Inspired Caring

Inspired Caring

By Michele MagnerHealth & FitnessMental Health
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Inspired Caring episodes

  • 117. When Am I Going Home - Responding to This Tough Question

    This question, by far, is one of the most triggering questions family members have to respond to. There are so many emotions

    that spike to the surface when this is asked, and it can swirl us into
    guilt, doubt, fear, sadness, anger you name it, pretty quickly.

    If someone is not living with Alzheimer's or another

    dementia, this usually presents as subtle jabs that can eventually be
    triggering leading to explosion or argument. The bottom line is, things
    are where they are for a reason or number of reasons, that are out of
    our control. Our goal is to let the comments slide, be reassuring,
    validate the person's emotional response to the situation, generally do
    our best to not fall into the trigger trap and respond in a loving way.

    The game changes when the person asking is living with dementia. It's

    never a one and done conversation. They don't remember asking the
    question. They're confused about what is going on. We have worked hard
    to figure out this new living arrangement and get things set up, so
    it's upsetting when they're repeatedly asking about going home. It's a
    constant reminder that everything has changed.

    We desire for them to not ask this because we want to feel a certain way.

    Of course we want people to feel settled and happy. Under the best of
    circumstances, a move takes time to feel settled in. When someone is
    living with dementia this takes an extraordinarily longer amount of time
    and in my experience, eventually, people do get there and stop asking.
    Eventually.

    In this episode I talk about:

    • Keeping perspective on moving.
    • Home may be a feeling more than a geographical place.
    • How to answer the same question a zillion times as if it's the first time they've asked.
    • Remembering they have a brain disease, keeping our energy in check as we're responding.
    • Thinking about the reason behind why they want to go home, it may not be what you're thinking.
    • Offering responses that are temporary and in service to others.
    • How to redirect the conversation.

      • This is a VERY tough time and I want to uplift that you are amazing

      and doing a great job. Be kind and patient with yourself too. Do what
      you need to do to take care of yourself, restore yourself, and recharge
      so you can feel patient during this chapter.

      www.michelemagner.com

      Dementia Educators to follow:

      Teepa Snow: https://www.instagram.com/teepasnows_pac/

      Dementia Darling: https://www.instagram.com/dementiadarling/

      BeLightCare: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/belightcare/⁠

      Dementia Careblazers: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_careblazers/

      31 min
    • 118. Just Breathe - with Kimberly Faith

      How often do you find yourself holding your breath through out the day?

      Kimberly Faith is a powerful healer in the holistic industry. Using breathwork, she's discovered her purpose and inspires others to do the same.

      She's a rebel who challenges societal norms and invites others to push past their limitations and embrace their full potential. Her somatic and 9D breathwork sessions take participants on a journey of self-discovery and healing, helping them deepen their connection with themselves.

      How lucky am I that she a dear friend of mine! I've known Kimberly for years and have felt the impactful healing of "breathing" with her.

      Get ready to explore new frontiers of consciousness with Kimberly Faith!


      Linktree for ALL the goodness connections and options! https://linktr.ee/adventuresofkimberlyfaith

      Instagram: www.instagram.com/adventuresofkimberlyfaith/

      Book a call: https://calendly.com/kimberlyfaithrayburn/30-minute-complimentary-exploration-call?month=2023-09

      Website: https://www.kimberlyfaith.net/

      #kimberlyfaith #justbreathe #breathworkhealing #inspiredcaring

       

      40 min
    • 116. Up With Seniors - Connection & Conversations for Seniors with Mike Bianchi

      Is the senior in your life interested in having real discussion around interesting topics? Or may you or the person you care for is feeling lonely and seeking connection with someone else. Pastor Michael Bianchi has a heart for connecting people all over the world to uplift and encourage then in their later years!

      Most seniors face 3 major questions at this time in their lives:

      1- Why must I live thru this time when I feel it would be better if I just died?

      2- Does my life now have any value?

      3- What purpose is there for my life now? The strive to answer these questions and more in their weekly Zoom meetings on Mondays at 7 pm central.

      I had the opportunity to share my mindset and aging presentation with his community on August 14, 2023 and that is available for replay HERE. Scroll to the bottom of the page!

      For more information or to join Mike on a Monday night call, visit: https://mikesministry.com/up-w%2Fseniors.

      Family caregiving is tough and aging is one of the most complicated things we can imagine. I Invite you to share this episode with the senior in your life to see if they'd like to check out one of his Monday night calls.


      #inspiredcaring #illuminatingseniorliving #upwithseniors #pastoralcare #mikesministry

      29 min
    • 115. Next Level Aging Part 3 - The Fun Stuff!

      We are all getting older and what we do today matters for our health outcomes we have for years to come to age well. This is the last conversation in a 3 part series where my mom, Deborah, and I discuss Next Level Aging.

      In this episode we are talking about "the fun stuff" that she has done over the years to look and feel her best. Did you know you could plump up your earlobes?! Small efforts here and there over time, have made a big difference!


      You can listen to the other 2 episodes here:

      Episode 106 - ⁠Next Level Aging Part 1 - What is Most Difficult⁠

      Episode 108 - Next Level Aging Part 2 - Setting Yourself Up for Success.

      www.michelemagner.com

      #agingwell #familycaregiver #caregiving #inspiredcaring #nextlevelaging

      1 hr 7 min
    • 114. Closure The Lie We Tell Ourselves with Author, Kim Isherwood

      When we experience loss, grief or trauma, (or any big life event!) we can find ourselves searching for peace or understanding by seeking closure.

      In this episode, Author Kimberly Isherwood, and I discuss her new book, Closure The Lie We Tell Ourselves. As a Nurse by training and Intuitive Medium by gift, Kimberly has a unique perspective on closure that has helped me in a couple of important ways.


      1) Her understanding of what happens when we die was very comforting to me.

      2) The idea that grief is so much more fluid and our societal structures and timelines around closure are complete B.S.


      To buy the book, click HERE.

      #closureTheLieWeTellOurselves #KimberlyIsherwoodauthor #newdegreepress


      www.michelemagner.com

      #inspiredcaring #michelemagner

      47 min
    • 113. Wake Up - Pay Attention - Choose

      This is one of the most complicated chapters of our life as we stride through middle age, with huge changes happening and responsibilities shifting.

      There are so many incredible influences in our life encouraging us to WAKE UP, telling us not to numb out and sleep walk through the next decade. Your health, your aging trajectory, your life are counting on you to wake up, pay attention and choose, so you can joyfully reflect back on your life rather than reflect with regrets.

      Wake up to the idea that something can be different.

      Pay Attention to where and when discomfort is present and where and when there is joy.

      Choose what you want and investigate how to get it.


      I reference a number of mighty movements that are happening in our culture right now, to wake up our consciousness and empower us with information to make the choices that work best for us. Check them all out here:

      Illuminating Senior Living - Don't be left in the dark! Your senior living questions are all answered in this online video series available to you RIGHT HERE.

      The Awakening Superstar Summit in Miami, FL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULHxeH2h-JA

      FairPlay Life: https://www.instagram.com/fairplaylife/

      Sarah Jenks: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjenks/

      Jonathan Brajtbord : https://www.instagram.com/jonathanbrajtbord/

      Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Dr. Peter Attia: https://a.co/d/iWrYLE8

      #inspiredcaring #fairplaylife #sarahjenks #jonathanbrajtbord #wakeup #payattention #choose #theawakening #outlive #longevity #aging #seniorliving #healthyliving #lifespan #familycaregiving #caregiver

      22 min
    • 112. Rehab - Short Term Stay in Skilled Nursing

      Sometimes after a hospital stay to recover from illness, medical incident or injury, a person isn't in position to go home yet. They are stable enough to leave the hospital, but the home setting would be too much too soon. Reasons may include, there is not anyone at home that is able to care for them, the home isn't set up yet for them yet or maybe a move to senior living is in order but someone isn't sure where to go.

      A short stay in rehab can allow the person some time to get stronger, while the family sorts out figuring out what is next. If the person had 3 nights in the hospital, Medicare will cover rehab as long as the person is showing improvement.

      In this episode I speak with an expert who shares what you can expect from a rehab stay and how to make the most of the time there.


      If you have questions about any level of senior living, check out my new video series HERE. This gives you all of the basics you need, plus I share personal stories with you about my family members and navigating this chapter with them.


      You can also reach out to me at www.michelemagner.com!

      37 min
    • 111. Prepared vs Ready

      Here's something I've noticed. Sometimes there are certain things that we are just never ready for. No matter how much we feel we have prepared.

      For me, feeling prepared is about making a list and checking boxes. Figuring out what I need to DO to feel ready for something, buying stuff or visualizing an outcome. It's the work I do on the front end.

      Ready, for me, actually has a sense of completion before the thing has occurred. There's an idea that there's enough preparation I can do, to generate a feeling

      that I desire, to feel like I am ready.

      Sometimes no matter how prepared we are, we aren't ready. The reality is, ready or not, we're going to have do something anyway.


      Senior Living is confusing but it's not a mystery! This online video series will give you the information you need and answer your questions, so you can feel more prepared when the time comes. It is $57 for a limited time, check out the details here: https://michele-magner.mykajabi.com/offers/fePMz4eJ

      14 min
    • 110. Why They Don't Want Our Help (and how to begin to let the light in)

      It is incredibly frustrating to see someone who needs our help and have them refuse it. Family care-giving is hard enough when things are status-quo. When aging family members are clearly declining, it can be pretty scary to watch things unravel without a plan in place.

      There are 6 theories I share with you about why people don't seek help:

      1. Continuity Theory - they think it can keep going the way it always has
      2. Social Behavioral Model - everything that makes someone who they are (race, gender, age, income, etc.) all play a part in if someone accepts help
      3. Reactance Theory - freedom and autonomy feel threatened
      4. Attribution Theory - unable to control and predict the environment, they blame themselves or the environment
      5. Equity Theory - it throws the relationship out of balance, doesn't feel equal anymore
      6. Threat to Self Esteem - what type of help is being provided, who is doing it impacts our willingness or reluctance

        7. (Community Resources for Older Adults, Robbyn Wacker & Karen Roberto)

        The goal is to let a little bit of light in through a crack. It can be hard to go from A to Z, but maybe get from A to B.

        I share strategies in this episode on how to get the ball rolling.

        ALSO, VERY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!

        My new course, Illuminating Senior Living, is available! This online video series is going to answer all of your questions about senior living.

        • When is it time to move?
        • What to look for and how to choose?
        • Understanding the levels of care.
        • How are we going to pay for this?
        • What the experts want you to know.

          • Click here to check it out - https://michele-magner.mykajabi.com/offers/fePMz4eJ

          www.michelemagner.com

          20 min
        • 109. My Alcohol Relationship Update

          Almost 6 years ago, I COMPLETELY changed my relationship with alcohol. Something I never thought I would have to do, want to do, or would be able to do. But the bottom line is drinking wasn't working for me anymore. I didn't like how I felt or acted when I over-drank. I didn't have the ability to just have 1 glass of wine and be done. Today is completely different. I still don't think about it. Because of the shift, I'm dreaming bigger dreams and reaching different goals that I thought were unimaginable. My body has stabilized in weight, blood sugar, and attitude. The biggest factor is I'm so much happier and focused in my life. I'm so proud of myself for having the awareness that something needed to change and then digging in to make it happen. It was hard a first, but is now effortless. Where are you on your drinking journey? I'd love to hear from you.

          For your reference here are the 3 recorded podcast episodes on:

          1. why I stopped drinking

          2. how I stopped drinking

          3. what has changed since I stopped drinking


          www.michlemagner.com

          17 min

        About Inspired Caring

        From the publisher's feed

        If you are helping out an aging family member, this is the place for you! Here, you will find inspiration, tools and resources that are needed to be prepared to take care of your loved one AND yourself along this caregiving journey. Michele Magner is a family caregiver, Gerontologist, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Professor and has worked in the Senior Living Industry. She knows that everything we do today, impacts our own aging outcomes so she created the Inspired Caring Family Support & Education Program. Today is the day to be inspired!