In this episode of The Caregiver Community, Dr. Amy Lorek, Assistant Research Professor at Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Healthy Aging and Interim Director for the Women’s Leadership Initiative in the College of Health and Human Development helps us understand the importance of leisure activities and how the activities help us connect with others, remain engaged in life, at least maintain cognition, and increase happiness, particularly as we age. Dr. Lorek also describes various leisure activities that are meaningful as we age and may be used within the caregiving relationship or for one’s own consideration. Jill Lillie, Chapter Coordinator, ACAP Centre-County (PA), and Frances Hall, Founder, and Executive Director, ACAPcommunity serve as co-interviewers.

Social support networks are important to the well-being for each of us and are even more important during challenging times such as when we are providing care for a loved one. Research has begun to recognize, though, that there are some important differences in supportive networks among African Americans as compared with other races. Dr. Althea Taylor Jones, retired professor and Gerontology Program administrator at Winston-Salem State University; Alexis Richmond, gerontology major at Winston-Salem State University; and Frances S. Hall, ACAP Founder, and Executive Director, help listeners better understand the make-up and importance of social support networks and how they differ among various communities.

There are lots of options for the long-term care for a loved one (or ourselves), whether additional services are brought into the home or the loved one moves into a congregant living community such as a continuous care retirement center (CCRC), skilled care, or memory care facility, but the costs associated with each can be alarming, and raise all sorts of questions. This podcast helps listeners become aware of the various care options and strategies for paying for ongoing care. Jenna L. Franks, an elder law attorney, and Kristin Daughterty, Long-Term Care Planner provide information and hope as they talk with Holly Reigh, Specialized Care Planner, and Frances S. Hall, ACAP’s Founder & Executive Director.

In this episode of The Caregiver Community, we discuss “Downsizing Dilemmas: When Stuff is in the Way”— how family members may lovingly and respectfully help an aging loved one create a safer environment in their home or help them downsize, move, and/or de-clutter, even when there are lots of possessions with which to deal. Bridget Donnelly, founder of Donnelly’s Estate Liquidation & Appraisal Services in State College, PA, talks with Frances Hall, Founder & Executive Director of ACAPcommunity, and Alexis Richmond, a gerontology major at Winston-Salem State University (NC) and ACAP intern to share insights and practical tips gained and honed since 2007.

This podcast offers important information and insights into the “how to’s” of managing medications, whether it’s helping an older loved one or for yourself. In this conversation, listeners will learn what it means to “manage medications,” reasons medication management is important, ways to ensure medication safety, and strategies for helping encourage a loved one to take their meds, even when not inclined to do so.

Family dynamics are built on decades of history between parents and children as well as between siblings. Care for an aging parent sometimes prompts unresolved family issues to the surface. While taking care of mom and dad is a wonderful idea, collaborative caregiving can be a minefield of implicit and explicit expectations, assumptions, and history within the family. This podcast will help listeners explore ways to establish a more balanced family unit and learn strategies for strengthening the family as they care for aging parents and other aging loved ones.

This episode of the Caregiver Community shares insight about current technology that is helpful for seniors and their families. Listeners will learn about “low tech” and “high tech” resources and devices that are helpful for seniors and their caregivers, in general; technology that can be particularly supportive for those caring for a loved one with dementia; strategies for encouraging seniors to become comfortable with the resources; and ways to learn about technology applicable to one’s specific situation.

Dr. Mary B. Berge a Licensed Clinical Psychologist joins this episode of The Caregiver Community. Dr. Berge talks about how to stay sane during COVID-19, with tips on how to manage this and other stressful times in your life.

Mary Mitchell, Family Caregiver Support Specialist from the Area Agency on Aging answers the plea, who can help me take care of my loved one? Mary also presents practical tips and insights to the audience.

Thank you to our sponsor Pace-at-Home. Find out more about Pace-at-Home services here

*Audio note: This recording is taken from a Zoom presentation*

In this episode of The Caregiver Community, Dr. Amy Lorek of The Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State University and Jill Curtis of the Greater PA Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association discuss how to approach difficult conversations that adult children are faced with having with their aging parents. The two discuss insights and resources on how to make these conversations easier and productive.