All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Anne S. Royer & Robert W. Royer as guests to the show.

About Anne S. Royer:

Anne's background and interests have included family, volunteering, and her love of art, painting and photography that began while living in Santa Fe and continues today.

About Robert W. Royer:

Robert is a semi-retired real estate developer specializing in residential, mixed-use, and resort properties.

About Meal Lifter®:

The Meal Lifter® eating aid was created to assist individuals suffering from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, dementia, Cerebral Palsy, Essential Tremors, autism, strokes, injuries, learning disabilities, and age-related conditions that make it difficult to eat independently.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Jonathan Cottor as guest to the show. About Jonathan Cottor, MBA, MPH. : Jonathan Cottor is a devoted father whose journey with his son Ryan, diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at 9 months old, profoundly shaped his life. Ryan defied expectations, living an extraordinary 17 years until his death in December 2018. Inspired by their experience, Jonathan and his wife co-founded Ryan House, a pioneering children's respite, palliative, and hospice care home in Phoenix, Arizona. After a 30-year career in corporate marketing and leadership, Ryan's death became the catalyst for Jonathan to align his work with his passion. He earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, specializing in policy and advocacy, along with a certificate in Maternal and Child Health. Jonathan is now a recognized national thought leader in pediatric palliative care. He has been instrumental in building a coalition of community-based pediatric palliative care home models, culminating in the creation of the National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes and its flagship initiative, Children's Respite Homes of America. About National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes (NCPPCH): The National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes (NCPPCH) is a national nonprofit advancing an innovative solution: local, community-based homes that provide overnight respite, palliative, and hospice care tailored to the needs of medically fragile children and young adults, particularly those with life-limiting conditions.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Dr. Malinda Shultice as guest to the show.

About Dr. Malinda Shultice:

Dr. Malinda Shultice is a professor at Iowa State University and Barcelona Executive Business School, as well as the founder and CEO of M.S. Healthcare Consulting, a firm dedicated to training and developing leaders in the healthcare industry. She earned her Doctorate in Health Sciences from MCPHS University in Boston in 2022.

Before moving into higher education in 2023, Malinda spent years managing continuing care retirement communities in the senior living sector. It was a role that demanded adaptability every single day—whether adjusting to new regulations, finding creative ways to support staff, or responding to the changing needs of residents and their families.

Those experiences shaped her passion for connecting generations and building a strong, flexible workforce that can deliver quality care in an ever-changing healthcare world.

About M.S. Healthcare Consulting:

Through keynote speaking, interactive workshops, and executive coaching, I help leaders and organizations cultivate that curiosity while also building practical skills to lead effectively. Whether it's inspiring a room full of professionals, guiding teams through hands-on problem solving, or supporting executives one-on-one, my mission is the same: to empower healthcare leaders to become confident, curious, and impactful in their spheres of influence.

1. Seminars & Workshops:

Interactive sessions on a variety of healthcare-related topics that address pressing issues such as burnout, low morale, high turnover, and lack of team engagement. (See the Courses tab for details.)

2. One-on-One Mentoring:

Personalized coaching for healthcare administrators and staff. Designed to help individuals build resilience, improve leadership skills, and create strategies to reduce stress and disengagement.

3. Small Group Trainings:

Tailored training for teams or community groups. These sessions focus on strengthening collaboration, boosting morale, and developing practical solutions to reduce turnover and improve workplace culture.

4. Speaking Engagements: Inspiring and practical presentations for audiences of any size—ideal for conferences, staff meetings, or community events. Topics center on building healthier work environments and addressing burnout and disengagement.

Connect with Dr. Malinda Shultice:

Official Website:

https://www.malindashultice.com

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome George Koenig as guest to the show.

About George Koenig:

George Koenig is the Founder and CEO of eCaregivers. He has 22+ years of licensed and accredited home care agency ownership and deep expertise in the home care industry. He founded eCaregivers with a vision to democratize home care for the better with a mission of empowering families with the tools to access safe, affordable, and transparent home care and care providers with autonomy, safety, and flexibility.

About eCaregivers:

eCaregivers is an online platform where families can find & manage 1-1 private home care, saving 30-50% compared to traditional agency costs. eCaregivers also partners with traditional home care channels. By collaborating with assisted living facilities, CCRCs, long-term care insurers, and other organizations, eCaregivers helps traditional providers supplement their services with additional private-pay care opportunities, increasing staff retention and resident care continuity.

Families or residents can join in under 10 minutes for as low as $9.99/month to find care by posting a job & receiving applicants or searching our database of local Care Providers. Easily choose the right match using eCaregivers' built-in messaging, safe & secure phone / video interviews, verification and background check features! eCaregivers has made it easier and safer than ever to manage private care, giving agency-like care management tools directly to families.

Users can utilize care scheduling, GPS-verified clock-in and clock-outs, backup-care arrangements, automatic payments, family split-billing, and more. Families can engage Care Providers as a 1099 or W2 and premium plan holders can enjoy the protection of liability, auto, and occupational insurance protections. Care Providers can join eCaregivers for free and begin applying to local jobs in less than 10 minutes. eCaregivers empowers Care Providers by giving them the tools to set their own rates, hours, and employment relationships.

Care Providers keep 100% of their earnings—eCaregivers takes no commission. eCaregivers operates nationwide with over 10,000 Care Providers, and more users are joining every day. Built by industry experts, eCaregivers is truly a complete solution for both families and traditional home care models.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Paul Wynn as guest to the show.

About Paul Wynn:

Paul Wynn has been part of the caregiving community for more than a decade, both as a family caregiver and as a healthcare writer. He is a featured author in the new book, The Caregiver's Advocate Vol. 2, where he shares his experience as a sandwich generation caregiver, balancing the needs of aging relatives and young children.

Professionally, Paul has led communications and patient advocacy work for biopharmaceutical companies, collaborating with organizations like the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer's Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and many grassroots organizations.

Through his work, Paul has recognized that patients and caregivers all have stories, but not all of them have a voice to speak up. Giving patients and their caregivers the opportunity to be heard and share their insights and inspiring stories has been the central focus of Paul's work as an author and communications and patient advocacy specialist.

Connect with Paul Wynn:

Official Website:

https://www.paulwynn.com

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome the team from the National Down Syndrome Society as guests to the show.

About Margot Rhondeau:

Margot Rhondeau is the Senior Director of Health & Wellness for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) where she leads the creation of resources and programming to improve health and wellness within the Down syndrome community. Margot joined NDSS in 2020, bringing 14 years of experience working in the health space, both internationally and nationally, to overcome barriers to care and increase health services and programs for underserved populations.

Margot is the proud mother of a child with Down syndrome. She enjoys hiking, taking her children on adventures and advocating for inclusion and acceptance.

About Charlotte Woodward:

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome the team from the National Down Syndrome Society as guests to the show. About Margot Rhondeau: Margot Rhondeau is the Senior Director of Health & Wellness for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) where she leads the creation of resources and programming to improve health and wellness within the Down syndrome community. Margot joined NDSS in 2020, bringing 14 years of experience working in the health space, both internationally and nationally, to overcome barriers to care and increase health services and programs for underserved populations. Margot is the proud mother of a child with Down syndrome. She enjoys hiking, taking her children on adventures and advocating for inclusion and acceptance. About Charlotte Woodward: Charlotte Woodward is the Education Program Associate for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) where she supports the development of education-related resources and educational policy initiatives.

Charlotte was born with Down syndrome, as well as a heart condition, and had four open-heart surgeries when she was young. She is one of the very few people born with Down syndrome to receive a life-saving heart transplant, and she regularly shares her story to educate and advocate for others. Charlotte holds an associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College and recently graduated Suma Cum Laude from George Mason University with a bachelor's degree in sociology with a concentration in inequality and social change.

About Anna Fedewa:

Anna Fedewa is the Senior Manager of Government Relations for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) where she leads and directs the organization's work to influence federal, state, and local policies and regulations that impact people with Down syndrome. Anna's passion for advocacy and disability rights grew from the friendships she made with individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities as a young child and was further cultivated during her time teaching high school special education and working with her alma mater's inclusive post-secondary program.

About the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS):

Founded in 1979, the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) empowers individuals with Down syndrome and their families by driving policy change, providing resources, engaging with local communities, and shifting public perceptions. NDSS engages grassroots advocates at the federal, state, and local levels and creates resources to support individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers across the lifespan on topics including education, employment, health and wellness, and aging. NDSS founded the National Buddy Walk® Program in 1995 and hosts community engagement events throughout the country including the New York City Buddy Walk® and Times Square Video, the NDSS Adult Summit, and the Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference. Visit www.ndss.org to learn more.

Advocacy & Policy:

NDSS advocates for federal, state, and local policies and regulations that positively impact people with Down syndrome across the country and affirm their human rights. Through grassroots advocacy, NDSS empowers community advocates to work with Congress and federal agencies, as well as state and local officials, to develop and improve policies and regulations for the benefit of the Down syndrome community.

NDSS further empowers individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and other community members to influence policy at the NDSS Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. The NDSS legislative agenda spans the life of individuals with Down syndrome from birth to adulthood including healthcare, education, employment, and economic self-sufficiency.

Resources & Support:

NDSS is committed to providing individuals with Down syndrome, their families, caregivers, and the public with information to support them from birth to end of life. Through events, videos, publications, and our website, NDSS provides free resources on a variety of topics including health, wellness, education, employment, adulthood and aging, financial wellness, and information for new and expectant parents. Our Adult Summit conference addresses the needs of teens and adults with practical resources and educational opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome, families, caregivers, and professionals.

Community Engagement:

NDSS community engagement events and activities celebrate our loved ones with Down syndrome, raise awareness among the public, and connect individuals and families within the community. Through our scholarships, grants, and awards program, NDSS supports individuals with Down syndrome in pursuing their dreams.

Connect with the National Down Syndrome Society:

Official Website:

https://ndss.org

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome the team from Bridgetown Music Therapy as guests to the show.

About: Alexis Baker, MT-BC, CDP

Alexis is the founder & owner of Bridgetown Music Therapy. Alexis is a board-certified music therapist, certified dementia practitioner, and founder of Bridgetown Music Therapy. Passionate about using music to make a difference in the lives of older adults, her mission is to spark joy and connection through meaningful music engagement.

In 2020, she became the innovator of Singing at Home and Music with Alexis, virtual music engagement programs for older adults living with dementia. In 2024, she co-authored the book "The Caregiver's Advocate: A Complete Guide to Support and Resources".

About Lindsey Bretzman, CDP:

Lindsey is a passionate Life Enrichment professional, who after caring for her grandfather for many years, began working in senior living in 2010. She has worked in a variety of senior living settings and is credentialed as a Certified Activity Director and Certified Dementia Practitioner.

Lindsey's "heart work" and dedication has earned her program awards through both the Oregon Healthcare Association and LeadingAge Oregon. In the fall of 2022, Lindsey joined the Bridgetown Music Therapy team as Life Enrichment Specialist.

About Tyler Mizak:

Tyler is the LifeStages Activity Director and LifeStories Memory Care Director, Colonial Courtyard at Bedford. He is also the host of the Ageless Adventures podcast, where he shares inspiring stories and insights from the world of senior living and real life Residents.

A passionate advocate for older adults, Tyler is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for seniors through creativity, connection, and meaningful engagement in the larger public community.

About Bridgetown Music Therapy:

Bridgetown Music Therapy's mission is to make a difference in the lives of individuals living with dementia using the power of music. With services facilitated by passionate, talented board-certified music therapists and certified dementia practitioners, they spark joy and connection through meaningful music engagement.

They value providing programs that are engaging, therapeutic, high-quality, versatile, accessible, affordable, and dementia friendly. Their programs also provide respite to tired, busy, and overwhelmed caregivers.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome esteemed author Eliezer Sobel as guest to the show.

About Eliezer Sobel:

Eliezer is the author of The Silver Lining of Alzheimer's: One Son's Journey Into the Mystery, as well as two picture books for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, Blue Sky, White Clouds: A Book for Memory-Challenged Adults, and L'Chaim! Pictures to Evoke Memories of Jewish Life. He has also published Minyan: Ten Jewish Men in a World That is Heartbroken, selected by National Book Award winner John Casey as the winner of the Peter Taylor Prize for the Novel, among 400 entries.

Also, The 99th Monkey: A Spiritual Journalist's Misadventures with Gurus, Messiahs, Sex, Psychedelics and Other Consciousness-Raising Experiments; Wild Heart Dancing: A One-Day Personal Quest to Liberate the Artist & Lover Within; The Dark Light of the Soul/Encounters with Gabrielle Roth; an e-book titled Why I Am Not Enlightened, and he blogs for PsychologyToday.com.

Eliezer has also led creativity workshops and silent meditation retreats around the U.S.; he is a certified teacher of Gabrielle Roth's 5Rhythms® conscious movement practice; has served as a hospital chaplain; was the publisher of two magazines, The New Sun and the Wild Heart Journal; served as Music Director for several children's theater companies on both coasts, and taught music in two alternative high schools. Also an amateur painter, he and Shari reside in Red Bank, New Jersey with their two cats, Shlomo and Nudnick.

The Care Advocates is brought to you by the All Home Care Matters Media team and focuses on providing family caregivers and their loved ones with support, resources, and discussion on the issues facing them in the matrix of long-term care.

The Care Advocates is hosted by Lance A. Slatton & Dr. George Ackerman, also known as Sharon's son George.

The Care Advocates are honored to welcome the sisters from "Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver" J.J. Elliott Hill & Natalie Elliott Handy as guests to the show.

About J.J. Elliott Hill, MBA:

J.J. is a finance executive turned entrepreneur, caregiver advocate, and podcast co-host. With over 17 years in commercial banking, she advised small to mid-sized businesses on strategic growth, asset management, and navigating regulatory and merger transitions. But in 2013, a corporate downsizing shifted her trajectory—leading her to co-found three startups spanning retail, manufacturing, and real estate.

In 2023, J.J. co-founded the Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver podcast to raise awareness for the 53 million Americans caring for loved ones—just like she has done since 2019 for her mother, a 22-year Parkinson's patient. What began as a personal story has grown into a global caregiving platform, with over 300,000 monthly downloads and listeners in 54 countries. Today, Confessions is more than a podcast—it's a movement, offering training, keynote speaking, and advocacy that centers and elevates the caregiver voice.

In 2024, J.J. brought that same strategic mindset to the caregiving space as co-founder and CFO of CareForward, a public benefit company dedicated to supporting caregivers and the communities around them through technology-driven solutions and volunteer networks.

She holds a B.A. in Economics from Hollins College and an MBA in Executive Management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. J.J. is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) and is completing her certification as a Caregiving Consultant, Educator, and Facilitator through The Caregiving Years Academy.

About Natalie Elliott Handy, MSW:

Natalie is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience in health and human services. She is the CEO of CareForward, a technology-driven platform that connects individuals in crisis with volunteers and partner organizations to meet urgent, short-term needs and improve long-term outcomes. Natalie is also the CEO of Handy Innovative Solutions, a consulting firm focused on trauma-informed, evidence-based strategies for child welfare and behavioral health systems, specializing in transitioning high-acuity youth from congregate care into stable, family-based placements.

Natalie co-hosts the global podcast Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver with her sister, JJ Elliott-Hill. The show, ranked in the top 5% of podcasts globally and streamed in over 54 countries with 300K+ monthly downloads and streams, brings authenticity, humor, and hope to caregiving conversations. Through storytelling, education, and advocacy, the podcast provides a supportive space for caregivers worldwide.

A passionate advocate, Natalie has served in leadership roles across mental health, foster care, and healthcare systems, including CEO of multiple psychiatric treatment facilities and VP of Government Affairs at Health Connect America. She speaks nationally on caregiving, crisis response, and community solutions.

Learn more about the Self-Care at Sea Cruise: Official Website: https://www.funseas.com/self-care

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Dr. James Vickers as guest to the show. About Dr. James Vickers: Dr. Vickers is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Tasmania and the Director of The Wicking Dementia Research & Education Center. Distinguished Prof Vickers has an extensive track record in interventional cohort studies, cognition, neurogenetics, health services research and neuroscience research, and has published over 200 refereed articles. Distinguished Prof Vickers has held several national leadership roles, such as President of the Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS, 2014–2016) and Chair of the Scientific Panel of the Alzheimer's Australia Dementia Research Foundation (2014-2016). He was awarded a Doctor of Science from University of Tasmania in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to neuroscience research. He is a Board Member of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation and a member of the Dementia Expert Reference Group for the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. About The Wicking Dementia Research & Education Center: The Wicking Dementia Centre was established in 2008 with seed funding from the J.O. and J.R. Wicking Trust. The Wicking Centre has an academic mission to undertake globally recognised and high-impact research and education. Research themes relate to the prevention, cause and care of dementia. Teaching programs include formal university courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate level through to a suite of free online courses, including MOOCs on major neurological conditions. The social mission of the Centre is centred on making a difference in the lives of people living with dementia and their carers.