The Caregiver Community

Although we often hear about “caregiver burden,” there also is “caregiver Joy.” In this podcast, Dr. Corinne Auman discusses ways to look for, find, and cultivate joy in the caregiving journey. Dr. Auman is an experienced educator, researcher, and entrepreneur who received her doctorate in developmental psychology with a specialty in adulthood and aging from North Carolina State University and did post-doctoral training at the Duke University Center for Aging. She is President of Choice Care Navigators and the author of the blog RockingChairSecrets.com. Mr. Mark Hensley, Associate State Director of AARP North Carolina, chair of the ACAPcommunity Board of Directors, and a frequent speaker regarding a variety of issues related to aging, caregiving, and dementia, joins Dr. Auman and Frances Hall, Founder and Executive Director of ACAP, for this important podcast.

Thank you to Pace @ Home in Hickory, NC for sponsoring this episode!

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In this episode of The Caregiver Community, Dr. Amy Lorek, Assistant Research Professor at Pennsylvania State University's Center for Healthy Aging and Interim Director for the Women's Leadership Initiative in the College of Health and Human Development helps us understand the importance of leisure activities and how the activities help us connect with others, remain engaged in life, at least maintain cognition, and increase happiness, particularly as we age. Dr. Lorek also describes various leisure activities that are meaningful as we age and may be used within the caregiving relationship or for one’s own consideration. Jill Lillie, Chapter Coordinator, ACAP Centre-County (PA), and Frances Hall, Founder, and Executive Director, ACAPcommunity serve as co-interviewers.

Thank you Pace @ Home in Hickory, NC for your continued partnership!

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Social support networks are important to the well-being for each of us and are even more important during challenging times such as when we are providing care for a loved one. Research has begun to recognize, though, that there are some important differences in supportive networks among African Americans as compared with other races. Dr. Althea Taylor Jones, retired professor and Gerontology Program administrator at Winston-Salem State University; Alexis Richmond, gerontology major at Winston-Salem State University; and Frances S. Hall, ACAP Founder, and Executive Director, help listeners better understand the make-up and importance of social support networks and how they differ among various communities.

Thank you to our sponsor Pace @ Home in Hickory, NC

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There are lots of options for the long-term care for a loved one (or ourselves), whether additional services are brought into the home or the loved one moves into a congregant living community such as a continuous care retirement center (CCRC), skilled care, or memory care facility, but the costs associated with each can be alarming, and raise all sorts of questions. This podcast helps listeners become aware of the various care options and strategies for paying for ongoing care. Jenna L. Franks, an elder law attorney, and Kristin Daughterty, Long-Term Care Planner provide information and hope as they talk with Holly Reigh, Specialized Care Planner, and Frances S. Hall, ACAP’s Founder & Executive Director.

Thank you to our sponsor Pace @ Home in Hickory, NC

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In this episode of The Caregiver Community, we discuss “Downsizing Dilemmas: When Stuff is in the Way”— how family members may lovingly and respectfully help an aging loved one create a safer environment in their home or help them downsize, move, and/or de-clutter, even when there are lots of possessions with which to deal. Bridget Donnelly, founder of Donnelly’s Estate Liquidation & Appraisal Services in State College, PA, talks with Frances Hall, Founder & Executive Director of ACAPcommunity, and Alexis Richmond, a gerontology major at Winston-Salem State University (NC) and ACAP intern to share insights and practical tips gained and honed since 2007.

Thank you to our sponsor for this episode Pace @ Home in Hickory, NC

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This episode of The Caregiver Community offers important information and insights into the “how to’s” of managing medications, whether it’s helping an older loved one or for yourself. In this conversation, listeners will learn what it means to “manage medications,” reasons medication management is important, ways to ensure medication safety, and strategies for helping encourage a loved one to take their meds, even when not inclined to do so.

Frances Hall, M.Ed., Founder and Executive Director of ACAPcommunity, and Julie Packer, a 25-year experienced hospice and palliative care nurse who holds a master’s degree in nursing and is the Director of Professional Relations at Carolina Caring, are joined by Susan Young, Director of Clinical Services, United Church Homes and Services, a nurse with 30 years of experience and a master’s degree in nursing administration.

Thank you to our sponsor PACE @ Home in Hickory, NC.

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Family dynamics are built on decades of history between parents and children as well as between siblings. Care for an aging parent sometimes prompts unresolved family issues to the surface. While taking care of mom and dad is a wonderful idea, collaborative caregiving can be a minefield of implicit and explicit expectations, assumptions, and history within the family. This podcast will help listeners explore ways to establish a more balanced family unit and learn strategies for strengthening the family as they care for aging parents and other aging loved ones.

Frances Hall, Founder and Executive Director of ACAPcommunity and Bob Cain, Vice President of Marketing for Piedmont Home Care in Winston-Salem, NC, and chapter coordinator for ACAP Winston-Salem are joined by Alyssa Szymanski Botte, a licensed clinical mental health counselor at the J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging, affiliated with Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, NC. Alyssa earned double Master’s degrees in Divinity and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University and has passed boards to be awarded the National Certified Counselor designation, demonstrating that she has met high standards for the practice of counseling.

Thank you to our sponsor Pace at Home in Hickory, NC!

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In this episode of the Caregiver Community, January Brown, Family Caregiver Support Specialist for the Area Agency on Aging, Eastern Carolina Council of Governments, shares insight about current technology for seniors and their families: “low tech” and “high tech” resources and devices; technology that can be particularly supportive for those caring for a loved one with dementia; strategies for encouraging seniors to become comfortable with the resources; and ways to learn about technology applicable to one’s specific situation.

ACAP Community

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Contact January Brown at the ECCOG here

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Dr. Mary B. Berge a Licensed Clinical Psychologist joins this episode of The Caregiver Community. Dr. Berge talks about how to stay sane during COVID-19, with tips on how to manage this and other stressful times in your life.

Dr. Berge has over 25 years of eclectic experience. She received her undergraduate training from The California State University of Long Beach and her Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. Dr. Berge is highly trained in individual, family and couples therapy, court ordered psychotherapy, general and forensic psychological assessment, as well as fitness for duty and work related evaluations. She works with a variety of populations and diagnostic issues such as depression, anxiety, family problems, relationship issues and trauma experiences (PTSD). She also has notable experience working with first responders and military populations.

ACAP Community Website

Thank you to our sponsor PACE @ Home

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Mary Mitchell, Family Caregiver Support Specialist from the Area Agency on Aging answers the plea, who can help me take care of my loved one? Mary also presents practical tips and insights to the audience.

Thank you to our sponsor Pace-at-Home. Find out more about Pace-at-Home services here

*Audio note: This recording is from a Zoom presentation*

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