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There are various types of senior housing and levels of care to consider when searching the right senior living arrangement for you or your loved one. These are key details, as are costs, culture, cleanliness, and location. It’s a lot to navigate, which is why we’ve brought in an expert. Dave Holder is owner and Senior Living Advisor at Assisted Living Locators, a no cost service to seniors and their families to guide them step-by-step through the process of finding the senior living solution that is best for them.   Assisted Living Locators Website: https://assistedlivinglocators.com/care-advisor/northindy Phone: 877-266-7780   Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Caregiving can become so central to our lives and identities that it can be difficult to image life after. How do we transition when our loved one moves out of the home? How do we transition once they’ve passed on? Where do we find support and purpose? How do we navigate grief? Here to share her personal story, we have Jane Bentley, a former Joy’s House caregiver and dear friend.   Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oral health is incredibly important to overall health. Normally the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Clinical studies have linked periodontal disease to stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and other serious health problems. On the other hand, a healthy mouth lets people eat more easily, feel more confident about their appearance, and hopefully avoid tooth pain, tooth loss, and other health complications. Many caregivers find themselves responsible either in part or in full for the oral health of a loved one. However, if you’ve never taken care another person’s teeth before, you might not know where to begin, but you’re not alone. Tina and Terri, have some tips for you!   Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The CDC reports that 1 in 4 adults over the age of 65 fall each year. While anyone at any age can have a fall, physical changes, health conditions, and the medications used to treat those conditions, make falls my likely as we age. Likewise, the consequences of a fall become more severe as we age. That’s why its so important to learn how to effectively manage fall risks, improve strength, balance, and mobility. In this week’s episode, Stephanie Wierzbicka, who developed the Gaitway Fall Risk program at ComForCare joins to discuss how we can effectively manage the 28 individual factors that increase your risk.   ComForCare Website: comforcare.com Phone: 800-886-4044 ComForCare Fall Risk Flyer: https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/289861/CFC_FallRisk_Flyer_DownloadablePDF_Corporate.pdf   Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we are excited to welcome back Anna Howard, JD. Anna is a Partner and Managing Attorney at Severns and Howard, and elder law and estate planning firm located in Carmel, Indiana. Anna was on the show about a year ago, and she had so much good information we couldn’t pack it all into one episode. One important topic that we didn’t get to in our last interview (linked below) was the topic of personal care agreements (also known as caregiver contracts or family care agreements).     These are agreements are contracts between a family member who agrees to provide caregiver services for a disabled or aging relative and the care recipient. These agreements can offer family caregivers security, so they do not suffer undue financial consequences. At the same time, the agreement can also give the person receiving care peace of mind that they have a caring advocate to manage their needs.    Understanding Elder Law and Common Law Issues Families Face (Anna Howard’s last episode): https://open.spotify.com/episode/3zI4uvaf82Hd95WUxhB9R4     Severn’s & Howard  Website: https://www.severns.com/   Phone (Schedule an Appointment): 1-800-335-3971    Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org   Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The population of the United States is aging. Today, there are more than 46 million older adults aged 65 and older living in the U.S.; by 2050, that number is expected to grow to almost 90 million. Between 2020 and 2030 alone, the time the last of the baby boom cohorts reach age 65, the number of older adults is projected to increase by almost 18 million. As the number of seniors in our community increases, so does the need for reliable direct care support, that Certified Nursing Assistants and other health care aids provide. Now more than ever, we need quality training programs to both attract and equip the next generation of professional caregivers. In today’s episode, we are joined by Sue McPherren, Program Director, from Senior1Care’s Legacy CNA Training School. This school is doing wonderful work, providing high quality, accessible, and affordable training, to prepare the direct care professionals we urgently need. Legacy NCA Training School: https://www.senior1care.com/careers/legacy-cna-training/ Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This April (Parkinson’s Awareness Month) we want to shine a spotlight on an incredible organization that helps people living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers (ie. Cornermen) fight back. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative movement disorder which can cause deterioration of motor skills, balance, speech, and sensory function. The Parkinson’s Foundation estimates there are more than 1 million people in the United States diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and more than 60,000 people are diagnosed each year. The cause is unknown and there is no cure; however, there is hope. Treatments utilizing medication and exercise can slow disease progression and greatly improve quality of life. In this episode we are joined by Christine Timberlake, Director of Research and Innovation at Rock Steady Boxing, Inc., the first gym in the country dedicated to the fight against Parkinson’s.  Rock Steady Boxing Website: https://www.rocksteadyboxing.org/ Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Tina and Terri discuss how to best prepare for your doctor’s visits. In the past, the doctor typically took the lead during appointments, and patients followed along, but today, a good patient-doctor relationship looks more like a partnership. You and your doctor can – and are expected to - work as a team, along with nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers, to manage your medical problems and keep you healthy. This means asking questions if the doctor’s explanations or instructions are unclear, bringing up problems even if the doctor doesn’t ask, and letting the doctor know if you have concerns about a particular treatment or change in your daily life. Taking an active role in your health care puts the responsibility for good communication on both you and your doctor. All of this is true at any age. But, when you’re older, it becomes even more important to communicate effectively with your doctor. That’s partly because you may have more health conditions and treatments to discuss. Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org  Learn more about Joy’s House: www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Tina and Terri, interview Kate Washington, writer, editor, recipe developer, and author of Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America. Already Toast tells the story of Kate’s struggle to care for her seriously ill husband, offering a revealing look at the role unpaid family caregivers play in a society that fails to provide them with structural support. Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Already-Toast-Caregiving-Burnout-America/dp/0807011509 Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We know that it is important for seniors stay active and social to be healthy and happy. However, seniors may struggle to find fitness centers and social spaces that are tailored to their needs. Prime Life Enrichment Center is a senior center in Carmel, Indiana that seeks to fill that gap by providing a wide range of programs that promote independence, wellness, and socialization for those age 50 and beyond. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Julie Barnes, the Community Engagement & Activity Coordinator at Prime Life Enrichment to learn more about how PLE has designed their space and their programs to truly enrich the lives of their members. Prime Life Enrichment Address: 1078 3rd Ave SW, Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: 317-815-7000 Website: https://primelifeenrichment.org/   Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if having your next meal delivery was not a matter of convenience but necessity? Meals on Wheels serves 2.4 million people nationwide who are unable to purchase or prepare the food they need. There are loved ones, parents, grandparents, and neighbors in virtually every community in America, that rely on their services to stave off hunger and isolation. We are joined today by Beth Gehlhausen, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Hamilton County, to learn more about how Meals on Wheels operates, what they’re doing locally, and how you can get invoveled. Meals on Wheels Hamilton County: Website: https://mealsonwheelshc.org/ Phone: (317) 776-7159 Do you have a question for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshouse.org  Want to learn more about Joy's House? Visit us at www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have discussed on this show, the many ways that pets enrich our lives, and the ways specific benefits that the provide for the ill and aging. We have not discussed, however, how frequently seniors pet owners choose feeding their pet rather than feeding or caring for themselves. Fortunately, there is a response in motion. This December, CICOA launched a pilot program offering pet food and supplies to low-income and homebound seniors. Here to discuss this newly launched Pet Connect program, it’s origins, and aspirations, we have Tauhric Brown, President & CEO of CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions. Listen to learn more! Call CICOA: 80-432-2422 Donate to Pet Connect: https://cicoa.org/pet-food-for-indy-seniors/ Email Tina: tina@joyshouse.org Learn more about Joy’s House:  www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There is no question that cultural beliefs shape social norms and values surrounding caregiving and the role of family and society in that care. In this week’s episode, Tina and Terri discuss the relationship between culture and caregiving and why cultural awareness is so important. We explore what we can learn from statistics, what we can learn from observation, and most importantly, what we can learn from one another.   Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (book): http://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/   Have a question for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshouse.org   Want to learn more about Joy’s House? Check out our website at www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you think death is a hard topic, this episode is for you. This week we are joined by Julie Pope.. Julie is an end-of-life doula, author, and creator of an award-winning barbeque sauce, a product designed as a conversation starter… on the topic of death, dying, and living our best lives now. Julie is dedicated to promoting healthy end-of-life conversations and care options for families in a multitude of innovate and impactful ways.  Julie Pope  Website: https://www.jpopeunlimited.com/   Email: julie@eternityward.com   Get the book: http://ow.ly/cjCQ50HThv5 Get the sauce: http://ow.ly/cimj50HThv3 Have a question for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshouse.org  Want to learn more about Joy’s House? Check out our website at www.joyshouse.org   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This reprise episode features Stephanie Monroe, Executive Director of African Americans Against Alzheimer’s, the first national network created specifically to respond to the disparate impact of Alzheimer’s on African Americans. Stephanie shares some startling stats and talks about social determinants of health, the lack of attention to our brain health, and the need for more participation among minorities in clinical trials. Stephanie is a caregiver to her father who is living with Alzheimer’s and understands the costs and emotional strain of the disease.  Learn more about African Against Alzheimer’s at www.usagainstalzheimers.org     Have a question for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshous.org  Want to learn more about Joy’s House? Check out our website at www.joyshouse.org   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can you drive safely while on medication? It depends. If managed correctly, yes. If not, the results can be disastrous. Over 50% of American seniors report driving while using 7 or more medications, often prescribed by multiple doctors. It is essential to understand how medications affect the body and how they interact with each other. In this week’s reprise episode, we interview Greg Seiter, the Public Affairs Manager at AAA to discuss safe driving while using one or more medications. Greg Seiter, Public Affairs Manager at AAA www.seniordriving.aaa.com   Do you have a question for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshouse.org   Want to learn more about Joy's House? Visit us at www.joyshouse.org     See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s cold outside, and you may be tempted to spend your free time cuddled up under a warm blanket, but don’t forget, whatever the weather it’s important to stay physically active. Check out this weeks reprise episode with special guest, Riley McClure from American Senior Communities for fresh ideas about how to keep active this winter. Have questions for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshouse.org Want to learn more about Joy’s House. Check out our website at joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Of the 141.1 million Americans who set New Year’s Resolutions only about half (53%) believe they can achieve them and only 8-9% percent stick to their goals throughout the year. If “New Year, New Me” hasn’t been working for you, but you don’t want the “Same Old, Same Old” in the New Year, this is the episode for you! In this special reprise episode of Caregiver Crossing, we speak with Jason Tomsci, Associate Communications Director at AARP about how to set attainable resolutions, that disrupt unwanted patterns, and create positive and satisfying change in our lives. Guest: Jason Tomsci, Communications Director at AARP Indiana New Years Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep (AARP article): https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2017/most-kept-resolutions-fd.html   Do you have a question for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshouse.org  Want to learn more about Joy's House? Visit us at www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are many benefits to pet ownerships. Interacting with – an animal can help decrease depression and anxiety, lower blood pressure, mitigate loneliness and agitation, and dull physical pain. Furthermore, caring for your own animal can lead to a solid routine, an increased sense of purpose, and more physically active lifestyle. In today’s episode, Tina and Terri discuss to ins and outs of pet ownership for seniors. We also touch the topics of emotional support animals (ESAs), therapy animals, and service animals. Whether you love cats, dogs, or peacocks, if you love animals, you’ll enjoy this episode!   Do you have a question for Tina? Email her at tina@joyshouse.org  Want to learn more about Joy's House? Visit us at www.joyshouse.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is important for seniors to stay active, but finding and facilitating safe, accessible, meaningful, and enjoyable activities can sometimes be a challenge. We are joined today by Kristin Phillips, the Nutrition and Dementia Services Coordinator at CICOA, to provide some helpful tips for caregivers who plan and facilitate the activities of a loved one.   Kristin Phillips, AmeriCorps VISTA, Nutrition and Dementia Services Coordinator at CICOA Email: kphillips@cicoa.org CICOA’s Nutrition Tip Sheets: https://cicoa.org/services/senior-meals-nutrition/nutrition-education/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.