Caregivers Circle Stephanie Erickson

Charles Sabatino, Director of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging and professor at Georgetown University Law Center defines the most commonly used legal documents everyone must have to prevent confusion, conflict and unnecessary stress for families should an aging crisis arise.  He will offer tips on which documents to draft, how to choose a representative and how … Read more about this episode...

For many, a military career is fulfilling and rewarding.  For other veterans, their journey may begin with high hopes and expectations and then after serving abroad return home filled with anxiety, fear and depression as a result of all that they have seen, heard or in which they participated.  PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder effects about 30% of our … Read more about this episode...

Do you feel frustrated with the lack of involvement from your siblings when it comes to caring for your mother?  Is your spouse “checked-out” when caring for your disabled child when you need his help?  Caregiving has its challenges and when family dynamics are impeding care it becomes even more difficult to meet the needs of your loved one.  This … Read more about this episode...

“I can’t do this anymore”, “I’ve hit my breaking point”  “I’m losing it”….these are some of the things I hear from caregivers.  I get it.  Caregiving is exhausting and can drain us of our physical, emotional and spiritual energy.  I also hear other caregivers talk about the joy and satisfaction they feel as a caregiver.  Can we have both?  Can … Read more about this episode...

Back in the 1980’s being diagnosed with HIV was basically like being given a death sentence. Fortunately, with advancements in medication most individuals are living fairly healthy and long lives.  HIV is now considered more of a chronic disease.  Despite the major advancements in medical care and treatment, the stigma of having HIV has not advanced as progressively.  So now … Read more about this episode...

Most people associate loss with death.  But loss comes in all different forms…loss of a career, loss of a home, and loss of our healthy physical selves, to name a few.  Caregivers know loss intimately as well.  When we take on the role of a caregiver, loss hits us in many ways throughout our journey.  This week’s guest, Corrie Sirota… Read more about this episode...

Despite believing wholeheartedly that getting older is not all that bad one of the things that scares me is being alone and isolated.  I can’t imagine that happening since I have 2 kids who, if I’ve done my job, will be there caring for me.  But what about those individuals who never had kids?  Who will make sure that these … Read more about this episode...

It is very difficult to get all of the information we need to make the right decisions on behalf or with our aging relatives. How do we organize finances? Manage investments? Gather medical information? Organize personal appointments? This week’s guest, Kay Bransford, developer of MemoryBanc: Your Workbook for Organizing Life offers her personal experience and how this led to … Read more about this episode...

Most families are unprepared for aging.  Sure, we all know our parents are getting older, but do we really understand how their aging process may impact us as a family or as an individual?  This week’s guest, Carolyn Rosenblatt who is the author of the book The Family Guide to Aging Parents: Answers to Your Legal, Financial, and Healthcare Questions… Read more about this episode...

When a veteran returns from service with a physical injury, we can see the sacrifice they made for the country.  But what about the invisible struggles and challenges of service?  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance use is not uncommon for veterans.  How do these less obvious struggles present additional challenges for veterans and their caregivers?  This week’s guest, … Read more about this episode...

There are many aspects of caregiving that are universal.  We all grieve for our loved ones.  We all want the best for our families.  We all want to do anything we can to help.  But the way that we approach caregiving and the expectations that we have about what families should and should not be doing varies greatly among different … Read more about this episode...

There is a lot of information and awareness as to the needs of family caregivers.  This is great.  But let’s not forget the professional caregivers such as nurses, doctors, and social workers and the first responders such as paramedics, fire fighters and police officers who witness tragedy, trauma, heartbreak and illness on a daily basis.  This week’s guest, Françoise Matthieu, … Read more about this episode...

Most individuals want to stay in their homes for as long as possible, even if mobility, health or cognitive challenges are evident.  Home care companies can provide much needed support with personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning, medication management, companionship and more.  This week’s guest, Barbara Schuh, with Home Care Assistance, and I discuss the types of services generally provided by home … Read more about this episode...

Most people associate loss with death.  But loss comes in all different forms…loss of a career, loss of a home, and loss of our healthy physical selves, to name a few.  Caregivers know loss intimately as well.  When we take on the role of a caregiver, loss hits us in many ways throughout our journey.  This week’s guest, Corrie Sirota… Read more about this episode...

When at least 10% of individuals over 65 experience some form of abuse – financial, physical, sexual or neglect – why are we not hearing more about this in the mainstream media?  This week’s guest, Matt Kudish, Senior Vice President of Caregiver Services Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter and I discuss some of the barriers to identifying and reporting … Read more about this episode...

“Imagine knowing someone for most of your life, then, after years, discovering that person was so much more complex and interesting than you ever realized.”  This is a quote from the book Healing Conversations Now: Enhancing Relationships with Elders and Dying Loved Ones. This week’s guest, author Tony Silbert discusses tips on how to enhance and mend relationships between caregivers … Read more about this episode...

Our senior population is growing and our financial and social systems are not prepared to care for them.  Families must provide care and support, but many family caregivers are working.  What is this pressure to work and care for our aging population doing to caregivers?  What about caregivers of children with disabilities, or those with mental health issues or other … Read more about this episode...

There is always new and interesting research being conducted and published related to Alzheimer’s disease.  The findings are varied and often contradict each other so how do we know what to believe?  This week’s guest, Brigid Reynolds, nurse practitioner, research investigator and faculty at Georgetown University demystifies the research process and provides an overview of how research is conducted and … Read more about this episode...