Dave Iverson is a writer, documentary film producer/director and retired broadcast journalist. When Dave was 59, he moved in with his 95-year old mom Adelaide when she could no longer care for herself. His new memoir "Winter Stars: An Elderly Mother, an Aging Son and Life’s Final Journey" tells the story of the 10 year caregiving odyssey they shared until her passing at the age of 105.

Dave has produced and reported more than 20 documentary specials for PBS, including the Frontline film, “My Father, My Brother and Me” which explored his family saga with Parkinson’s disease. He’s served as a special correspondent to the PBS NewsHour and hosted local PBS and NPR programs for 35 years at Wisconsin Public Broadcasting and at KQED San Francisco. Dave is also a founding member of The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Patient Council.

His awards include a national Emmy, four regional Emmys and numerous film festival citations. "Winter Stars" is Dave’s first book.

This episode was a conversation that helped shine a light on the truths of caregiving: its rewards, opportunities, lessons and challenges on a personal level and also at the broader level. Dave helps us pull up the blinds to see what is really before us in caregiving.

You can obtain a copy of "Winter Stars: An Elderly Mother, an Aging Son and Life’s Final Journey" from Amazon.com or your favorite local bookstore. Royalties from book sales will go to support three organizations: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Dance for Parkinson's and Avenidas, an eldercare support organization in the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can visit Dave's website: www.daveiversonauthor.com

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The Mini podcast episode highlights some of the key points from the full podcast episode for caregivers called "Nurturing Caregiver Wellbeing During & After Caregiving" where Theresa Wilbanks of Sustainable Caregiving shares how she applied the strategies she developed to help sustain her own wellbeing during and after caregiving. Some of the topics include her book, "Navigating the Caregiver River" and the creation of a joint venture with Theresa and Alison co-hosting a limited series podcast called "Self-Caregiving Strategies".

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When today’s guest first appeared on the Island Treasure podcast, she was actively caregiving for her 99-year-old father. Shortly after the podcast aired, he passed away, and she found herself needing a re-set. You’ll hear about the “reset trip” Theresa Wilbanks was able to take - spending time in nature and practicing self-care strategies! 

Theresa has written and published “Navigating the Caregiver River: A Journey to Sustainable Caregiving” a book she describes as a big hug for family caregivers as it provides strategies to help caregivers with their emotional wellbeing and provides practical and supportive approaches for caregiving. For more information on Theresa’s book and her 12 Sustainable Caregiving Strategies visit her website   SustainableCaregiving.com

During this episode the idea of Self-Caregiving arose which is now the basis for a new limited podcast series called "Self-Caregiving Strategies" which will be co-hosted by Theresa Wilbanks and Alison van Schie - available (July 5th, 2022) on the Whole Care Network. 

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Using the methodology of LEGO Serious Play, Loretta Veney facilitates sessions for various audience; and she shares how beneficial these sessions can be for her audiences including sessions designed specifically for caregivers... such as the "Unbreakable Caregiver" session.

This mini episode captures a couple of excerpts from the full episode (Episode 9, Season 3) where Loretta shares her creativity and how caregivers learn from the exercise and the revelations that they have. Here's the link to the video version of the mini episode of "Building the Unbreakable Caregiver" featuring Loretta Veney.

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This “fabulous” interview with Loretta Veney builds on a caregiving relationship spanning 16 years. During those years my guest discovered a unique approach to enhance the relationship between herself and her mom who had dementia. LEGO had been a part of their lives before caregiving and turned out to be an effective and enjoyable communication tool through which Loretta continued to communicate with her mom. This interview was recorded on International Women’s Day – which turned out to be an appropriate day to learn about the significance of the day as it relates to “Wonder Woman”.

Loretta Woodward Veney is an inspirational speaker who has delivered more than 300 speeches and presentations on dementia and caregiving since 2014, offering a wealth of information, encouragement and humor to her audiences. Loretta is the author of Being My Mom’s Mom, Refreshment for the Caregiver’s Spirit, and Colors Flowing from My Mind.

In 2006 after her beloved mother Doris was diagnosed with dementia, Loretta began learning everything she could about the disease becoming a fierce advocate for her Mom in the process. Loretta and her Mom have been featured in articles in the Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, The Washington Post, The NY Times, AARP Caregiver Stories, as well as a PBS special. In 2019, Loretta was selected as Trailblazer of the Year by Johns Hopkins Medicine. In November 2021 Loretta and her Mom were featured in Episode 6 of Season Four of Robin Roberts Thriver Thursdays series, which previewed on Good Morning America during National Caregivers Month. Loretta’s Wonder Woman Mom’s 16-year journey ended on January 31, 2022. 

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In this mini episode we visit the full episode (Season 3, Episode 7) where Brenda Leppington read her story "Who Am I Hurting" from Chicken Soup for the Soul's "Navigating Eldercare & Dementia: 101 Stories for Family Caregivers, compiled by Amy Newmark, © 2021. 

The episode addresses what Brenda believed her Mom meant when she said she just wanted to be normal again. And, what about those stacks of old letters? We discover there is a purpose for them! Tune in to hear how Brenda helped her Mom feel useful, hospitable and normal again amidst the changes brought about by dementia.

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From Chicken Soup for the Soul's 
"Navigating Eldercare & Dementia: 101 Stories for Family Caregivers
, compiled by Amy Newmark, copyright 2021 - today's episode features the reading of "Who Am I Hurting?" by its author, Brenda Leppington. As her mother's caregiver Brenda learned many lessons. She shares what brought more meaning into their visits. Simple things that we often take for granted.

Hearing the story read by Brenda gives the story an increased layer of richness as it not only provides important take-aways that can help present caregivers, but it also connects the listener to their loving relationship and what made it so.

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As we visit some of the key points of the full episode (Season 3 - Episode No. 5) of the
Island Treasures  podcast "Helping Families Soar" with Mike George, we hear Mike tell how he realized this is a role you can't do on your own. This led Mike and Jan to create a Caregiver Support Formula as they wished there had been a handbook available for their caregiving. The episode addresses the different degrees of involvement for caregivers and note that all caregivers can benefit from supports such as the ones provided through Soaring Families.

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Mike George is a speaker, author, and co-Founder of Soaring Families, an organization he and his wife created to help family caregivers navigate the complex world of care through the development of a reliable support network and a trusted team of competent people who share their vision of care.

 As a caregiver himself for nearly 3 decades, Mike intimately understands the burdens of supporting the primary care of a loved one. But he also knows the tremendous fulfillment it can bring. This lived experience was the inspiration behind the creation of The Soaring Families Way™, a proven model that guides families in creating the best home care experience, and generates positive change for everyone involved in the caregiving journey. 

Listen as Mike shares his inspirational 30 year journey as father and caregiver for Ben and be sure to check out the Soaring Families' website at Soaring Families and you'll find Ben's story on the "About Us" page.

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Today's topic for caregivers is respite. We explore travelling with Elite Cruises and Vacations Travel on their caregiving cruise opportunities to make memories with your loved ones AND obtain a minimum of 2 hours a day of respite. We visit micro breaks to infuse moments of respite into your caregiving day when cruising isn't an option, yet just thinking about taking a cruise can be a helpful moment of respite.

Thank you to Kathy Shoaf, RN, BSN, ATP who appeared as the guest on this episode and provides this opportunity for caregivers and their loved ones to travel.

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