Caregiver Relief Podcast

Betsy Wurzel and Diane Carbo discuss how to avoid surprise medical bills. Betsy shares her personal story of how she received a high medical bill due to not checking whether her doctor and facility were in her insurance plan. The hosts emphasize the importance of checking your plan before going to a doctor or facility, especially with Medicare advantage plans which can be limiting. The podcast also highlights that insurance companies don't always continue to have agreements with doctors or hospitals, so it's important to do research before any medical procedure. Finally, they urge people to be detectives and do their research before seeking medical care, particularly if they are on a managed care plan or travel frequently.

The podcast discusses the topic of driving and retiring from driving for those with dementia. Betsy Wurzel, a dementia care specialist and podcast host, shares her experience with her husband who continued to drive despite showing signs of unsafe driving due to dementia. She emphasizes the importance of family members taking personal responsibility and not being afraid to have discussions about taking away their loved ones' driving privileges. Betsy regrets not having told the doctor to tell her husband he couldn't drive and advises others to learn from her experience. The podcast also mentions that denial and fear of loss of independence are common issues that prevent seniors from giving up driving, but it is important to consider the safety of not only the senior but also innocent people on the road. The podcast suggests that making the doctor or state the "enemy" can be helpful to avoid conflict in the family while taking necessary steps to ensure safety.

The podcast discusses the concept of a death doula, an end-of-life specialist who helps individuals and their families prepare for death, the dying process, and terminal illnesses. The services offered by a death doula range from writing advanced directives to post-death care and legacy work. The holistic approach of a death doula helps people face their fears and anxiety regarding death and dying. The discussion also mentions the concept of a death cafe, a safe place where individuals can meet to discuss death, the afterlife, and other related topics with like-minded people. The podcast notes that the need for death doulas is increasing as people look for alternative end-of-life care services that accommodate their desire to remain at home.

The podcast is about the benefits of having end-of-life conversations and planning for the end of life, including the fears and concerns that people may have about the subject. The speaker discusses the benefits of being able to make decisions about medical treatments, where the loved one will be when they pass away, how end-of-life care will be delivered, and what comfort measures will be provided. The speaker also highlights the importance of honoring the loved one's last wishes to avoid guilt or regret. Strategies for initiating conversations about end-of-life planning are also discussed, including avoiding family battles and making decisions before the loved one is too sick to express their wishes. The podcast also explains what an advanced directive and healthcare power of attorney are.

The podcast discusses the issue of driving safety and retiring from driving for aging drivers. Although getting older does not mean that one needs to give up the keys, changes in eyesight, physical condition, and slower response times may cause safety concerns. Aging adults face several fears related to giving up driving, such as isolation, increased dependence on others, and limited activities, leading to fewer social opportunities. It is essential to monitor the driving skills of aging adults and to address the issue of retiring from driving with them. Caregivers and friends should not avoid this topic because they fear anger or upsetting the aging senior. Instead, they must be honest with themselves as well as others and pay special attention to the limitations of senior drivers. It is also important to keep the lines of communication open and ask open questions about their thoughts and feelings on the subject. Finally, taking a driver refresher course and keeping up with medication changes can be helpful in maintaining driving skills.

In this podcast transcript, Betsy Wurzel, a dementia care specialist and caregiver coach, discusses her experience caring for her husband, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at age 56. Betsy explains that it was difficult to get a proper diagnosis, as her husband was misdiagnosed with depression and was not believed by the neuropsychologist. Betsy and the host discuss the importance of early diagnosis and the genetic component of early onset Alzheimer's. They also express frustration with the medical community's resistance to diagnosing early onset Alzheimer's, even when the patient showed clear symptoms and had an MRI showing significant global shrinkage.

The podcast discusses how to approach financial matters when taking care of aging loved ones. It emphasizes that discussing finances with loved ones can be difficult, and they may be private about the topic. The podcast offers suggestions on how to approach this issue with a caring and sincere concern, such as offering to assist in organizing financial documents, but avoiding making judgments or recommendations. Signs that a loved one may need help with financial matters include hoarding money, bills piling up, gambling, and scrimping on food or medication. The podcast also provides questions to consider while reviewing daily and annual expenses, income, and investment strategies. Developing a simple budget and expense file for receipts and bills paid can be helpful, and there are outside resources available for assistance. Ultimately, it is essential to build trust and respect when approaching financial matters with loved ones.

In this podcast, Diane Carbo, CEO of My Vital Alert, shares the importance of carrying personal health information when traveling, particularly for seniors. Carrying one's specific medical information helps avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary testing, especially during an emergency situation. The personal health information should include emergency contact information, a list of doctors and their contact information, medical conditions, past medical conditions, and medication lists including prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Allergies to food or drugs should also be included. Diane also recommends designating an emergency contact person who should have access to all relevant information. She suggests that people should store their personal health information securely but accessible when needed, for example, in a phone app or in a medical ID bracelet.

The podcast features Kim Doviak Van Hassel, a caregiver coach, as she talks about her experience caring for her aging parents. In this episode, she discusses how her life changed after her mother fell. Kim was an only child who had been doing long-distance caregiving for her parents for a few years. Her parents were in their 80s and had some health problems, but they were managing well until her mother fell. Kim had been at their house for a few days to help them get to the doctors, and her mother fell when Kim was on the phone. Kim and her father didn't know what to do, but they eventually called for emergency response. Her mother refused to go to the ER, but they eventually got her into rehab. While in rehab, her mother had trouble breathing, and she went to the hospital where they discovered she couldn't swallow. She developed aspiration pneumonia, and they were told she couldn't eat anymore.

The podcast is a conversation between Diane Carbo and Pat Deegan about bereavement, grief, and mourning. The speakers discuss different ways that people die, and how people grieve, including children, people in long-term facilities, and those who have experienced homicides and suicides. They also discuss the importance of communication with family and doctors, the impact of media and publicity, and the stigma associated with death by suicide. Pat Deegan emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the different types of loss people experience and suggests that counseling and support are important in dealing with bereavement.