The Voice of Aging

Safety, Costs, and Everyday Support in Home Caregiving with Jessica Thompson

Join Brynne Malone as he discusses caregiver themes of safety planning, adequate coverage, and balancing cost with risk when supporting older adults at home. Jessica Thompson, a previous caregiver turned supervisor, describes how reducing overnight care to save money led to a serious fall where a very weak client with frequent UTIs was left on the floor for about six hours. Underscoring that emergencies can’t be scheduled and that safety needs should guide care decisions. It also touches on the reality that independence at home comes with significant expense. Steps shown in the caregiving process include assessing changing needs (overnights vs. daytime), encouraging families to prioritize safety, and gathering client feedback by interviewing a home care recipient about benefits. Practical caregiving supports mentioned include companionship, meal preparation when cooking is no longer feasible, transportation and assistance with errands like grocery shopping, and help with pet care. Generationshomecare.org

Death Doulas, Hospice, and Planning for a Peaceful End: A Conversation with Dr. Susan Abernathy

Host Brynne Malone of Aging Solutions (Pacific Northwest) introduces a “dueling doulas” format with birth doula Gina Carlson interviewing Dr. Susan Abernathy, a death doula and trained primary care physician, about peaceful, dignified dying. Abernathy explains the role of an end-of-life doula in guiding families back toward home-centered care, supporting patient autonomy, and filling gaps around hospice and palliative care through advocacy, practical caregiving, education on what’s normal in the dying process (including the rally and the death rattle), and emotional support for both patient and family. She emphasizes early planning beyond just a DNR and will, noting many documents and logistical details (like passwords and home access), financial considerations, and multiple burial options (traditional burial, flame cremation, aquamation, green burial, reef memorials, and natural organic reduction). The discussion also addresses grief as non-linear, the importance of community, and techniques like storytelling, guided meditation, music/sound healing, and flower essences. Abernathy shares ways to vet doulas via INELDA and deathdoulas.com and encourages starting conversations at any age (including with children) Mudancehealing.com

Understanding Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Resident Rights Part 2

Host Brynne Malone (Aging Solutions) continues a conversation with Aleshia Salter (executive director/administrator) and Jessica Johnston (community relations) from an independent, assisted living, and memory care community about what retirement communities offer and how they differ. They define ADLs, explain the value of socialization, and describe continuum-of-care options and the importance of each community’s Washington State “disclosure of services” (what they can/can’t do, e.g., lifts or ostomies). They outline assisted living admission steps (records, physician orders, nurse assessment), individualized care plans, restaurant-style dining, and coaching staff culture. The episode details how levels of care affect cost, what can trigger memory care (wandering), what to look for when touring (activities, staffing, dignity, surprise visits, outdoor access), training requirements, and how communities handle safety-based discharge. They also discuss resident rights around intimacy, consent assessments, and recommend Teepa Snow and Alzheimer’s Association resources. @VineyardParkSouthHill

What to Ask, Expect, and Plan for When Choosing a Retirement Community

Host Brynne Malone of Aging Solutions interviews Aleshia Salter, an executive director of a retirement community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care, and Jessica Johnston, a community relations director, about how to navigate the transition from home to senior living. They explain key roles in a community, why aging adults can be “vulnerable” (especially with cognitive changes), and how crisis events and hidden decline in ADLs often drive moves. The conversation covers culture and leadership, the importance of listening to families, touring tips like meal visits, staffing and communication expectations, and resident safety and grievance processes (including ombudsman, APS, and state oversight). They discuss costs in Spokane, the need to ask directly about Medicaid acceptance and limits, elder-law planning, and how community life can reduce isolation, improve quality of life, and help residents regain purpose. www.AgingSolutionsNW.com @AgingSolutions

Hospice Isn’t What You Think: Benefits, Myths, and How It Supports Families

Host Brynne Malone of Aging Solutions welcomes hospice liaison Kathleen Giannette to reframe hospice as a holistic, supportive journey rather than something to fear. Kathleen explains her role as a family’s first contact, shares her mother’s hospice experience, and clarifies common misconceptions: hospice can last months to years, focuses on comfort without automatically stopping all medications, and provides rapid access to symptom management, equipment, and terminal-diagnosis prescriptions covered 100% by Medicare. They discuss when to call hospice instead of 911, hospital visits and discharge/readmission, eligibility and recertification, hospice houses and general inpatient hospice, respite care, volunteers, veterans’ pinning ceremonies, what happens at death, and bereavement support for families for about 13 months. www.AgingSolutionsNW.com @AgingSolutions