The Proactive Caregiver

What I Wish I Knew

Jessica expands on the Invisible Caregivers - Cultural Diversity episode to spot light how language barriers includes the medical jargon which is connected to billable codes in the US. Expressing our feelings or symptoms we may be experiencing is hard enough. Adding in the language barriers with medical doctors makes it feel impossible to communicate our needs as caregivers. If you are struggling to find healthcare assistance beyond the typical prescription pad response, a Naturopathic doctor may be your answer. Let's make a conscious effort to change the caregiver culture together. Jessica dives a little deeper on why seeking a second, third, and finally a fourth opinion was necessary in the fight to heal her kidneys before needing dialysis.

Invisible Caregivers - Cultural Diversity

It's is already so challenging for caregivers to find resources in their areas. So what happens to the countless caregivers that become invisible because there is a language barrier such as the large Spanish speaking community? Listen in as founder of Caregiving Café, Lynn Greenblatt, joins Jessica to discuss the need for a spotlight on the invisible caregivers in a multicultural society. Learn more at https://proactivecaregivere.com

Caregiver Compass - Knowing What To Do Next

Whether you are a caregiver with tons of family support or you're like many others, learning to navigate the twists and turns, you will eventually ask, "Now what?" Finding Care Navigators like Dura Sims is such a blessing, but what if you don't know that her services are available? What do you once you reach the limit of your abilities or knowledge. Listen in as Jessica goes into more context of caregiver needs, and especially those who feel like they have reached a dead end. When a family caregiver realizes they are in over their head it is usually because they are at their breaking point.

Changing the Caregiver Navigation Process

Navigating each stage of the caregiving journey is challenging. Once you think you have a handle on the highs and lows or odd challenges, your loved one's needs shift yet again. So what do you do aside from panic or having a tantrum on the inside yet showing a face of calm on the outside? Listen in as Dura Sims shares how her world seemed to turn upside down as a professional hospice care coordinator. Dura's background spans in over 30 years of healthcare services, yet became a caregiver for her mother and found herself frustrated with the lack of knowledge and resources available to caregivers. She channeled this frustration into creating a consulting service for senior care solutions in many stages of life. What we need in the early stages of our journey is quite different as we near the end stages.

Why Self-Care Is Not Selfish

Listen in as Jessica expands on the Becoming Proactive episode to spot light how self-care is overlooked. We learn by watching our parents and then as we go out into the real world our habits change. Sometimes those changes are improvements while other times convenience and avoidance puts a damper on our self-care regimens. What do you say to convince yourself that certain habits are not important or can wait for the perpetual tomorrow? Are you waiting for the moment of crisis? Burnout? Or for a doctor to prescribe antidepressants because reacting to life is getting harder. When I stop to reflect on our system of healthcare and insurance and how it is not designed for prevention, I realize the responsibility is ours to ensure self-care habits are created and maintained. Let's make a conscious effort to change together. We need to pour into ourselves for replenishment, recharging, and reprograming our minds, hearts, and soul. Jessica dives a little deeper on why self-care is not selfish as she shares her moments of how our heart space can make a world of difference on your caregiving journey.