Caregiving is anything but easy. Even if it’s a labor of love. For many midlife women this is just a chaotic time. Midlife, midlife hormones, midlife career, midlife relationship changes, and aging parents or other loved ones. Maybe a sick or injured child or spouse. 

What can you do to take care of your own health when you are consumed by caregiving?

We’re diving into it here. When you know sleep and exercise are important where does that come? How is it modified during these moments? 

My guests have solutions. 

My Guests:

Dr. Valerie Ulene is a specialist in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health with a passion for advocating and empowering people to seek the quality medical care they deserve. In 2013 she co-founded Clear Health Advisors alongside Byrdie Lifson Pompan to help individuals with serious medical conditions navigate the complexities surrounding diagnosis and treatment. Prior to that, Dr. Ulene authored a monthly health column for the Los Angeles Times that ran for over a decade, served as an editor of the educational patient page in the peer-reviewed journal, Preventive Medicine, and co-authored several consumer books on health.

Dr. Ulene attended Princeton University and received her medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She also earned a master's degree at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and completed her residency training at New York Hospital.

Byrdie Lifson Pompan has had a long career in client service and advocacy. For 20 years, she was an agent and partner at Creative Artists Agency (CAA)—the world's leading entertainment and sports agency. Through a deeply personal journey, she grew passionate about the issues surrounding patients' needs and health care quality. In 2013 she co-founded Clear Health Advisors alongside Dr. Valerie Ulene to improve the health care experience and outcomes for clients with complex medical conditions.

A native of Los Angeles, Lifson Pompan received her BA in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has a Masters in Healthcare Leadership from Brown University, May 2016.

They came together in a very unique way: Byrdie’s face became partially paralyzed and many doctors misdiagnosed her. It turns out it was actually a brain tumor. At that point, she was connected to Dr. Valerie. Ultimately, Byrdie’s misdiagnosis, along with other misdiagnoses in her family, was the impetus to the start of Boom Home Medical.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• What are some tools that would ease the stress for caregivers and patients? 

• What emotions occur during this kind of midlife chaos? 

• Stress reduction for Caregivers..what can you do to take care of your own health when you are consumed by caregiving

I hope this episode of caregiving made easier has found you at the right time, or will be something you heard no accidents, so that you have a resource for a friend. 

Connect with Byrdie and Valerie:

https://boomhomemedical.com/

Byrdie and Valerie on Social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boomhomemedical

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Women’s Health Mismanagement: When You Can’t Fire Yourself: https://www.flippingfifty.com/manage-health/