Advertise on podcast: CareTalkers

Anita and Sandrine find out what “sundowning” is and how it affects dementia patients. Later on, Dr. June Chin joins the pod to discuss her work with ACHEM (Association for Cannabis Health Equity and Medicine) and how MMJ (medical marijuana) can potentially treat the effects of sundowning. Growing up in a traditional Chinese household in the Bronx, stigma associated with cannabis ran deep in Dr. Chin’s family. She talks about the importance of destigmatizing use of MMJ and offers tips on how to talk about it with your loved ones. From Parkinson’s to epilepsy to dementia, Dr. Chin shares the different ways she’s used MMJ to treat various medical conditions in her patients. Will insurance ever cover medical use of marijuana? She explains how she’s working with a group of physicians looking at qualitative and quantitative data that they can present to an insurance company. Dr. Chin also gets into how race and class affect access to MMJ. Resources mentioned: Alz.org, achemed.org, drjunechin.com.

Did you know Costco sells caskets?! Funeral director Jeff Jorgenson answers all of Sandrine and Anita’s burning questions about the modern funeral industry and how costs can add up. He explains why embalming doesn’t have to be mandatory and why caskets are often placed in burial vaults (and yes, that’s a separate cost). Anita also goes through her dad’s pre-planned funeral contract and learns that “casket spray” isn’t referring to cleaning the coffin. They also get into grave vs. funeral costs, ethical planning based on affordability, and green burials.

Sandrine shares her emotional pregnancy journey on the pod, and wow it was quite a journey! She opens up about everything from geriatric pregnancy to white coat syndrome to racial disparities in maternal health. She and Anita also discuss going through pregnancy with work insurance versus government aid. Later on, Sandrine processes trauma from her birthing experience and gets into what it’s like juggling motherhood and being a caretaker for her mom. As Anita’s biological clock ticks louder with each passing thirty-something birthday, Sandrine talks about not giving into pressure to get pregnant by a certain age. This episode includes a conversation about miscarriage, so please keep that in mind before you listen.

Description: Psychiatrist Byron Young joins Sandrine and Anita to unpack racism and anti-blackness in the medical field. He also discusses his work with adolescents, how he uses music as therapy, and mental health resources available to the public.  Resources mentioned: Thrive NYC, Mental Health First Aid, Therapy for Black girls, Doing It Well, Psychology Today, The Unspoken Curriculum, Balance app, Dr. Joy Harden. Where to Find CareTalkers: @Caretalkerspod on Instagram  www.facebook.com/groups/caretalkers Caretalkers.com 

Wan-Ling Hung, Care and Support Program Manager at the Alzheimer’s Association joins Anita and Sandrine to talk about her work leading support groups. They get into the importance of the young caregiver’s support group and the unique challenges caregivers in their 20s and 30s face. Interested in joining a Dementia Caregiver Support Group or just have questions about resources related to dementia? Call the ALZ Association at 1-800-272-3900. Where to Find CareTalkers: @Caretalkerspod on Instagram  www.facebook.com/groups/caretalkers Caretalkers.com 

Anita and Sandrine discuss navigating the messy, turbulent, and emotional world of caretaking for their dad and mom. They get into the complexities of the caretaker juggling act, the importance of chosen family as only children, and “organizing emotions”. Have a story about your experience as a caretaker that you want to share with us? Write or send a voice memo to [email protected]. Where to Find CareTalkers: @Caretalkerspod on Instagram  www.facebook.com/groups/caretalkers Caretalkers.com 

The president of the Universal Health Care Foundation of CT Frances Padilla joins Sandrine and Anita to answer questions about the policy aspect of healthcare. She gets into the nitty gritty of private insurance vs. Medicaid, options for people who have limited coverage, and the deal with dental insurance. Resources mentioned include rxassist.org and goodrx.com. Where to Find CareTalkers: @Caretalkerspod on Instagram  www.facebook.com/groups/caretalkers Caretalkers.com 

Description: Comedian Bryan Yang joins Anita and Sandrine to share his experience getting Covid and the symptoms people never talk about (diarrhea). They also discuss navigating health insurance during a difficult time. Have a question or an idea for the podcast? Email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

In episode 1, Anita and Sandrine get into the inspiration behind starting this podcast. Despite having different career paths, they find common ground as only children and being caretakers for their parents. At the time of this recording, it was July 2020. They share how they’ve been staying sane during the pandemic.