Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate Podcast: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!

Don't ignore the debt of a loved one after their death. Family members are often unprepared to handle end-of-life financial responsibilities. Listen in for more insights.

Proper fitting shows in our elderly loved ones is essential! Watching a family with an elderly loved one at the grocery store, I saw a disturbing and scary situation. Flip-flops were on the feet of this person. Dangerous! Listen in for more insights!

During our lifetime, we collect a lot of stuff and things. Some are needs that enable us to maintain the lifestyle of our choosing, but many are our wants. He declared that survival needs must be satisfied before we are satisfied with the stuff and things of life, which include love and belonging, friendship, and family. Listen in for more insights!

We all agonize over hot weather! But, our loved ones and those with chronic medical conditions must be watched and monitored when temperatures are extreme. Specific prescription medications and over-the-counter medications (OTC) can have dangerous consequences for our elderly if not managed during the hot climate. Listen in for more insights!

I often share…do not fear hospice, fear pain and suffering, that a loved one may experience when disease and trauma overtake one's earthly body. There has always been a misguided fear of hospice. Most of the fear stems from a lack of knowledge of practices and outcomes rendering care.

Listen in for more insight.

In extreme temperatures, the livin’ may not be so easy for our elderly loved ones. These are the times when vigilance is vital. Several factors must be taken into consideration when high temperatures are forecasted. Listen for more insight.

With aging, illnesses and undeniable medical conditions may arise that require extra attention and consideration to keep health status stable. Your role as the caregiver is valuable when special attention to detail is required. Listen in for more insights!

The challenging role of caregiving can lead to burnout. At times the role can offer a lot of ambiguity, as well as challenges. What to do? Listen in for more insights.

What do you wish you would have known before becoming a caregiver? What is the real reality of being a surrogate? Listen in for more insights.

As we age, so does our brain and its ability to function as it once did. There are many reasons for cognitive decline. The safety of our elderly loved ones must always be in view. Listen in for more insights.

As we have ended mental health month, we still need to be mindful of what triggers our health and wellness as it relates to mental health. Listen in to learn to be proactive as you check in with yourself.

One of the most exciting things about being a life-long learner is learning new things. Did you know that May is Older American Month(OAM)? I was reading my AARP magazine a few days ago, and read that Older Americans have a month! What you say! Listen in for more insights!

Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens of your eye, and, in many circumstances, an artificial lens is inserted. The lens of your eye is clear, but as we age, so does our vision. When cataracts develop over time, they cause the lens to become cloudy, causing blurry vision and increasing glare from lights which eventually affects your vision. Listen in for more insights.

Elderly spouses as caregivers have increased over the past decade. People are living longer. During my years of working in the acute-care setting, many of the elderly patients under my care had elderly spouses and no immediate family. I never considered the amount of the situation until my second look and the calls I received about the care concerns of our elderly. Listen in for more insights!

Building awareness about the importance of caregiving in minority populations is essential to our elders aging in place. The trend is gaining popularity, especially since the pandemic, which changed our lives on so many levels. We saw what alternative living in senior residences created; families were not able to reach or touch their loved ones. Listen in for more insights!

When we hear or read the word,' coping,' related to caregiving, does one's mind go to the terms of stress and burnout? Why is that? Did you know that coping is the use of an array of countless techniques that attempt to reduce feelings of stress and discomfort that occurs from a situation or event? These dynamic responses may be grouped into words like secure/insecure, effective/ ineffective, or adaptive/ maladaptive strategies. Listen in for more insights!

Personal experiences and conversations with others help fuel my discussion on situations that caregivers face. Let us start by declaring pain is not normal. When someone complains or describes feelings of discomfort and pain, it needs addressing, especially in our elders. We know the causes could stem from an array of conditions. The condition we will discuss is gout. Listen in for more insights!

Overdosing on prescribed medication in the elderly has happened again resulting in loss of life. This is an avoidable occurrence. Allowing your elderly loved one to take their medications without supervision is...simply put…dangerous! Listen in for more insights.

I am very intentional when blogging. Much of what I have learned either through my professional career or caregiving experiences, hope is, that the knowledge will help all who read my work.  I stand on the premise that it is vital that lived- experiences are shared. This is my mission! We know caregiving has many twists and turns. Listen in for more insights.

The women in our world are what the acronym stands for. I must admit, I made it up! It’s significant and I hope it is for you. Where would we be without women in our world? The ones I am writing about are our Sisters, Wives, Daughters, Mothers, Mentors, and lest we forget the wise council of our Grandmothers. I realize everyone may not have had the same experiences...Listen in for more insights!

We have ended Black History Month and what is no better way to say ‘until next year’s to highlight eldercare issues in the black community? I like to start by saying that… a family that prays together stays together; with a few hiccups, here and there. The foundation of the family is its elders. They share wisdom and guidance based on their lived experiences and struggles. Listen in for more insights!

Do you have a safe place where important documents are kept? Do family members know where to find them? Who is in charge of family health and end-of-life affairs (if you cannot)? New Flash…Your cellular devices and computers may be handy, but important documents must be kept where you can put your hands on them(hard copies) when necessary. Listen for more insights!

Since February is the month we highlight Black History, and the struggles, cultural excellence, as well as disparities, the conversation today is on nursing homes where African American family members are residents. Healthcare systems like nursing homes are grappling with the issue of adequate and acceptable care. Listen in for more insights.

As we continue to highlight Black History Month, looking at the value of palliative care and hospice care in the African American family is our topic.  Characteristically, educating a culture of people is often well-received, if the knowledge is coming from individuals that look like them. Listen in for more insights.

February is heart health month! What can you do to take care of your heart? Listen in for more insights!

Our future, meaning the younger generations, must be reminded that caring for the family, especially our elders is an expectation. It's what we did back then and it’s what we must do now! Anyone in the family could be considered a caregiver. Listen in for more insights.

It’s no secret that as we age, our vision has a mind of its own. Our vision does not consult with us asking if we want to see more or less. Populations everywhere suffer from glaucoma and cataracts, which are known to result in blindness if untreated. All we know is how often magnifying tools and reading glasses become searchable items to read our books, newspapers, and medication labels. We place them all over the house. Every light is on in the house at night and every blind is open during the day in order to see clearly. Changes in vision are not always an elder problem. Listen in for more insights!

The world of caregiving requires planning and problem-solving 365 days a year. There are no shortcuts to holistic and compassionate care. The daily grind must be organized while expecting the unexpected. Your role as a caregiver is valuable. Listen in for more insights.

Financial planning is vital in the caregiving space. Listen in for more insights.

As a caregiver to our elderly loved ones, who, by the way, fight hard to maintain their independence driving, has costly consequences. Yes, it has happened again! Car keys, night-time driving, and our elderly; the combination is serious and deadly. Listen in for more insights.

While a pedicure may seem like a great way to care for your toenails, it may not be the best plan for our elderly with many health problems, mobility problems, and chronic diseases. Indeed, taking care of the toenails is an important part of healthy feet. In our elderly, family members become the pedicure kings and queens, especially if our loved ones cannot get out and about. Caregiver assistance is required. Listen in for more insights!

Over the holidays, an elderly lady died in her home from a fire. Safety bars prevented first responders from getting to her. While we work hard to fortify our homes to keep the bad actors out, how do we look at the safety of our elders living alone with locks and bars on windows and doors? The elderly as well as those with disabilities may not be able to quickly escape in the event of a fire due to reduced mobility and vision limitations.  Listen in for more insights.

Yes, it has happened, again. Neglect of an individual and the countless excuses of family members as to why action is absent. Forgive me for being blunt…when you decide to place a loved one in a nursing home, into the care of a stranger, you cannot go on your merry way thinking personalize and compassionate care will go on after you leave the building. Listen in for more insights!

Thank you caregiver!

I am saluting caregivers, here, there, and everywhere. I am grateful for the selfless angels on earth who give of themselves day and night, night and day.

 Listen in for more insights.

I always believe in giving credit where credit is due, however, the men in the caregiving space are often forgotten. But we will forget no more, RIGHT?

Around the globe, men take on the role of caregivers every single day. It is a stereotype to believe the only valuable and capable caregiver is of the female gender. 

Listen in for more insights.

Have you heard the saying you don’t know what you don’t know? Have you wondered why this statement is important? Well, I will divulge why it demands serious consideration. The analogy of rolling dice.  We call what we want, but we get what we get. We do it again and again, hoping for a different outcome. Sometimes we win, but most times we lose. We always want to win(best outcome) based on caregiver knowledge.

Listen in for more insights.

I do realize there are circumstances, like safety and serious health conditions, that placing a loved one is required, but when this is the decision, eyes, ears, and noses must be in action; day and night; night and day. Pay attention when loved ones is placed. Listen in for more insights.

I am sure over the course of our lives; we will have a relationship with a wheelchair. However, for some, the wheelchair is a daily way of life. Because it’s a daily way of life, it requires maintenance. Like our physical and mental health requires maintenance, the equipment that sustains a loved one, is no different. Listen in for more insights.

Vacations can bring a refreshing reality to self-care. I have enjoyed being away and taking care of myself… Doing me! Loving on me! Enjoying my peace away from the hustle and bustle of life. It is not to say that a few hiccups tried to invade my space. Listen in to see how I navigated this year's vacation.

A lot of individuals take care of a friend or family member with a serious health condition. Caregiving is a labor of love, but it can also be hectic and demanding. How to be an effective caregiver while also taking care of yourself will always be the revolving action item. Listen in for more insights.

Driving is independence. Who does not want independence? However, what is the yardstick of awareness that affects the ability of older adults to drive safely? Driving restrictions must be in place if the functional abilities and mobility needs of an older driver are known. Listen in for more insights.

Music has always been my way of escape. In the caregiving space, music can work wonders to relax, reflex, and renew. Listen in for more insights.

During my acute-care years as a registered nurse, I encountered this syndrome many times. As a committed caregiver of loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s, you likely will face this syndrome, as well. While understanding the importance of staying attuned to daily events of any day or night, this syndrome can throw things off BIG TIME! The progressive stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s can show behavioral changes in the sundowning stages. Listen-in for more insights!

When loved ones are aging in place or coping with an illness or disability, it can be hard to keep up with all of the physical needs, let alone the equipment needs and the companies that provide the services, right?  Listen in for more insights.

This is going to be a short and sweet discussion!  I am going to say this loud enough to be heard around the world! This is a Public Service Announcement (PSA) from Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate!  Listen in for more insight.

The ability to participate in gross and fine motor skills goes away as we age. No matter how busy you might think you are as a caregiver, it is important to take the time to ensure movement that is tolerated, occurs! If you tell yourself that you don’t have time, change your mindset. Listen in for more insights.

Extreme temperature is not safe for anyone. It is even dangerous if you are older and have health problems. You should never stand outside at 110-degree temperature for anything! Listen in for more insights.

Did you know caregiving is a public health challenge? Caregiving is an important public health issue that affects the quality of life for millions of people. Elders are living longer. Who will care for them? Educating society is critical and vital. Listen in for more insights.

Caring for a loved one involves an “all hands on deck” approach…RIGHT? Have you ever considered the touch that caregivers deliver has many layers? Something to think about. I spoke the other day with a husband caregiver. He has been caring for his wife for many years since her Parkinson’s diagnosis which has now progressed to the painful reality of a “different kind of touch.” Touch matters! Listen-in for more insights.