Shows
This Caregiver Life ™E74: Under Pressure, Over ResolutionsWe’re back. And we took our time.After a long pause and a lot of life, this new episode of This Caregiver Life is about what it really feels like to live with pressure as a caregiver and why we’re officially over big New Year’s resolutions.We discuss the changing seasons of caregiving, the weight that accumulates over time, and why “I’m okay” can be a complete and honest sentence. This episode is about experience and making room for joy without adding more to this caregiver life.Ha...
2026-01-0829 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE18: Hard Truths, Hidden Gifts, and Holding BoundariesIn this episode of ALS Caregivers & Beyond, co-hosts Mary Ward and Lara Garey welcome their second guest, Lisa Musselman — a fellow caregiver, advocate, and newly selected Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow.Lisa shares her 14-year journey caring for her husband Andy, an Air Force veteran living with ALS and FTD, and reflects on how caregiving has unexpectedly awakened her passion for advocacy. Together, Mary, Lara, and Lisa dive into:The challenges of navigating VA systems and the fight for equitable care across the country.The gifts and blessings that can emerge in the midst of ALS — from life...
2025-09-0846 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE17 Help is on the WayIn this heartfelt conversation, Lara and Mary return after a year-long pause to reflect on the transitional journeys they’ve each faced as ALS caregivers. Both of their husbands, coincidentally named Tom, served as veterans and live(d) with ALS—Tom Garey, who passed more than three years ago, and Tom Ward, who continues to fight the disease.Lara shares how this past year has brought her moments of joy, both in everyday life and in unexpected ways, offering hope and resilience in life after caregiving. Mary opens up about the increasing challenges of being the...
2025-08-2638 minThis Caregiver Life ™E73: Flex LifeIn this episode, Jenn and Mar dive into the realities of the “Flex Life,” exploring the constant need to adjust and adapt to the demands of caregiving, often at a moment's notice. They discuss how these quick pivots impact their day-to-day lives, emotions, and personal goals. Join us as we unpack the unique resilience required in a caregiver’s journey.
2024-11-0732 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE16: Intentional LivingIn this unforgettable episode, we broke new ground by podcasting face-to-face—no Zoom required. Lara and her special friend, Grant Trevarthen, visited Tom and me for a few days, and we had the privilege of having Grant as our very first guest. Lara and Grant, both living in the ALS Beyond, shared their experiences and insights with deep sincerity. Being in their presence was truly an honor. I've recorded many episodes across this podcast and "This Caregiver Life," but I have to say, this one touched my heart the most. It stands out as my absolute favorite....
2024-08-221h 11
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE15: Stretching Our Wings In this episode, we’re embracing new horizons. One of us has been on exciting adventures, exploring both nationally and globally, while the other has been discovering the beauty and challenges of staying local. Join us as we share the lessons we’ve learned and reflect on how our lives are evolving.To our beloved ALS Caregiver & Beyond community, thank you for being with us on this journey. Your experiences and stories inspire us every day.Much love, Lara & MarP.S. We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a note and le...
2024-08-191h 21This Caregiver Life ™E:72 - Catching UpIn this episode, we are sharing all the feels about #thiscaregiverlife. From gladiolas, to grace, and even guilt, Mar and Jenn share the ups and downs of caregiving. Key takeaways: plan your rest time, allow yourself to be flexible (it’s okay, really), and use your back burner when plans need to change. Read Anne Lemott’s “Bird by Bird”: https://amzn.to/4cangDX. Try the Ozlo Sleep Buds: https://amzn.to/3VcBHk6. Let’s be friends on the FINCH self-care app:
https://app.befinch.com/invite/Yns6. (Invite code F1XZ6E6VMM). SHOP MarHaven originals on Etsy: https://www.etsy.c...
2024-06-0749 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE14: Catching Up with Lara & MarThe first quarter of the year is wrapping up and it's been a whirlwind for both of us. We share where we are in this caregiver life (Mar) and where we are in the Beyond (Lara). There has been lots of growth for both of us. As always there isn't a minute of our conversations that we do not enjoy thoroughly. No one sees us more clearly than those who know ALS. We talked about Mel Robbin's podcast episode: The #1 Menopause Doctor: How to Lose Belly Fat, Sleep Better, & Stop Suffering Now with Mary Clare...
2024-03-2749 minThis Caregiver Life ™E71: Feed Your BodyHello!
We had hoped to drop a podcast every month this year. We started strong until we hit February. Sound familiar caregivers?
We did record this one, technically, in February. It's taken a few days to get back to writing show notes and publishing.
In this podcast we focus on eating well. It's an overall way of caring for ourselves every day. Eating nutritious meals and snacks has a way of helping us feel better even under stress. It doesn't take our stress away...
2024-03-0450 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE13: Meditation Mindfulness In this episode, Mary and Lara discuss the strategies they have learned and continue to practice to help ease the ALS caregiver and survivor journey. Both Mary and Lara discuss how they came to these practices at a time that was right for them. They both still struggle with their journey, but having something to lean into when the journey becomes too hard has been the key to finding their paths forward. We hope that by seeing how differently we both came to mindfulness and meditation it is never too late or too early to find peace in the...
2024-01-1652 minThis Caregiver Life ™E70: Give Your Mind a RestJenn and Mar welcome in 2024 with a new podcast episode!
In "Give Your Mind a Rest" they chat about the usefulness of developing a meditation mindfulness practice. Food meditation is one of their favorites because, you know, why not. Food is a source of joy at times, so why not incorporate it into your daily practice?
There are a variety of meditation practices to employ. It is our hope you will find one that works for you and it becomes one of your many supportive tools in your caregiver...
2024-01-0537 minThis Caregiver Life ™New episodes coming in 2024!Mar & Jenn are excited to reconnect with you. We have all new episodes coming for 2024, but of course our episodes are always evergreen. We look forward to hearing from you on our social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn. Please let us know what’s important to you as you live This Caregiver Life.
2024-01-0200 minThis Caregiver Life ™See you later 2023As we near the end of 2023 Mar gives a quick update and a look ahead to 2024. We look forward to posting more episodes in 2024.
As always we hope to hear from our listeners on ideas for future content, questions they may have, and thoughts they'd like to share.
Our Facebook page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/thiscaregiverlife
Mary's email: maryhahnward@gmail.com Jenn’s email: jenniferjenkins724@gmail.com
2023-12-1707 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE12: 'tis the season strategies This time of year, the holidays, can be a challenge for us in the ALS community, now and in the afterlife. We do our best to figure out ways to make it palatable. Sometimes we succeed. Sometimes we don't. It's very individual to know what will work for you. Lara and I agree that staying away from Social Media for a few days before, during, and after a holiday can be helpful.Several years ago, when I was fully engaged in co-hosting the podcast "This Caregiver Life" I interviewed Lara. Lara shared her strategy for getting through...
2023-12-0843 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE11: When Sympathy Goes SidewaysLara and Mary dig into their experiences when sympathy from others produces big feelings that are not always positive. Lara says "It's the look" and it is, isn't it? They also share some big laughs when Mary shares the crazy things Tom says! With each podcast, it is easy to see how this concept can be applied to them: To be listened to is healing. (The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese). If you are struggling, please find someone who will listen you without judgment.Check out Lara's latest blog post: https://tomstroops.com/Check out...
2023-11-1740 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE10: Finding GraceMary & Lara chat about finding grace and its value to their life. They have each discovered in their own way that grace frees them from the constraints of feeling guilty, encourages them to be kind to themselves, and gives their hearts relief. Have you found the gift of grace? Please let us know and we will share it on the podcast. We enjoyed another Pema quote this episode: From the very beginning to the very end, pointing to our own hearts to discover what is true isn't just a matter of honesty but...
2023-11-0649 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE9: The Need to BelongLara and Mary explore the need to belong, the loss of belonging, and the uncertainties of future belongingness and how they feel about it. This may resonate with ALS caregivers and those living the beyond life. Their belongingness tends to be in lanes they didn't seek out or expect. The Science Behind Our Need to Belong - Insights into the history, present, and future of belonging researchBrene Brown's book Atlas of the HeartMary's new craft shop can be found: cottageatmarehaven.etsy.comLara's blog: https://tomstroops.com/Lara's email...
2023-10-2036 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE8: A Fix-it? Yes, that is exactly what Lara and Mary are becoming...fix-its. They are learning to fix the practical and seemingly improbable, such as a water irrigation system! The more they learn to fix, the more confident they become in their abilities. Mary shares a quote that finds solace in over and over again: “Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apar...
2023-10-1335 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE7: Advocacy in Action Part 2 - LegislationHello! Welcome to episode 7. Lara and Mary wrap up their conversation regarding the Elizabeth Dole Act. Check out their conversation regarding the pieces of it that are most relevant to our veterans with ALS and their caregivers. As is their way, Lara and Mary start off the podcast discussing their current events, as well as, emotional temperature! As they close out the podcast they leave us with their evolving conversation around gratitude. Mare reads a poem by John O'Donohue: May all that is unforgiven in you, Be released. May your fears yield
2023-10-0449 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE6: Scratching for Gratitude Gratitude can be a challenge to find some days. In this ALS Caregiver & Beyond life, Lara and Mary embrace a practice of mindfulness and gratitude. For the days they fail to find something to be grateful for they have their fallbacks, such as being thankful for a sunny day, good weather, or a cup of coffee in the morning. Why bother if you have to scratch for some gratitude? Because it forces at least one positive thought into their day and that alone can shift a down day into a better one. Here are a list of...
2023-09-2649 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE5: Advocacy in Action Part 1 - LegislationIn episode four we talked about advocacy and our efforts over the years. Today, we dig deeper into a piece of legislation, the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act 2023. The components of the legislation we focused on in this podcast are the following:Create a centralized website to share information and resources related to home and community-based programs and help veterans and caregivers determine their eligibilityExpand access to home and community-based alternative care programs to veterans at all VA medical facilities, including veterans living in U.S. territories and Native veterans enrolled in Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal...
2023-09-2128 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE4: Advocacy - Your Voice MattersLara and Mary talk advocacy in this episode. First, they check in with one another and discover that they each had an unexpected recent experience. They talk a bit about how these experiences indicate personal growth. Then they dig into advocacy, their why, and how. They have spent so much time using their voices in small and big ways for the ALS community, in particular, the veterans with ALS lane.Mary's testimony at a Senate subcommittee on Aging regarding Military Caregivers: https://www.c-span.org/person/?108683/MaryHahnWardMary and Lara's book: Thinking Through VA Benefits...
2023-09-121h 10
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE3: Meeting Us Where We areLara and Mary share how the ins and outs of navigating their emotions are tricky sometimes. They can lose sight of life outside of ALS and the places it takes their feelings. They have learned how to meet their own selves in the place they are in with self-kindness. Take a listen. Send them a message if you'd like to share with them or perhaps be a guest on the podcast. They'd love to hear from you!Lara: laragarey@yahoo.comMary: maryhahnward@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters...
2023-09-0646 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE2: QuicksandSome days are like quicksand. We can't move, forward or backward. Moving backward could be an option if it meant it helped us move. We'd much rather move forward. We get stuck. Join us as we talk about where we are right now in our heads and hearts.To reach out to us send an email to either Lara Garey: laragarey@yahoo.comor Mary Ward: maryhahnward@gmail.com#ALS #ALScaregivers #ALSsurvivors --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mary-hahn-ward9/message
2023-08-2436 min
Influential Voices of AuthorityKeys To Hosting A Successful Podcast – PTC 454HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL PODCAST THAT DOESN'T PODFADE Creating a successful podcast isn't difficult. You simply need to know where to look and the proper steps to take. There is a stat that bounces around the podcasting industry that says most podcasts fade away after 7 episodes. It's called podfading. I thought the number was exaggerated until I was on a coaching call one day. WHAT I DISCOVERED Mary Elaine and I were discussing ways to land interviews on other shows to grow her audience. One of...
2023-08-1929 min
ALS Caregivers and BeyondE1: Just MoreIn this first episode, Lara and Mary share big feelings about how the disease impacts them and the role of advocacy in their lives. Storytelling is something they have in common. It helps them cope with life. They are hopeful that through their stories and conversation on the podcast, others will find comfort and perhaps see themselves. They love humor and use it often to lighten their load.We'd love to hear from you. Questions? Comments? Message us at maryhahnward@gmail.com and/or laragarey@yahoo.comThank you for listening! --- Send...
2023-08-1841 minThis Caregiver Life ™E69: Caregiver MaintenanceIn this episode, we chat about good sleep, good maintenance tips for caregiving, and ways we have learned to cope with all things caregiving.
Interested in a Meditation Mouse? Find one for yourself here: https://amzn.to/3J19dVl https://amzn.to/3J19dVl
Coming soon: Navigating the NICU
Jenn explores tiny miracles of life inside the hospital's most precious, and sometimes scariest, ward: the NICU.
2023-05-2433 min
This Caregiver Life ™E68: Hire Us!Are you a caregiver looking for meaningful employment? Is your company making room at the table for caregivers? In this episode, we discuss the challenges caregivers face in the workplace, how employers can support caregiving employees, and the many assets caregivers have that can add to, not take away from, a company’s culture and productivity. Our guest is Sharon Grassi, a caregiver who has experienced workplace roadblocks. Whether you’re a caregiver or an employer, you won’t want to miss this episode!
If you’re an HR professional or work in the C-suite and want to share...
2022-05-0154 minThis Caregiver Life ™E67: The long and the short of itJenn and Mar take a deep dive into caregiver burnout and distrust. Between them, they have 50 years of caregiving. Over the years they have had their emotional, and physical, ups and downs as caregivers. They have had, and still have, periods of burnout. Burnouts are more quickly resolved now than in years past. They talk about essential coping strategies that have shortened burnout periods and have developed, and encourage others, to use their list as it is or as a starting point for developing one of their own:
Use a "Feelings Wheel" to help identify what you are e...
2021-10-0455 minThis Caregiver Life ™E66: The Road to ResiliencyDr. Naomi Baum joins Mary and Jenn to talk in-depth about resiliency. Self-care is an overused phrase today. It's so common that it's easy to overlook its value and to be intentional about it. The same can be said for resiliency. The term, the concept, is used frequently though not necessarily effectively. Dr. Baum breaks it down for us.
Dr. Baum is a psychologist and resiliency expert. Over the last twenty years, she has dedicated herself to "creating and implementing resilience-building programs for those exposed to trauma, be it terrorism, war or natural disaster." (https://www.naomibaum...
2021-09-0651 minThis Caregiver Life ™E65: Growing Bountiful GardensJenn and Mar took some time off to tend to their gardens. They each have two gardens. One is where they grow their indoor and outdoor plants. They share the ways in which gardening, toiling in the soil, has positively impacted their mental health and how it lends itself to mindfulness. It helps to lighten the load. It took Mar quite a while to embrace gardening, she wasn't an easy convert...feel free to drop a line of encouragement for her.
The other one, the one closest to their heart, is their families. Each of their families h...
2021-08-1134 minThis Caregiver Life ™E64: Creating Healthy BoundariesWe're so excited to have Theresa Coomer join us for this episode in celebration of #MilitaryCaregiverMonth. You may remember we read an excerpt of Theresa's writing during episode 63. She's a mother, educator, caregiver, and author of the blog "Peanut Butter in My Purse, Vitamin C in My Pocket".
Theresa is an example of a caregiver who knows she has limits, but also knows she can set them super high because she also has boundaries.
It's not easy to set boundaries for yourself. As caregivers, we are programmed to say yes, to help others in any way we can, but boundaries ar...
2021-05-1139 minThis Caregiver Life ™E63: Got Sleep?What keeps you up at night? In this episode of #thiscaregiverlife we explore insomnia related to caregiving, tactics to help you cope, and resources you may find useful. We also read an excerpt of writing from caregiver and listener, Theresa Coomer. Read Theresa's blog, Peanut Butter in My Purse and Vitamin C in My Pocket: https://coomercaregiving.blogspot.com/.
If you're like a lot of caregivers, you likely find yourself saying "I'm exhausted", or "I can't sleep through the night". Fall asleep or waking up and being unable to return to sleep plague caregivers like us! Here a...
2021-04-2136 minThis Caregiver Life ™E62: Write Where You AreWe all know how important it is for caregivers to focus on themselves. In this episode, Mar and Jenn discuss the powerful impact writing can have in the life of a caregiver. From journaling in a notebook to poetry and novels, caregivers everywhere are discovering the healing power of writing. Learn about writing prompts, which we will share in upcoming episodes and on social media.
Want to dig deeper? Read Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird.
Your hosts are authors, too. Though they have six books between them, they aren't done yet! Each has another book in...
2021-03-3138 minThis Caregiver Life ™E61: Alexa, Help me with caregivingAfter receiving an Alexa Echo Show for Christmas, Jenn found there were a number of tools that for caregivers and their loved ones, including the Care Hub. This free feature of Alexa-enabled devices works with the Alexa App and allows caregivers to remotely check in on care recipients. With an Echo device at your loved one's home and the Alexa app on your phone, you can see if they are being active, help set reminders and make list, and even get notified if they ask Alexa for help. Listen in as Mar and Jenn discuss technology and caregiving, and...
2021-02-2318 minThis Caregiver Life ™E60: Every Day is National Caregivers DayJoin us to celebrate our 60th episode and two years of podcasting. Mar and Jenn are thankful for your support and to everyone who has shared this podcast to help other caregivers get through this caregiver life.
If you are an author and would like your book considered for review on a future podcast, please see our website for submission details.
Do you care for a loved one with Alzheimer's or memory disease? Visit wearehfc.org to find support and resources.
*Hear strange noises during this episode? No worries, that's our special guest, Jen...
2021-02-1945 minThis Caregiver Life ™E59: From Disaster to AlrightOur guests in this episode are Melissa Johnson and Melissa Comeau with the American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN).
Melissa Johnson's husband is a combat veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm and was wounded in Iraq in 2006, leaving him with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and blindness. Melissa reflects on the past 15 years of caregiving and shares her advice with those new to the challenge:
Learn to live in recovery
Recognize the cycles of caregiving
Adapt to the transitions
Accept today, don't worry about tomorrow
Melissa Comeau has been a c...
2021-01-1859 minThis Caregiver Life ™E58: Goodbye to 2020!Well, we made it to the end of 2020. What will 2021 look like? Who knows, but what we do know is that we will move forward with deliberate actions to make a difference.
We wrap up the year with a reflection on our phenomenal growth. Thank you to our listeners around the globe, including those in the UK, Canada, Ireland, India, and Jamaica! This year we published over 1200 minutes of content over 33 episodes, and our followers increased 240%!
Links we mentioned in the show:
David Kessler and Brené on
Grief and Finding Meaning, https://brenebrown.co...
2020-12-2447 minThis Caregiver Life ™E57: The Gift of CaringAuthor and Caregiver Denise Brown is our guest for this episode of This Caregiver Life. After nearly 25 years running an online caregiving platform, really the first of its kind, Denise launched Through The Caregiving Years Training Academy in April of 2020, Denise offers training and leadership development opportunities for family caregivers and former family caregivers. Denise is currently caring for her parents, now 89 and 86, who live nearby in their own apartment.
She currently manages two online networks — HealingOurWay.com, focused on grieving and overcoming loss, and CaringOurWay.com, centered on resiliency and harnessing energy. In April 2021, she will hos...
2020-12-0752 minThis Caregiver Life ™E56: Ask Me AnywayTo kick off National Caregiver Month Megan Swanson joined us as our guest. Megan is the caregiver to her husband, Matt, a veteran, and the mom of three young boys. Megan is learning to find time for her mind and body this past year. She is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree and is actively engaging her body with kickboxing. In fact, when we chatted with Megan she had just returned from a kickboxing session and was radiant! We are giving a big shout out to Gabrieles Martial Arts for helping Megan achieve her fitness goals.
O...
2020-11-0157 minThis Caregiver Life ™E55: Sharing the Caregiver Story"When I'm 64" is a brand new podcast by the Stanford Center on Longevity, and in this episode, Mar and Jenn chat with the show host, Ken Stern. Ken's worn many hats during his career, including 10 years at NPR where he was CEO. He's also an author, family man, and these days, a podcaster. "When I'm 64" explores topics from Altzheimers to caregiving in your 20s, and also features celebrity interviews with Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen who were inspired to start the nonprofit Hilarity for Charity, inspired by their first-hand the challenges of caregiving.
During this show, w...
2020-10-1347 minThis Caregiver Life ™E54: Celebrating International Podcast Day!We LOVE International Podcast Day! Many podcasters are broadcasting live on September 30th International Podcast Day but since Jenn and Mar are super busy with all of the living life things like working, caregiving, self care, etc they did a special record! self-care. We love podcasting, it's that simple. It's one of the best endeavors we have ever involved ourselves in. Every single time we record a podcast we think about all of our sister and brother caregivers across the world living This Caregiver Life. We live it right alongside all of you, every day. We know the ups...
2020-09-3039 minThis Caregiver Life ™E53: Care Communication SimplifiedDid you know there's an app that helps family and friends stay connected while caring for a loved one? Yep, there sure is. And best of all, it's FREE!
During this episode, Mar and Jenn chat with Mike Eidsaune, Founder and CEO of Carely, Inc. The Carely brand includes a free app for caregivers and a platform tool for care providers as well as the vast library of resources found at Caregiving.com. Also joining us for the convo is Matt Perrin, a member of the Carely team, and a caregiver for his mother and father-in-law. Matt te...
2020-09-2449 minThis Caregiver Life ™E52: Veteran and Caregiver Suicide Prevention w/ Sherman Gillums, Jr.Join us for a candid conversation about veterans, their caregivers, and suicide. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and a subject Mar and Jenn are passionate about supporting. Our country is facing a mental health crisis that has only worsened in the wake of a global pandemic. Suicide is a tough and complex issue, but seeing how you can do your part in helping yourself and those around you can make all the difference. Our guest this episode is Sherman Gillums Jr., Chief Strategy Officer of American Veterans (AMVETS). Learn more about AMVETS and connect with Sherman:
...
2020-09-1835 minThis Caregiver Life ™E51: Farming Their Way to a Healthy LifestyleWe welcome Emily Emmons as our guest on today's podcast: Hawaii - Life-Changing For This Caregiver & Her Veteran. Emily, like so many of us, has a number of different roles in life. Emily is first and foremost Emily. She follows her heart. She is a mom, a caregiver to her husband, John, a post 9/11 veteran, she is a lover of animals, farming, living off of the land, a strong advocate for veterans and caregivers, and Executive Director at Ho'ola Farms located in Hawaii.
The mission of Ho'ola Farms is fantastic: GROW and to serve military veterans, caregivers, f...
2020-09-1744 minThis Caregiver Life ™E50: High Five for FiftyWe are excited to share that this is our 50th episode of “This Caregiver Life” podcast! After thanking our listeners for tuning in we spent a few minutes giving ourselves virtual high-fives and pats on the back. When we recorded our first podcast, we had no idea we would grow as swiftly as we have since our first episode on January 10, 2019. We have nearly 3,000 listeners, 50 episodes of rich content, and a sprinkle of bonus episodes.
We thank you, our, listeners for tuning in! You come from all parts of the globe: the United States, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Cana...
2020-09-0426 minThis Caregiver Life ™E49: Motivational Interviewing & CaregivingIn this episode, we visit with Dr. Liz Barnett who helps individuals and organizations implement an evidence-based communication style called Motivational Interviewing (MI) to enhance their ability to engage and motivate others. Caregiving often challenges communication in a relationship, and that's where MI comes in. Dr. Liz helps us understand how caregivers can modify their communication tactics when working through behavior changes with loved ones. While the natural response to change is resistance, Dr. Liz helps us see how cooperation and careful discussion planning can take some stress out of this caregiver life.
Learn more about motivational i...
2020-08-3131 minThis Caregiver Life ™E48: The Speed of the Sound of CaregivingWhen Mandi Bailey's stepdad, Fred Drinkwater, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2017 it was a fast and furious two years. Every day Fred experienced a decline. Mandi's mom, Susan Drinkwater, struggled to keep up with the demands of the disease. One day they were planning for their golden years and the next day they were planning for how to get through the minutes and hours of each day to keep up with the demands of ALS. Mandi was a secondary caregiver for Fred and emotional support for her mom. She remains strong support for her mom.
2020-08-1629 minThis Caregiver Life ™E47: Reconnecting After RespiteJenn and Mar took some much needed time away during the month of July. They share the value of taking a pause from the heavy demands of their caregiving responsibilities, work, podcasting, and other activities in life that pull on them. They talk about how it is not easy to take time away for respite or to go on a retreat while living This Caregiver Life yet how powerful it can be to do so.
There are some resources available for caregivers who need respite and may need some assistance in getting it:
National Respite Network: ht...
2020-08-1425 minThis Caregiver Life ™E46: Hope After Stroke with Tsgoyna TanzmanIn this episode, Mar & Jenn are joined by Speech-Language Pathologist and Life Coach Tsgoyna Tanzman. She's helped thousands of people transition after stroke and brain injury to the next stages of their lives. Tsgoyna is an expert at helping people find their inner and outer resources using her unique approach that combines traditional and holistic speech therapy along with the life coaching practices. She is best known for her down-to-earth practicality, enthusiasm, and sense of humor while compassionately guiding caregivers and survivors through recovery.
One size does not fit all when it comes to recovery or caregiving...
2020-07-0839 minThis Caregiver Life ™E45: Thrive with Your TribeIn this episode, Mar and Jenn are joined by Raquel Derrick, Founder of Family Operating Base in the last of our 4-part collaboration. We discuss the complex issues of caregiving we've explored in this series and the takeaways we hope listeners can use in their lives.
We're still working from home. We're still experiencing the COVID-19. Stay at home, don't stay at home, take a million precautions. You can go here but not there. We're still in the midst of that. So life is still complicated. Just like this caregiver life. Whether it's during this time of CO...
2020-07-0827 minThis Caregiver Life ™E44: Offering Yourself GraceIn this episode, Mar and Jenn are joined by Shawn Moore, LMSW, Executive Director and Founder of Caregivers on the Homefront and Raquel Derrick, Founder of Family Operating Base. We discuss the challenges of caring for yourself while caring for a loved one, and ways we can show ourselves the grace we show others.
What is grace? The definition tells us that it's simple elegance or refinement of movement, courteous goodwill, or do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one's presence. Showing one's self grace can be challenging, so we discuss ways to make internal gra...
2020-07-0736 minThis Caregiver Life ™E43: Balancing Caregiving and Work with Larry NisensonMar and Jenn are joined by Larry Niesenson, Genworth Financial Chief Commercial Officer, the parent company of CareScout® Caregiver Support Services. A caregiver for his father who was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Larry is passionate about solving the problems caregivers and employers face in the workforce. In this episode, we explore those challenges for caregivers and employers. Larry is an expert and wants to connect. Feel free to email him at larry.nisenson@genworth.com.
Caregivers and the workforce:
Nearly 60 percent of all family caregivers work full or part-time
Caregivers frequently experience feelings of guilt and...
2020-06-2042 minThis Caregiver Life ™E42: Honoring Lisa - End ALSMar's guest today, Michael Bullen, was a caregiver to his spouse, Lisa, who had an aggressive form of ALS. They were married for twenty-five years. In the last fourteen months of their marriage, they battled an aggressive form of ALS together. Michael is committed to a lifelong ALS awareness campaign that includes the need for treatments, a cure, and kindness to those who have ALS and the people who care for them
The form of ALS Lisa had is bulbar ALS. To find out more about ALS please visit this site: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery...
2020-06-1336 minThis Caregiver Life ™E41: Experiencing Grief with Dan Miller of Wounded Warrior ProjectMar and Jenn are joined by Dan Miller, Wounded Warrior Project Warriors Speak spokesperson, and Raquel Derrick, Founder of Family Operating Base. In this episode, we explore the complexities of grief and talk about the differences between ambiguous and anticipatory grief.
Some facts about grief:
According to a 2005 study by Dr. Katherine Shear, Dr. Ellen Frank, and Patricia Houck, most people experience the deepest grief in the first few weeks and months following a loss, but for 10% of people, grief can last years, or even indefinitely
Every year 2.5 million people die in the United States, leaving an...
2020-06-1057 minThis Caregiver Life ™E40: Adapting to a Virtual LifeThis Caregiver Life is excited to collaborate with Family Operating Base to produce a 4-episode special highlighting caregiver best practices that anyone can learn from. Each episode will feature Family Operating Base Founder Raquel Derrick along with a special guest who will share their ‘Pro Tips’ for overcoming challenges.
Our 4-part special will explore the following topics:
Part 1: Living Virtually, featuring Independent Travel Agent and Homeschooling parent Amanda Fleener
Part 2: The Complexities of Grief, featuring Wounded Warrior Project’s Dan Miller
Part 3: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
Part 4: Resiliency in the Face of Diversity
...
2020-06-071h 02This Caregiver Life ™Bonus Episode: After Disability Continuing OnOn this bonus episode, Continuing On, Mar interviews her husband, Tom, about his interest in oil painting. Talent v Effort. Mar and Tom have been married for nearly forty years. Tom had encephalitis in 1993. She has been caring for him since then. To know them is to know they are partners in life, and for life. Spouses first, caregiver, and care recipient second.
Encephalitis, a brain infection, impacted Tom's working memory and executive functioning. It did not, however, affect his optimistic, positive outlook on life. Even after a diagnosis of service-connected Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2010, his spirit remains indomitable. H...
2020-06-0725 minThis Caregiver Life ™E39: Caregiver Bucket ListMar and Jen review recent #caregiverchaos, doing deep work on self-care, and giving yourself permission to course correct. Show us how you take time for YOU. Post a pic or share a story on social media, tag us, and use the hashtag #selfkindness. You may just win a surprise from This Caregiver Life. Mar recently received a surprise gift box from Bitty & Beau's Coffee: more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee – it’s an experience. The shop is run by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities-check them out! https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/
The Natio...
2020-06-0628 minThis Caregiver Life ™E38: Pandemic - Caregivers may lead the wayRaquel Derrick, Ph.D., of Family Operating Base, joined Mary to share with our listeners how we are partnering in a four-part series. Family Operating Base, FOB – Community, is an effort created by Raquel: When I first envisioned the FOB, it was to be a brick-and-mortar place of community support for military-connected families. Recent times have called me to revisit and revamp my idea. After all, brick and mortar are irrelevant at this time and we could all use a little community connection, military affiliation or not! Please join the FOB Facebook group for daily posts to promote a lit...
2020-05-2225 minThis Caregiver Life ™E37: Continuing OnMar interviews her husband, Tom, about his interest in oil painting. Talent v Effort. Mar and Tom have been married for nearly forty years. Tom had encephalitis in 1993. She has been caring for him since then. To know them is to know they are partners in life, and for life. Spouses first, caregiver, and care recipient second. Encephalitis, a brain infection, impacted Tom's working memory and executive functioning. It did not, however, affect his optimistic, positive outlook on life. Even after a diagnosis of service-connected Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2010, his spirit remains indomitable. He doesn't give in. He d...
2020-05-1925 minThis Caregiver Life ™E36: Every Picture Tells A StoryMar and Jen catch up, 21st century-style, and discuss all the ways we can tell stories. Mar shares how her love of photography has been affected by limited travel, exploring the ups and downs of adjusting our hobbies to meet current lifestyle restrictions. Learn more about Mary's journey through life behind the lens and read evergreen blog articles at: http://www.maryhahnward.com/
Jenn's life-long love of storytelling led her to co-author the book Friends for Life: Strangers Brought Together by the War in Iraq, along with two other published nonfiction titles. Jenn is the proud recipient of...
2020-05-0426 minThis Caregiver Life ™E35: This COVID LifeJenn & Mar check in with each other as the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders continue. We talk about the self-care medical professionals practice, as exampled in an episode of Mar’s favorite tv show NEW AMSTERDAM, and we discuss the pros and cons of mentoring other caregivers. Have an idea for our podcast? Want to share your thoughts with our listeners LIVE?
We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email, a voice message, or a link to your favorite resource. thiscaregiverlife@gmail.com
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2020-04-2740 minThis Caregiver Life ™E34: Caregiving During the COVID-19 CrisisJenn & Mar check in with each other as the COVID-19 Crisis Progresses. On a scale of 1-10, where are you? Use these links to explore the resources from today's show:
Meditation is the beginning of mindfulness. Get started with guided meditation by Tara Brach: https://www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditation-basic-meditations/
Download the Calm App: www.calm.com
Read Brené Brown's "Gifts of Imperfection": https://amzn.to/2UVSIRz
Read Stars & Stripes article featuring Jenn & Mar: https://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/with-what-ifs-and-isolation-coronavirus-risks-weigh-on-caregivers-for-veterans-1.624720
"Safety Shaming" is all over social media. Shaming of any time is a bullying tactic. Bullying is never o...
2020-04-1036 minThis Caregiver Life ™E33: Caregiving During the Coronavirus PandemicThe COVID-19 crisis has impacted millions across the globe. For caregivers, this time is uncertain and frightening. In this episode, Mar and Jenn discuss the effects of the Coronavirus on their families and ways anyone living this caregiver life can try to cope.
To listen to Episdoe 11: Worse Case Scenario, find a link to your favorite platform here: https://anchor.fm/thiscaregiverlife/episodes/E11-Worst-Case-Scenario-e56s91 As mentioned, AARP Community Connections helps people find or start a mutual aid group so they can help the people in their community most affected by the Coronavirus: https://aarpcommunityconnections.org/ ...
2020-04-1037 minThis Caregiver Life ™E32: Alex Balbir with Wounded Warrior Project Talks Traumatic Brain InjuryMarch is Brain Injury Awareness and we're focusing our efforts on increasing awareness of traumatic brain injury and the challenge. Throughout the month, Mar and Jenn will speak with experts working in the field of TBI, provide strategies for coping and share resources to educate the community. In this episode of This Caregiver Life, we are joined by Alex Balbir, Ph.D. Alex serves as the Independence Services and Warrior Care Network Director at Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). A graduate of University North Carolina and John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Alex is also an officer in the US...
2020-03-2636 minThis Caregiver Life ™E31: Traumatic Brain Injury RehabilitationDr. Norman joins us on this podcast to share her impactful work in the field of Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, rehabilitation. To say it is work is a misnomer. It is Dr. Norman's passion in life. When speaking with her it is easy to absorb her love for what she does every day for those with TBI's. Not surprisingly Dr. Norman also gives of her time in a volunteer capacity by serving on the board of TBI Warrior Foundation.
Dr. Norman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the School of H...
2020-03-2438 minThis Caregiver Life ™E30: Hold on to HopeJudi Logan joins us on this podcast, Hold on to Hope. Judi's son, Justin, was in a terrible accident in which he flipped his pick-up truck. Justin suffered a serious traumatic brain injury, TBI. He was in a coma for two and a half weeks. Judi shares with us the powerful story of becoming a caregiver to her 17-year-old son.
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2020-03-2034 minThis Caregiver Life ™E29: Asking for Help Can't HurtSherri Piper joins us on the podcast. Sherri is married for 25 years to her husband Jay. They have four sons. Sherri has been a caregiver to her husband for six years. Among his other injuries, he has a mild traumatic brain injury, TBI. She is the executive assistant for TBI Warrior Foundation. TBI Warrior Foundation is our sponsor for this episode. What does Sherri do for fun? She is a background actress.
When asked Sherri what thoughts she could share for a caregiver just starting on this journey she said: Ask For Help. Such great advice.
...
2020-03-1730 minThis Caregiver Life ™E28: Injury Prevention for CaregiversDr. Quinard Webb, a physical therapist, works closely with TBI Warrior Foundation. He provides physical therapy to TBI Warrior Foundation clients. He also participates in their caregiver training workshops. Dr. Webb is a wealth of information on rehabilitation and wellness. He shares with us ideas on how to prevent injury for the caregiver through the concept of self-regulation.
Dr. Webb has a growing mobile practice in Texas: RenewU Therapy & Wellness. He is located in the San Antonio, Texas area. However, anyone who would like to seek him out for therapy can do so as long as they l...
2020-03-1333 minThis Caregiver Life ™E27: Crystal Clear on Caregiving: A millennial shares her journeyThe month of March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Meet Crystal Holdipp who cares for her mom with a brain injury as a result of a stroke. Crystal's caregiving extends to her dad as well. Her dad is battling cancer. She is an amazing young woman.
Currently, Crystal is doing advocacy work for persons who have disabilities and impairments through Inspire Bermuda and works on their leadership team as a board member. In ministry, Crystal is a youth leader at Cities of Refuge Ministries where the pastors are Rev. John Woolridge and Rev. Oral Barnett. Recently, she h...
2020-03-1026 minThis Caregiver Life ™E26: Let's Talk IntimacyIn this podcast, Let's Talk Intimacy, Jen Ransil joined us for an open conversation regarding intimacy and disabilities for couples. Jen is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Pennsylvania; Adjunct Professor, Human Development and Family Science, Messiah College and Adjunct Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Evangelical Theological Seminary.
When Jen is not teaching she has a private practice in which she sees clients with couple/family issues, mental health, trauma and PTSD, and pre/post-deployment, as well as, wounded veterans' families. She specializes in sex therapy and relationship issues within military families.
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2020-03-0627 minThis Caregiver Life ™E25: Traumatic Brain Injury & CaregivingMarch is Brain Injury Awareness Month. In this episode of This Caregiver Life, we are joined by health scientist Roxana E. Delgado, Ph.D., a national advocate and the wife of Sergeant First Class retired Victor L. Medina, MRC, CRC, a combat-wounded, Purple Heart Recipient veteran. She assumed the caregiving role, which has inspired her advocacy work and career path. With over a decade of experience in military medical research in the areas of health and wellbeing, most recently working with military families and caregivers, Roxana is active in the military and veteran caregiver community and is an Elizabeth...
2020-03-0440 minThis Caregiver Life ™E24: Caregiver DOWNJenn and Mar catch up with one another for the first time in a few weeks. Jenn had the flu. Mar had surgery. Proving once again as much as caregivers often seem to be able to do it all, they, too, are human beings subject to illness and the demise of body parts. They were both caregivers DOWN the last few weeks. They are on the mend and looking forward to a yearful of interesting and engaging podcasts on "This Caregiver Life."
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2020-02-2338 minThis Caregiver Life ™E23: Healing and the HolidaysOn December 21, 2004, a suicide bomber attacked a military dining facility in Mosul, Iraq. Hundreds of service members were having lunch at the time, including Jenn’s younger brother James, an 20-year old Army Specialist serving with the Deuce Four Stryker Combat Brigade. In total, 14 U.S. soldiers were killed along with 4 U.S. civilian employees of Halliburton, and 4 Iraqi soldiers. Another 72 people were Injured, including 51 U.S. soldiers. At the time, it was the single deadliest suicide attack on U.S. soldiers. For the men of Deuce Four and their loved ones, Christmas time would never be the same. Th...
2019-12-2157 minThis Caregiver Life ™E22: The Gift of UsCo-host Mary and her husband, Tom, talk about the holidays and stress. From 1993 when Tom was battling a brain infection to his current all-out war with ALS they give some insight on how they make it work in the best way possible.
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2019-12-2016 minThis Caregiver Life ™E21: What About YouShawn Moore, a caregiver to her husband, and founder of "Caregivers on the Homefront" talks about the importance of caregivers remembering who they are, and the ways in which she has navigated the holidays in recent years.
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2019-12-0919 minThis Caregiver Life ™E20: A Brand New DayTara's husband, Todd, was wounded in Afghanistan. Two of the men Todd was serving with, who were dear friends of both Todd and Tara, died in battle, on the day Todd was injured. It also happened to be Tara and Todd's anniversary. Tara shares how they changed things up so as to continue to honor the men that lost their lives on the day they died while celebrating their love and life commitment to one another with full hearts on a brand new day.
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2019-12-0217 minThis Caregiver Life ™E19: Letting GoRoxana Delgado joins us for a conversation about reducing stress and letting it go. Roxana cares for her husband, Victor, a veteran who sustained a traumatic brain injury while deployed.
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2019-11-2517 minThis Caregiver Life ™E18: Upside Down HolidaysCaregiver, Lara Garey, loves the holidays. She shares that over the years, traditions evolved that her family loves. When her husband was diagnosed with ALS she created new ones, like an upside Christmas tree, to help them lovingly hold onto the memories of those traditions pre-disease.
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2019-11-1815 minThis Caregiver Life ™E17: This Life We HaveBrian Vines, a veteran, joins us for a frank conversation regarding the holidays and caregiving. He shares insights on how he has cared for his wife, wounded veteran, while also having his mother living with them for a period of time.
It would seem that there are not nearly as many male caregivers as females. Brian helps dispel that myth when he shares that at least 40% of caregivers are males.
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2019-11-1115 minThis Caregiver Life ™Bonus Episode: Time AwayMar recently had some time away from daily caregiving. She finds it reviving and energizing. She encourages caregivers to find some time to themselves once in a while. You can find the written piece on Mar's blog at www.maryhahnward.com
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2019-11-0507 minThis Caregiver Life ™E16: Building Your Community Care TeamColleen believes building a good team with family, healthcare providers, and community is highly important in helping her to be the best caregiver possible for her care recipient, her husband. We couldn't agree more.
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2019-11-0428 minThis Caregiver Life ™E15: Politico Panel - Caring on the HomefrontJenn shares her recent experience as a panelist on Politico’s program “Caring on the Homefront”. On October 17, 2019, Politico hosted a panel discussion on improving policies that could help military/veteran caregivers. Jennifer was joined on the panel by Lisa Pape Deputy Chief Patient Care Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Terri Tanielian Senior Behavioral Scientist, RAND Corporation & Fellow, Military Service Initiative, George W. Bush Presidential Center, and Ashish Vaziran Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Military Family Association.
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2019-10-2824 minThis Caregiver Life ™E14: The Future of Family Care with Wellthy's CEO Lindsay Jurist-RosnerLindsay Jurist-Rosner is the CEO of Wellthy, Inc. based in New York City. Wellthy is helping the 66 million Americans who care for aging, chronically ill and disabled loved ones. With Wellthy, Lindsay is building the company she needed throughout the 28-years of caring for her mother. Prior to founding Wellthy in 2014, Lindsay was in the advertising technology and media industries with functional responsibilities in marketing, product, and sales. Lindsay served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing at NY-based advertising technology startup, Simulmedia. Before that, Lindsay ran Marketing Research at Machinima; worked in product and strategic marketing at Microsoft...
2019-10-0639 minThis Caregiver Life ™E13: 2nd Time AroundMeet Lisa who balances her growing career with caregiving for her husband. Lisa shares insight into how she makes it all work, and how any can keep moving forward in their life, despite setbacks. We also learn about 2nd.md. They connect clients with board-certified, leading doctors across the country for an expert second opinion via video or phone within 3 to 5 days. the best part is their Care Team coordinates all the details, so you can focus on one thing – getting the best care possible. This season is all about asking for help, where to find it, and how to...
2019-09-2634 minThis Caregiver Life ™E12: She Loved Him FirstIn this episode, Denise Albea shares with us the journey she has been on caring for her dad and how she has found help along the way. Her dad has Parkinson's Disease and attends a program, Elderhaus, for people who are 55 years old and up. Elderhaus is a program that provides community and home-based care. Season 2 is focused on help: getting help, asking for help, accepting help, offering help. We will explore the various ways in which caregivers have been in the help mode, and how they have addressed it. We will also have conversations with organizations and agencies...
2019-09-1639 minThis Caregiver Life ™Bonus Episode: Ready for AnythingJenn and Mar share their recent experience preparing for Hurricane Dorian, as well as, the focus of the second season of "This Caregiver Life". Please follow us on our social media platforms. Have something you want to share with us? Leave us a message! If you like us please give us a 5-star rating!
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2019-09-0638 minThis Caregiver Life ™E11: Worst Case ScenarioThis episode is a rebroadcast of our companion podcast, Sarcasm Sisters. We relive Mar’s experience preparing for an enduring Hurricane Florence. Caregivers will find tips and suggestions when preparing for natural disasters themselves, and anyone can learn how to support caregivers during stressful times. Thanks for listening.
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2019-09-0635 minThis Caregiver Life ™E10: Bringing Home the War with Author Marjorie PenningtonMarjorie Pennington, author of "Bring Home the War: The Life of a Military Caregiver", joined us for an in-depth conversation about being a military caregiver to her husband. "Bringing Home the War" is a powerful story of faith, and commitment.
Marjorie says this: "This book is the culmination of a long journey. It wasn't a journey my husband or I can say we chose, but rather it was one that chose us nonetheless. I decided to write this book as an insight into the life of being a caregiver for military soldiers injured by war. I wanted to...
2019-06-1947 minThis Caregiver Life ™E9: Burnout with Jean Montjoy, MSW, LCSW Jean Montjoy joins us today in a candid conversation about burnout. Jean holds a Masters in Social Work, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She chats with us today about burnout from a professional caregiver perspective. She shares with us her journey as a social worker, how burnout sneaks up on her, and how she has addressed it. She is a kind, compassionate, transparent, and overall good human.
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2019-06-1425 minThis Caregiver Life ™E8: Carry OnCaira Benson is a seasoned professional in the nonprofit community, a homeschooling mother of five, and caregiver for her disabled veteran husband and three of their children. Her dedication to providing the best quality of life to her clan is inspirational. Join us as we learn about Caira's journey as a Hidden Hero, and we learn how she manages to even make time for herself. Caira is an Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow, proudly representing South Dakota. This is real life. This is Caregiver Life.
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2019-05-0845 minThis Caregiver Life ™E7: Veteran Directed Care Program: A call to actionOur guest today is Karee White, an Army veteran, married to an Army veteran for 30 years, mother to nine children...yes you read that correctly, and a caregiver to her daughter Kimmy. Kimmy is a wounded veteran with a severe traumatic brain injury. Veteran Directed Care is a VA program Kimmy is part of, and Karee almost can't live without it. The Veteran Directed Care (VDC) is: The Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services (VD-HCBS) program are designed to allow veterans who are potential candidates for nursing home placement to receive that level of care in their homes, the...
2019-04-3045 min
Sarcasm SistersMindset ResetIn this episode, we revisit our I WAS NICE ONCE episode with 'niceness' data. Mar and Jenn also share their Easter epiphany, and how a holiday or special event can inspire a mindset-reset. When the stone is moved, you have a chance at a new life. But don't worry: we aren't making plans to be so nice that we get run over, because you gotta be cruel to be kind (sometimes).
This episode was recorded on #WorldBookDay - here are links if you'd like to read Mar and Jenn's books.
PAWS AT WORK, by Mary Hahn Ward https://amzn.to/2G...
2019-04-2740 minThis Caregiver Life ™E6: Caring for children with severe allergies Megan Smith is an Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow and joins us today as our guest. Megan is a caregiver to her husband who was injured in Afghanistan, and a mom of two boys. In addition to her beloved role of mom to her sons, one of them requires additional care. Her oldest has severe myopia, asthma, and food allergies. Megan is kind enough to give us an inside peek at how she juggles her responsibilities while also being a mom.
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2019-04-2334 minThis Caregiver Life ™E5: Cherish the MomentsLara Garey is our guest on this podcast. Lara is the spouse, and caregiver, of an Air Force veteran with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS. Lara is also a newly appointed Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow. In this podcast, Lara does not hold back on how deep she is into the caregiving role. She fit in this interview while her husband, Tom, was in ICU.
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2019-04-1639 minThis Caregiver Life ™E4: Is your self-care working?What is self-care and why do we need it? Is your go-to self-care healthy? Is it working? Explore all things self-care in this episode of This Caregiver Life, and visit our Facebook page where you can ask questions, share ideas and learn more about caregiving. This is real life. This is our caregiver life.
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2019-03-1252 minThis Caregiver Life ™E3: When Sepsis StrikesMar and Jenn have a frank conversation regarding a sudden, serious illness: sepsis. Jenn is a sepsis survivor of two and a half years. Mar's spouse, Tom, in addition to having ALS for eight and a half years, recently survived sepsis. They share their personal experiences, and signs and symptoms of sepsis.
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2019-02-1244 minThis Caregiver Life ™E2: Roasting for ResearchThis Caregiver Life podcast today focuses on a unique fundraising effort for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Roasting for Research. Please join us to learn more about this exceptional campaign that raises awareness, and funding, to help beat back ALS.
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2019-01-2019 min
This Caregiver Life ™E1: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of a BathroomIn their opening 'This Caregiver Life' podcast Jenn and Mar, caregivers to their veterans, share their thoughts on Chicago O'Hare's new, accessible bathroom: “Changing Places Restroom”.
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2019-01-1132 min
Military Network RadioALS - a Presumptive Condition - Lou Gehrig's DiseaseLinda Kreter and Military Network Radio with co-host Justin Constantine discuss ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease with Mary Hahn Ward. Mary is caregiver for her veteran husband, and this progressive neuro-degenerative disease is challenging to diagnose, with the disease unique for each patient. However, it is always fatal. Mary shares their journey so far, and breathes hope and optimism while sharing the significant benefits veterans can expect, the close ALS community and how strength and grace seem to imbue each of these ALS patients. Everyone serves and together we make a difference. More at www.MilitaryNetworkRadio.com.
2017-12-1958 min