If It's Not One Thing, It's Joanna

Episode 20: Karen Therapy With Karen Faith Gordon

In this much needed episode on mental health, the siblings sit down with Karen Faith Gordon, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in aging and elder care. After properly exorcising society's memetic tic of the "entitled Karen," the new soul sisters and Andrew dive into how to address the mental and emotional challenges around senior care. From seniors living with dementia to their families and caregivers walking alongside them, the emotional toll is undeniable - but there is help out there! Exploring everything from the delicate tradeoffs of living well vs living long to the value of sense-checking agonizing decisions with a community perspective, KFG helps us find moments of peace in the chaos. https://karenfaith.llc/

Episode 19: The Case For Lying To Your Mother With Dr. Catherine Madison

In this episode, we embrace the gray areas of dementia care with help from Dr. Catherine Madison, author of Navigating Memory Loss: Essential Questions And Answers On Alzheimer's And Dementia. Dr Madison introduces us to anosognosia - when we don't remember what we don't remember - and how to cope with it. We discuss the challenge and necessity of unlearning things we were taught as children, and how Hogeweyk - an innovative dementia village in the Netherlands is letting things happen. There’s a bittersweet update on Mom’s new penchant for solo musical numbers and tips for the tough work of crafting end of life instructions while you still can.  Links: https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Memory-Loss-Essential-Alzheimers/dp/B0FMGR232F [https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Memory-Loss-Essential-Alzheimers/dp/B0FMGR232F] https://www.mdmemorycare.com/ [https://www.mdmemorycare.com/] https://hogeweyk.dementiavillage.com/ [https://hogeweyk.dementiavillage.com/]

Episode 18: AI Is Coming For Your Senior - With Juliet Holt Klinger

Closing our series on Senior Tech, we are joined by Juliet Holt Klinger, a gerontologist and dementia care expert with 40 years of experience, including leadership at the nation's largest senior care network. Juliet brings a wealth of knowledge from her successful career and pivot to emerging technologies. In this fascinating discussion, we explore how AI and other tech tools are shaping the future of dementia care and aging in place. She shares insights on practical tech applications, privacy considerations and retrofitting tips to improve safety and quality of life for seniors. We also dive into the larger questions about what impact this tech may have on the healthcare system and how we can shape it for the better. Resources Mentioned: Ask Elbi [https://www.askelbi.com/] – Ai-powered guidance app for dementia caregivers. SafelyYou [https://www.safely-you.com/] – AI-enabled fall detection for senior care. Brookdale [https://www.brookdale.com/] – Senior living and memory care solutions.

Episode 17: Nomo Smart Care - Watching Without Cameras

How much tech is too much tech when monitoring a senior? After the siblings share how they navigated this balance with Joanna, they are joined by the team at Nomo Smart Care—an innovative monitoring system designed to help seniors maintain independence while giving caregivers much-needed peace of mind. President David Baer and Vice President of Marketing Lindsay Park stop by to discuss their unique approach to safety, which utilizes physical tags, motion detection, and proprietary software to ensure a safety net that respects privacy. Tune in to learn about Nomo’s features and how this technology is fundamentally transforming the caregiving experience. AND...use code Joanna10 for $10 off the Nomo Smart Care Essential Care Kit at nomosmartcare.com [http://nomosmartcare.com/].

Episode 16: Rabbi Josh Bennett - When It Comes To Faith, What Are We Missing?

Join us for an insightful conversation with Rabbi Josh Bennett from Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. We explore the role of spirituality, the impact of Jewish traditions, and how faith and community support us through life's challenges, including caring for a loved one with dementia. Don't miss the Rabbi's deep dive into Karin's spiritual perspective and his thoughts on what 'religious' really means. Note: We recorded the Rabbi the day before the tragic events at Temple Israel - we are incredibly grateful to the first responders and community members who kept our Temple safe.