Advertise on podcast: Caregiving Gen X Style

Using military defense readiness (no, really!) as a metaphor, Jennifer and Steve talk about what you should be doing during each phase of your caregiving journey.  Also, Steve has another one of his "Tales from Assisted Living"! To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

Jennifer and Steve have a fun conversation with Maren Martin, the reigning Mrs. Minnesota, about the differences between Gen X and Millennial caregiving.  Maren currently cares for her mother and her pageant platform is Parkinson's and the people who care for its victims. To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

In this end-of-summer episode, Jennifer and Steve review what they've been up to this summer, give a preview of what's coming up this fall, and offer the gift of bloopers and outtakes. To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

Conversation with your elderly loved one can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, and that can lead to a lot of sitting around in silence during your visits.  In this episode, Jennifer and Steve give some tips on how to fill the time.  Also, hear why Steve is proud of Nana, and why Gagi is calling Jennifer's co-workers on the phone. To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

As GenXers we have a front row seat to the mistakes of our elders, and some of those mistakes end up directly impacting us as we become caregivers.  In this all new CGS, Jennifer and Steve talk about some of those errors, and how we can avoid them.  Also, learn about yet ANOTHER piece of bread in our caregiving sandwich. To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

Jennifer and Steve open up the mailbag!  In it they found several listener questions plus advice for a previous listener email.  Plus hear about the latest kerfuffle (we love that word) from Nana's assisted living over meal times. Links mentioned in this episode: Medicare.gov National Institute on Aging article on grief and loss To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

In this all new CGS, Jennifer and Steve answer an email from a listener who's mother has taken over caregiving for her father, but probably shouldn't.  And, they also discuss how to switch power of attorney when the wrong person in the family was assigned, and is making a mess of things in one way or another.  Plus, learn about Steve and his "short pants". To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

Finding a home health agency or senior living community for your elderly loved one can be one of the hardest things to do.  If you don't already have a recommendation from someone, you may feel like you're just throwing a dart at a list and hoping for the best.  In this all new CGS, Jennifer and Steve talk with Ben Harder from US News and World Report, a national media outlet that is now providing very helpful ratings for home health and senior living.  He gives a rundown on how they do it and how you can use them.   To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

In this VERY special CGS, Jennifer and Steve talk with Rachel Waters, a caregiver who rushed to her mother's side to be with her during her last days ... and was later charged with her mother's murder.  Note that this episode is significantly longer than our typical shows, but it's worth it to hear Rachel's story and what she's doing to try to ensure it's not repeated. Links mentioned in this episode: Marsha's Law To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

Burnout is one of the most common side effects of caring for an elderly loved one.  In fact, it's nearly universal.  In this episode, we talk with veteran senior care professional and author Annalee Kruger, all about how to identify and avoid it. Links mentioned in this episode: The Invisible Patient (book) To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

Nana and Gagi combined have been in some type of rehab facility nine times for a grand total of four or five months.  Because of this, we, their caregivers, consider ourselves something resembling experts in the field.  In this all new CGS, Jennifer and Steve (in between rambling a bit) talk about everything you need to know related to in-patient rehab for your elderly loved one. To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

In this all new CGS, Steve and Jennifer give their takes on a Substack article with advice on what to do in the first 90 days after your loved one receives a dementia diagnosis. NOTE: We had a little weirdness with our recording setup this time around.  Steve is working to try to figure out what's going on, but as a result our sound quality is slightly below what we're used to. Links mentioned in this article: https://vancefrost.substack.com/ To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

A very, very common caregiving conundrum is how to deal with having to tell your elderly loved one that it isn't safe for them to drive anymore.  Spurred by a listener question, Jennifer and Steve discuss how to handle the conversation about driving, and who you can bring in to help.  Also, hear about why Gagi's emergency pendant has been getting a workout, and why Nana had to order enough food to feed herself for 3-5 days. Links mentioned in this episode: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-medicaid-coordination/fraud-prevention/medicaid-integrity-education/downloads/nemt-factsheet.pdf To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

Remember back in the day when there used to be a "very special" episode of your favorite show?  That's what this is -- a very special episode!  Due to bad weather, Gagi and our daughter, Hannah, stayed with us for a time, and we talked them both into sitting down and recording a podcast episode.   To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle

In this squirrel-filled CGS, Jennifer and Steve pass along fantastic advice from a veteran home health aide on how you can best help them to ensure your loved one is well cared for.  Plus, hear how Gagi and Nana handled the big Verizon outage last week (spoiler: it confused them) AND we have "How's your mom/dad/whatever" updates from listeners! To contact us:  Email: [email protected] Voicemail/text: 804-723-1221  Twitter: https://twitter.com/genxcaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caregivinggenxstyle