When one thinks of caregiving one often thinks of it as a series of very personal interactions. Making dinner for the family, helping parents and other personal tasks. But what happens when we can't be there in person or burn out? What technologies are out there to help us? In this episode of our 'Prepare to Care' podcast, host Marie-Pierre talks to Nadia Morris. Ms. Morris is the director of AT&T Foundry for Connected health. They discuss technology and discuss all the fascinating things they are inventing to help caregivers in the not-so-distant future.

Have you ever started a job and forgot the ending? has your mom spent hours searching for her glasses only to find them on her head? We often play these off as "senior moments", but when do these innocent slips turn into something more serious like dementia? And what is the best way to care for a loved one who has trouble remembering?

We try to get answers to those questions in this week's 'Prepare to Care' podcast. Host Marie-Pierre talks to Ann Marie McDonald, Chief Program Officer of the Houston and Southeast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. They discuss games our brain can play on us and resources in Houston to help keep us healthy.

Most of us know what Social Security is, and some of us may already be claiming our retirement checks. But did you know that Social Security is not just for people who are retired? How will full-time or part-time caregiving affect your own retirement benefits? Andrew Hardwick with the Public Affairs Department of the Social Security Administration answers these questions and gives us some insight on the other programs available to help family caregivers and their loved ones. Hardwick spoke on the record with our ‘Prepare to Care’ podcast host Marie-Pierre.

Caregivers are often in charge of making important health decisions for their loved ones, but there are some special challenges when it comes to dealing with legal documents and planning for the future. In this episode of the 'Prepare to Care' podcast Marie-Pierre talks to Crystal Jenkins about the dos and don'ts of will and deed transfer planning. Jenkins is a staff attorney and clinical teaching fellow with the South Texas College of Law. Her team provides free workshops around Houston to help educate people on sensitive legal topics.

When we think of the caregivers, we usually think of daughters taking care of their parents. While the average caregiver is a woman, about 49 years old, the latest numbers show 40% of caregivers in the United States are men. In this latest edition of the 'Prepare to Care' podcast, host Marie-Pierre talks to Stan Cutherell. He's a Houston musician and life coach who has done a lot of work with men. Cutherell has also been a caregiver for both of his parents.

This week on 'Prepare to Care', host Marie-Pierre talks to Dr. Jessica Lee. Dr. Lee specializes in geriatric medicine and she sheds some light on how to talk to your doctors about aging and how to talk to doctors as caregivers.

Often it is a group of family members who work together to take care of a parent or other loved one. While it is wonderful to have a group of family members to serve as caregivers, it can also be challenging dealing with family dynamics. Who makes decisions for loved ones especially when money is involved? In this 'Prepare to Care' podcast, host Marie-Pierre talks to Dr. Sunderland Manousso who specializes in family dynamics and elder mediation. She offers tips on dealing with tricky family problems. Find other podcasts at aarp.org/ptc and more on Dr. Sunderland Manousso at www.manousso.us .

Podcast host Marie-Pierre talked to Josh Reynolds, Executive Director of United Way's Care for Elders program, about caregiving and aging data and trends in Harris County. Ever wondered exactly how many caregivers like you there are in Houston? Or some tips science has for living longer? Josh will be delving into those facts and data more.

This week 'Prepare to Care' podcast host Marie-Pierre looks at long distance caregiving. It can be challenging for both parties involved, but technology, planning ahead, and a little creativity are making it much easier for families.

This week 'Prepare to Care' podcast host Marie-Pierre talks with Brandon Wheeler about depression and "empathy burnout" in caregivers. Wheeler is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in Houston. As many of us know, caring for a loved one has many joys and growth opportunities, but it can also take a toll on us physically, mentally and emotionally.