This episode is a special caregiving conversation between Caroline Oxford, Director of Family Care Services at Hospice of the Piedmont, and one of our team members Carla Higgins, Medical Records Specialist. Carla has worked with Hospice of the Piedmont, and our affiliate organization, Hospice of Randolph, for a little more than 2 decades. During that time, she has experienced a variety of caregiving seasons with her family members. She is no stranger to what is called the "sandwich generation" - those caring for both aging parents and children at the same time. Additionally, Carla represents the 6 out of 10 working caregivers pulled between the needs of their career and the needs of their loved ones.

SHOW NOTES:

In this podcast, Carla mentions numerous encouragements for caregivers. Here are a few to consider:

1) Find ways to recharge and care for yourself by reconnecting with your role outside of caregiving. Grab dinner, have someone come over so that you can take a short break or do an activity you enjoy, or even play a game or work on a puzzle after everyone is asleep. Find ways to connect with things you enjoy and incorporate that into your day.

2) Put your pride to the side, and be open to receiving help from family members and friends. Be open and honest with those around you and let them help you.

3) Have a phone partner - someone that you can trust and call anytime - when you need to let out your stress. If you don't have this, seek it out. Most people are more than willing to be supportive in this way if you are honest with your needs.

Resources in this podcast (and a few extra!) are linked below. Be sure to visit the websites and/or search for these key words online to find resources local to your area.

- Regional Consolidated Services (RCS) is a multifaceted, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the diverse needs of individuals and families in Randolph County, North Carolina. Founded on the principles of compassion, integrity, and empowerment, RCS has been a trusted resource and advocate for positive change since 1979. At the heart of our mission is a deep-seated commitment to making a long lasting impact in our community. To learn more, visit https://www.regionalcs.org/.

- Randolph County, North Carolina - Aid to the Blind - https://www.randolphcountync.gov/306/Aid-to-the-Blind

- Services for the Blind - North Carolina - https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/services-blind

- North Carolina Reading Service - https://www.ncreadingservice.org/

If you are a caregiver, we'd love to hear from you! Please fill out our brief Caregiver Survey at www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org to explore your caregiving experience and connect with helpful resources.

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

The average caregiving experience lasts nearly 5 years but the impact of that experience does not stop with the loss. In this episode, we welcome Kirsten Goard - one of Hospice of the Piedmont's bereavement counselors - and Executive Director of Caregiver Connect, Alexis Williams, for a meaningful conversation focused on how caregiving impacts the grief journey. Together, they explore the wide variety of emotions caregivers may experience following the loss of their loved one, how relationships with family members can change as the caregiving role ends, and the importance of caring for yourself both during and after a loss.

SHOW NOTES:

The mission of Caregiver Connect is to embrace family caregivers where they are; equip them with the needed tools and resources for survival; and encourage them to connect with other family caregivers. For more information about Caregiver Connect, click here to visit their website. visit https://caregiverconnect.online/.

During this podcast, Alexis discusses a wide-variety of administrative tasks that are important following the death of a loved one but can at times feel overwhelming. We've created a checklist to help organize these tasks during the first month after a loss. To view or download this list visit https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/life-after-loss/.

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

In this episode, we're joined by Juanita Herrera, a Doctoral Occupational Therapy student at Emory & Henry University who shares about her research and work related to understanding and managing the challenging symptom of restlessness, that can be especially common at end of life.

For additional information about end-of-life restlessness and practical strategies for supporting your loved one, visit:

https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/resources-articles/understanding-and-managing-end-of-life-restlessness/

In this episode of The E-Series, we take a sneak peek at a few of our upcoming conversations. We'll cover topics including caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease, the progression of chronic diseases and the process of a chronic disease becoming terminal as well as understanding and managing restlessness at end of life.

Be sure to subscribe to our channel to receive a notification as each new episode publishes.

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

In the final portion of our two-part special episode, we jump back in on our conversation with Hospice of the Piedmont volunteer and co-founder, Vance Davis. Listen in as we pick up on the early years at Hospice of the Piedmont and later explore how Vance's passion for hospice care led to the role of becoming a dedicated patient and family hospice volunteer.

Guest Bio: Vance Davis was born in 1939, a child of the Southern Appalachian mountains. Vance finished Spring Creek High School in 1957 and attended High Point College, graduating in 1961. From there, he went to Yale University Divinity School, where he received his BD in 1964. Vance returned to NC to serve as minister to the Highlands Methodist Church. He returned to graduate school in 1966 at Drew University (NJ) where he received his Ph.D. in Christian Ethics in 1970. Vance once again returned to NC in 1972 to become Associate Minister of the Asheboro First United Methodist Church. He was there for one year, when he received an offer to teach in the Religion Department of High Point College. Vance remained at High Point for 33 years first as teacher, then as administrator (Vice President of Academic Affairs) until retiring in 2006. Vance is married to Janet L. Davis (34 years) and they have three children and six grandchildren.

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

In part one of this special two-part episode, we're joined by Hospice of the Piedmont volunteer and co-founder, Vance Davis. Vance takes us on a sentimental journey to the early days of Hospice of the Piedmont. He highlights his own upbringing and how early encounters of loss, grief and the end-of-life experience helped pave the way for what would someday be Hospice of the Piedmont.

Guest Bio: Vance Davis was born in 1939, a child of the Southern Appalachian mountains. Vance finished Spring Creek High School in 1957 and attended High Point College, graduating in 1961. From there, he went to Yale University Divinity School, where he received his BD in 1964. Vance returned to NC to serve as minister to the Highlands Methodist Church. He returned to graduate school in 1966 at Drew University (NJ) where he received his Ph.D. in Christian Ethics in 1970. Vance once again returned to NC in 1972 to become Associate Minister of the Asheboro First United Methodist Church. He was there for one year, when he received an offer to teach in the Religion Department of High Point College. Vance remained at High Point for 33 years first as teacher, then as administrator (Vice President of Academic Affairs) until retiring in 2006. Vance is married to Janet L. Davis (34 years) and they have three children and six grandchildren.

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

In this episode, Hospice of the Piedmont CEO Trent Cockerham welcomes Bruce McReynolds, a compassionate leader in the field of elder care and the director of Griswold Home Care. Together, Trent and Bruce explore the complex dynamics that take place as adult children step into the role of caregiving for their parent, also known as role reversal or parentification.

Guest Bio: Bruce McReynolds has called Greensboro, North Carolina, home for more than 27 years. He and his family have dedicated themselves to serving the community. As the owner of Griswold Home Care, Bruce oversees two thriving offices, providing vital non-medical home care services to seniors in Greensboro and Burlington. Griswold Home Care of Greensboro and Burlington has been serving the community for 12 years. This organization holds a special place in the landscape of elder care, being one of the oldest national organizations of its kind, with a network spanning 33 states and encompassing 177 locally owned offices. Bruce's commitment to enabling older adults to "Age in Place" independently shines through in the wide range of services his agency offers, from personal care assistance to companionship, respite care, and much more. Driven by a deeply rooted mission, Bruce has dedicated his career to supporting older adults facing physical or cognitive challenges, as well as their families who shoulder the responsibility of caregiving. Bruce is actively engaged in the community, serving on the board of the Triad Retirement Living Association. In addition to his board responsibilities, Bruce co-coordinates the Adult Children of Aging Parents (ACAP) group, providing a vital lifeline of education and support to those navigating the complex journey of caring for elderly loved ones. Bruce's personal connection to the topic of elder care runs deep, as he is blessed to have both of his parents, now 85 years old, living close by in Greensboro after relocating from Indiana. This intimate connection fuels Bruce's passion for his work and underscores his unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of seniors and their families.

Resources:

- Life Compass Living (book: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Compass-Living-Growing-Together/dp/1952421098)

- Adult Children of Aging Parents (https://www.acapcommunity.org/find-a-chapter/)

- North Carolina Family Support Program (https://fsnnc.org/)

- Caregiver Connect (https://caregiverconnect.online/)

- Senior Resources of Guilford (https://www.senior-resources-guilford.org/)

- The Aging Coach (https://theagingcoach.com/)

- AARP (https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/)

- Family Caregiver Alliance (https://www.caregiver.org/)

- Alzheimer's Association (https://www.alz.org/)

- Parkinson's Foundation (https://www.parkinson.org/)

- National MS Society (https://www.nationalmssociety.org/)

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

For this episode, previous E-Series guest Kelly Olmeda, Hospice of the Piedmont's Director of Quality, Compliance and Education, is joined by Annette Caughron, Physical Therapy Assistant, for an insightful conversation focused on the needs of individuals with Parkinson's disease and those caring for them.

*SHOW NOTES*

Guest Bios:

- Kelly Olmeda received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She has 25 years of experience as a social worker including 12 years of experience as a hospice social worker for Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph. Her passion for education led to a transition in 2020 into her current role as the Director of Quality, Compliance and Education for Hospice of the Piedmont. Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge from both professional and personal experience that created a desire within her to equip and empower others with practical tools for meaningful end-of-life conversations.

- Annette S. Caughron is a Physical Therapist Assistant and has been working at Deep River Rehabilitation in Asheboro, NC for 19 years. She is passionate about health and wellness and helping individuals stay as active as possible for as long as possible. She is an advocate for individuals with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers and has served as the facilitator for the Parkinson's Support Group in Randolph County, NC for 14 years.

Resources:

- Parkinson's Support Group in Randolph County: This group meets the 2nd Friday of every month at 10:30 a.m. at Hospice of Randolph, located at 416 Vision Drive in Asheboro.

- Parkinson's Foundation: https://www.parkinson.org/

- Parkinson Association of the Carolinas: https://www.parkinsonassociation.org/

- Randolph Senior Adults Association: http://www.senioradults.org/

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

In this episode, we highlight the service of two of our hospice volunteers whose ages span nearly 60 years. First, we’ll glean from the 30+ years of service provided by Darlene, a long-time volunteer who has worn many hats and shared her calming presence with numerous families. Then, we’ll shift gears and spend time with one of our younger volunteers, a college student named Zach. We hope these stories will be as inspirational to you as they have been to us.

After listening to this episode, if you would like to learn more about becoming a hospice volunteer, be sure to visit the Volunteer page at www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.

In this special episode of the E-Series, Ryan Biagini and Jessica Crisp explore and discuss the most streamed episodes of 2023.

Top episodes of 2023:

#4 - Engaging the Millennial Caregiver (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-engaging-the-millennial-caregiver/)

#3 - Caregiver Excuses: Stopping the Cycle of Self Neglect (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-caregiver-excuses-stopping-the-cycle-of-self-neglect/)

#2 - The Power of Presence (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-the-power-of-presence/)

#1 - When Nothing Else Can Be Done (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-when-nothing-else-can-be-done/)

Additional episodes referenced in this podcast:

- Caregiver Identity (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-caregiver-identity/)

- Caregiver Joy (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-the-joy-of-caregiving/)

- Toxic Positivity (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-toxic-positivity/)

- Intersection of Faith and Health in the Individual (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-intersection-of-faith-and-health-in-the-individual/)

- Self-Care for Caregivers (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-self-care-for-caregivers/)

- Self-Care for Caregivers: Holiday Edition (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/eseries/the-e-series-self-care-for-caregivers-holiday-edition/)

Presented by Hospice of the Piedmont and Hospice of Randolph, The E-Series is an educational webinar series aimed at engaging our community, exploring relevant topics and educating about ways to connect with our organization. Funding for The E-Series is provided by the Dr. John A. Lusk Fund for Hospice and Palliative Care Education. For more information about the E-Series, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org.