132: Finding Respite: Easier Said Than Done

A new study from AARP reports that family caregivers spend $11,508 out of pocket every year, a 60 percent jump from just five years ago. In this episode, Allison and Jenna dig into all the ways that caregiving impacts a person's finances and the long-term implications that may follow. --- https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/caregiving-out-of-pocket-cost-study/ --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, November 16, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

Michelle Vande Hey(she/her) is a Trauma-Sensitive Holistic Life Coach, Speaker, Author, and Advocate who helps caregivers and changemakers reclaim their energy, voice, and authentic power without sacrificing their well-being. In this conversation, Michelle talks with Jenna and Allison about how compassion fatigue is defined, how it might impact the lives and well-being of caregivers. --- Michelle is the facilitator for The Connected Community, where she creates spaces where leadership is human, healing is celebrated, and impact becomes sustainable. Listeners can join Michelle's community for half off their first month using code: HALFOFF1 https://www.michellevandehey.com/offers/zzAmqqnm/checkout Connect with Michelle Vande Hey: https://www.instagram.com/michellevandehey/  https://www.facebook.com/lightoflovemichelle/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-vandehey  https://www.youtube.com/@michellevandehey --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, November 2, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

Caregiving can be complicated at any time of life, but in this episode Allison and Jenna talk about the challenges specifically related to having this role while being middle-aged. From sandwich caregiving and job stresses to finances and aging bodies, it can feel like the responsibilities are stacking up and there is no end in sight. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, October 18, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

Rodolfo Nieto and Aaron Shipp were both spousal caregivers whose roles ended in different ways over the last two years. In this episode, we talk with them about the aftereffects of caregiving on their physical health, emotional wellbeing, nervous system, and sense of identity. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Tuesday, October 6, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

Being in public spaces, with inquisitive young children, or even out and about in our neighborhood with our loved one can cause us to see them through different eyes. In this episode, Jenna and Allison talk about times this has happened in their caregiving lives and the good and the hard that has come from it. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, September 21, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

The decision of how much to share about a loved one's illness publicly or even with family is a personal one that can have both positive and negative outcomes. The situation can be even more complex when the caregiver and the person being cared for have differing opinions on the matter. In this episode, Allison and Jenna dig into these nuances and share how they have handled this in their own caregiving lives. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Wednesday, September 9, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

Caregiving tasks, while important, can begin to feel repetitive and mundane, making each day feel like the one before. In this episode, Jenna and Allison discuss the hamster wheel of caregiving, how it can lead to feelings of frustration or numbness, and how to find moments of joy amidst the routine. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, August 17, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!    

In this episode, the hosts discuss the formal and informal ways respite care can look for caregivers, the challenges caregivers may face in accessing those services, and the impact on caregiver health and wellbeing if they don't take breaks. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, August 2, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

In this episode, Justin and Allison speak with remote caregivers Natasha Ray-Heideker and Klaus Unger, who share their individual stories of providing care for family members living across the ocean. Natasha lives in Germany while caregiving for her father in Colorado and Klaus lives in Minnesota and cares for his mother who lives in Germany. They describe what this version of caregiving looks and feels like and the benefits and challenges of caregiving in this way. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, May 11, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

Research shows that there is a direct correlation between caregiver distress, depression, and physical strain and patient rates of hospitalization and even mortality. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about the vicious cycle of the caregiving role causing these symptoms but then how the symptoms themselves can make caregiving more challenging. They also dig into what, if anything, can be done to prevent caregiver burnout. --- Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, April 19, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!