Did you know that in 2018 the number of people older than 64 surpassed the number of children under five years old? It was the first time in history that this was the case. The timing of this change, though, varied significantly between countries.  In higher-income countries with low fertility rates and longer life expectations, it has been shifting for decades. Take the United States, for example, where the under-fives were already outnumbered by those older than 64 in 1966; in Spain, it was 1970; in South Korea, it was 2000. For many countries, this crossover point is yet to come. In India, for example, it is projected to be 2028 and 2036 in South Africa.  In low-income countries with high fertility rates and a lower life expectancy, this point is still many decades away. For example, in Nigeria, under-fives will outnumber those older than 64 by 2087. As the number of older adults grows around the world, aging people need seniors advocates. Today we have one such advocate with us who has been doing this awe-inspiring work for decades, Barbara Kirby. After 15 years of caring for her parents with complex health issues, Barb recognized the gaps and barriers in services for seniors and their families. Thus, she chaired and co-chaired the family council in her dad's care home for over ten years; subsequently, she became a board member of advocates for care reform.  Before her parents passed in 2019, she started SeniorsAdvocate.ca in 2009. Its mandate is to treat older people with respect, provide all options to make informed choices to live as they choose, and ensure they and their caregivers have support when they need it most. Focusing on planning, navigating, and management, she has published numerous articles and authored multiple books. She is a trainer, public speaker, and change agent.   Topics: What 'to be an advocate for an older adult' means What she means by many faces of advocacy What are the signs of caregiver abuse and how to prevent it Her concept on lifestyle planning over financial planning The five basic principles of living well in later life On continuing to educate yourself  On being prepared to take action On refraining your thought On self-aware What radical collaboration is On knowing who we are and what our values are On investing time to learn more about your loved ones On building a support network Who can be an advocate On sharing the responsibility with others Why working through these support networks is essential to an elder Her tips for the listeners Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Barbara's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/seniorsadvocate/ Barbara's Website: www.SeniorsAdvocate.ca Barbara’s Twitter: @SeniorsAdvocate  Barbara's Facebook: www.facebook.com/seniorsadvocate.ca Barbara's Book: Life Planning, Support & Advocacy for Seniors & their Families: https://store.seniorsadvocate.ca/books/life-planning-support-advocacy-for-seniors-their-families.html

All Things Seniors: A Podcast For Caregivers

S2E26: 70 to 100 in a blink - Lifestyle Planning: 5 Key Principles to Aging Well

Did you know that nearly 25% of all households are providing care for the elderly? Although you may be willing to help, you may find unexpected challenges in doing it. Matters you never thought about are now your responsibility: healthcare, housing, financial, legal matters, day-to-day issues involving nutrition, and personal safety. With these, you may find yourself worried, overworked, and exhausted. Listeners, being primary caregivers, can relate to this. Today, we have with us Dr. Marion Somers, a leading Geriatric specialist. Over the past 45 years, she has helped thousands of individuals and their families struggling with these matters.   Topics: 10 Steps of Doctor Marion to Help You Care for an Aging Loved One  On using the personal pronoun I The importance of listening Her experience with her father and putting safety first Improving the lifestyle and simple examples Making life easier with adaptive equipment Managing financial issues Taking care of legal matters Mobility in disability Finding the suitable housing Learning to let go Her experience on letting go that changed her life Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Dr. Marion's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarionsomers/ Dr. Marion's Website: http://drmarion.com/ Dr. Marion's Book: Eldercare Made Easier: Doctor Marion's 10 Steps to Help You Care for an Aging Loved One: https://www.amazon.com/Elder-Care-Made-Easier-Marions/dp/1886039801 Mary Sue Wilkinson's Season 1 Episode 9 : https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/02/episode-9-the-power-of-music-in-dementia-care/ Tim Ihrig's Season 1 Episode 13: https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/02/episode-13-palliative-care-being-alive-vs-living-a-life/ 

S2E25: Elder Care Made Easier - Lessons for Caregivers

Did you know that over 50% of people over 60 years old in Asia and Africa live in extended family setups? This number is approximately 40% in Latin America and the Middle East. Meanwhile, in North America though, that's only 7%. In North America, people over 60 living as a couple is close to 50% while those living solo ager or those living by themselves are over 25%. Living alone brings its own unique sets of challenges and needs. What are these challenges and needs? To talk about these and more about living solo among the elderly, we are happy to have Dr. Sara Zeff Geber with us. She is an expert on this subject and a world-renowned speaker.  Dr. Sara is an author, speaker, and retirement coach. She has a soft spot for solo agers that inspired her to write her book Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers, published in 2018 and was selected as a Best Book on Aging Well by Wall Street Journal. Dr. Sara was named an Influencer in Aging and is also a regular contributor to Forbes.com.   Topics: What solo aging is and how she got into it The three-legged stool How the solo ager needs are different from others How a solo ager should plan What to do seeing somebody who is in denial On expanding social network On planning for social network security  How a solo ager finds a reliable person Pros and cons of aging in place The purpose that solo agers seek Her tips to the listeners   Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Dr. Sara's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarazeffgeber Dr. Sara's Twitter: @LifeEncore  Dr. Sara's Website: www.LifeEncore.com Dr. Sara's Email: Sara@LifeEncore.com   Did You Know Segment: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/03/10/older-people-are-more-likely-to-live-alone-in-the-u-s-than-elsewhere-in-the-world/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%2027%25%20of,5%25%20of%20seniors%20live%20alone

S2E24: Essential Planning for Solo Agers

Did you know that the population of seniors, ages 65 and older, in Canada will grow approximately 70% over the next 20 years? While the older seniors, ages 75 and older, will grow at an even faster rate of 100% over the next 20 years, which is a steep increase in the number of seniors. With this information at hand, there is a need to improve care and advocacy for seniors in Canada and internationally to get more attention towards the subject.   Fortunately, today we have Erin Galyean, author of the book Badass Advocate to give more inputs on stepping up care and advocacy for seniors. Erin is a pharmaceutical trainer, professional speaker, a published author, and above all, she is an experienced family caregiver.  Erin has cared for and lost two of her loved ones. In 1997, Erin lost her father Mike to Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and in 2018, she lost her sister Meghan to rare lung disease. These heart-breaking life events, combined with her professional caregiving experience, taught her how to advocate for a patient effectively. Due to her life experiences, Erin's vision in life is to share her knowledge with others — people like us — so that we can learn from her experience and become badass advocates for our loved ones.  In her book, she shares eight strategies for advocating for a patient who is either homebound or hospitalized. This interview will touch-base on some of those. Topics: On building a support team The role of Director of Delight Other unique roles that they came up with The role of a Meal Train Organizer The role of a VP in Communications  On asking 'strong' questions What she means by being persistent and respectful from the caregivers perspective On giving pushback and asking for a second opinion The source of fatigue for caregivers and ways to avoid it What she means by letters of love What are the do's and don'ts while writing these letters Her take on living behind in unexpected gifts Her two tips to the listeners to make them better caregivers Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Erin's Instagram: #BadAssAdvocate Erin's Twitter: @BadAssAdvocate  Erin's  Website: www.BadAssAdvocate.com Erin's  Facebook: www.facebook.com/BadAssAdvocate Erin's  Email: Erin@BadAssAdvocate.com Did You Know Segment: https://www.cihi.ca/en/infographic-canadas-seniors-population-outlook-uncharted-territory

S2E23: Becoming a Badass Advocate

In this episode, Rafiq will share five essential tips he learned from all the episodes in the first season that helped shape caregivers into becoming better caregivers to their loved ones. He will give a bonus tip for caregivers to enhance their knowledge on providing care to the elderly. He will share snippets of the particular episodes where those tips or recommendations came.   Tip 1: Teepa Snow's Episode 6 Title: Using A Positive Approach To Dementia Care Link: https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/01/episode-6-using-a-positive-approach-to-dementia-care/   Tip 2: Mary Sue Wilkinson's Episode 9  Title: The Power Of Music In Dementia Care Link: https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/02/episode-9-the-power-of-music-in-dementia-care/   Tip 3:  Judy Cornish's Episode 10 Title: Preserving Dignity In Dementia – the DAWN Method Link: https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/02/episode-10-preserving-dignity-in-dementia-the-dawn-method/   Tip 4: Debra Hallisey Episode 16 Title: “Caregiving Changes Relationships” Link: https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/07/episode-16/   Tip 5: Samantha Rodeck Episode 19 Title: Transportation For Seniors & Its Role In Purposeful Aging Link: https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/07/episode-19/   Topics: What people understand on sharing vulnerability  His take on “Someone who is singing with you or to you is probably not there to hurt you.” Mood management On the part of the caregiving journey when our relationship diminishes On encouraging people to continue walking Bonus tip that he learned being a family caregiver   Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors All Things Senior’s Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EpFqgau5hrQ3dHc5wCLM7?si=ZscY-NknSrGrE170PfA5LA All Things Senior’s iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/all-things-seniors-a-podcast-for-caregivers/ 

S2E22: Top 5 Tips for Caregivers from Season 1 + 1 Bonus Tip

I have four facts to share with you today: First, did you know that every day in North America, over 10,000 people turn 65? Second, seniors tend to rent as they age. 83% of seniors up to the age of 79 own a home, but when they enter the age category of 80+, the ownership statistics go down to 63%, a 20% drop, people tend to like to rent more when they age over 80. Third, 60% of seniors say that they have more things than they need and a whopping 75% say that the amount of these things that they own makes them reluctant to move. Lastly, a study found that seniors who moved as part of their retirement plan were happier than those who stayed put. And, seniors are most happy when they move to short-distance near their family and friends.  Moving later in life has its unique self-challenges. We are fortunate to have a guest with us today who is an absolute expert on this subject, Lisa Sinnicks. She is the owner and managing director of The Seniors Moving Company.  Lisa has over 25 years of experience in seniors housing. Her profession revolves around the following topics: physical and emotional health, conflict resolution, loneliness, isolation, effects of grief and loss, and many such things. It is a hefty chat about moving later in life in this episode and its challenges and the things to consider. Join us!   Topics: What are the common mistakes that people make in moving Why people think of moving and their considerations Making the whole process more positive and simpler  How she coaches caregivers to take this at face value and appreciate their feelings Challenges she sees during moving When is the good time to start the discussion Where to start moving Her tips to the listeners   Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Lisa's Instagram: #TheSeniorsMovingCompany Lisa's Website: www.SeniorsMovingCo.com Lisa's Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSeniorsMovingCompany Lisa's Email: Lisa@SeniorsMovingCo.com   Did You Know Segment: https://www.seniorlifestyle.com/resources/blog/infographic-upside-downsizing/

S2E21: Guidance for Caregivers - Moving Later In Life and It's Unique Challenges

Did you know that over 25% or 1 out of 4 Canadians will be over the age of 60 by 2036? Did you know that 80% of retired Canadians have a fixed income with approximately 27,000 dollars for the median income?  With these facts in mind bundled with the sub-standard system for long-term care for seniors and shortage of retirement homes, there is a need for a lot more work for seniors. Caregivers also play an essential role in this as companions of their loved ones in their old-age journey.  Today, we have with us Sue Lantz to discuss this and more. Sue is the founder and managing director of Collaborative Aging, a creative consulting firm supporting individuals, organizations, businesses, and communities to improve and expand the "options" for aging in place.  Sue is a passionate advocate for resourceful and grassroots housing, healthcare, and neighborhood solutions connected to inclusive communities. She is a trusted policy expert and voice for seniors and people with disabilities.   Sue has worked over many years in Canada to generate innovative designs for home care and housing alternatives to institutional living.  She regularly speaks about empowered aging, including housing options, building stronger social connections, and supporting healthy and balanced caregiving.   Topics: What Collaborative Aging is and what she does Why she started this work What she means by boomers need to step up and co-design the solution and contribute The Five strategies that refer to the perspective of the caregiver When is the right time to move in housing choices Different housing options How to make a change and planning to move Her thoughts on mixed generation housing On having a support  About her latest book -- Options Open Her tips to make the caregiver's life better    Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Sue's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-lantz-8b700a5/ Sue's Twitter: Sue_Lantz Sue’s Instagram: #OptionsOpenGuide Sue's Website: www.CollaborativeAging.com Sue's Email: Sue@CollaborativeAging.com   Did You Know Segment: https://www.tvo.org/video/the-future-of-senior-care

S2E20: No one wants Isolation. 5 Strategies for Connected Aging

Death is inevitable. However, talking about death and dying are uncomfortable or upsetting, much more challenging to talk about someone we dearly love, and all the more if we talk about death while that loved one is still living. Study shows that having conversations about these subjects within families and communities can help the caregivers prepare emotionally and financially. There is so much to prepare for the death of a loved one. Among these are preparing for the funeral, expenses, wills, and others. These preparations sometimes get too much emotionally and mentally for the caregiver to bear. Getting an expert to help out during this grieving time is necessary.  Today, we have invited someone who can guide us to make this whole process less painful, Richard Rosin. Richard has been in the funeral industry for over 36 years, three decades, and more. He shares his knowledge and expertise to plan green burials, cremations, and funeral events. He also shares the importance of discussing pre-planning and presenting educational seminars.  Richard is a wonderful man who gives back to the community through the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra and Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. He also helps fundraise for various not-for-profit organizations.     Topics: What is the role of a funeral director Why family needs a funeral director On having most funerals in the funeral homes than in homes The start of the funeral industry On having a conversation about pre-planning Some challenges and questions that families still have around the funeral time His advice in making conversations less painful The process for families of doing funeral by themselves What green burial is What he learned from green burial Going green burial financial-wise How should families manage the digital assets How to circumvent these challenges The STEP Organization How have the funerals been during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic His two tips to the listeners to make the whole process less painful   Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Richard's Email Address: richard@richardrosin.ca Richard's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardRosinFuneralDirector/ Richard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-a-rosin-39b74943/ Richard's Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardRosin8 Richard's Website: https://www.richardrosin.ca/ STEP: https://www.step.org/  

S2E19: Green Burials and Funeral Arrangement Insights

Fact check! Did you know that the elderly are the fastest-growing age group? And did you know that only less than 4% of people over Sixty-Five years old are in nursing homes? In today's world, we get these stats all the time, right! We have the information and the data.  However, elderly care and caregiver challenges were little known facts in the 90s, and having the foresight in the 90s of this upcoming silver tsunami is something.  Our guest today, Denise Brown, launched caregiving.com. It is an online community that started way back in 1996, having one of the largest libraries of caregiving stories where caregivers find consolation in their reflections and confidence in the contributors' advice. She also started her education and support programs on The Caregiving Years Training Academy, Caregiving Consultant Training Program, and Healing Our Way.   Topics: Denise backstory and what prompted her to start home care On building a support system around you  What The Caring Question Project is Her suggestion on asking for help Her experience towards older adults on technology adoption Why do we need these caring questions Her take on online support group Examples of caring questions to ask family caregivers What stops people from asking these questions What would she change in the current system Her tips to the listeners to make their caregiving journey easier  What are courses that people can take to become better caregivers    Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Denise's Website: www.CareYearsAcademy.com  Denise's Email: Denise@CareYearsAcademy.com  Denise's Twitter: @DeniseMBrown3  Denise's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denise.brown1    Denise's Latest Project: The Caring Question Project https://caring.substack.com/     Did You Know Segment: https://agingresources.org/interesting-facts-about-older-adults/ 

S2E18: Hey Caregiver, Don't Worry About Being Judged!

Did you know that 40% of caregivers are in high-burden situations? Older caregivers who are above seventy-five years old provide over thirty hours of caregiving work a week. Primary caregivers of people with dementia spend an average of nine hours per day, providing care. It truly is a lot of hours! A lot of tired burned out caregivers indeed. Thus, caregivers need help! They need guidance and a support system around them all the more.   Today, we have with us someone who has been helping families since 2004 and has a tremendous experience in the field of caregiving, Stephanie Erickson. Stephanie, author of Plan for Aging Well, was born and raised in California. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work and a certified Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Specialist with a license in Quebec and California.  Stephanie is passionate about sharing her experience and knowledge. She also encourages others to take control of their health. Add to that she is an advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations.   Topics: On Stephanie's TEDx talk Why words are powerful What team caregiving means The concept of team caregiving Things that people can do remotely  What emotional support means Her thoughts on the medical system in the future On spreading the message to change life Her advice on documentation  Her advice to the listeners on elder abuse On looking at the baseline behaviour with our loved ones What we should do if we see a sign of an early dementia What to expect in her book -- Plan for Aging Well   Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Stephanie's Website: www.StephanieErickson.ca  Stephanie's Email: stephericksonassistant@gmail.com  Stephanie's Twitter: @FamCareExpert  Stephanie's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stephanie-Erickson-Media-Commentator-Family-Caregiving-Expert-115638081801824  Stephanie's Book: https://amzn.to/2M4gOIq    Did You Know Segment: https://www.caregiver.org/caregiver-statistics-demographics 

S2E17: Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Support As We Age

Now, let us talk about facts concerning caregiving in society today: Number 1: Did you know that an estimated 50 million-plus people in North America are caregivers for a family member or a loved one?; Number 2: Approximately 75% of caregivers are women who may be spouses, partners, siblings, children, or neighbours even.; Number 3: About 15% of caregivers care for two or more people, right, so that is an even bigger job.; Number 4: Although men were traditionally not in the role of family caregivers, that trend is changing, for example, about a third of people with cancer are cared for by a man, this group may have to take on tasks which they have never performed before like things like laundry, shopping, cooking, which are a different set of skills needed.; Number 5: 85% of caregivers found the satisfaction of caring for the loved one to outweigh the disadvantages, but 10% found caregiving to be a burden that is a challenge for sure.; Lastly, Number 6: caregivers report higher levels of insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, poor appetite, and even depression, that is higher compared to non-caregiving counterparts.   Challenges of caregiving evolve through time. Some emerging concerns not imminent before are here today, which adds to the many challenges of caregivers. It includes males shifting roles as a caregiver. It can be reduced to a certain extent if there is harmony in the family. Caregiving matters need to be talked about to make meaningful conversations happen. Caregiving is not easy, which is why we have experts on the subject today to guide us and help us make this happen.  Today we have with us Dr. Amy D’Aprix.  She is an internationally renowned expert on lifestyle issues related to ageing, caregiving, retirement, and family dynamics. She is a life transition expert, social entrepreneur, coach, speaker, author, and consultant to North American organizations in ageing and financial services.   Topics: What essential conversations mean and when should it happen What kind of conversations you should have to better prepare as a family Caregiving: planned or decided during the crisis  Reasons why there is no essential conversation happening Obstacles to these conversations What to consider to determine who should be the primary caregiver How caregiving tests relationships Her advice on reaching out to others for support What facing life transitions with grace means Who should be involved in these conversations Tips on caregiving for the listeners to make life easier Action items for the listeners Her Caring Cards and Life Memories Journal Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Dr. Amy's Website: www.DrAmy.life  Dr. Amy's Email: Amy@DrAmy.life Dr. Amy's Twitter: @DrAmyDAprix Dr. Amy's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dramydaprix  Dr. Amy's Conversation Cards: https://store.dramy.life/collections/frontpage/products/caring-cards     Did You Know Segment: https://www.oncolink.org/support/caregivers/resources/did-you-know-facts-about-caregivers   

S2E16: Increasing Family Harmony While Caregiving

Did you know that 60% of people with dementia will wander?  Anyone who has memory problems and can walk is at risk for wandering.  It is risky for dementia patients because they may not remember their name or address and can become disoriented even in familiar places. It is just one of the many potential risks and challenges a caregiver has to work around while caring for a loved one with dementia.  Today, we have Karen Tyrell, a dementia expert, who has over 25 years of experience on this subject, to share her knowledge about dealing with dementia and the risk of wandering among dementia patients. She will also talk about some tools that will benefit caregivers to provide better care to their loved ones with dementia.  Karen is a dementia consultant, educator, and author. She is the CEO of Personalized Dementia Solutions Inc. Karen shares her expertise through speaking engagements and conducting dementia workshops for both families and frontline staff. She also facilitates weekly online family caregiver support groups working one-on-one with family caregivers to provide emotional support and creative solutions to alleviate everyday challenges associated with dementia.   Topics: What dementia detective means What PHATCS is Why using therapeutic reasoning is beneficial  Examples of therapeutic reasoning and becoming creative Her work focusing on wandering Possible reasons why people wander What to do when a person is wandering and lost Her advice for caregivers on wellness  The importance of self-care  What we can do to remain healthy The five regions of the brain and game exercises- Her tips for caregivers to make life easier   Her action item for the listeners   Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Karen's Website: www.DementiaSolutions.ca  Karen's Email: info@DementiaSolutions.ca  Karen's Twitter: @Dementia__Help Karen's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenTyrell  Karen's Book: https://amzn.to/3t6nWVo    Did You Know Segment: https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/wandering 

S2E15: Dementia Tips For Caregivers

Did you know that women have a higher risk of dementia? Nearly twice as many women have Alzheimer's disease as men. Alzheimer's disease also worsens more quickly in women.  Also, did you know that heart disease can raise the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease? Other conditions that cause heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and deficient diet are all links to a higher risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. Whatever the gender or the cause, once dementia (Alzheimer's disease) happen, it forces families to change their lifestyles. Dementia is always a very stressful and worrying time. Today, we have with us someone who live this life, walk this path, learn from her experiences, and now she has made her life mission to help others with dementia families who are going through this journey, Vicki Tapia. When Vicki's parents were both diagnosed with dementia within a few months of each other, she became their caregiver. Out of that experience came her first book "Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia." What began as a journal to help her cope with the many challenges her family face, morphed into a roadmap for others. Her work shares encouragement, insight, and lessons learned along the way. It is named one of the "Best Alzheimer's Books Of All Time" by Book Authority. Vicki's memoir brings hope to those whose lives had been intimately affected by dementia, letting them know that they are not alone. She's also a founder and a director of the non-profit AlzAuthors, an evergrowing global community of over 250 authors united to light the way for others with the vision to lift the silence and stigma surrounding Alzheimer's and other dementias through sharing of personal stories. Topics: Her life when her parents both diagnosed with dementia and becoming a family caregiver What "Graduate of the dementia caregiver school of hard knocks" means Her tips to the listeners on redirecting the conversation Situation with her mom on redirecting the conversation On protecting the love ones valuable Her advice to caregivers on having dark moments Her fear for her future on having dementia Things she did to make sure it doesn't happen to her On convincing the love ones to go for an evaluation Her approach to making her mom move into her own home Her tips with the listener to make their life easier as dementia caregivers Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Vicki's Website: www.AlzAuthors.com Vicki's Email: VickiTapia@gmail.com Vicki's Twitter: @vicleetap   @AlzAuthors Vicki's Facebook: www.facebook.com/SomeBodyStoleMyIron Vicki’s Book: Some Body Stole My Iron   Did You Know Segment:  https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-facts

S2E14: Navigating Dementia Through Grief and Guilt

Did you know that there are over 10 million new cases of dementia every year? That is one new case of dementia every three seconds or so. By the time you will be finished listening to this episode, that will be close to a thousand new cases of dementia worldwide. That is scary! It is not a country-specific challenge but a worldwide phenomenon.  It is a fact that there is no cure for dementia. However, some great minds are playing their part to make a dementia caregiver's journey relatively tolerable. One such advocate is Lori La Bey.  Lori is a change agent from Minnesota known around the world when it comes to dementia care. Recognized by Oprah, Maria Shriver, Dr. Oz, AARP Minnesota, and the National Institute of Dementia Education who all recognized her cutting-edge approach to shifting global dementia care from crisis to comfort.  Her mother has lived with dementia for 30 years. Lori left the long successful career as a residential realtor and launched Alzheimer's Speaks, advocacy in a multimedia company that gives voice to all, including those living with dementia. Her mission is to educate, raise awareness, shift perceptions, and to share resources with families and professionals regarding all forms of dementia and caregiving.  She is also the co-founder of Dementia Map, a global dementia resource directory.   Topics: On dementia is a global problem that needs to be address What made her became the new Alzheimer's expert Her transition from realtor to an Alzheimer's expert On people with dementia that are in denial What "Shifting dementia care from crisis to comfort" means Why she created Your Memory Chip How listeners can apply the journal tools in her website On accepting dementia from a different point of view On asking ourselves what lessons in the pain that we go through  What "Are we going to be the next to forget or to be forgotten" means What Betty the bald chicken is and how it relates to us    Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Lori's Website: www.AlzheimersSpeaks.com Lori's  Email: Lori@AlzheimersSpeaks.com  Lori's  Twitter: @alzspks Lori's  Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlzheimersSpeaks Lori's  YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/AlzheimersSpeaks   Free Educational Training Videos:  Dementia Chats Webinar: “https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/dementia-chats-webinar”   Did You Know Segment:  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia

S2E13: Shifting Dementia Care from Crisis to Comfort

Did you know that according to the 2019 University of Michigan National poll on Healthy Aging, 55% of participants age between 50 and 80 own at least one pet and majority of these older adults felt aging was easier, both physically and mentally, because of their pets? Approximately 80% participants said pets reduce their stress. Also, over 25% of pet owners reported that their pet's needs take priority over their own health needs. These stats and more prove that pets play a very important role in the lives of older adults. So what are the impacts of losing a pet for older adults? How does it affect the purpose and activities in their lives? How can we as caregivers help and communicate with our loved ones during that tough time? To discuss this and many other topics about our communication with our loved ones, let's have an expert on the subject of caregiver relationships, Debra Hallisey. Debra's most important role these last five years is being her mother's caregiver. She lost her job due to caregiving issues and as a result she founded Advocate for Mom and Dad. Her mission is to support and educate family caregivers primarily in 3 ways;   Number 1, through her blog www.advocateformomanddad.com which is filled with information to help answer the questions where do I start? what do I do next? kind of things.  Number 2, in her book, Your Caregiver Relationship Contract she explains how to say yes to help and how to create a support network for yourself and your loved one. And number 3, Debra also consults with family caregivers helping them to navigate the minefield of new family dynamics.   Topics: On her nomination for Caregiving Visionary Awards 2020 What she means by “growing old is not for the faint of heart and it needs careful planning” What she means by elder orphan On older loved ones that are reluctant to share sensitive information Why relationship is really important Her thoughts on bringing professional consultant or a caregiving company How to convince our loved ones to use technology Figuring out what self-care looks like for a caregiver On finding new and different ways to keep us going in terms of self-care Her tips to caregivers to make their lives easier   Links: Host’s email: Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com Sponsor’s Link - Right at Home: www.RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg All Things Senior’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllThingsSeniors Debra's Website: www.advocateformomanddad.com Debra's Email: hallisdl@gmail.com  Debra’s Twitter: @advocatemomdad Debra’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/advocateformomdad   Debra’s Book: “Your Caregiver Relationship Contract: How to navigate the minefield of new roles and expectations” - www.shorturl.at/hBIU4   Did You Know Segment:  https://people.com/pets/poll-pets-make-aging-better-senior-citizens/

S2E12: Tips for Caregivers - Pets, Assistive Technology, & Conversations

In this podcast we talk with experts about 'All Things Seniors' - Transportation, Food, Housing (Downsizing, Retirement Communities, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Personal Care Homes etc.), Health (Dementia, Alzheimer, Arthritis, Parkinson, Posture, Hearing Loss, Blindness etc.), Abuse, Loneliness, Isolation and much more. The purpose is to provide information and learning for Caregivers about these challenges. Most caregivers end up in the role of Family Caregiver for the first time in their lives - they crave this knowledge. Most caregivers are from a Sandwich generation, where on one hand they have their own life (kids, jobs, wife, their own health etc.) and on the other hand they also have older parents to take care of. These sandwich generation caregivers crave for these knowledge nuggets, as to how to support Mom/Dad, to be able to provide better care to their loved ones. If you would like us to address a topic that you currently don’t find in any episodes, let us know and we will address your questions with a relevant industry expert. You can connect with us at Rafiq@SeniorsPodcast.com.

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All Things Seniors: A Podcast For Caregivers

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