We're doing aging wrong. Our healthcare system delivers quick interventions that act as band-aids but fail to include the entire family. Our medical model focuses on the body yet neglects the mind and soul; both are essential to our healing and comfort. Older adults are often scared and alone when they need more attention, support, and love.

If you Google “How To Age Well,” there is a lot of advice about diet, exercise, wearing sunscreen, but very little advice that focuses on our entire well-being. Aging well should also focus on our mind and soul. There is minimal discussion about how to stay mentally healthy, engaged in society, and continue to have a purpose that fulfills us.

These are the thoughts of today's guest, Stephanie Erickson.

Stephanie founded Erickson Resource Group and provides online consulting services for caregivers throughout North America. As a Family Caregiving Expert, she regularly discusses caregiving with a focus on seniors' health and well-being.

Stephanie is passionate about sharing her experience and knowledge and encouraging others to control their health and advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations. As a mom and entrepreneur, free time is hard to find. Yet, Stephanie always carves out time to train on the flying trapeze. She lives in Montreal with her husband, two children, and her energetic golden retriever.

Plan To Age Well Book
Transcript
Help Support Fading Memories
We have partnered with Caregiver Chronicles to bring you a comprehensive 8-week course. This course covers diagnosis to transition. To learn more or to sign up go HERE

Friday Live Chats    Meeting ID is:  784 8232 5915     Password is:  Zd11VN

Some details about the course.

Payment options include: PayPal or Venmo @dryvette-jackson
Join Fading Memories On Social Media!
If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  You'll find us on social media at the following links.

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Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share.

Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

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Lacking the knowledge of how to best care for someone with Alzheimer's is common for most family caregivers. Each person is unique, and the disease affects them in their own ways. The differences in how each person reacts to their condition make it more challenging to get solid advice from other caregivers.

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Letting Go With Love – Supporting the dying process for someone with dementia.

How can we manage “letting go with love” when our society views death as a failure? Dying is a process we will all go through, and it is a very personal experience.

Understanding how to support someone with dementia on this last journey is essential. It is difficult for us, but it is necessary. Understanding the dying process will help us help our loved ones. Letting go with love is the ultimate gift we can give.

In this episode, you will learn about the dying process, what to expect, and how to navigate the last days. People with dementia are at risk of receiving inadequate care because they cannot say what they want. Maintaining your verbal and non-verbal communication is essential.

Be aware of their eating and drinking. Changes in their eating is a significant clue. People at the end of life may stop eating and drinking. It can be very distressing to watch, but it is normal for people approaching the end of life.

Consider the environment in which they reside. It's best to maintain the same living arrangement whenever possible. Bring in whatever you need to keep your loved one comfortable as they go through the dying process.

Supporting people with dementia at the end of their life requires a team approach. Often, there will be many people involved in the person's care at the end of their life. Good communication and information sharing help to ensure the person receives the care they need.

BK Books

TRANSCRIPT

Related Episodes

Moving On After Caregiving

Take Back Your Life – Coping with Change
Help Support Fading Memories
We have partnered with Caregiver Chronicles to bring you a comprehensive 8-week course. This course covers diagnosis to transition. To learn more or to sign up go HERE

Friday Live Chats    Meeting ID is:  784 8232 5915     Password is:  Zd11VN

Some details about the course.

Payment options include: PayPal or Venmo @dryvette-jackson
Join Fading Memories On Social Media!
If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Facebook    Instagram    Twitter

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share.

Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Paperwork isn't sexy – a list of documents caregivers need.

Paperwork isn't sexy, In the eighties, promises of four-day workweeks and paperless offices were made thanks to the desktop computer. This promise has never happened, and despite cloud storage, paperwork is an endless chore we must all endure.

As caregivers, the endless piles of paperwork are one more tedious task that we must tackle. What is essential, what can we toss – it's an infinite cycle, to be sure.

My Dad had a spreadsheet of his medications, allowing us to inform the hospital precisely what doctors had prescribed him. Having access to this document, however, wasn't as easily achieved. Thankfully, my husband knew how to find the prescription spreadsheet on Dad's computer.

In this episode, I talk to Roz Jones, a professional care provider, about all the documents we need as caregivers. We also get into the nitty-gritty of what legal documents we all need. We're starting a brand new year (hopefully, much better than last year), so now is the perfect time to ensure our documents are in order.

Making paperwork sexy, if you will.

Related Episode

Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generations
Help Support Fading Memories
We have partnered with Caregiver Chronicles to bring you a comprehensive 8-week course. This course covers diagnosis to transition. To learn more or to sign up go HERE

Friday Live Chats    Meeting ID is:  784 8232 5915     Password is:  Zd11VN

Some details about the course.

Payment options include: PayPal or Venmo @dryvette-jackson
Join Fading Memories On Social Media!
If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Facebook    Instagram    Twitter

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share.

Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download