The Caregiver Cafe

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is joined by Reverend Dr. Herbert A. Brisbon III for a conversation about something every caregiver has to think about: the mindset it takes to care for someone else without losing yourself in the process. Caregiving can come with medical responsibilities, family expectations, work, financial pressure, and emotional stress, and it is easy to become so focused on what your loved one needs that you stop paying attention to what you need too.

Reverend Dr. Brisbon shares from his own caregiving experience and talks about the importance of having a strong support system, asking for help, and understanding that caregiving should not rest on one person alone. Roz and Reverend Dr. Brisbon also discuss advocacy, dignity, privacy, family dynamics, and why your role as a caregiver can continue even when your loved one is receiving care in a facility. The responsibility may look different, but staying involved, communicating, and making sure your loved one is being cared for still matters.

Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that loving someone does not mean sacrificing your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint, and boundaries, support, and self-awareness are part of the care plan too. Grab your cup and join Roz and Reverend Dr. Herbert A. Brisbon III inside The Caregiver Café for an honest conversation about preparing your mind for caregiving, sharing the responsibility, and remembering that the caregiver needs care too.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is talking about something caregivers are always trying to figure out: how to get more done with the time they already have.

As caregivers, it can feel like there are never enough hours in the day. There is always another appointment, another task, another phone call, another responsibility, and something else waiting to be added to the calendar.

But Roz reminds caregivers that sometimes the answer is not finding more time.

It is learning how to manage the time you already have.

In this episode, Roz shares six practical ways to help caregivers become more intentional with their time, starting with creating a roadmap. Write down your goals. Give your responsibilities deadlines, time, and space. And if everything does not go exactly according to plan, give yourself permission to be flexible and adjust.

Roz also talks about taking care of your physical health, avoiding multitasking, and paying attention to the activities that take up time without helping you reach your goals.

That includes something Roz calls boondoggling—spending too much time on things that contribute little or nothing to what you are trying to accomplish.

Sometimes that looks like spending too much time scrolling social media.

Sometimes it is staying on the phone too long.

Sometimes it is filling every open space on your calendar simply because the space is available.

Roz also reminds caregivers that getting more done should never come at the expense of burning yourself out.

• Set boundaries.
• Take care of yourself.
• Learn how to say no.

And remember this important reminder from Roz:

Just because your calendar is blank does not mean you have to fill it.

That time belongs to you too.

Getting more done is not always about doing more. Sometimes it means deciding what deserves your time, protecting your boundaries, and focusing on one thing at a time.

Grab your cup, pull up a chair, and join Roz inside The Caregiver Café.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is talking about something caregivers cannot afford to ignore: their mental health.

When you are caring for an aging loved one, it can be easy to become so focused on their needs that you stop paying attention to your own well-being. Between appointments, responsibilities, changing routines, and everyday life, your mental health can take a back seat.

Roz reminds caregivers that taking care of your mind matters too.

In this episode, she shares five practical ways caregivers can support and strengthen their mental health, starting with staying connected to other people. Whether that means talking with friends, meeting your neighbors, attending church, joining an organization, or simply making space for meaningful conversation, connection can help keep you from becoming isolated.

Roz also encourages caregivers to learn something new.

• Pick up a hobby.
• Try painting.
• Learn to cook something different.
• Start quilting.
• Try a new physical activity.

Sometimes giving yourself something enjoyable to learn and look forward to can provide a much-needed break from the caregiving routine.

She also talks about slowing down and paying attention to what is happening around you. Take a walk. Notice the air on your face. Listen to the birds. Pay attention to the little things you may normally rush past.

Those small moments of mindfulness can help you relax and reconnect with the present.

Roz also encourages caregivers to get physically active in whatever way works for them. You may not move the way you did years ago, and that is okay. Start with a short walk or another activity you can realistically maintain.

Finally, Roz talks about giving to others and how small acts of kindness can help create feelings of connection, calm, happiness, and purpose.

The five reminders are simple:

• Connect with others.
• Learn a new skill.
• Pay more attention.
• Get physically active.
• Give to others.

You may be responsible for caring for someone else, but your mental health still deserves your attention.

Grab your cup, pull up a chair, and join Roz inside The Caregiver Café.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is talking about what happens after you or your aging loved one comes home from the hospital.

Getting discharged may feel like the finish line, but there is still work to do once you get home. Following discharge instructions, understanding new limitations, managing medications, preparing the home, and knowing what support is needed can all play an important role in recovery.

Roz walks through nine things caregivers and families should consider after hospital discharge, starting with understanding activity restrictions and healthcare tasks. Your loved one may need assistance with bathing, walking, lifting, wound care, or monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels, and pulse.

She also discusses the importance of understanding dietary changes and medication instructions. What foods should your loved one avoid? Has their diet changed? What medications need to be taken, how often should they be taken, and what side effects should you watch for?

And the planning does not stop there.

Roz encourages caregivers to think about follow-up appointments, medical equipment and supplies, home safety, additional medical expenses, household finances, and who will help manage these responsibilities while your loved one recovers.

Do you need grab bars in the bathroom?

Does the furniture need to be rearranged?

Will your loved one need a walker, wheelchair, hospital bed, or other supplies?

Who will schedule follow-up care?

Who will help manage medications, meals, bills, and daily symptoms?

If those responsibilities become too much for one person, Roz reminds caregivers that it is time to create a care plan and involve family members, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other members of the care team.

Grab your cup, pull up a chair, and join Roz inside The Caregiver Café.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is talking about something no caregiver or aging loved one wants to experience: leaving the hospital only to end up right back there again.

Hospital readmissions can happen for many reasons, but preparation before discharge can make a big difference. Before you or your aging loved one leaves the hospital, there are questions that need to be asked, instructions that need to be understood, and plans that need to be in place.

Roz walks caregivers through important steps that can help reduce the chances of returning to the hospital, including reviewing medications and possible side effects, scheduling follow-up appointments, paying attention to pain or changes before discharge, and making sure the right equipment and support are available at home.

She also talks about something caregivers cannot afford to overlook: the discharge paperwork.

Do not take those papers home without understanding what they say.

Ask questions.

Talk with the social worker.

Know when medications should be taken.

Understand dietary restrictions.

Find out when rehabilitation or home care services will begin.

And if something does not make sense, speak up before leaving the hospital.

As Roz reminds us, once your loved one comes home, you become an important part of making sure the care plan continues.

Being proactive, asking questions, and advocating for yourself or your aging loved one can help make the transition from hospital to home safer and smoother.

Grab your cup, pull up a chair, and join Roz inside The Caregiver Café.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is talking about something every caregiver has probably struggled with at one time or another: patience.

Caregiving does not happen in a perfect environment. You may wake up late, your schedule may change, something unexpected may happen with your aging loved one, or you may simply be tired, hungry, overwhelmed, and trying to get too much done at once. Before you know it, something small can push you from calm to frustrated.

And Roz will be the first to tell you—she is working on this right along with you.

In this episode, Roz breaks down six reasons we often struggle with patience, including disrupted routines, feeling like there is never enough time, comparing our progress to someone else’s, becoming overwhelmed, expecting results too quickly, and trying to function when we are tired or hungry.

She also reminds caregivers of the importance of creating some breathing room in the day. You do not have to schedule everything back-to-back. You do not have to accomplish everything immediately. Some things take time, and sometimes giving yourself a little space to process, rest, eat, regroup, and try again can make a big difference.

Recognizing what is testing your patience is the first step toward responding differently.

You do not have to change everything at once. Start with one thing.

Give yourself more time.

Stop comparing your progress.

Take care of your body.

Create some space between one responsibility and the next.

And remember, patience is something we continue practicing—especially when caregiving, life, and everything else seem to be happening at the same time.

Grab your cup, pull up a chair, and join Roz inside The Caregiver Café.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz continues her conversation with security expert and former family caregiver Phil Hill about the emotional weight of caregiving, knowing when to ask for help, and what happens when caregivers try to carry too much for too long.

Phil reflects on the years he spent caring for his father while he and his wife were also helping care for her parents. He shares how managing several caregiving situations at once affected his family, his business, his relationships, and his emotional well-being.

Although Phil had access to a long-term care insurance policy and other resources, he waited to use them because he believed he might need them later. Roz reminds caregivers that the time to ask for help is often much earlier than they realize. When a loved one moves into the home, the family should begin identifying gaps in care, exploring available benefits, and creating a support plan before exhaustion and crisis take over.

Roz and Phil also discuss caregiver guilt and the belief that no one else can care for a loved one as well as the primary caregiver. Trying to become a full-time caregiver without adequate support can leave a person stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted, and unable to care for themselves.

This conversation reminds caregivers that support is needed during the caregiving journey and after it ends. Grief counseling, faith leaders, family members, professional caregivers, healthcare providers, and community resources can all become part of the caregiver’s support system.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is joined by security expert and former family caregiver Phil Hill for an honest conversation about caring for a parent through cognitive decline, dementia, and the final years of life.

Phil shares how he first began noticing changes in his father, including confusion, difficulty navigating familiar places, changes in his appearance, and trouble managing responsibilities that had once been routine. Those early signs led to doctor visits, cognitive testing, difficult decisions about driving, and eventually moving his father into his home.

As the primary caregiver, Phil had to learn how to coordinate support among family members while also caring for his wife, his children, his business, and himself. He explains how even small contributions from relatives, such as taking his father to the barber shop, spending an afternoon with him, or providing companionship, gave him valuable moments of rest.

Roz and Phil also discuss the emotional side of caregiving. Watching a parent decline can bring grief long before the person passes away. Caregivers may lose sleep, experience exhaustion, make difficult safety decisions, and manage behaviors their loved one may not fully understand or remember.

Through it all, Phil relied on three things: prayer, patience, and love.

• Prayer helped him continue when caregiving became overwhelming.
• Patience helped him respond to confusion, frustration, sleepless nights, and difficult moments.
• Love reminded him why caring for his father mattered, even when the journey was painful.

Phil also shares why caregivers must make room for self-care and seek support from people who understand the caregiving journey. Whether that support comes from family members, professional caregivers, support groups, faith communities, or the stories of other caregivers, no one should try to carry the entire responsibility alone.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that caregiving is about more than completing daily tasks. It is about protecting your loved one’s safety, honoring their life, adjusting as their needs change, and continuing to show up with compassion.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is talking about something many caregivers know all too well: feeling overwhelmed while caring for an aging loved one.

Caregiving can be an all-consuming and demanding role. Between doctor’s appointments, medications, meals, daily routines, work responsibilities, and trying to care for yourself, it can start to feel like too much. But Roz reminds caregivers that overwhelm does not always mean you are failing. Sometimes it means you need a better system, more support, and a little more preparation.

Roz breaks down practical coping tips caregivers can use to reduce stress and create more breathing room in their day. She talks about the power of routines, using a calendar or planner, writing down appointments, preparing in advance, and building in extra time so caregivers are not always rushing from one thing to the next.

This episode is a practical reminder that caregiving requires preparation, not perfection. Whether it is meal prepping, planning appointments, creating routines, or giving yourself extra time to get your loved one ready, small steps can help reduce the stress and pressure that often come with caregiving.

Caregivers do not have to carry everything in chaos. With the right routines, support, and planning, you can create more peace for yourself and the loved one in your care.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.

In this episode of The Caregiver Café with Roz Jones, Roz is talking about something many seniors and caregivers are feeling at the pharmacy counter: the rising cost of prescription medications.

As aging loved ones begin taking more medications, those costs can add up quickly. One prescription may not seem like much, but when there are several medications involved, the monthly total can become overwhelming for seniors, families, and caregivers trying to manage care on a fixed income.

Roz breaks down practical ways caregivers can help reduce the cost of prescriptions. She talks about asking doctors about generic medications, looking for less expensive brand-name options, using mail-order pharmacy services, reviewing Medicare drug plans during annual enrollment, and checking for state or manufacturer assistance programs.

She also reminds caregivers that medication costs should not be ignored. If a loved one’s prescriptions are becoming too expensive, caregivers can step in as advocates by reviewing the medication list, asking questions, and talking with the doctor, pharmacist, or drug manufacturer about possible savings.

This episode is a practical reminder that caregiving also includes helping loved ones manage the cost of care. Medication is part of health and safety, and when prescriptions become unaffordable, it can affect whether a loved one takes the medicine they need.

Caregivers do not have to accept high prescription costs without asking questions. There may be options, programs, and savings available, but families have to know where to look and who to ask.

Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, supported you, or gave you something to think about as a caregiver, be sure to stay connected with Roz Jones.

Visit Roz online for caregiver resources, blogs, books, speaking information, and support for families navigating the caregiving journey.

Website: www.rozjonesent.com

Read the Caregiver Cafe Blog: https://thecaregivercafe.net/

Follow me on Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozcaregiverconsulting/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozjonescaregiver/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDFP2FF5QBbjVyaphhh3zdA/videos?view=0&sort=p

You can also subscribe, rate, and share this episode with another caregiver who may need encouragement today.

Because caregiving is not meant to be carried alone.