Eldercare Illuminated

For family caregivers, the first items to fall off the to-do list are often the activities we do to take care of ourselves. Yet personal trainer June Melia has had many clients come to her afraid they will develop the same chronic conditions, aches, and pains that their loved one suffers through. We all know we need exercise. But, it’s hard to find time, and it feels wrong to be focusing on oneself (CAREGIVER GUILT!). Tune in as June offers practical, easy-to-follow advice, ideas, and wisdom about what can you do to finally make it happen!

Eldercare is a family affair. In this episode of Eldercare Illuminated, we speak with Elizabeth Miller, host of happyhealthycaregiver.com. Elizabeth is an experienced caregiver, who became a certified caregiving consultant to support others. Whether you are the point person caring for an elderly loved one or you are helping a sibling, spouse, or parent who is, there are ways to make this journey easier and less stressful. In this episode you will hear how Elizabeth transitioned from primary caregiver to supporting a sibling who took on that role, how to share responsibilities among family members near and far, and how participating in eldercare can benefit the youngsters in the family.About Our Guest:Elizabeth Miller is a busy professional with a full-time job, growing children, and an elderly parent she cares for along with her siblings. She became a certified caregiving consultant based on her own experience, when she found herself feeling “stressed, overwhelmed and …suffocated by never-ending to-do lists.”

Family caregivers often work with side by side with paid caregivers who help their loved ones with personal care, mealtimes, and companionship. How can we make it easy for an aide to help? How do we get in the way? Sometimes this is an uneasy partnership, with the older adult’s welfare in both party’s interest. In this episode of Eldercare Illuminated, Torchlight asks a professional: What works and what doesn’t?

Do you take care of someone who can’t eat or won’t eat? Eating is one of life’s pleasures, but sometimes illness gets in the way. For caregivers, this can be a major frustration. In this episode of Eldercare Illuminated, Torchlight Eldercare Practice Leader, Lenore Tracey, chats with chef and author Hannah Duncan Tays. Hannah’s experience caring for her mother taught her a lot about how expectations and practices at the family dinner table can change drastically when a loved one becomes ill or incapacitated. Tune in to learn how to make a meal appetizing for someone with little or no appetite, as well as how to add calories and when calories are more important than nutrients.

In this episode of Eldercare Illuminated, experienced caregiver and Torchlight Eldercare Practice Leader, Lenore Tracey, discusses the different housing options available for older adults – including some you’ve probably never heard of before! Listen now to discover how each of these arrangements work, what they cost, and how you can help your loved one decide what is best for him or her right now.