In this episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we're joined by Karen Hirst, an occupational therapist in long-term care and the founder of Elevate Aging.
Karen shares her personal journey from working with older adults across the continuum of care to becoming a caregiver for her own mother as she experienced cognitive decline. She opens up about the emotional complexity of recognizing changes in a loved one, navigating difficult family conversations, and doing everything possible to support her mom at home before ultimately transitioning her into a nursing home where Karen herself worked.
Through this experience, Karen gained a new perspective on caregiving, advocacy, and the importance of building trust with care teams. She also reflects on loss, including the passing of both her mother and brother within a short time, and how those experiences reshaped her outlook on life, relationships, and purpose.
Inspired by her journey, Karen created Elevate Aging to help others feel empowered in their own aging process. She shares insights on brain health, holistic approaches to wellness, and the role of lifestyle choices, meaningful activity, and lifelong learning in supporting vibrant aging.
This episode offers thoughtful guidance for caregivers, encouragement for those navigating change, and a reminder that even in life's most challenging moments, growth, connection, and purpose are still possible.
Resources:
https://www.instagram.com/elevate.aging
Friends Life Care:
https://www.friendslifecare.org/
https://www.facebook.com/friendslifecare/
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/
https://www.instagram.com/friendslifecare/
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