Finding A Foothold

Finding A Foothold Podcast listens to the heart and concerns of the caregiver,  hearing what their struggles are and then offering recommendations on how to improve how they are doing things, with the goal of helping to make the load lighter.

Today's podcast addresses concerns from Sophie who is concerned about her Dad coming from the hospital after falling in the bathroom and having a minor injury.  Sophie is afraid Dad will fall again and requested suggestions on how to keep him safe in the bathroom.

Betty also called in.  Mom  has physical limitations due to having a stroke.  Mom requires help to do most tasks.  Mom is insisting that Betty assist her in the shower every morning.  Betty admits that it is physically very hard to do and it takes a lot of time.  Betty is seeking help on how to address this problem and is looking for options she can use.

Listen to today's podcast.  See how both concerns are addressed and hear tips and strategies that you can use to help decrease your workload and improve the safety of caring for your loved one.

Hosted by an Occupational Therapist with 27 years experience and the former caregiver to her mother who had strokes,  Caregivers Finding A Foothold Podcast is the perfect place to receive tips and insight on how to provide safe and efficient care to your loved one.

If you are a caregiver and need help devising an extensive personalized caregiving plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help, schedule a free consult.


Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Welcome to Season 2 of Caregivers Finding A Foothold Podcast.  The podcast for teaching and guiding caregivers to a place of hope in the midst of caregiving.

Caregiving is hard, and can leave you feeling defeated, with no place to go for answers on how to better live out your calling as a caregiver without always arriving at the  end of each day feeling lost, with physical pain and an overwhelming sense of stress.

Some times you just need to know that someone experienced what you are going through and they may have an answer that can help you rewrite your caregiving story to include increased opportunities for success and allow you the opportunity to put your wellbeing front and center of the story.

As an occupational therapist with 27 years of experience working on an inpatient rehab unit, skilled nursing unit and in home health providing training to individuals with physical disabilities and their caregivers.

I have wealth of knowledge that I desire to share with caregivers and care recipients,  to help them streamline and simply “how care happens” while focusing on regaining control of their life interests.

This requires the development of a personalized caregiving plan which takes into account your loved one's limitations, your limitations, your environment and your support system. 

Caregivers Finding A Foothold Podcast is the perfect place to learn about my experience as a professional, and my personal experience as a former caregiver to my daughter, my mom, and to an aunt.  I was also the former owner and operator of a 6-bed elderly personal care home.

If you are a caregiver and need help devising an extensive personalized caregiving plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help, schedule a free consult.


Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Katie has been caregiver for her husband for almost a decade, he had a stroke about 8 years ago.  He was in his mid 50s, and while he was not able to return to work, he was able to somewhat care for himself at home while his wife remained employed full-time.

Husband is now with other illnesses and increased physical limitations  and now requires assist with all mobility and personal care.  Wife is struggling with the fact that her ability to care for him in their home may be coming to an end.

Katie feels so conflicted, she admits with being flood with thoughts of “What are others going to say if I decide that I can’t continue like this?”  

Only Katie and her family can make that decision, but in the mean time, I am working to see that things improve for now, while/if/until that transition occurs.  

Hear Katie's story. 

If you are a caregiver and need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Meet Roz Jones.  Owner and CEO of Jacksonville's Best Caregivers. https://www.rozjonesent.com

It has been an honor to meet and talk with Roslyn Jones, a CEO and author who has a compassionate heart for the elderly community and she also has a passion for caregivers who endeavor to provide the best care possible for their loved one.

In this episode, we discuss some of the factors which must be considered when entering the role of a caregiver and the challenges that many caregivers are faced with when the proper planning and tough conversations are not made prior to entering the caregiver journey.


Also learn about her new book, "Lifted".  Be inspired by this book as Roz shares her wisdom as she provides insight to caregivers, helping them learn how to shoulder the burden of caring for loved ones and their estate.   https://www.rozjonesent.com/lifted



And caregivers, if you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Falls happen more often than you think.  Some result in minor injuries and some with very serious ones.   They can happen to anyone.  Falls occur inside and outside the home. 

On this episode, meet "Ms. Sarah."  “Ms. Sarah” was going out to the mailbox, like she has done almost daily, for nearly 50 years at her current home.  This time she made the wrong step and down she went —into the ditch.

Hear about the injury that resulted, and the changes made in her environment to decrease her fall risks.  Learn ways to reduce fall risks around the home.  Learn ways of safely aging in place and keeping your loved ones safe.


If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Falls in the home are a great concern to many adult children who have aging parents who are still living in their own homes.  Many adult children have limited incomes, and are even struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic.

Many parents are still home alone, even though their children are at work and they worry about their parent's safety.  They do not want them to fall.

Having therapists in the home to provide training and recommendations on low cost options for decreasing fall risks and tripping hazards is very valuable.

This episode provides options for improving safety in the home, allowing parents to remain in their home safely, for a longer period of time.


If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Amputation of a leg is a hard thing to endurance, and it can usually mean use of a wheelchair for the individual, which means a big lifestyle change for them and the caregiver.

 Accessibility into the home, into bedroom, into bathroom and kitchen area should all be prioritized based on what you desire to see happen.  Start with easy access into the home then look at those changes that will result in your loved one being more independent and those that will reduce your workload.  It doesn’t always have to be huge expensive changes.

This podcast episode addresses a concern from a listen who called into the podcast with concerns about her dad who is soon discharging from the hospital after a leg amputation.

If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

When you become the caregiver to a loved one, you bring into your role a history that may be filled with good and bad.  Be prepared to work through some hurts.  You may need to seek professional help, there may need to be a healing and forgiveness to take place.  If you had a very loving history and you enter into caregiving with the goal of meeting every need of your loved one, you may need to take it slow.  Find a way of providing the best care, with the support from others.  Remember that your demonstration of love is not based on how much you do or the fact that you do it all. 

If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

It's hard knowing what to do as a caregiver!

Should they stay in their own home? Should they move in with me? Should I move in with them? Should I hire a sitter? Should I look at long term placement? etc.

There are so many questions and just as many opinions from others on what you should be doing.

Yes, it is good to ask for advice from those you trust and value because sometimes we can't see the whole picture.

There will also be others who will give advise that you did not seek and frown upon decisions that you make.

But the bottom line is, you have the final say so on what works for YOUR LIFE. What works FOR YOU!

DO YOU!

If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Consuela Marshall,
Occupational Therapist, Caregiver

It is so easy to get into the trap of doing everything for your elder parents or disabled spouse after they have sustained an injury or have a debilitating diagnosis.   You may feel that you are making life easier for them when you cater to their every need but you could in fact be making things more difficult for them in the long run.

Yes, there is a time during the recovery phase that they require more assistance with task, but the amount of assist needed can decrease as strength and endurance is allowed to improve.  Not everyone returns to their prior level of functioning after an illness but there is often a level of “new normal” that can be achieved which will allow them to function without always needing assist.  

Each task that you totally do for them, takes away the opportunity for them to gain strength and mobility skills to improve in that area.  You must provide opportunity for them to  learn a new way, a different way of living.  It is the daily movements of their bodies that can unlock hidden potential for improvements in activities of daily living (ADLs).

Yes, you can do things faster and just get things over with but you are also creating an environment where they are learning to totally depend on you for everything.  And when this happens burnout, resentment can happen.  This can be prevented it requires crafting of a plan that is centered on maximizing their skill level.

Finding A Foothold can help. 

Reach out for help and support. 

Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.   

Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/

Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/