Caregiver Crossing

Poop happens — to everyone. Although it's natural to flush and hit the sink without a second glance, peeking at what's in the toilet bowl can benefit your health. And chances are, there's a lot you never knew, or thought to ask, about your number two. It is what's left after your digestive system absorbs all the nutrients and fluid from your food and drinks. As such, observing the shape, texture, size, smell, color and frequency of your poop can often be a good indication of your overall digestion and health, or the digestive health of the one you’re caring for. Joining us today, we have Dr. Julie Gatza (Dr. Julie), co- founder of the Florida Wellness Institute, here to give us a crash course in Poop 101. 

Where to by AbsorbAid 

On the Web: https://naturessources.com/ 

By Phone: 1-800-827-7656 (use code: radio) 

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stigma around dementia encompasses any negative attitude or discriminatory behavior against people living with dementia, just based on having the disease. When a disease is as prevalent as dementia, yet still poorly understood, it's easy for false beliefs to spread. Left unchallenged, these beliefs perpetuate stigmatizing attitudes against people living with dementia, reducing their quality of life. These attitudes extend to the families and caregivers of people living with dementia, affecting them as well. The unfortunate reality is that any person living with dementia is very likely to encounter stigma – even though dementia can affect anyone. No one is immune to the risks of dementia, and there is no cure or treatment that can guarantee prevention. 

The Dementia Friends Indiana initiative–an outreach of Dementia Friendly America–seeks to educate communities across the state about dementia, break down the stigma surrounding dementia, and implement practical changes that make life easier to navigate for those with dementia and for their loved ones. 

Indiana became the 10th state with a Dementia Friends program in 2017, starting with communities in central Indiana and in 2019, they went statewide. Here to share more, we have Melinda (Mindi) Winnie, the Dementia Programs Supervisor at CICOA. 

Dementia Friends Indiana 

Website: https://www.dementiafriendsindiana.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwrNmWBhA4EiwAHbjEQAcDVpjEfGIJGn20c0z4jeG8kjkVqHTFL1305YHKGkPuieEPZrqn1hoCN1kQAvD_BwE  

Phone: (317) 254-5465 

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Caregiving is one of the most important and reward rolls you can have in life, but the strain (left unmanaged) can take a heavy toll. If you are a caregiving spouse between the ages of 66 and 96 and are experiencing mental or emotional strain, you have a risk of dying that is 63 percent higher than that of people your age who are not caregivers. The combination of loss, prolonged stress, the physical demands of caregiving, and the biological vulnerabilities that come with age place you at risk for significant health problems as well as an earlier death.  

However, despite these risks, family caregivers of any age are less likely than non-caregivers to practice preventive healthcare and self-care behaviors. Regardless of age, sex, and race and ethnicity, caregivers report problems attending to their own health and well-being while managing caregiving responsibilities. Caregivers report regular problems with sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, failure to exercise, failure to stay in bed when ill, and postponement of or failure to make medical appointments for themselves.  

So, let’s disrupt that pattern. Today’s episode is all about caregiver self-care. 

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retirement is an exciting proposition. No more early morning wake-up calls or long days plowing through a stressful workload. We’ve all dreamt of having the free time to do as we wish. Unfortunately, that sweet dream can sour quickly. All that free time can turn into long, unproductive days, weeks, and years that can be rife with boredom and uncertainty. Even empty nesting can have this effect. 

It is important for seniors to find meaningful and engaging things to do with their time, and volunteering is an excellent option. Volunteering among seniors has been linked to improved quality of life, stronger social networks, increased levels of physical activity, and lower mortality rates.  

Volunteering can be an important contributor to the well-being of seniors, their families, and communities and can improve wellbeing. But how do you get connected to a volunteer program that works for you?  

Joining us today, we have Monica Woodsworth, the Director of RSVP at Catholic Charities of Indianapolis, here to discuss the value of senior volunteerism and some of the exciting opportunities available near you. 

AmeriCorps RSVP: https://americorps.gov/partner/how-it-works/americorps-seniors-rsvp  

AmeriCorps Senior Companions: https://americorps.gov/partner/how-it-works/americorps-seniors-senior-companion-program  

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Structured family caregiving is one way for states to handle the needs of an aging population that’s growing rapidly and living longer. It is a government program that empowers caregivers to care for seniors and those with disabilities who wish to remain at home, or in the home of an approved caregiver, rather than become institutionalized into a nursing home. 

Indiana launched its pilot project in 2013. Now statewide, it helps more than 4,000 families and saves the state roughly $2,000 per person, per month, compared with institutional care. 

While this program is growing in popularity in Indiana and in several other states such as California, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii, there are still many who do not know how these programs function, or how to access them when needed. That’s why this week’s guest is Nicole Neulieb, the Structured Family Care Director at Healing Hands to help us sort that all out. 

Healing Hands: https://www.healinghandshome.com/  

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

June 26th – this coming Monday – marks the anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Obergefell v Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 US states. Some may know – and some may not – that the man that filed the lawsuit, Jim Obergefell, was a same-sex caregiver who was denied the right to legally marry his love and partner before he passed from ALS in 2013.  

We would like to take this anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made while spreading awareness about the unique, and ongoing struggles faced by the LGBT community regarding caregiving. 

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are a lot of things to look forward to as we age, and they don’t get nearly enough attention. That’s why today’s episode is dedicated to celebrating the perks of aging! Tina and Terri dive into discussion about what they’re looking forward to and what perks they’re already enjoying.  

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the keys to caring for our aging loved ones is understanding the things that worry them. Older adults may not feel comfortable raising these concerns with others, especially the younger members of their family. Therefore, it is important that friends, family, and caregivers have enough awareness to thoughtfully open the conversation, and work collaboratively to address these common concerns. It is equally important, that those that are aging, know that they are not alone in their concerns. For this reason, Tina and Terri, have set aside this week’s episode to have a frank discussion about the fears of aging. Join us next week for part two of the conversation: The Perks of Aging. 

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most older adults will consider the option of downsizing, moving to a smaller home, and selling off unneeded assets. While this process can offer benefits to seniors and to their families in the long term, the process can be stressful. Mental, emotional, physical, and legal overwhelm are not uncommon. If you find that you or your loved one, has gotten bogged down by unknowns around downsizing, you’re not alone – and this is the episode for you. 

Christy’s of Indiana: https://www.christys.com/  

Email Tina: [email protected]  

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are various types of senior housing and levels of care to consider when searching the right senior living arrangement for you or your loved one. These are key details, as are costs, culture, cleanliness, and location. It’s a lot to navigate, which is why we’ve brought in an expert. Dave Holder is owner and Senior Living Advisor at Assisted Living Locators, a no cost service to seniors and their families to guide them step-by-step through the process of finding the senior living solution that is best for them.

Assisted Living Locators Website: https://assistedlivinglocators.com/care-advisor/northindy

Phone: 877-266-7780

Email Tina: [email protected]

Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.