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The latest statistics show that the average Hispanic caregiver is a woman over 40 years of age who lives near her family. This same individual provides some kind of unpaid care while also working a full-time job. But what does it actually mean to be a caregiver past all the statistics and stereotypes? What works and doesn't work in Latino families? Also, what can we learn from sharing our experiences caregiver to caregiver?

In this Prepare to Care podcast, host Marie-Pierre speaks to Marie Arcos. By day Arcos leads Community Partnerships at the YMCA of Greater Houston. By night and weekends, Arcos helps care for various family members. She shares her experiences both of a Latino caregiver and a working professional here in Houston.

You know that on the Prepare to Care podcast we talk about free and practical resources. We also share stories and encourage each other, but what do we, as caregivers, actually know about aging? What's the science behind getting older? What are we learning that can help us age gracefully?

In this edition of our podcast, we talk to Wendy Fox-Grange. She's a Gerontologist and Senior Policy Advisor with AARP and the Public Policy Institute. She joins host Marie-Pierre to talk about Gerontology, aka, the science of aging.

Many times, caregivers will ask themselves if they are alone in caring for their loved ones. Perhaps they are the only primary caregiver in town, or perhaps they put that pressure on themselves to be everything for everyone.

If you've been a long-time listener of this podcast or are new, let us share with you that you are not alone. There are thousands of family caregivers in the Houston area and dozens of partner organizations that want to connect with you to help in this huge task.

In this edition of the AARP Prepare to Care podcast, host Marie-Pierre interviews Jenna Dhayer. She's the President of CarePartners. CarePartners is a non-profit that hosts caregiving conferences, connects you to other caregivers, provides backup care in your community, and so much more.

It's voting season. This year's midterm elections could influence how federal and state lawmakers act on issues that affect tens of millions of family caregivers -- from care at home to workplace flexibility to training to tax credits and more.

For caregivers to have sway over whether lawmakers will act in their interests, they must vote. In past elections, they have cast their ballots in big numbers. In fact, according to AARP research, 71 percent of Texas caregivers routinely go to the polls. In comparison, the U.S. Census Bureau data revealed 42 percent of all voting-age citizens turned out nationwide for the 2014 midterms.

In this edition of the AARP Prepare to Care podcast, host Marie-Pierre talked with Stan Stanart. He's the Harris County - County Clerk. He shared some tips and tricks for voting in Harris County. He also spoke about what resources are available to voters who may be mobility impaired or need a little extra assistance at the voting booth.

Did you know that millennials represent one-in-four or 10 million of the more than 40-million Americans who are unpaid family caregivers? It's true, and there is a growing number of younger family caregivers who have their own unique experiences and challenges.

Caregiving is so often thought of as a task for older family members that we sometimes overlook the value in including people of all ages in the caregiving experience.

In this "Prepare to Care" podcast, host Marie-Pierre spoke to Wendy Fox-Grage, Senior Policy Advisor with AARP's Public Policy Institute, and Isabel Longoria from the AARP Houston office. Both share their insights and favorite resources as a millennial caregiver.

For the 40 million family caregivers who provide a great labor of love by helping their parents and spouses live independently at home, the threat of elder abuse is daunting. Some of these family caregivers provide 24/7 care. These individuals may also help with finances, transportation, medication management and more. Others may count on the support of paid aides to help.

Entrusting the care of a loved one to a stranger can be hard. In some cases, the stress and resentment of being a constant caregiver can lead some to lash out harmfully, and a care recipient may not be able, or feel comfortable, calling for help.

In this edition of the AARP Prepare to Care podcast, host Marie-Pierre talks with Rachel Portnoy, Community Engagement Specialist with Texas' Adult Protective Services (APS). Portnoy helps us identify the warning signs of abuse, neglect or exploitation of older adults. She discusses how the APS can intervene and help, and what we can do to help spot and prevent elder abuse in the future.

Every year, thousands of people move a loved one into an assisted living facility to receive specialized care and attention. You visit often, but then one day you notice things may not be as they appear. Who do you turn to for help? What can be done to ensure your loved one is treated right in these types of facilities? Lisa Hayes, Managing Local Ombudsman with the Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging and Greg Shelly, Managing Local Ombudsman for Harris County may have some answers. They both joined Prepare to Care podcast host, Marie-Pierre in this week's edition of the podcast.

They discuss the rights you have as a resident in a long term care facility, who to contact when you need help resolving issues and other tips.

Food! We love it. Some of our fondest memories are of sharing meals with friends and family. And more than just the memories, we need protein and and nutrients every day to keep us moving, healing, and living. So when we no longer have the strength or ability to cook or go grocery shopping, it's a very big deal. And finding the time to prepare meals for loved ones is often cited as a big stressor for caregivers.

In this edition of our Prepare to Care podcast, Marie-Pierre talks to Tabinda Ghani, Manager of Client Services for Interfaith Ministries' Meals on Wheels Program. She shares how Meals on Wheels works, why it is so important to get people hot meals and how the program helps caregivers take care of their loved ones.

June is Gay Pride Month and thousands across the country are celebrating the contributions of the LGBT community with parades and festivals. Houston will hold a huge celebration of its own. In this week's Prepare to Care podcast, host Marie-Pierre discusses unique caregiving challenges members of the LGBT community face.

Some challenges include discrimination in nursing homes or doctor's offices, and being estranged from family members who traditionally provide caregiving support.

Richard Gamez, an outreach worker with the Montose Center's Senior Preparing for Rainbow Years (SPRY), shares his experiences as a caregiver, and the talks caregiving resources available at the Montrose Center. He'll also challenge us to think differently about caregiving for members of our LGBT community.

May is National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and it also continues on our podcast. Earlier we spoke to Rogene Calvert about experiences and observations on caregiving in the Asian-American Community. She offered up a lot of information to help people of all backgrounds.

In this podcast, Maggie Sun, Social Benefits Manager with the Chinese Community Center of Houston, talks caregiving resources they offer. The podcast is done in Mandarin.