How do we measure quality care in a way that truly supports families? In this episode, Nicole sits down with Ben Harder, Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News & World Report, to explore the heart and science behind the 2026 Best Nursing Homes ratings.

Together, they break down the updated methodology, what makes top-performing facilities stand out, and how families can use these insights to make confident, compassionate decisions, whether navigating short-term rehab or long-term care.

This conversation brings clarity to a system that often feels overwhelming, offering a grounded look at how data, transparency, and thoughtful evaluation can guide better care for the people we love most.

View US News & World Report Best Nursing Homes HERE. 

 

Thank you to our Sponsor

Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Instagram: @willgather

At 26, Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed became a full-time caregiver for her mom living with early-onset Alzheimer's. Now a leading advocate and educator, Jessica is reshaping how we understand the intersection of career and caregiving. In this conversation, she and host Nicole Will explore love, equity, and representation in care, what it means to be seen, to lead with compassion, and to build a world where every caregiver's story belongs.

 

To learn more, visit: https://www.jessicacguthrie.com/

To connect with Jessica, visit:

@CareerCaregivingCollide  

LinkedIn: Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed

 

Thank you to our Sponsor

Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. Creating engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Instagram: @willgather

What happens when the roles we've known all our lives—daughter, professional, partner—are suddenly eclipsed by one word: caregiver? For so many, caregiving becomes not just a responsibility but an identity. And with that comes the heavy mix of self-sacrifice, emotional resilience, and a quiet grief. But what if there's another way to see it? What if caregiving could be both a deep act of love and an opportunity to hold onto who we are, to grow, and to even rediscover our power?

Today's guest, Nikki Nurse, spent 12 years as a full-time caregiver for her mom, who lived with early-onset dementia and Alzheimer's. That journey shaped not only her days but her entire understanding of empathy, resilience, and what it means to care for someone while still caring for yourself. Nikki's story is one of navigating grief, finding emotional respite, and redefining what sustainable self-care looks like—not as a luxury, but as a lifeline for caregivers.

In this conversation, we'll explore the truth behind caregiving and self-sacrifice, what sustainable self-care really looks like, and why permission to be seen is a radical act for caregivers. Nikki will share how to navigate grief and guilt, set boundaries, and even break the generational patterns that tell us caregiving must mean losing ourselves. Nikki shares how AI can help caregivers by easing the mental load—automating tasks, offering reminders, and creating space for what really matters: being present and caring without burning out. We'll also talk about reclaiming confidence, embracing resilience, and the small, powerful ways caregivers can give themselves flowers—every day.

 

Follow and connect with Nikki at http://www.alogcabininbrooklyn.com/ and follow her  HERE.

Listen to her podcast with CARE-isma HERE.

Thank you to our Sponsors

HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families. It's free to start. Join now HERE.

Share your caregiver story HERE!

Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

How can older adults and families ensure they have the resources and support they need while safeguarding everything they've worked for their entire lives?

 

Today, we talk about the critical topic of asset protection, addressing the challenges faced when planning for care in the later stages of life.

 

I'm honored to have John K. Ross as our guest. John is the founder of Ross & Shoalmire, P.L.L.C., one of Texas's largest boutique estate planning and asset protection law firms. With a distinguished legal career spanning over 20 years, John is a nationally recognized expert in estate planning, asset protection, and taxation. He has assisted countless families in protecting their assets and maximizing their resources. John's insights have been featured in prestigious publications like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine, and he has spoken at national events on estate planning and asset protection issues. Join us as John shares his expertise and we gain valuable knowledge for securing a stable financial future.

 

From various types of senior living and home care costs to estate planning, we'll explore the often-overlooked aspects of preparing for the unexpected. We'll discuss how a health crisis can lead to a housing and financial crisis, and what legal steps can be taken to mitigate the financial impact.

 

Join us as we uncover three primary ways to finance long-term care. Discover the steps you can take to shield your assets and ensure they won't hinder your eligibility for government assistance programs like Medicaid, VA, and Medicare.

 

Throughout this podcast, John answers crucial questions about asset protection strategies, tax implications, the best time to start planning, and the legalities surrounding asset transfers.

 

We explore the eligibility requirements for government benefits, Medicaid planning strategies, and how trusts can be used to benefit both you and your heirs. We'll also address the importance of having proper estate planning documents in place to ensure your wishes are followed and your assets protected. If you're looking for sound advice and expert guidance, this podcast is a must-listen.

Learn more at www.rossandshoalmire.com

Listen to John's podcast: Big Picture Retirement HERE.

*Disclaimer: We are not providing financial or legal advice. Please seek your own advisor to assist you with your financial and legal needs. 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Moving our loved ones into a senior living community can be one of the most challenging experiences that we go through. We are trying to figure out how to manage not only the move itself but also selling our house, organizing, downsizing, discarding, and possibly donating all that we have acquired in our lifetime. This process can take an emotional toll on us as adult children and our loved ones as well. We talk about how to approach this experience with compassion and empathy when having difficult conversations about this transition.

 

My guest today is Maureen Longoria, she is the co-founder of LivNow Relocation, a company with over 50 years of corporate relocation experience. They understand the complexity of this life transition and the various aspects that go into it. Maureen also recognizes how stressful and overwhelming it can be, especially for older adults.

 

During our conversation, we had the opportunity to discuss the common challenges faced during this relocation process and how to handle the emotional toll it can have on families and older adults. We explored why having a third party can be helpful while navigating this emotionally charged move.

 

Maureen shares advice for adult children who are going through this process for the first time and informs us on the entire process, starting from the initial consultation until the move-in day. We also touched upon how LivNow Relocation keeps up-to-date on the latest trends and practices in the industry and what the future of senior living relocation services might look like, along with the many ways their profit-for-purpose company supports families.

 

This interview with Maureen Longoria sheds light on the intricacies of moving our loved ones into senior living communities and provides valuable insights for anyone navigating this phase of life.

 

LivNow Relocation is honored and excited to be included in the Summer 2023 cohort for the AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP!

 

Learn more at https://livnowrelocation.com/

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

How can speech therapy techniques revolutionize the way we approach dementia care? Today my guest Adria Thompson, a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with extensive experience in dementia care, will reveal the power of communication strategies and environmental modifications that can significantly improve the lives of individuals with dementia. Join us as we delve into the "how" behind Adria's transformative approach to supporting families on their caregiving journey.

 

In today's episode, we'll delve into the world of speech therapy and its crucial role in dementia care. We'll explore the challenges individuals with dementia face in both speaking and comprehension. Adria will share her expertise on strategies that can help maintain communication and swallowing abilities, providing valuable advice for caregivers. We'll also address common misconceptions about dementia behaviors and discover the reasons behind certain behaviors like resisting showering.

 

Adria will guide us through the environmental modifications that can make the showering experience more enjoyable and less overwhelming for individuals with dementia. She'll also shed light on successful communication techniques that can assist caregivers in navigating this process with their loved ones.

 

We discuss the ways Adria encourages and supports families on their journey of caring for someone with dementia. We'll also explore the available resources that can aid in providing the best possible care.

 

And finally, Adria has an exciting announcement! She'll give us a sneak peek into her upcoming course, focusing on the art of showering someone living with dementia.

 

We unravel the immense value of speech therapy in dementia care, learn about the process of finding and receiving speech therapy services, and gain a deeper understanding of how these professionals can make a positive impact in the lives of those with dementia.

 

Thank you, Adria, for the incredible gift you are to all of us! I've learned so much from you and I know others will too.

 

Connect with Adria at www.belightcare.com.

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

We will be taking our annual summer break, and as we temporarily say goodbye, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and dedicated listenership. It's been an incredible journey so far, and we couldn't have achieved such milestones without your continuous enthusiasm and encouragement.

 

Today, we proudly stand among the top 15% of podcasts shared globally on Spotify, and have graced the Apple charts in numerous countries. It's an achievement that fills me with immense pride and motivates me to continue delivering the best content possible. This means we are making an impact and fulfilling our mission of supporting older adults, family caregivers, and the care economy!

 

Out of three million podcasts, we are thrilled to announce that we currently rank in the top 10% according to Listen Score. This recognition is a testament to your unwavering support and the genuine connection we've established with our amazing audience.

 

While we may be taking a short break, rest assured that this is not the end of our podcasting journey. We are working tirelessly behind the scenes, preparing to return with fresh episodes that will captivate and engage you like never before.

 

During this hiatus, we encourage you to revisit our past episodes and share them with others who may be interested. You can find our entire catalog on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms. If you haven't already, feel free to follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses into our podcasting adventures.

 

Your support means the world to us, and we eagerly look forward to reconnecting with you soon. Stay tuned, as we'll be back before you know it, armed with more compelling stories, intriguing interviews, and thought-provoking discussions.

 

Thank you once again for being a part of our incredible podcasting journey! We will see you soon!

 

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

LISTEN NOW:  Apple Podcasts, Spotify & on your favorite podcast platform.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

My guests today are Jason Wei and Trisha Norton, founders of Discover Live. They are pioneers and experts in live, virtual world travel. They have been virtually transporting people to amazing destinations and events around the world. They have worked with top Fortune 1000 companies, educators, senior living communities, as well as families of older adults and private customers in their homes.

 

Today, we will talk about the transformative power of virtual and immersive travel, how travel experiences shape and impact our lives, how traveling enhances our understanding of different cultures and people, and the benefits of exposing ourselves to new experiences. When we step outside of our comfort zone and try something new, that's where the magic can happen and why we want to engage in travel and new experiences. We will learn how the remote travel experience offered by Discover Live benefits people who may be limited in their ability to physically travel and their caregivers. We will discuss how we can use this as a connection tool with our loved ones, reminisce about past experiences, and forge future conversations. We will also look at how travel can bridge the gap between people, connecting us from various backgrounds and cultures. We will explore how we become more empathetic and compassionate towards others. Lastly, we will talk all about how Discover Live works, where we can travel in the world, and what that experience is like through their certified and licensed tour guides. Thank you Jason and Tricia for sharing your love of immersive travel with all of us!

 

Learn more at https://www.discover.live/

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

As the longevity revolution continues, an increasing number of individuals will find themselves in the role of solo agers. This population is expanding due to a multitude of factors, including enhanced longevity, shifting family dynamics, and evolving demographics.

 

My guest today is Joy Loverde. She is the author of two books, one of which focuses on family caregivers. The first book is titled "The Complete Elder Care Planner." Joy is also the author of "Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?".

 

Joy's expertise lies in teaching us how to be curious, informed, critical thinkers, and resilient individuals who remain actively engaged and contribute to society. In addition to being an author, Joy is also a speaker who has been quoted in reputable publications such as the Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, and Psychology Today , among many others. She has been interviewed on prominent shows like the Today Show, Good Morning America, and NPR. Critics describe her work as "illuminating, eye-opening, and essential reading for everyone over 40".

 

We talk about solo aging and the importance of planning ahead. She highlights the top three planning needs. She also emphasizes that true wellness encompasses intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and social aspects, not just physical health. We explore the unique aspects of solo aging compared to aging with a partner, highlighting the challenges that come with being a solo ager. She discusses successful interactions between solo agers and younger generations, emphasizing the importance of these connections. Joy also shares about the availability of public resources and the benefits of solo aging. She addresses the navigation of caregiver shortages, offers insights on developing resilience as one ages and how we stay engaged, and be givers.

 

Personally, I have had the pleasure of meeting Joy and seeing her speak live, and I can attest that she is just as wonderful in person. Joy has become a friend, and I am so happy to share her work with all of you.

 

Learn more at www.elderindustry.com

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com.

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather. 

Allyson Schrier's life took an unexpected turn when her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. At the time, he was 47 years old, and their kids were 12 and 15. Like many families, they faced the challenges of caring for their loved one and have a deep desire to help families thrive beyond the diagnosis.

 

My guest today is Allyson Schrier, CEO and co-founder of Zinnia. Allyson is also the recipient of the Maude Awards for innovation in Alzheimer's care and was named a visionary caregiver by caregiving.com. Zinnia was formed in 2019 in response to Allyson's experience as a dementia family caregiver. Allyson joined forces with the former designer of Apple's memory product, and together they created an app for connected TVs and a mobile app that delivers a library of videos functioning as a non-pharmacological tool to create connections, reduce stress, and provide soothing aids to help with daily living activities.

 

In our conversation today, Allyson vulnerably shares her experience as a spouse caregiving for her husband, as well as the factors we should be looking for. We talk about the specific challenges of frontotemporal dementia and the unique dynamics of spouse caregiving. We shed light on early detection, as the average age of diagnosis for this condition falls between 30 and 50 years, but confirmation can often take a long time. We discuss what we should be looking for and Allyson's personal journey in finding hope and managing caregiver burnout, while also covering available resources such as the invaluable expertise of Teepa Snow and the groundbreaking work at the University of Washington's Memory and Brain Wellness Center.

 

We also address the delicate issue of when a loved one wants to keep their condition a secret and discuss the gifts that come from sharing the diagnosis with friends, family, and coworkers. Together, we explore the power of finding community and the impact of research and prevention. Allyson shares about the innovative partnerships they've established, including the collaboration with Touchtown and their participation in the Techstars Future of Longevity Accelerator. This has been a transformative journey for Allyson, and she emphasizes the importance of supporting one another in driving to make a difference in the lives of those living with dementia. Their mission is to ensure that no one faces the challenges of memory loss alone, and Allyson's call, like the name and flower of Zinnia, is that we bloom even in the harshest conditions. Zinnia helps people flourish beyond their diagnosis. Thank you, Allyson, for your work in education and advocacy!

Learn more at https://www.zinniatv.com/

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

How can we promote independence, maximize safety, and improve the quality of life for older adults and caregivers? My guests today are two individuals dedicated to improving the lives of seniors and those who care for them. Benjamin Surmi, a social gerontologist and Director of Education and Culture at Koelsch Communities, and Lindsay DeLong, the founder of EquipMeOT, an EOT wellness company. Lindsay is an occupational therapist with 10 years of experience, focusing on the adult population in home health equipment. EquipMeOT is a content creation platform and product development company that specializes in modifications and adaptations to maximize safety and quality of life throughout the lifespan.

 

Together, Benjamin and Lindsay have a passion for sharing information with older adults and their family caregivers. Today, we will explore tips and tools to help seniors and caregivers navigate daily life with ease and comfort. We will discuss common mobility challenges faced by older adults and how to overcome them. We talk about practical tips for family caregivers to ensure the safety of their loved ones living at home and in senior living communities. We address the delicate balance between promoting independence and ensuring their safety, while also providing support.

 

We also discuss effective communication strategies for discussing fall prevention, and how senior living communities can play a role in providing resources and support for older adults and families in the community. We talk about the misconception that a change in mobility status is not always permanent. Benjamin and Lindsay share insights on how to bring attention to adaptive tools and modifications in a non-intimidating manner, ensuring that individuals and their families are aware of the possibilities that can improve mobility and overall quality of life. Benjamin and Lindsay share strategies for preventing caregiver burnout when caring for loved ones with mobility challenges. Their insights and expertise are making a positive impact in the lives of many people. I am delighted to have them here, and you won't want to miss this interview. Thank you, Benjamin and Lindsay, for the informative and fun conversation!

Learn more at https://koelschseniorcommunities.com/ & https://equipmeot.com/

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

Nicole Will is the host and Founder of willGather.

How do we manage stress, avoid burnout, and find balance when caring for our loved ones? It's important that we find support for our mental health and ways to improve our own personal well-being. My guest today is Stephanie Muskat. She is an award-winning registered clinical social worker and psychotherapist. She is the founder of Compassion in Caregiving, a private therapy practice and mental health community for all caregivers.

 

Stephanie has experience working with various diagnoses and prognoses, including dementia (Alzheimer's, frontal temporal, Lewy body, and vascular), traumatic brain injuries, mental health conditions, stroke, spinal cord injury, and more. She supports individuals navigating boundaries, self-care, personal identity, and stress. Compassion in Caregiving provides caregivers with a comprehensive platform to assist in the caregiving process, acknowledging that it's not easy and can be emotionally taxing.

 

In our conversation, we discuss common challenges faced by caregivers, strategies to overcome them, practical tips for managing stress and burnout, available resources, establishing clear boundaries through difficult conversations, leveraging technology and innovation to support family caregivers, the impact of Stephanie's experience as a young caregiver on her work, and how mental health and therapy can benefit caregivers. We also explore how families can prepare for the transition from caregiving to post-caregiving life, ensuring a smooth transition.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Stephanie and appreciate her unique perspective as a mental health professional and psychotherapist. Thank you, Stephanie!

 

Learn more at https://compassionincaregiving.com/

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

When a loved one is seriously ill, we can feel powerless. We want them to be well-cared for, but we are not always sure of the questions we should be asking or the decisions we should be making.

 

My guest today is Erin Gaylean, a published author and professional speaker. Erin is the author of the book 'Badass Advocate: Becoming the Champion Your Loved One Deserves.' This book is full of information and provides action items to teach family caregivers how to lead the charge when dealing with a loved one's health crisis. Being an advocate for a loved one can be challenging, but it's an important role and we are not alone.

 

Erin and I talk about what it means to be a badass advocate. Erin shares her heartbreaking life events and the lessons that she learned that can make a difference in the lives of others. Erin shares strategies so that we can be powerful advocates, how families can come together when a loved one gets sick, how we can get the answers we truly need from healthcare professionals, how caregiving can be draining, and how we can put tools and resources together to avoid burnout. We also discuss techniques that can be used to help us caregivers practice self-care while caring for a loved one.

 

With Erin's book, journal, and website, she continues to share and educate families to feel empowered so that we can effectively advocate and care for our loved ones. Thank you, Erin, for sharing your story with us and empowering us to be "badass advocates"!

 

Learn more at www.badassadvocate.com. 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

LISTEN NOW:  Apple Podcasts, Spotify & on your favorite podcast platform.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

What caregiving really asks of us—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

What happens inside us when we're called to care for someone we love? Beneath the to-do lists and the sleepless nights lives an unspoken truth: caregiving changes us. It can strip us down, reshape our identity, and ask us to find meaning in all of it.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Barry J. Jacobs—a clinical psychologist, family therapist, and longtime caregiver himself. He's the author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers and the upcoming AARP Caregiver Answer Book. Barry brings decades of insight into what it really means to show up for others while trying to hold onto yourself.

We talk about the emotional toll of caregiving, the guilt that lingers, and the loneliness that can come when no one sees what you're carrying. Barry shares real, practical ways to manage anxiety, protect your identity, and build resilience. We also explore what a truly supportive healthcare system could look like—and how caregivers can begin to advocate for themselves.

This is an episode for anyone in the thick of it, anyone who's quietly unraveling and rebuilding, and anyone who just needs to hear: you're not alone.

 

 

Thank you to our sponsors!

HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE.

Share your caregiving story HERE!       

Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. creates engaging, dementia-friendly video content to reduce anxiety, spark memories, and provide meaningful moments of connection for individuals living with cognitive challenges and their caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.

   

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Resilience, hope, and transformation.  For almost a year, Natalie Elliott Handy's husband, Jason, had been experiencing swollen lymph nodes in his neck, and after numerous doctor visits and biopsies, he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma P16+.

 

Natalie shares how the caregiving journey changed her relationship with her husband and how she transitioned from a wife to a caregiver. She learned that being a caregiver is not just about performing tasks, but rather comprised of almost 40 different roles. She shares how the journey also pushed her to reprioritize her life.

 

We explore the importance of being present and an advocate during caregiving, including the need for continuity of care and updates to loved ones. We also discuss the often overlooked side effect of caregiving - how it changes relationships and leads to complicated emotions and grief. Natalie shares her experience of transitioning from being a wife to a caregiver and taking on different roles. This experience led her and her sisters to create a podcast based on their caregiving journey.

 

Thank you, Natalie, for sharing so honestly your story of resilience and hope - encouraging us to embrace the journey, find the good moments in every day, and live a joy-filled life.

 

Learn more at www.confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

 

There is a common misconception that older adults are no longer interested in or capable of having sex. Studies show that more than 50% of men and 30% of women among 1000 adults surveyed aged 65-80 are sexually active. The vast majority of older adults in a relationship report being satisfied with their sexual life. Research also indicates that older adults want to discuss their sexual health and how to optimize their sexual functioning.

 

My guest today is Dr. Regina Koepp, a board-certified clinical psychologist and founder of the Center for Mental Health & Aging. She is also the creator and host of the Psychology of Aging podcast and a contributing writer at Psychology Today and Psychotherapy Networker. She has been featured in various news outlets, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Katie Couric Media, News Nation, and many other news outlets. Currently, she holds the role of lead medical psychologist at the University of Vermont Medical Center. She is also the creator of the only dementia and sexual health certification program in the United States.

 

As we address these common misconceptions and the negative impact the stereotypes could have on the sexual health of older adults, we are providing accurate information about the sexual health of older adults and promoting healthy sexuality to improve the quality of life for all people. In our conversation, we talk about the frequency of sexual activity among older adults, the benefits of sex later in life, coping strategies for new disabilities or chronic illnesses, how we can be empowered in our sexual expression, and the importance of talking about sexually transmitted infections among older adults. We also discuss dementia and sexuality and how we can improve education and awareness around this topic. We look at how healthcare providers and families can better address the sexual health needs of their older adults and loved ones in their life. Thank you, Dr. Koepp, for the important conversation. I'm so thankful for your work and advocacy for sexual health.

 

Learn more at Center for Mental Health and Aging at www.mentalhealthandaging.com

 

New course on aging and sexual health is available on Friday 5/5. Sign up now HERE.

 

Dementia and Sexual Health Basics Course:

https://courses.mentalhealthandaging.com/p/dementia-sexual-health-basics-ceu-on-demand

 

Dementia and Sexual Health Certification Course: https://courses.mentalhealthandaging.com/p/dementia-sexual-health-certification-waitlist

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: willGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

"She sits in front of the man who raised her, served as her role model and supported her throughout life's most challenging moments. And she misses him. She touches his face, holds his hands, searches his empty eyes. But still, she misses him."  These are the words spoken by Karla Hult, founder of So Many Goodbyes and award-winning journalist. In her own words, Karla started a marathon called Alzheimer's with her father and experienced all the challenges, grief, decisions, and moments of joy with her family during the nine-year journey. This became her motivation to create So Many Goodbyes.

 

As a public speaker, Karla provides workshops for families, caregivers, older adults, and senior living communities, offering mentorship to families currently in the throes of Alzheimer's to bridge the gap of communication between families and caregivers. During our interview, Karla shared her story, how her father's diagnosis changed her family, the truth about Alzheimer's, staggering numbers, and all the goodbyes that families experience when they walk through this with their loved ones. Karla sees the pressing need for support, and her family's story has opened doors for others to do the same.

 

She is hopeful about the movement of awareness around Alzheimer's and the initiatives she's seen in the space. Karla has an amazing support network that she pulls education and information from. Her message is simple: "We're in this together, and you are not alone." I am honored to have interviewed Karla and to highlight the wonderful work she is doing, not only nationally but also in my community. Thank you, Karla, for sharing your story and supporting others so beautifully. I'm so grateful for you!

 

Learn more at www.somanygoodbyes.com

 

Karla Hult is an Emmy, Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite award-winning journalist who's worked in eight different newsrooms throughout the country. Her favorite stories include those touching on international, political and cultural issues and, of course, stories shared from the heart, including her award-winning work on her family's own Alzheimer's journey.

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

"One thing is for sure: no one plans on being a dementia caregiver when they grow up," said Kitty Norton, a filmmaker and director of "Wine, Women, and Dementia". Her first feature film, a documentary reveals the profound burden that family caregivers shoulder as they care for their loved ones with dementia. This burden includes isolation, financial strain, and physical and emotional exhaustion that affect both the caregiver and the care recipient.

 

Kitty Norton, a former family caregiver to her mom, decided to embark on a cross-country RV journey to visit five other caregivers who she had formed a close bond with through their shared experiences. Despite having only interacted online, their in-person meeting allowed them to share deeply personal and humorous stories about their lives as caregivers. Through their stories, the documentary "Wine, Women, and Dementia" provides a raw and honest portrayal of the realities of caring for someone with dementia, including both the challenges and moments of beauty. Ultimately, the film celebrates the themes of perseverance, devotion, and the importance of finding joy in the difficult journey of caring for a loved one with dementia.

 

In an interview, Kitty and I talk about her inspiration behind the film, what motivated her to create a space for caregivers to feel acknowledged, how we can come together through our common experiences and emotions as caregivers, and how storytelling helps caregivers feel connected to each other and build a sense of community. We also discuss the challenges and barriers that caregivers can face when they seek support, how caregivers can be encouraged to live out loud and share their stories and experiences with others, and how it benefits our caregiver community. We look at how the film industry can better represent the experiences of caregivers, and all the details about filming, including what it was like meeting everybody for the first time and where the journey took them.

 

This film is a true representation of what an estimated 16 million unpaid dementia family caregivers go through. Kitty says it has been a "road trip connecting a disconnected community because until there's a cure, there's community". Thank you, Kitty, for making this film, for your honesty, your humor and for persevering to see this vision come to life!

 

Learn more at https://www.winewomenanddementia.com/

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

The majority of older adults over the age of 65 are taking 15 to 18 medications annually, which can lead to an increase in hospitalization and also has a cost of nearly $21 billion annually. My guest today is Dr. DeLon Canterbury, founder and CEO of GeriatRx, a telehealth concierge consulting service that focuses on helping overwhelmed caregivers and clinicians prevent their loved ones from being overmedicated. Dr. Canterbury advocates for genetic drug screening, deprescribing, and health cost savings strategies. During the interview, Dr. Canterbury discusses one of his personal challenges - watching his grandmother decline due to medication-related issues. This experience motivated him to create GeriatRx in order to prevent older adults and families from experiencing similar struggles.

 

We talk about his story and his advocacy in pharmacology, the important changes that need to happen in our healthcare industry, and the concerns with geriatric pharmacology at the moment. We also discuss how we can support family caregivers, what overmedication means, what important questions to ask our healthcare providers, and what we should look for to understand the root cause of some of these issues, as well as where we should start in deprescribing.

 

He is hopeful as he shares what he has seen in the growing improvement in the space, and how he supports professionals, families, and older adults with his holistic and evidence-based approach. I've had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Dr. DeLon in person. What a joy it is to have him as a colleague. Thank you for your important work, Dr. DeLon!

 

Learn more at www.geriatrx.org

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

LISTEN NOW:  Apple Podcasts, Spotify & on your favorite podcast platform.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

A cancer diagnosis can bring forth a myriad of emotions not only for the patient but also for their caregivers and partners. Cancer can also deeply impact our relationships. My guest today is Cynthia Hayes, author of "The Big Ordeal: Understanding and Managing the Psychological Turmoil of Cancer". Cynthia based her work on interviews with hundreds of cancer patients and experts, including oncologists, psychologists, exercise physiologists, and neuroscientists. Through their insights and stories, Cynthia takes us through the chronological progression of emotional turmoil typically experienced during cancer.

 

You will find that you are not alone, Cynthia shares the wisdom of those who have gone before us. We look at what caregivers should understand about the emotional experience of cancer, why emotional health is not a mainstream concern among oncology practitioners, and how these emotions affect the patient, how as a caregiver we can balance our own emotions and needs with those of the patient, how we can support our loved ones in recovery. We dive into the science behind how our brains and bodies process all of this information coming at us, and how cancer can change our relationships with friends and loved ones, including our physically intimate relationships.

 

This conversation is a valuable resource for patients and caregivers who are dealing with the emotional challenges of cancer. Cynthia, thank you for sharing your story and work with us! I have already recommended your book to many others, as it has become my go-to resource for supporting those with cancer and providing clarity in difficult circumstances.

 

Learn more at thebigordeal.com

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Having a conversation about finances with our aging parents can be challenging, but it doesn't always have to be. However, it's important that we have these conversations, ensuring that they have financial security and peace of mind.

 

My guest today is Cameron Huddleston. She is an author, speaker, and award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience writing about personal finance. At the age of 35, Cameron stepped into the caregiving role for her mom who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. This inspired her to write the book "Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations with Your Parents About Their Finances". She realized how important it was to have money talks with our loved ones before an emergency or health issue arises. She helps families break the taboo of talking about money, and she brings all of her knowledge as the role of Director of Education and Content for Carefull, the financial safety service, to help protect aging adults' daily finances.

 

Today, we talk about why this conversation is so intimidating, how many people avoid having this conversation, and understanding why our parents and loved ones are reluctant to go there to talk about finances. We also discuss the cost if we wait and don't plan ahead, how we can get our siblings involved, how we can be set up for success and prepared for these important dialogues, what not to say, how we can initiate conversation in a positive way, plan for the future cost of long-term care, and how we want an agent in place and what documents are important to put in place. We also discuss what we can do if Mom or Dad can't pay for care or medical bills and what resources are available to us to help our parents age well. Lastly, we talk about how we can pay it forward and start talking to our kids. This is the greatest gift we can give our loved ones - to have all of our financial and legal documents in place. Thank you, Cameron, for the insightful conversation!

 

 

Learn more at cameronhuddleston.com &  www.getcarefull.com

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

These sisters have captivated my attention, and I believe they will captivate yours too. They are the ultimate hype women for a journey that none of us expected to be in. Natalie Elliott Handy, J.J. Elliott Hill, and Emilie Elliott are the founders of the Sisterhood of Care, an organization offering caregivers a safe place to relate, learn, be inspired, find help, and obtain the critical resources needed to support their loved ones while also maintaining their sense of self. They share all the good, challenging, hard, humorous, and confessional moments on their podcast, Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver.

 

The sisters are caregivers for their mother, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. They have experienced a roller coaster of emotions, and their lives have been turned upside down. They stepped in to support their mom during a medical crisis and knew it was time to make a change. In this episode, we talk about their story, why they started the podcast, how they knew it was time to move their mom, the unique challenges and rewards of caregiving with siblings, the impact caregiving has on the family, how to be a powerful advocate for your loved ones, how we show up in caregiving when we are long-distance, and the many ways we can take our story and see change and be a powerful force for good. You don't want to miss this episode. The sisters have become very dear to me, and I believe in the power of community when we can all come together and support each other. Thank you, Natalie and J.J.!

 

Learn more at confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com

 

About Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver

"Offering a candid, unfiltered space to confess the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a caregiver, the sisters harness the power of relationships and technology to relate, educate, inspire, and provide resources to individuals of all ages. Through storytelling, guest interviews and information sharing, JJ, Natalie, and Emilie, along with their guests, discuss their shared experiences. Viewers and listeners alike will relate to our reluctance, be affirmed in their ability to be a caregiver themselves, and gain the courage to step out of the shadows to confidently express their own needs. Caregivers are sure to laugh, cry, and everything in between but in the end, all will leave feeling better for the journey and part of the sisterhood of care."

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

As we age, where we live matters, but more importantly, we need to ask ourselves a question: What can I put in place that gives me independence, quality of life, dignity, wellness, and allows me to do what I love?

 

As families and older adults, we face decisions, and at times need to contemplate our next move. The emotional struggles and stigmas around a potential move to a community or setting up more support at home weigh on our minds.

 

My guest today is Catherine Owens, Owner of CLO Consulting & Author of Be Your Own Hero: Senior Living Decisions Simplified, Senior Living Industry expert, and Aging Well authority.

 

In her book and in our conversation today, we look at making proactive and educated decisions, rather than making decisions in crisis, and understanding the difference between aging in place and putting in place tools to age well. Catherine urges us as families and older adults to have difficult but necessary conversations so we can understand the decision process and how it can benefit families and the senior living communities that they're considering. We look at how we define independence and quality of life, changing the idea and redefining what successful aging looks like by putting in place what we need to continue aging well.

 

It's important that we ask those important questions: What environment will support the quality of life that I want to have? I loved this conversation with Catherine as she's bringing together the two worlds of senior living and aging in place. This is an important conversation as she calls us to be our own heroes, be proactive, and educate ourselves on all that's available so we can have a life full of purpose, joy, and meaning. Thank you, Catherine!

 

 

Learn more at CatherinelOwens.com

 

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

There are many ways in which caregiving transforms our lives. We are always in a balancing act, whether it's balancing our careers,  managing our families, or caring for loved ones that are older.

 

Today, my guest is Liz O'Donnell. She is the founder of Working Daughter, a community for women who are balancing elder care, career, and more. She is an award-winning writer, and her book, "Working Daughter: A Guide for Caring for Your Aging Parents While Earning a Living," was named one of the best books of the year by Library Journal. Liz is a former family caregiver and is often recognized as an expert on working while caregiving. She has written on the topic for many different outlets, including The Atlantic and Harvard Business Review, and she has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and more. Liz also serves on the Executive Board for Fast Company.

 

Today, Liz and I talk about Working Daughter and the honesty in those real emotions that we feel when we're caring for others. We discussed how to juggle work and care, knowing that we need support, how we go from victim to boss, what is the caregivers gain, and what we experience in this complicated world of relationships and family dynamics. We also talk about how to redefine those relationships as they change, planning our time, determining what needs come first and where to invest our energy, where we can find support, and how employers can offer support to women in the workforce.

 

We had a really good conversation today talking about all of these things, and what really resonated for me in her book. Thank you, Liz, for the great information!

 

Liz O'Donnell shares about:

• How Liz's experience with caring for her parents and managing work and family inspired her to write her book
• The ways we can move to acceptance in our caregiving
• How do we go from victim to boss and define the "caregivers gain"
• How we determine what needs come first and where  we invest our time
• What is taking place in the workplace and how we can advocate for support
• The impact caregiving has on the workforce
• The implicit bias that occurs in caregiving
• How we can be involved in making change for working caregivers
• All about Working Daughters Day

 

 

Learn more at WorkingDaughter.com

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

We're told that aging is about loss. About slowing down. About limits. But what if we've got it all wrong?

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Charlotte Yeh — a trailblazer in healthcare, a former emergency physician, and now the Chief Experience Officer at Cherish. With over three decades of experience, including former Chief Medical Officer at AARP and now Yeh Innovation, Charlotte brings a deeply human perspective: that aging can be a time of growth, connection, and purpose.

Together, we explore the myths and truths around getting older. We ask: how can we shift the narrative from decline to vitality? From isolation to community? From fear to intention?

Dr. Yeh shares profound insights on emotional well-being, the quiet epidemic of loneliness, and how technology — when used wisely — can measure what really matters. This is a conversation about agency, resilience, and how we can all age not just gracefully, but powerfully.

Because aging isn't something that happens to us — it's something we can choose to do with meaning.

Thank you to our sponsors:

HeroGeneration – Empowering caregivers and families with free tools, resources, and a supportive community to navigate aging with confidence and connection. Sign up HERE.

Zinnia TV – A therapeutic platform for dementia care, offering calming, connection-centered video content. Use code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription. Sign up HERE. 

How do we avoid miscommunication and medication errors during transitions of care? Implementation of clear communication practices and medication reconciliation processes can significantly reduce the risk of errors, lower the rate of rehospitalization, and improve overall patient outcomes.

Today, my guest is Dr. Nancy Taylor, the Founder and CEO of Taylormade Senior Advocacy and Consulting. She is a Doctor of Pharmacy, a Board-Certified Patient Advocate, and a Certified Senior Advisor, specializing in Collaborative Deliberation with clients and families, as well as client care coordination.

 

Dr. Taylor is the perfect person to guide us on how to navigate transitions of care successfully and avoid rehospitalization. During our conversation, we learn how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the complications that can arise during transitions of care. We will discuss how Dr. Taylor supports older adults and families, what transitions of care are, and how miscommunication and medication errors can occur during these transitions. Thank you, Dr. Nancy Taylor, for bringing awareness to this topic and equipping us with information as we navigate transitions of care.

 

Dr. Nancy Taylor shares about:

• How as young girl she learned the power of care from her father who was a pharmacist
• Her journey to become a Doctor of Pharmacy and her heart for education and advocacy
• Why it's important to understand Transitions of Care
• The impact of miscommunication, mismedication and readmission
• The importance of being health literate
• Bridging the gap between medical professionals and patients through communication simplification
• Understanding what to look for in transitions of care as older adults and family members
• Overcoming communication challenges in healthcare transitions
• Where we can learn more and work with Dr. Nancy Taylor

 

 

Learn more at https://www.drtadvocacy.com/

 

You may read more about Dr. Taylor and her services on her website https://drtadvocacy.com and contact her at nancy@drtadvocacy.com or call 877.216.7450

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

There are over 15 million wartime veterans and their spouses who are potentially eligible for veteran benefits. Unfortunately, only about 2% of these veterans are actually collecting their benefits and many of them do not know all that they are eligible for today.

 

My guest this week is Suzette Graham, Owner and CEO of Patriot Angels. They help families and veterans navigate the overwhelming and complicated process of applying for veteran benefits, aid, and attendance. As an independent company, they are devoted to making sure veterans and families have the resources they need. With her great team, they continue to advocate for people that need support, including veterans, families, caregivers, and senior living communities.

 

During the interview, we discussed how Patriot Angels came to be and how they help veterans and their family members. We also talked about the importance of knowing who to call for help and discovering what various benefits are available. Some of the benefits may not be immediately apparent, and Suzette also shares how they work with senior living communities to support families in paying for housing. Additionally, we talk about what is on the horizon for 2023 and what benefit changes may have taken place, as well as where to learn more about Patriot Angels and the many ways they have impacted people's lives. Thank you, Suzette, for providing timely assistance for those who have sacrificed for our country and being a guiding hand for veterans and their families.

 

Suzette shares about:

• The story behind Patriot Angels
• How to navigate the complex system of veterans' benefits and the need for support
• What benefits are available
• Who is eligible for benefits
• The ways in which they support veterans, families and work with senior living communities
• What is on the horizon for benefit changes for 2023
• The many ways Patriot Angels has seen success and changed the lives of others
• How Angels Research discovers information and assists in research for appropriate documentation
• Where we can learn more about Patriot Angels

 

Learn more at Patriot Angels. 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Exhausted, burned out, and wondering how much longer she can sustain this role of caregiving, Robin Weeks, Founder of My Pivotal Point, knew she had to take action. Her own struggles inspired her to help others feel prepared.

 

Seeking a solution, she put boundaries in place and created a caregiving coaching method called My Pivotal Point, Caring for Caregivers. This holistic approach helps caregivers gain more confidence, energy, control, and wellness in their everyday lives. In this conversation, Robin and I discuss the importance of setting boundaries for ourselves, how to identify the boundaries we need, and how to have tough conversations without shying away from conflict. Robin's story offers valuable insights for anyone who is caring for an aging loved one. Thank you for joining us for this real and important conversation. Thank you, Robin, for your transparency and encouragement as we care for our loved ones.

 

 

Robin shares about:

• Her path of caregiving and being inspired to develop The Care Colloquium with Kimberly Whiter
• How experiencing caregiving burnout shaped her desire to truly help others feel prepared
• The ways in which boundaries saved her in her caregiving
• Tips to implement boundaries and the importance of having hard conversations and overcoming conflict
• The complex emotions of caring for loved ones when we have complicated relationships
• How we can work through our guilt in caregiving
• How we recognize the gifts in caregiving
• Ways we can successfully work with our care teams
• The holistic approach to caregiving can be our saving grace
• Where we can learn more and work with Robin in our caregiving

 

 

 

About Robin Weeks & My Pivotal Point

 

In 2020, after caring for my mother for over 6 years, I launched My Pivotal Point, Caring for

Caregivers. My Mission is to educate, inform and support caregivers so that they can effectively

provide care while maintaining their own physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I work

with companies to educate management and caregivers and provide the support needed to

remain productive at work while caregiving.

 

I am a Certified Big Five for the Workplace Personality Consultant and Coach, certified in

conflict Resolution through the Roanoke, VA Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, trained

Facilitator and a Certified Caregiving Consultant.

 

www.mypivotalpoint.com

https://mypivotalpoint.com/caregivingconsulting/

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Family caregivers often assist their loved ones with a variety of activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, meal preparation, household tasks, doctor's appointments, and medication management. However, at times it can feel overwhelming and it's common to struggle with finding ways to be efficient.

 

I'm delighted to introduce today's guest, Consuela Marshall, founder of Finding A Foothold. Consuela's caregiving journey began when her daughter was born with physical limitations and later became the primary caregiver for her mom after she suffered multiple strokes. With over 25 years of experience as an occupational therapist, Consuela recognized the need to help family caregivers create a more manageable and less emotionally and physically draining caregiving life.

 

 

Consuela's compassionate heart and first-hand experience as a certified aging in place specialist, fall prevention specialist, and occupational therapist have given her a deep understanding of the struggles that family caregivers face. I've had the pleasure of connecting with Consuela and I'm thrilled to have her on the show today. Her genuine care for others shines through as she shares practical advice on how we can live a fulfilling life while caring for our loved ones. Thank you, Consuela, for sharing your insights with us today!

 

 

Consuela shares about:

• How caregiving shaped her compassion in bringing caregiving support to families
• The struggles that family caregivers face
• How she found her foothold
• How we find boundaries and balance in caregiving
• The ways we can start on the path that can lead to easier days and brighter days
• How caregiving looks different for every person, and every family,  no two are exactly alike
• She gives us permission to create an environment that supports our caregiving
• Empowering our loved ones to live their full lives
• Where we can learn more and work with Consuela

 

Learn more at FindingAFoothold.com

 

Finding A Foothold Coaching and Consulting Services is devoted to improving the quality of the life of the caregiver and therefore enhancing the life of the care recipient. 

 

The aim is to arm caregivers with the skills needed to deliver care to their loved ones in a manner that is safe and efficient, equipping them with the tools needed to identify needs, set in place safety measures and strategies, and create a team of support which allows them to thrive and have successes and victories in the midst of the challenges of caregiving.

 

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

As we age we want to remain independent, keep our active lifestyle, look stylish, and stay safe. My guest today is Mara Perlmutter, founder of Trelawear and senior fashion and jewelry executive. What began as a passion project, solving an issue that hit close to come for Mara when her mom refused to wear any of the unattractive generic personal emergency response devices.

 

Mara's mom said, "Mara you've been in the jewelry business for over 25 years, can't you make me something beautiful to wear in case of an emergency?" In wanting to create a beautiful dignified solution, Trelawear was created. Through their partnerships with leading Bluetooth tech developers and FallCall Solutions, Trelawear offers peace of mind and a fashionable solution to remain independent and stylish.

 

It is not only easy to use, but it is also simple to set up and brings a spark of joy to our day. I'm thrilled to support this purpose-driven mission of women caring for women. These pendants make women look and feel beautiful while keeping them safe. I enjoyed this interview. Thank you, Mara, for fulfilling your mom's request, disrupting this part of the industry, and bringing to light a fashionable, easy-to-use device and meeting the needs of caregivers and older adults everywhere.

 

 

Mara shares about:

• Her story as she fulfilled her mom's request for fashion and safety
• The business of developing a new type of personal emergency response device
• Why emergency response is important for independence and the value of safety
• How Trelawear works and the technology to support safety
• The ways we can talk to our loved ones about wearing personal emergency response devices
• Feeling supported as we age and how it sparks joy and peace in our day
• Where we can learn more

*A special offer for my listeners- use the code WILLGATHER50 at checkout for 50$ off of your purchase and your first 2 months of monitoring service free.

 

Learn more at Trelawear.com 

 

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Finding freedom, redemption, and revealing all of those things that we typically don't share with others in our caregiving- that is the mission and the movement behind Brutally Beautiful.

 

Brutally Beautiful was co-founded by Heather Zoccali.  She is also the founder of No Barriers Caregiver Program. She is a survivor, storyteller, author, retreat innovator, and podcast co-host.

 

As my guest today, Heather gives us permission to have a holistic approach to our healing, understand forgiveness, and the ability to fuse humor into our caregiving. She empowers us to choose vulnerability, share deeply personal stories, and rediscover who we are outside of our caregiver role. Brutally Beautiful moves their mission forward by hosting innovative nature-based retreats, interactive workshops and supporting caregiver communities.

 

As we reset the narrative that can be imposed on us in our caregiving, we can re-discover our own voice. Heather's #somuchmore campaign does just that. I'm honored to share Heather's story and work. Thank you, Heather, for creating a space where we can be empowered to share our own story.

 

 

Heather shares about:

• Her story as she found her voice in caregiving
• The superpowers of vulnerability, voice, choice, forgiveness, and play
• Resetting the narrative that we are #somuchmore and discovering ourselves outside of our caregiver role
• How we can have self-compassion
• Practicing boundaries in our caregiving
• Her encouragement that we can heal, address trauma, find joy, and play
• The many ways in which Brutally Beautiful supports caregivers so they can heal
• Join their #somuchmore campaign to raise your voice in caregiving

 

Learn more at https://www.brutallybeautiful.life/

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

How do we keep track of our health information stored in multiple locations? Numerous health records and documents need to be collected from various doctors and providers when overseeing our loved ones care.

My guest today is Jean Ross, she is the co-founder of Primary Record. Primary Record is a safe and secure way to organize, discuss, and easily share your health information with those that matter. It's a mobile application that all families need! It's necessary for individuals and caregivers of those with complex medical conditions. Jean spent six years in critical care, she was able to see the frustration that disconnected health information was causing families.

 

Primary Record is the future of how families will access health information stored in multiple locations. Families are excited about how Primary Records gives them a medical home base. It allows them to easily share their health story in meaningful ways with their loved ones and providers.

 

I had the opportunity to spend time with Jean at The Care Colloquium. It was a joy to meet her! Thank you, Jean, for the great interview and for bringing about change in how we share and access our medical information. Cheering you on!

 

 

Jean shares about:

• How her path as a critical care nurse drove her to see change in health information
• The state of health information and medical records at the moment
• How family caregivers manage their loved ones health information
• The responsibility of overseeing medical records and best practices
• The ways in which Primary Record supports individuals and loved ones
• The importance of sharing our health story for comprehensive care
• The ways in which Primary Record saves families time and energy
• Where we can learn more and feel supported

*We are excited to be a community partner with Primary Record. Please use the code WILLGATHER20 when accessing & downloading the Primary Record app.

 

About Jean Ross, RN & Primary Record

 

Primary Record is a safe and secure way to organize, discuss and easily share your health information with those who matter. It is the mobile application all families need and a necessity for individuals or caregivers of those living with complex medical conditions.

 

Primary Record is building the future of how families will access health information stored in multiple places in one secure place to organize and share over their lifetime.

 

See how it works: https://records.primaryrecord.com/

 

The team at Primary Record believes the future of care starts with families having easy, secure access to their health data so they can support each other and access care designed for them.

 

Connect with Primary Record:

Website: https://www.primaryrecord.com/

 

*This episode is supported by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Resilience. That is the word that comes to mind when I think of my guest today, Kandis Draw. Kandis was 30 yrs old when she found herself in a full-time role caring for her mom and also her younger siblings. Kandis shares her story, her caregiving challenges, her resilience, the ways she is rebuilding her life after caregiving, and how this has fueled her mission for advocacy.

 

Kandis and I had the opportunity to meet at The Care Colloquium. It was a joy to meet Kandis and hear her story of resilience. Thank you, Kandis, for sharing with us. Keep advocating!

 

 

Kandis shares about:

• Her story of being a young caregiver
• How receiving her mom's cancer diagnosis changed her world
• The ways in which being a young caregiver impacted her life
• Caring for her younger siblings
• Her caregiving challenges
• Finding support in caregiving
• Where she pulls her strength from
• How her story has fueled her mission and brought her into action
• How she is rebuilding her life

 

 

About Kandis Draw

 

Kandis is an advocate, educator, and writer. At the age of 30, she was thrust into the role of caregiver- taking care of her mom and younger siblings. Her mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.

 

Kandis knows the deep struggles and challenges that young caregivers are faced with and shares her story to inspire and help others. She is also an experienced columnist and contributes to caregiving.com.

 

To connect with Kandis visit HERE.

 

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

We want to feel confident when we are making medical decisions for our loved ones. Today, my guest is Dr. Brittany Lamb, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, dementia family educator, and advocate.  Working in the ER, she experiences many family members needing to make decisions for their loved ones aging and those living with dementia.

 

 

Dr. Lamb is here to bring caregivers a message of hope. She shares that there are solutions to tackle the overwhelm that families experience and provide a way to prevent burnout. As families, we want to know that we are honoring our loved one's wishes and taking into account what is important to them and their goals of care.

 

 

What I would have given to have Dr. Lamb's insight and information at my fingertips when we were caring for my Gigi Betty. The support would have been valuable. I'm so happy she is here and sharing her knowledge with all of us. Thank you, Dr. Lamb!

 

 

 

Dr. Lamb shares about:

 

• How growing up managing healthcare decisions and her grandparent's influence brought her into practicing medicine
• Trends she is seeing in the healthcare
• Managing caregiver burnout
• The common mistakes we can make when making medical decisions for our loved ones
• The ways in which planning ahead prevents burnout and overwhelm
• How the pillars of planning can support our care
• All about medical decision planning
• What documents we need in place to support our loved ones' healthcare decisions
• How quality of life plays a role in our care
• The many ways Dr. Brittany Lamb supports families and provides education

 

 

 

Dr. Brittany Lamb is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician, dementia family educator and advocate.

 

In the ER she sees the overwhelm and stress people go through when having to make medical decisions unexpectedly. Family members choosing on behalf of their person living with dementia have even greater challenges.

 

Outside of the ER, Dr. Lamb supports and educates dementia family caregivers, on the importance of, and how to, plan for future medical decisions. Her goal is to deliver the information needed to make informed decisions into the hands of family caregivers through social media, a blog, and an online program.

 

Caregivers who work with her inside her online program "Make Your Plan with Dr. Lamb" create a medical decision plan unique to their person so they can choose confidently and have peace of mind.

 

Connect with Dr. Brittany Lamb:

https://blambmd.com/

 

**Episode brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness & funds for caregivers and care partners. Shop now at www.gigibettyco.com.

Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

 

Instagram: @willgather

 

Facebook: WillGather

 

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

How we navigate conflict and communication with our siblings and family members can play a role in how we care for our loved ones. At times, those dynamics can stem from our childhood and influence how we interact and show up for our family members in caregiving.

 

My guest this week is Michele Magner. She is the founder of MicheleMagner.com and the host of Inspired Caring Podcast. Michele offers families and senior living communities support as they navigate the challenges of caring for aging loved ones by reducing stress and burnout giving families peace of mind. Michele focuses on creating calm, clarity, and confidence. These are three words we can definitely hang onto as we care for our loved ones.

 

Michele spent many years caring for both of her grandmothers and in-laws. Her time working in senior living communities combined with her gerontology background gives her unique insight into how to help family members on their aging journey.  This episode has so many good nuggets of information. I found myself taking notes and writing down the words that Michele was sharing- I know you will too! Thank you, Michele!

 

 

Michele shares about:

• Caring for both of her grandmothers and in-laws
• Navigating conflict with our siblings and family members
• How childhood dynamics can show up as we care for our parents
• What can lead to family unrest and disagreements
• How stress can affect how we interact and care for our loved ones
• Tools to work through fear and the unknown
• Finding joy in family caregiving
• Setting boundaries and shifting our mindset as ways to care successfully
• Caregiving with kids

 

 

To connect with Michele visit www.MicheleMagner.com.

 

 

LISTEN NOW:  Apple Podcasts, Spotify & on your favorite podcast platform.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

U.S. News & World Report announced its 2025 Best Senior Living ratings, naming 1,894 communities based on 450,000+ survey responses. In this episode, Liz Pearce, Product Director for Senior Living, joins us to share how the rankings are created, what families should know, and how these ratings help older adults and caregivers find trusted, compassionate senior living options nationwide.

Learn more about U.S. News & World Report HERE. 

 

Thank you to our Sponsors

HeroGeneration empowers caregivers and families by providing innovative resources, education, and support to navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving with confidence and connection. It's free to start. Join now HERE.

Zinnia TV is a therapeutic dementia care platform that supports caregivers. We invite you to use the code GATHER20 for 20% off an annual subscription HERE.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

There can be a communication and engagement gap between the majority of the population and older adults, people with disabilities, and people living with dementia.  Mainstream technology is not always serving these demographics but with intentional design applied to the development of products and services, we can bridge this gap.

 

This is the mission of Sociavi,  a platform specifically designed for those who are aging, physically challenged, and cognitively impaired.  The platform promotes engagement and a meaningful one-on-one connection avoiding social isolation and loneliness. Their mission is to provide the simplest way for older adults to maintain communication and companionship even when they've lost the ability to actively reach out by themselves.

 

My guest today is Paula Muller, founder of Sociavi. She brings her lifelong passion for technology and the desire to bring older adults and their families together.  Thus SOCIAVI was born, meaning in Latin to "share" & "unite", with the goal of keeping those aging in place and their families connected and closer together. Thank you, Paula, for sharing your heart with us and for your gentle spirit. I'm so thankful our paths crossed.

 

 

Paula shares about:

• Her professional and personal background and Sociavi's mission to support older adults and families
• How we can support persons living with dementia
• How mainstream technology is not serving our older adults and how Sociavi can help
• The ways in which Sociavi supports engagement and connection between older adults and families
• How could this change the life of a person living with dementia
• Sociavi Brain Fitness Programs are cognitive exercises and activities
• Paula's volunteering work with the Alzheimer's Association as Bilingual Community Educator and Bilingual Support Group Facilitator
• Where we can learn more about Sociavi

 

 

About Paula Muller & Sociavi

 

Paula Muller, Ph.D. is the Founder of Sociavi Co. She has a lifelong passion for technology applied to healthcare. She got her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering in Chile working with the blind, then in Switzerland, she analyzed EEGs to prevent epileptic seizures, followed by her Ph.D. and Post-doc work at Rutgers with Parkinson's patients, and later at Authentidate with Telehealth products and services.

Paula is certified in Individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (iCST), a Dementia Sales Advisor (DSA-NC), a Dementia Care Certified (CDC), a Certified Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Care Training (CADDCT), and a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and volunteers as a bilingual Community Educator and support group facilitator for the Alzheimer's Association.

 

The concept of Sociavi evolved from her professional background as well as her strong commitment to family relations and lifetime connections. Thus SOCIAVI was born, meaning in Latin to "share" & "unite", with the goal of keeping those aging in place and their families connected and closer together.

 

 

At Sociavi Company, we design products specifically for those who are aging, physically challenged, and cognitively impaired including dementia & Alzheimer's. Our products promote engagement in 1:1 meaningful connections, avoiding social isolation, and loneliness by providing stimulating and soothing activities. Our mission is to provide the simplest way for aging adults to maintain communication and companionship even when they may have lost the ability to actively reach out by themselves due to dementia or normal aging, giving peace of mind to the ones who care for them.

 

Sociavi Website: https://www.sociavi.com

LinkedIn Sociavi: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sociavi

FB Sociavi: https://www.facebook.com/sociavic2m

IM Sociavi: https://www.instagram.com/sociavi_to_share_and_unite

TW Sociavi: https://twitter.com/sociavi1

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

What do we do when we learn our loved one has a new diagnosis of dementia? What questions do we ask? Where do we go to learn how to support our loved ones?

 

Today, my guest is Leslie Fuller, she is the founder and CEO of Inspired Senior Care. Her goal is to bring interactive education to families and senior living communities to create sustainable cultures of care. As a social gerontologist and social worker, Leslie understands the unique challenges that families face when supporting their loved ones and how to find success as a care partner.

 

Leslie is a wealth of knowledge and her positive energy gives us the tools to focus on our loved one's strengths. This conversation encourages us to create a culture that supports the quality of life for our older adults and senior living communities. Thank you, Leslie, for joining me and teaching us how to be "wildly curious", have a strength-based perspective, and be active in seeking to understand our loved ones.

 

 

Leslie shares about:

• Her background in dementia education and tools to support families
• Creating a community culture that supports quality of life for older adults, families, and eldercare professionals
• What to do when we receive the new dementia diagnosis
• How do we interact with our loved ones and best care for them
• The support we need in the stages of care
• How we get unstuck from fear
• Implementing a strength-based perspective
• What it means to be wildly curious
• How being a detective encourages our creativity in care
• What resources and support are available

 

 

To learn more and connect with Leslie, visit Inspired Senior Care.

 

Our favorite Instagram follows linked below!

@inspiredseniorcare

@belightcare

@dementiadarling

@dementia_careblazers

@thedementiaguru

@momofmymom

@misspatticake

 

 

About Leslie Fuller & Inspired Senior Care

 

My name is Leslie Fuller and I am the founder and owner of Inspired Senior Care. For the past 13 years, I have focused my career on seniors and more than half has been focused on dementia care education.  My goal for Inspired Senior Care is to bring interactive education to organizations serving seniors, to help them create a sustainable culture of quality care based on creating genuine relationships, adapted communication skills, and problem solving.  Working with older adults has been life changing for me.  In The best of ways.  Looking forward to continuing inspiring and impacting the lives of seniors, their families, and the staff supporting them.

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

How do we create time to care for ourselves while we are juggling all of our caregiving responsibilities?

 

Today, my guest is Elizabeth Miller, founder of Happy Healthy Caregiver. Elizabeth created a place to feel supported as a caregiver when you feel isolated or overwhelmed by all of your responsibilities. Elizabeth's caregiver responsibilities were elevated when she cared for her mom and dad with chronic comorbidities. Feeling stressed and overwhelmed she decided to learn more about caregiving and how to implement self-care strategies to care for herself. Finding success by adopting and prioritizing self-care, she is sharing her tools with us.

 

This community of support offers resources for family caregivers, sharing helpful information and partners with businesses to make change in supporting caregivers. Elizabeth is also the host of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast which celebrates and shares caregivers' stories.

 

 

Elizabeth shares about:

• Her experience caring for aging parents with chronic and terminal illnesses and for a sibling with developmental disabilities
• The signs of caregiver burnout and what to look for
• How we grow in the practice of caring for ourselves while managing all of our caregiver responsibilities
• The ways we can prioritize self-care
• How we can implement practical self-care modalities into our day
• What we can say when we are setting boundaries for ourselves
• How we can get over the guilt by putting ourselves first
• The important work that Elizabeth is doing through her podcast, consulting, speaking, and support for the caregiver community

 

Visit Happy Healthy Caregiver to learn more and purchase your self-care journal HERE.

 

 

 

About Elizabeth Miller & Happy Healthy Caregiver

Elizabeth Miller is a family caregiver, caregiver advocate, speaker, author, podcast host, and Certified Caregiving Consultant. Her personal experiences caring for aging parents with chronic and terminal illnesses and for a sibling with developmental disabilities inspired her to create Happy Healthy Caregiver in 2015. She is an empty nester living in Marietta, GA with her husband and two dogs.

 

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Memories can bring us happiness but they can also be a constant reminder of the loss that we've experienced. Grief can change and evolve from moment to moment. No one can predict how we will experience grief and how others will respond.

 

My guest today is Patti LaFleur, she is a former care partner for her mom, Linda, who had mixed dementia. Eventually, Linda came to live with Patti, and the two shared "love, fun, and joy" every day. She continues to honor her mom by sharing her story and changing the stigma around dementia.

 

Patti has a large following on social media and shows us how we can truly connect with our loved ones, hold space for grief, and share joyful moments along the way.

She continues her advocacy as a volunteer and community educator with the Alzheimers Association, Caring Across Generations, and other organizations that empower and encourage care partners.

Thank you, Patti, for sharing all you've learned about love, loss, and compassion- I know your mom was your biggest cheerleader and she is smiling from above. Through it all, the love remains and you are spreading it everywhere. Thank you!

 

Patti shares about:

• Why she chooses to share her story of caring for her mom
• How she is changing the stigma around dementia
• What she wishes others would understand about grief
• How our relationships can change and evolve as we grieve
• What not to say to someone grieving
• The ways we can support others in their grief
• Navigating the holidays and special events in grief
• Honoring our boundaries and personal journey in grief
• Her favorite times with her mom

 

 

About Patti LaFleur

 

Patti LaFleur is the former care partner for her Mom, Linda, who had mixed dementia. She cared for her Mom for three years. These two were the perfect duo. They shared fun, love and joy together every day. Linda and Patti even made a special trip to Disney before Linda passed in March.

 

Since Linda's passing, Patti has continued to advocate and raise awareness for the dementia and Alzheimer's community. She volunteers for the Alzheimer's association as a community educator and volunteers in the art class that her Mom attend. She shares her story actively on social media (misspatticake on instagram) and wants to change the stigma around dementia. She is shining a light on dementia and is sharing her story along the way.

 

Please follow Patti @misspatticake on Instagram and @carepartnerpatti on TikTok.

Visit carepartnerpatti.com for more information.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

How do we support caregivers in all of their caring responsibilities? It's essential that we solve real problems for our family caregivers. There can be so much coming at us, from organizing care, trying to find help, managing daily tasks, and then communicating all of the logistics with others in our life. 

 

My guest today is Michele Houck, family caregiver and VP of marketing for CircleOf. CircleOf is a free app for family caregivers to provide support and information. It's a place to stay connected, organize care, receive help and encouragement and manage all of our caregiving tasks in one location.

 

Michelle has been a family caregiver since she was 16 years old. She cared for her mother and sister, both with breast cancer.  This conversation unearthed quite a bit of emotion and it's a great reminder of why we need to seek support when we need it most. When we are in the throes of caregiving we can experience decision fatigue and caregiver brain- we talk about how this impacts us, the emotional charge it brings, the anxiety we can experience, and how to have empathy for ourselves. As we put productivity tools in place to help us manage care, it gives us space and frees us to be able to focus on what is truly important- our loved ones. Thank you, Michele, for so beautifully sharing your story with us and trusting me to be there with you.

 

 

Michele shares about:

• Her personal story of being a serial caregiver
• Why CircleOf was made to help caregivers and why they are free for all
• The various caregiver personas we have
• How we bring empathy to our caregiver brain and find support
• What collaboration can bring in supporting caregivers
• The value that productivity tools can bring for caregivers
• Encouragement and support for caregivers- tips to feel supported

 

CircleOf: A Caregiving App

 

"We're here to help you navigate your day-to-day life as a caregiver and empower you to delegate tasks so you can still have time for yourself."

 

Visit CircleOf.com for more information.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Currently, there are about 40 million working caregivers in the United States. What does this mean? In America, $68 billion dollars a year is being lost by US companies. We are losing money with absenteeism, presenteeism, and retaining our caregiver workforce. How do we support working caregivers? 

My guest today is Debbie Howard, she is an author, speaker, and founder of Aging Matters International.  Thank you, Debbie, for amplifying caregiver-related challenges and providing much-needed solutions.

As Debbie states, "Caregiving does not spare any generation". Debbie was running a business in Japan and had lived there for many years when she needed to move back to South Carolina to take care of her mom. In the midst of juggling work, keeping her job afloat, and the challenges that came with balancing work and caregiving turned Debbie into an advocate so others can have a better caregiving experience in the long run.

 

 

Debbie shares about:

• The state of the global caregiving crisis
• How the caregiving crisis impacts the workplace and companies
• The business case for companies to implement caregiver-friendly policies
• The ways we can identify who our caregiver employees are
• Where we can begin to foster employee wellness
• Challenges in the workplace to support caregivers
• The practical ways that companies can support caregivers
• How companies of any size can improve the offerings to support employee caregivers

 

 

About Debbie Howard

Through her 30+ years of work in Japan, Debbie translates consumer research into clear strategic direction for global clients across a wide range of categories - including age-tech products and services. Also, a former caregiver on a mission to change the way the world looks at caregiving, Debbie's work focuses on helping companies create more caregiver-friendly workplaces by supporting their employee caregivers, while reducing the related risks of absenteeism, turnover, and future healthcare costs. For individuals, her offerings include curated resources to help with navigating the many aspects of caregiving, as well as a free annual self-care challenge.

 

Debbie co-moderates three "Rethinking Aging" Clubhouse programs (Age-Friendly Products Alliance sponsored by AARP, News for the Ages, and Shifting the Culture of Caregiving), and two podcasts: Women Who Care and Caregiver Camps, and is a frequent podcast and webinar guest.

 

With the launch of AMI in 2016, Debbie brought her market research acumen to the world of caregiving.

Her first book (The Caregiving Journey: Information. Guidance. Inspiration.) supports individuals in going beyond logistics in managing their caregiving situations with ease and grace.

 

Her second book (The Caregiving Crisis: What It Costs Your Business and How You Can Fix It) was released in March 2022, and guides companies with practical ways to support their employee caregivers and create more caregiver-friendly workplaces.

 

To learn more and connect with Debbie Howard:

https://www.thecaregivingjourney.com

Contact: Debbie@thecaregivingjourney.com

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram 

 

For Companies:

Download our complimentary resources for BUSINESSES here: https://thecaregivingcrisis.com/resources/

 

For Individuals:

Download our complimentary resources for INDIVIDUALS here: https://www.thecaregivingjourney.com/resources/

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

Did you know that 70% of the world's aging population lives in economically developing countries?  My guest today is Stacy Shewey, the founder and CEO of Hands 4Life Inc. This non-profit serves developing nations by pairing orphan children with orphan seniors to create a beautiful new family. Stacy felt called to bring hope and support by creating intergenerational homes, and providing community outreach and education. Hands 4Life is shining a light on the need for care, housing, education, and support by partnering with the local community and industry leaders.

Thank you, Stacy, for being the hands of love and bringing hope and support to those that need it most. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably with us about loss, grief, receiving care, and being a caregiver.

I'm honored to support a grandparent with Hands 4Life. It's been a gift to me to share video messages and resources. Join me in supporting Hands 4Life! 

 

Stacy shares about:

• Hands 4Life's mission and story
• Caring for the caregivers in developing nations
• What the current state of eldercare looks like in other countries
• The most pressing needs for older adults in developing nations right now 
• Bringing the generations together and how it brings purpose and a brighter future.
• The sustainable, educational, and positive economic impact that Hands 4Life brings
• The education programs that are in place
• How partnerships and support have impacted lives
• How loss and being the care recipient shapes how we care for others
• The ways we can care for the caregiver in our life

 

About Stacy Shewey & Hands4Life

Stacy is an entrepreneur who built a successful hospitality company where she owned and operated hotel properties, freelanced as a hotel feasibility consultant and was a consultant/investor on a 60M resort start-up. She served as an Executive Director of an assisted living and memory care community, where she gained experience in the senior living industry. She is a visionary who takes ideas and brings them to life.

After being in the senior living and hospitality industry for my whole career, I felt called to take my experiences and knowledge and serve those in developing nations. We all know we are in an aging crisis in the US, but few realize we are in a global aging crisis where there is no plan to care for the vulnerable and forgotten senior population. It was with this revelation Hands 4Life was born.

To support Hand4Life and to learn more visit, www.h4lworld.org

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

How do we age well and improve our physicality and neuroplasticity? Studies show that being stimulated as a whole being, our minds and bodies have a better outcomes in wellness as we age.   Today, my guest is Mark Evin. He is the founder and CEO of Jintronix, a company that develops interactive exercise programs for rehabilitation and healthy aging. Mark shares with us the science of video games and the unique features they offer that can help with healthy aging. We talk about the research that is taking place correlating the benefits of video games and the mind-body connection. Jintronix is currently in hundreds of rehabilitation facilities around the world. Their newest program, LudoFit, combines strength, balance and video game software for adults that is fun and a convenient way to exercise. I'm thankful for the conversation around fall prevention, movement, coordination, and mobility. Thank you Mark for the great conversation and for encouraging us to age well.   Mark shares about:  

• What's unique about video games that could help with healthy aging
• What is holding people back when it comes to engaging in sustainable healthy habits like an exercise routine
• The evolution of technology, motion sensing systems, and how new technology is supporting healthy aging
• The changing demographics, evolving needs, and expectations of older adults interacting with technology
• How Jintronix and LudoFit strength and balance video game supports older adults with an interactive exercise program
• The evolving knowledge around software design for older adults

    About Mark Evin & Jintronix   Mark Evin is the Founder and CEO at Jintronix, a company that develops interactive exercise programs for rehabilitation and healthy aging. Before Jintronix, Mark developed multimedia installations for museums and science centers, where his goal was to engage and inspire people using different kinds of technology. Jintronix's flagship product is currently being used in over 300 rehabilitation facilities across the world. Their newest program, LudoFit, is a strength and balance video-game software for adults. This downloadable app for laptop and iPad combines evidence-based exercises, captivating outdoor landscapes, and enjoyable video-game experiences. It's a fun and convenient way to exercise from home.   If you'd like to try the program at no cost and no commitment, visit: https://ludo.fit/freetrial     We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.   Please follow for updates, rate & review!   For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com   Instagram: @willgather Facebook: WillGather   Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.  

How do we manage it all as a caregiver? As Amy Goyer states, "I can do anything but I can't do everything". With support, we are able to learn, adapt and adjust. Having access to information and tips from other caregivers we are able to fill supported so we can feel successful. 

 

Today we are doing just that. My guest today is Amy Goyer, author of AARP's Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving. She is a writer, speaker, and consultant specializing in caregiving.  Amy is a passionate champion for family caregivers as she merges her personal experience with her professional life. Amy shares her personal caregiving journey along with actionable tips to support family caregivers. She's been a family caregiver almost her entire adult life. Her role as a caregiver has been varied, from long-distance caregiving to very hands-on care for her parents.

 

Amy Goyer has also been featured in interviews and appearances by ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR,  The New York Times, and many more. It was a joy to meet Amy in person as we recorded our episode live at The Care Colloquium in Virginia. This conference brought thought leaders together in the care economy to collaborate and tackle big care issues. It was wonderful to meet so many leaders sharing their good work. Amy Goyer was our keynote speaker and it was a  privilege to have the opportunity to interview her. Thank you, Amy, for using your voice to encourage families and bring important conversations to the forefront!

 

 

Amy shares about:

 

• Her personal story of caregiving and lessons learned
• How we build a supportive team around us is an important asset
• Managing the emotions of grief and loss
• Bringing awareness to the financial implications of providing care and creating conversation around finances 
• The importance of journaling in caregiving
• Not judging ourselves and the importance of feeling the variety of emotions we have
• How we can use the skills we have learned in caregiving and then apply them to our life
• Having realistic expectations for yourself
• Choosing our mindset that we do have choice and agency in our decisions
• How we can proactively create moments of joy

*Amy Goyer is speaking as an independent consultant and not as an AARP representative.

 

Amy Goyer, author of Juggling Life, Work and Caregiving is a writer, speaker and consultant specializing in caregiving and family issues. An often-quoted media authority, she has been interviewed by CNN, NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and People, among other media outlets. She has also appeared on Dr. Phil, The Doctors, and has been a frequent guest on the TODAY Show. With nearly 40 years of professional experience in the field of aging at the local, state and national levels, she is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. Amy's work is the perfect fusion of her professional and personal experience. She is a passionate champion for family caregivers and has been one her entire adult life, caring for her grandparents, parents, sister and other family members and friends.

You can connect with Amy at amygoyer.com and on
Twitter, Facebook,  Youtube , LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

The end-of-life does not need to be filled with the fear of the unknown. Today we are normalizing conversations around the end-of-life and end-of-life planning. The Love Always Project is a movement that is promoting constructive conversation and the value of what preplanning looks like.

Today my guest is Kim Medici Shelquist. She has spent nearly a decade on the leadership team of Hospice of Central Iowa, she's a trusted leader and a source in end-of-life care matters. From her own personal story, she learned at the end of life people have fear, but most of all the fear of being forgotten. When we hold close and treasure the moments and memories of our loved ones who have gone before us- we can honor them. Thank you, Kim, for sharing your personal story and the importance of planning ahead to be present for those we love most.

 

Kim shares about:

• That the end of life doesn't need to be filled with the fear of the unknown
• What is the Love Always Project
• Her personal experience with choices and planning around end-of-life
• What are the values that lead people to consider an end-of-life plan
• How do we start the conversation around end-of-life planning
• The importance of having end-of-life conversations
• The information we need to include in our planning
• How preplanning can focus our efforts on celebrating our loved one's life and what matters
• The benefits we gain when we plan ahead
• What we often overlook in our pre-planning
• How we shift our mindset around death and fear 
• The ways that The Love Always Project supports families

 

About The Love Always Project

The Love Always Project is a movement created to promote discussion about end-of-life issues, provide expert information and encourage people to preplan and pay for their funeral as the ultimate act of love for those they will leave behind. The Project is supported by Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in providing prearranged funeral funding, whose mission is to help people design a better farewell, benefitting those they love.

The movement's mission is based on the understanding that while loss is a natural part of life, it is often a topic we would rather just not think about. In fact, while many people don't know they can plan their funeral in advance, most of those who do know simply choose not to act on the opportunity.

 

To learn more, visit The Love Always Project

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

What do we do when someone we love says no to the very thing we believe will help them most?

When care is met with resistance, it can feel frustrating and heartbreaking—especially when dementia is part of the story. In this episode, we unpack the topic of refusals of care in dementia: why they happen, what's really behind the resistance, and how we can respond with more compassion and less fear.

Joining me is award-winning dementia care educator Adria Thompson, founder of Be Light Care Consulting. With over nine years of experience as a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Adria shares practical strategies for decreasing refusals of care through communication, environment, and truly knowing the person behind the diagnosis.

We recorded this conversation at the Silver Eco Festival in Cannes, France, where Adria was recognized internationally for her work and we spoke on a panel together with Dementia Darling, Carrie Aalberts.

 

Whether you're a professional or family caregiver, you'll walk away with insights you can use today—and a renewed sense of hope.

Thank you to our sponsors:
HeroGeneration – free tools and support for caregiving families. Join HERE.
Zinnia TV – meaningful moments for dementia care. Use code GATHER20 for 20% off HERE.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Does our role as a caregiver or a care partner end when our loved one moves into a senior living community? How can senior living communities support and educate families during this time?

 

My guest today is James Lee. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bella Groves, an education based dementia support organization. For a long time, I have valued James' leadership and voice in the aging services space. He has a gift of bringing about thought-provoking conversations and kindly challenges us to look at how and why we make decisions in care. James has dedicated his career to helping families and communities grow closer together in collaboration.

 

We are coming together in conversation to encourage a change in mindset around how senior living communities can support families through the aging experience. Both James and I are incredibly passionate about bringing families into the conversation as we see their role as collaborators, not customers. We want to empower families to have agency over their decisions and feel empowered with education. They are a powerful advocate for their loved ones.

 

As we bear witness to the roles we've all played previously, we are stepping into a new way of care- where no one is displaced as the primary caregiver. When we show up with compassion for families and their changing roles, we see better outcomes and supported families. This framework is what it is all about. Thank you, James, for your incredible leadership and for encouraging us all to change and challenge the status quo.

 

James shares about:

 

• Bringing families and communities together through the aging experience
• Re-framing the role of the family in senior living
• Looking at families as collaborators, not customers
• How families continue their caregiving journey into senior living
• What is the Social Contract of Dementia Care
• How we can bring families, healthcare teams, and the local community together
• How dementia is different from other diagnoses
• The ways in which senior living can support and educate families
• How we can empower families to have agency
• A challenge for senior living to change the status quo
• Having compassion for families and the changing roles we experience

 

To learn more, visit Bella Groves.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

What is your unique purpose? How do we build resilience? How do we activate our joy in the midst of caregiving? Caregiving in a way is a massive loss of control and how can we gain a semblance of that control back?

 

Today my guest is Anna Hall, Founder of The Purpose Equation. The world is a better place because of this beautiful human. She is sharing her message today and it's an honor for me to bring her message of hope to all of you. Anna Hall is focused on improving the quality of life for older adults. Along the way, she has deployed programs, services, and technologies with that mindset. Anna has served as a Chief Purpose Officer and throughout her career, she has witnessed how purpose builds reliance and improves wellness. Her mission is to help people define and activate their purpose. The Purpose Equation is an evidence-based framework that guides individuals to discover their unique purpose. This framework is the basis for programs and workshops that are designed to identify purpose, spark joy, and personal growth at any age and every moment.

 

As caregivers, we put off our purpose but you really need your purpose now and the good news is that it is inside of you. This conversation today will start us on that discovery and we're able to put words to define purpose,  what we value in life, what can we change, and what gives us value right now. Anna and I talk about her journey into creating The Purpose Equation and how her purpose teachers impacted her life. We are all connected through having purpose. As caregivers, how do we use this mindset to build resilience and activate joy? Join us as we discover who we are and what brings us joy. We all have purpose inside, we have the ability to define it and then share it with others.

 

Thank you, Anna, for the wonderful conversation. I always learn so much from you and I'm so thankful to share your message with the world.

 

Anna shares about:

• Anna's journey to The Purpose Equation
• How we are all connected through innately being and having purpose
• As caregivers, how do we use this mindset to build resilience and support our health
• How do we define purpose
• The ways we can spot joy in our Care Partner
• Anna's purpose teachers
• How do we activate joy
• The many ways that meaning and purpose supports our health
• We explore Nicole's purpose
• How we can access The Purpose Equation and the Spark Start game

 

 

 

To learn more, visit The Purpose Equation.

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

How do we bring children and families into our interactions with our loved ones and maintain those positive relationships during difficult times?

The inspiration behind Mackenzie Meet's Alzheimer's Disease Educational Program is based on the true story of the interaction between Alder's eight-year-old niece and Alder's mother who had Alzheimer's disease. Alder realized that there was a lack of resources to help children learn, understand and interact with their loved ones living with the disease.

With over 4 million people in the U.S. in the sandwich generation caring for loved ones, this toolkit provides families with education and support as they create positive memories with their loved ones from diagnosis through disease progression.  Improving the quality of life for the family is the focus of this program that highlights Mackenzie, an 8-year-old-hero. Once she learns of  Gran's diagnosis, she goes on a journey to learn about the disease and how to develop a positive relationship with her loved one using art, music, and dance.

Alder and Brenda have worked with children and older adults in their professions and they are bringing all that knowledge with them into this program.  It was a joy to meet these kindhearted women. Thank you, Alder and Brenda, for creating a wonderful resource for children and families.

 

Alder and Brenda share about:

• Their personal story and motivation for developing the program
• Who benefits from the program
• Why it's essential for children to be involved with their loved one who has Alzheimer's disease
• How to explain Alzheimer's disease to children
• The role that children play in the lives of their loved one who has Alzheimer's disease
• When and why should a child ask a responsible adult for help
• What are some activities that children can do together in the different stages of the disease
• Tips for adults for those incorporating their children into the care of a person with Alzheimer's
• How we can access the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Educational Program and use it as a resource

 

About Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease:

 

The Mackenzie's Meets Alzheimer's Educational Program is based on the true story of the interaction between Alder's 8-year-old niece, and Alder's mother who had Alzheimer's disease.

 

In the Program, Mackenzie is an 8-year-old hero. After being told her Gran has Alzheimer's, she goes on a journey to learn about the disease, and to figure out how she can help her Gran. Mackenzie discovers how to maintain a meaningful relationship with her Gran using art, music and dance.

 

Join Mackenzie as she learns how to enJOY and interact with her Gran. This multi-media Program will help your family have quality time with your loved one who has Alzheimer's disease, or any type of dementia.

 

The Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Educational Program is a digital and downloadable video-based, multicultural, multimedia educational program. The Program includes an animated Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Story Song Video that is the perfect introduction to Alzheimer's for children, and the following 5-video Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease Educational Video Series: What is Alzheimer's Disease? (6 min. 28 sec.), Mild Stage Alzheimer's Disease (9 min. 30 sec.), Moderate Stage Alzheimer's Disease (11min. 45 sec.), Severe Stage Alzheimer's Disease (7 min. 15 sec.) and Coping with Alzheimer's Disease for the Responsible Adult with Children (26 min. 39 sec.).

 

The videos describe what is happening in the brain of someone who has Alzheimer's, the signs of each stage of the disease, and activities to do in each stage with a loved one who has the disease. We've also included a video for responsible adults to assist them in coping and caring for their children and their loved one. The Program videos are extremely accessible because they are concise, as demonstrated by the length of the videos provided above, and they are digital, making them available anywhere there is internet service. The Program also includes the downloadable Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Quick Reference Guide that highlights information in the videos, making the information accessible whenever it is needed. Transcripts of the videos are available for the hearing impaired upon request, and there is a lyric video of the animated story song for the early reader and for the hearing impaired of any age.

 

To learn more visit: Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's Disease

 

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

 

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

 

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

 

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

 

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.