AgingGayfully® Faith, Spirituality, and Finding a Welcoming Community

With honest information and gentle humor, the founders of Before the Casket are teaching us how to plan for more than just funeral arrangements. Hospice nurses Erin Putney and Amy Hensley have designed workshops that educate attendees about hard end of life decisions, empowering them and their decision-makers and making the whole experience easier. Before the Casket also provides education for healthcare professionals, offering content on end of life interventions and compassionate conversations. Nurses can even get CEUs for license renewal.  Amy and Erin provide education that includes demos of medical devices and relaxed interaction. It’s a great way to create realistic expectations for what care at the end of life looks like. You can connect with Before the Casket at beforethecasket.com Check out the courses offered for nurses and other healthcare workers here. You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Welcome to another powerful episode of the AlzAuthors Podcast. In this episode, hosts Christy Byrne Yates and Marianne Sciucco are joined by acclaimed writer Eliezer Sobel, author of “The Silver Lining of Alzheimer’s: One Son’s Journey into the Mystery.” Jean Lee, founder, manager, and memoir acquisitions editor, shares her insights about what she found compelling about this book and author. Episode Highlights: Discover how Eliezer Sobel and his wife, Shari, left their life behind to care for his mother with Alzheimer’s and his aging father following an unexpected traumatic brain injury. Hear about the emotional and practical challenges, and how caregiving became a profoundly transformative experience for the family members.Connection Over Correction: Learn about the importance of fostering connection rather than correcting memory loss or confusion. Discovering Silver Linings: Eliezer Sobel shares how, despite the heartbreak, his family found moments of humor, love, and even healing. Listen as he recounts rediscovering the deep, wordless bond with his mother, and how dementia changed their relationship for the better. The episode covers key caregiving tips, such as redirecting challenging behaviors, managing daily routines, and balancing personal loss with acceptance. Also, Navigating Family Dynamics and Finances. Dementia Resources and Books:  Learn about helpful resources for dementia caregivers, including Eliezer Sobel's own book for memory-challenged adults, "Blue Sky, White Clouds," as well as other author recommendations from the AlzAuthors community. About the Author: Eliezer Sobel is a writer, former editor, and the devoted son of parents affected by Alzheimer’s and aging. His book, “The Silver Lining of Alzheimer’s: One Son’s Journey into the Mystery,” offers a rare and hopeful perspective into the mysteries—and unexpected joys—of dementia caregiving. His book “Blue Sky, White Clouds: A Book for Memory-Challenged Adults” helps those with cognitive decline and memory loss remain engaged with text and others. Mentioned in This Episode: Buy Eliezer’s bookLearn more about Eliezer and his other works here. Laurette KlierSusan Ostrowski Key Quotes: "There was a sense of connection on a soul to soul, heart to heart, essence to essence level that had nothing to do with whether she knew my name, if she knew I was her son... There was a connection there that we both recognized." – Eliezer Sobel "You gave it all for your parents because they had given it all for you, all of your life. Your book is a true love story between you and your parents." Jean Lee Connect with AlzAuthors: Subscribe to the PodcastJoin the NewsletterFollow on YouTube Learn about the Moderators Marianne Sciucco  Christy Byrne Yates  About the Podcast  AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here. Thanks for listening. We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network Find us on The World Podcast Network and babyboomer.org Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know    We've got merch! Shop our Store

Have you reached the point where you're now fully responsible for your loved one's care and safety? Do you find yourself guiding others or managing all aspects of their daily needs? You've entered what we call "later on"—the final stage of the caregiving journey, and while some aspects may feel more manageable, new challenges and emotions emerge that require specific attention and planning. This final phase completes our comprehensive 20-step roadmap for dementia caregiving, covering the essential steps when you've moved beyond the messy middle into full caregiving responsibility. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/ Email: [email protected], [email protected] Guide: Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap https://thecaregiversjourney.org/guides/ Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Full show notes Additional Resources Mentioned Later On - You are now managing all aspects of their care 18. Plan for their End of Life Service:   You may have done this with your loved one just after their diagnosis. If not, do this without them now:26 minute TCJ podcast: 30. End of Life Service PreplanningTCJ blog: 30. End of Life Service PreplanningLeverage this End of Life Planning Worksheet.  19. Call in hospice. If you are not working with palliative care or a US Medicare GUIDE program organization (both of these are able to tell you when it’s time to call in hospice)Find a hospice organization. Get a doctor's referral. Schedule an initial evaluation. It’s almost never too early to get the initial evaluation, so don’t wait.Search ‘hospice’ + ‘your country’ - or in the US - ‘your state’. Scroll down until you get below the sponsored links where it says ‘Places’:Click on ‘More places’ to get a list with a map.  Notice rating stars and those located around your area.Schedule an initial consultation with two so you can compare.Educate yourself on when to call in hospice:26 minute TCJ podcast: 29. When To Call In HospiceTCJ blog: 29. When To Call In Hospice. 20. Continue your self-care. Learn about Anticipatory Grief.  Read this AARP article:How To Manage Mourning a Loss Before It Happens.Honor your grief, be compassionate with yourself, reach out for support:Each of us navigates the loss of our loved one in our own time and way.It’s reasonable when your caregiving journey ends you may feel any or all of:A sense of relief because your journey has ended and your loved one is no longer suffering, Guilty at the same time because you feel relieved.A loss of your own identity, from prioritizing your loved one for so long.Not sure what to do next.If you feel lost, reach out to your family, support group, faith community, friends, professionals. Most importantly - reach out! Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways The Three Stages of the Dementia Caregiving Journey 1. In the Beginning - Your loved one receives a diagnosis. 2. The Messy Middle - You begin asserting control; this is when it gets messy!3. Later On - You are managing all aspects of their care. 

Hospice nurse Beth Cavenaugh helps to clear up confusion around live discharges from hospice services. Sometimes people on hospice care improve or stabilize, and no longer meet the criteria to receive care from the hospice agency. The discharge process can be confusing, and it’s important to know the things that need to happen.  Here are a few highlights from this episode: Live discharges are initiated by the hospice agency when the patient no longer qualifies.Sometimes hospice patients improve because the care has become consistent, or their condition simply gets better. Their disease process may stabilize. Hospice staff are required to give the patient and caregiver notice of the discharge according to state and federal requirements.Discharge planning should ALWAYS happen - the nurse handles the clinical items (medications, equipment, a new healthcare provider/team), and the social worker handles the psychosocial concerns (caregiving assistance, community resources and support). The patient or decision maker has the right to file an appeal if they don’t agree with the discharge from hospice services. The hospice agency is required to continue providing services until the decision about the appeal is received.  Here’s a link with information about hospice appeals: What to Know About Hospice Appeals Connect with guest host hospice nurse Beth Cavenaugh at bethcavenaugh.com Buy Beth’s book Some Light at the End: Your Bedside Guide for Peaceful Palliative and Hospice Care Buy The Power and Pain of Nursing: Self-Care Practices to Protect and Replenish Compassion. You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

In this episode, Chris and Josh share insights into their journeys from religious vocations to a more personal, liberated spirituality. They discuss the difference between religion and spirituality, the importance of community, and what it means to feel truly welcome, especially as LGBTQ+ individuals navigating faith spaces. Equal parts laughter, life lessons, and candid reflection, this episode invites you to think about where you find connection, meaning, and joy as you age. Share your story or drop a line: [email protected] Like, subscribe, and ring our bell (figuratively or otherwise). Let’s AgeGayfully® together, with intention, humor, and each other. A gay senior, Christopher MacLellan, and an ally, Josh Wilson, podcasting about life, love, liberty and travel. Don’t Say Gay?… Say AgingGayfully®! AgingGayfully® is about living life with dignity in an age-friendly society, regardless of orientation or economic status, because longevity is a justice issue. AgingGayfully® is about finding your voice as we age. We are all part of the aging process and have real connections in diversity. AgingGayfully® is a modern type of activism that supports the concept of belonging. AgingGayfully® is about Adventure, Leisure, Travel, being a citizen of the world, traveling to destinations, and being part of the global community as we age and prosper in body, mind, and spirit.

In this open and vulnerable interview, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider talks about her caregiving experiences during her dad’s illness and death. Shoshana discovered early on that she wasn’t prepared for the complicated decision making that comes with serious illness caregiving, despite her medical training. Reflecting back at the experience, she talks openly about what she would have done differently. Difficult conversations about treatment, challenges with appetite and weight loss, and the genetic implications for Shoshana and her sister were all issues surrounding her father’s illness.   You can connect with End Well at endwellproject.org Listen to the Before We Go podcast here  Find more information about End Well 2025 here Find Shoshana on Instagram You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of dementia care? Do you find yourself wishing you had more support navigating medical decisions and planning for the future? You’re not alone - and there’s specialized help available that many caregivers don’t fully understand. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we both wish we had understood what palliative care is and how to leverage it earlier in our journeys. Unfortunately, when palliative care was first explained to us, it was explained incorrectly, and neither of us took advantage of all the great things palliative care has to offer. We recently spoke with Dawn Kolderman, a registered nurse and Senior Clinical Director of Palliative Care Services at Avow, who has more than 30 years of nursing experience with the last 20 focused on palliative and hospice care. Dawn shared invaluable insights about palliative care that we wish we had known sooner. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/Email: [email protected], [email protected] Full Show Notes Additional Resources Mentioned Avow Palliative Care LinkSupport the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Understand What Palliative Care Actually Is The first step is clearing up common misconceptions about palliative care.  Palliative care is a holistic approach to a life-limiting disease. This includes dementia — which is indeed a life-limiting disease.  The key difference between palliative care and hospice care: Palliative care patients are at the beginning of their journey and are still seeking aggressive, curative treatment while seeing all their providers and specialistsHospice care patients are generally at the end of their journey, no longer seeking aggressive treatment, and focusing on comfort care. Palliative care is an additional supportive layer of care that works collaboratively with all your existing medical providers. Most importantly, palliative care focuses heavily on the caregiver. Tip 2: Call Palliative Care In — Here’s How Many caregivers don’t realize how accessible palliative care is or when to call it in. The answer is simple: the earlier, the better. Tip 3: Understand the Goals of Palliative Care Palliative care has specific, comprehensive goals that address both immediate and long-term needs. Primary goals include: Relieving physical symptoms first Supporting the caregiver and family Education and collaboration Advanced care planning (ACP). This crucial component involves sitting down with the patient, caregiver, and family to discuss important decisions while your loved one can still participate in these conversations. Tip 4: What Else You Need to Know About Palliative Care There are several important aspects of palliative care that many people don’t realize. Your loved one won’t look sick. The goal is to help them live their life fully. Early intervention builds stronger relationships. The nurse navigator’s role is specifically to connect you with community resources you might not know about.  Read More in This Blog here

In this candid and heartfelt episode of I Saved You. Now do the dishes, Carrie Severson and her husband, Gavin, open up about navigating cancer and pain management with marijuana gummies. While the gummies helped Gavin finally get some much-needed sleep, they didn’t do much to ease the pain. Together, they unpack the frustration, trial and error, and emotional toll that come with trying to find relief in the midst of cancer treatment. It’s an honest look at resilience, humor, and the reality of learning to live — and love — through the discomfort. If you're a caregiver, and married to your patient, this is for you. Reach out to Carrie at www.carrieseverson.com or follow her at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarrieseverson/. #love #cancertreatment #caregiveradvice #burnout #caregiverburnout #mentalhealth #cancerpatients

J Smiles has been a caregiver to her mom living with Alzheimer’s and NPH for over 13 years—an unexpected journey that began after her father’s sudden passing. Once a globe-trotting consultant who could barely keep a plant alive, J found herself overwhelmed and facing serious health issues just 18 months into caregiving. A wake-up call from her doctor led her to explore self-care through stand-up comedy. In this episode, J shares how comedy became her lifeline, helping her cope, advocate for caregivers, and bring joy to others walking a similar path. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod210 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

My guest today is Susanne White, The Caregiver Warrior, an author advocate, Daughterhood circle leader and veteran, family caregiver who turned her personal journey into a mission to support others.  After caring for her parents through illness and dementia, she emerged with powerful lessons in compassion, resilience and self care. Her new book, self care for caregivers is a guide for anyone navigating the emotional roller coaster of caregiving.  In this conversation, we explore the difference between guilt and shame. We talk about the weight caregivers carry, the second guessing the family dynamics, the difference between accountability and responsibility, even the quiet grief that shows up along the way. Most of all, we share ways to ease that burden and how to remind ourselves that being human is more than enough.  TRANSCRIPT Caregiver Warrior For support and community visit: Daughterhood