and Pat Deegan about bereavement, grief, and mourning. The speakers discuss different ways that people die, and how people grieve, including children, people in long-term facilities, and those who have experienced homicides and suicides. They also discuss the importance of communication with family and doctors, the impact of media and publicity, and the stigma associated with death by suicide. Pat Deegan emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the different types of loss people experience and suggests that counseling and support are important in dealing with bereavement.

The podcast transcript is a conversation between two women discussing the different funeral and burial options available today. The conversation is led by Alycia Martel, an end-of-life specialist, def doula, caregiver, coach, and podcast host. They discuss how traditional funerals involve embalming fluid and chemicals leaching into the ground. The alternative funeral options they discuss include home funerals, where the deceased's loved ones are in charge of the entire funeral process, and green burials, where the body is buried without embalming and in a biodegradable casket. Cremation is also discussed as a popular and more environmentally and fiscally responsible form of taking care of loved ones after death. The conversation ends with a discussion about the history of home burials and how they are making a comeback.

In this podcast, caregiver coach and dementia care specialist Tracey Lawrence discusses the importance of Medicare coverage for caregivers of aging parents. She mentions her private Facebook group called The Good Kids Club, which she created for adult children who don't see themselves as caregivers. Lawrence talks about a post from a member about insurance denial of coverage due to an incorrectly diagnosed systemic problem that was labeled as a dental problem. She recommends talking to a Medicare broker before choosing a particular type of Medicare to ensure the right kind of coverage for individual needs. Lawrence stresses that Medicare Advantage may not be suitable for everyone, and people need to be aware of its limitations. She suggests talking to a broker every year before signing up for a new plan since the rules change every year, and people's needs also change. Lawrence concludes that it's essential to find a certified, trained, and licensed broker to help navigate Medicare, and it's equally important to have a doctor who understands how to navigate Medicare.

The podcast discusses caregiver stress syndrome, a condition characterized by total physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that arises due to neglect of one's own physical and emotional health while caring for someone else. The conversation stresses the importance of self-care for family caregivers and likens it to the airplane safety instruction to put the oxygen mask on oneself before helping others. Women, who often put themselves last, and baby boomers caring for their parents while also raising adolescent children are particularly vulnerable to this syndrome. The podcast also highlights that caregivers who take care of someone with dementia have a higher risk of dying before the person they are taking care of. The discussion emphasizes the need for caregivers to prioritize their own care to avoid burnout, compassion fatigue, and the caregiver stress syndrome.

The podcast discusses how cultural influences and religious beliefs can affect end-of-life planning, resuscitation measures, and medication use. The host and guest talk about the different religions and cultures in America and their beliefs and practices regarding organ donation, autopsy, cremation, embalming, and dietary restrictions. For example, Jehovah Witnesses refuse blood transfusions and won't eat raw meat unless all the blood is drained out. The oldest religion, Judaism, does not allow autopsies or embalming, and the ashes from cremation cannot be scattered. Meanwhile, Christianity allows organ donation, cremation, and embalming, but frowns upon autopsy. Sikhs in India allow organ donation and autopsies, but not embalming or eating meat or fish. The Baha religion allows organ donation and autopsies but not embalming. Understanding these beliefs and traditions is important for caregivers to provide appropriate care and comfort to patients, especially towards the end of life.

The podcast discusses the importance of understanding Medicare coverage for aging loved ones. The host and guest, Tracy Lawrence, discuss the Good Kids Club, a private Facebook group for adult children caring for aging parents. The conversation then turns to a post in the group that discussed insurance denial of coverage, specifically Medicare coverage. Tracy emphasizes the importance of having the right kind of coverage under Medicare and suggests consulting a Medicare broker to review benefits and situations. Medicare Advantage is discussed as an option, but Tracy warns that people need to be aware of its limitations and suggests that people speak with a broker every year before signing up for a new plan. Diane Carbo emphasizes that Medicare is convoluted, and Tracy emphasizes the importance of having a doctor who understands how to navigate Medicare.

In this podcast, host Diane Carbo and end-of-life specialist Pat Deegan discuss the stages of death and dying. The conversation begins with Carbo sharing a personal story about her experience with a pet who had multiple seizures and the questions that arose while filling out the necessary paperwork for emergency care. This story leads into a discussion about the way our culture views death, and the reluctance to accept it as a natural process. The conversation also touches on the consequences of medical treatments, and the need for people to consider end-of-life options for their pets as well as their loved ones.

The podcast features Tracey S. Lawrence, the founder of Grand Family Planning and author of the book "Dementia Sucks", discussing the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia. Both the hosts and Lawrence agree that dementia is a tough disease to grapple with, but the ability to laugh helps make the day so much easier. Lawrence also emphasizes that dementia is not a linear disease and that people with dementia can still have good days, even after taking a bad turn. Family members who live with them all the time will see changes that may not show up on the mini-mental status exam. Different types of dementia present differently, with some people able to hide their cognitive deficits for a long time, especially in the early stages. The hosts conclude by noting that family members should be flexible and ready to embrace whoever shows up and have reasonable expectations of that person.

The podcast features Kim Doviak van Hassell, a caregiver coach and a contributor to the podcast. Kim is an only child who helped both of her parents stay together during their decline. Kim's parents were married for 62 years, and they were always in love, working hard at their relationship. Kim's mother was a nurse and took care of her father, who had heart disease, for many years. When Kim's mother became ill with Parkinson's disease, Kim had to take care of both of her parents. She started her caregiving journey long distance while running her own business. Kim joined caregiving support groups and disease-specific support groups, which helped her tremendously. She learned from other people's experiences and their journey. She took care of her parents one month at a time, which worked out perfectly.

In this podcast, Diane Carbo interviews Pat Deegan, an end-of-life specialist, to discuss the importance of healthcare directives and end-of-life planning. The conversation begins with an explanation of life-sustaining measures and curative care. Life-sustaining measures are medical treatments intended to prolong life rather than treat an underlying condition, while curative care aims to cure disease or promote recovery. The conversation then shifts to POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), a portable medical order form that communicates a patient's wishes as medical orders, which is more specific than an advanced directive. It is important to have a POLST available wherever the patient goes, so that their wishes can be followed in the event of an emergency. The podcast emphasizes that end-of-life planning is an evolving process that changes as people age and develop illnesses, and that the medical jargon surrounding it can be confusing.

In this podcast transcript, Diane Carbo and Tracey Lawrence discuss the topic of guilt in caregiving. They highlight that caregivers often experience guilt over silly things, such as questioning if they made the right choices or feeling guilty for taking respite time. They argue that guilt is a useless emotion that negates all the positive things caregivers do and can be a motivator for positive change. However, it often causes unnecessary stress and keeps caregivers from experiencing joy. The speakers emphasize the importance of celebrating achievements and living in the moment, as caregiving can be isolating if relationships are not maintained. Overall, they encourage caregivers to give themselves a "get out of jail free card" and let go of guilt.

In this podcast, Alicia Martel, an end-of-life specialist, deaf doula, and caregiver coach, discusses the challenges of telling a person with dementia about the death of a loved one. She shares her personal experience of telling her father, who has a slow progressing form of dementia, about the death of his goddaughter. Alicia highlights the difficulty in delivering bad news to someone with dementia as they might not remember it in the long run. She explains how the person's emotional memory and response should be taken into consideration while approaching loss and grief. Diane Carbo, the host, adds that caring for a person with dementia during such a time can be emotionally challenging as the caregiver is already grieving the loss of the loved one and the slow or rapid loss of the person with dementia. The conversation ends with suggestions on how to comfort and provide solace to the person with dementia while meeting the caregiver's needs as well.

The podcast discusses multitasking and how it affects the health of caregivers. The speakers, Diane Carbo and Tracy S. Lawrence, explain that multitasking is a myth and that people should focus on one task at a time to be more productive. They discuss the responsibilities of caregivers and how they need to take care of themselves, too. They also explain that technology is changing people's brains for the worse, and multitasking is causing a new form of anxiety called "fear of missing out." They conclude that caregivers need to take time off and prioritize their own well-being.

The episode discusses the dying process and anticipatory grief. Diane Carbo, an end-of-life specialist, and Pat Deegan, an ex-hospice nurse, share their views on how hospitals view death as a failure, and how modern medicine can give people false hope with light-altering treatments. The sudden deaths that mourners have to face cause their grief process to take years as they don't have time to prepare. Diane shares her personal experience with anticipatory grief, where her mom beat cancer but died due to complications from treatment. They discuss the symptoms of anticipatory grief for the person and family mourners, including preoccupation with dying, cognitive changes, and loneliness. The podcast aims to help people overcome their fear of dying by discussing death and dying openly.

The conversation is about hospice care and the experiences of caregivers and patients with hospice. Diane Carbo shares her positive experience with hospice care for her father, but also acknowledges that others have had negative experiences. Betsy Wurzel shares her negative experience with hospice care for her husband, who had Alzheimer's and experienced terminal agitation. She felt unsupported and not heard by the hospice staff, and they did not listen to her requests for help. Betsy also notes that there is a lack of education about hospice care and dealing with younger patients with Alzheimer's who may not exhibit typical end-of-life symptoms. Diane and Betsy both discuss the challenges of being a family caregiver and the lack of training and support for unpaid caregivers who provide the majority of home health care in the country. They also discuss the limitations of Medicare in providing hospice benefits and the need for change.

The podcast features Alycia Martel, a caregiver coach, end of life specialist, death doula, and podcast contributor, who is actively caring for her father with dementia. In a car accident over three years ago, she was diagnosed with a TBI, traumatic brain injury, and post-concussive syndrome, affecting her motor skills, speech, cognitive function, memory, and vision. Despite this, she continues to provide care for her father with the help of her boyfriend. She talks about the importance of taking a step back and practicing self-care for caregivers.

In this podcast transcript, Diane Carbo, a caregiver relief expert, speaks with Betsy Wurzel, a dementia care specialist and caregiver coach, about medication management for elderly individuals. Wurzel notes the risks associated with certain medications when exposed to heat and sunlight and reminds listeners to hydrate loved ones and keep them in cool environments. The two also discuss the importance of being proactive and informed regarding medication use and advocating for loved ones with medical professionals to ensure medication reviews are conducted, as over-medication can have negative effects on aging bodies. Additionally, Wurzel emphasizes the importance of having a good pharmacist who can help manage medications and detect drug interactions.

In this podcast, Diane Carbo, a caregiver, talks to Pat Deegan, a registered nurse and end-of-life consultant, about the importance of planning for end-of-life care. They discuss the problem with not taking the steps to make wishes known and the importance of having communication about final wishes. Deegan stresses the importance of advanced directives, living wills, and medical power of attorney, and notes the complexity of the paperwork. Carbo emphasizes the importance of having a conversation about final wishes with family members and the need to start planning early. They also discuss the legal reasons for making final wishes known and how planning ahead for end-of-life care saves energy, stress, and resources for surviving family members.

In this podcast, Diane Carbo and Alicia Martel discuss caregiver isolation and loneliness, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers often experience social isolation over time as friends and family slowly drop back from involvement, but the pandemic caused a sudden retreat to homes and physical isolation. This has led to increased stress, depression, and mental illness. The rates of suicide and people seeking treatment have also skyrocketed. Alicia Martel, who has been a caregiver for 14 years, explains that self-care is essential, including the social component. It is difficult to take care of someone else when you are not taking care of yourself.

This episode discusses advanced directives, which are important for setting goals and plans with respect to medical treatment, and they are evolving plans that change over time. The hosts emphasize the importance of ongoing conversations on end-of-life issues and give insights into different types of advanced directives such as the five wishes, which cover desires for natural death. They also discuss how to make informed decisions about life support treatments such as feeding tubes, and the benefits and burdens that come with them. The hosts encourage people to have an honest conversation with their loved ones about their healthcare wishes and to create advanced directives at any age.

The conversation is between Diane Carbo and Alycia Martel, and they are discussing Alycia's experience as a caregiver for her father who has dementia. Alycia shares her experience of taking her father to the hospital after he showed symptoms of COVID-19. She talks about being her father's conservator, which means she is responsible for his medical and financial affairs. She advises caregivers to keep an emergency folder with important documents such as medical history, medication list, and emergency contacts. They also discuss the importance of packing a bag with a change of clothing, toiletries, and comfort items for the loved one, especially for people with dementia. Alycia's father was treated for allergies and given cough medicine and Claritin, and he was okay.

Thank you for sharing this conversation between Diane Carbo and Betsy Wurzel about caregiving during the holidays. They discussed the importance of focusing on spending time with loved ones instead of trying to make everything perfect. They also emphasized the need to be flexible and adjust plans as necessary, as well as to educate family members about the individual needs of the person with dementia. They also highlighted the importance of self-care for caregivers, who are often at a high risk of stress and burnout.