Dementia and Caregiving

Getting Through the Holidays in Healthcare

In this episode of It's a Code You!, we're going to be talking about how to get through the holidays when you're working in healthcare. The holidays themselves can be a stressful time. There are financial stressors, requests for time commitments that can cause you to feel spread thin and just the over all expectations that you may feel from family and friends. When you factor in things like having to work holidays or there being less of a workforce due to time off, the holidays can feel anything but festive. So we'll talk about what are some of the things that might make working in healthcare more stressful during the holidays. And then we will talk about some ways that you can try to find some balance and joy amidst the chaos. Above all, we want to validate those feelings of overwhelm and stress. If you have any questions, concerns or comments please contact us at dhbhs.media@hitchcock.org

Dementia and Caregiving

November is National Family Caregivers Month. So for today's episode we are going to talk about being a caregiver for a loved one with dementia. Being a caregiver is so complicated, there can be so many layers to it. Not only do you step into a role of caretaking for, usually an older adult, but you've likely had roles with this person aside from being a caretaker like daughter, son, sibling, grandchild. Relationships also have their own story, both good and bad, prior to stepping into a role as a caregiver, which can make it more complicated. And maybe you have a family you're also caring for, a full-time job, and just other responsibilities. So we're very excited to have our guest here today to help us dive into some of the issues that surround those who are caregivers for loved ones with dementia. Our guest, Meredith Kolodze Meredith Kolodze, DSW, LICSW, is a dedicated Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in the field. Meredith has devoted her career to making a positive impact on the lives of older adults. As a Program Manager at NAMI NH, she specializes in providing essential training, education, and support to older adults and their families, focusing on mental health awareness and care. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact us at dhbhs.media@hitchcock.org [dhbhs.media@hitchcock.org] Resources: Book: The 36 Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins Book: Travelers to Unimaginable Lands by Dasha Kiper

Suicide Prevention

On this episode of It's a Code You!, we are going to be speaking with Angie Raymond Leduc, who is the Manager of the Injury Prevention Center within Population Health at Dartmouth Health. She is also a NAMI NH authorized Connect Suicide Prevention and Postvention Trainer. We will talk about Dartmouth's efforts and initiatives in suicide prevention, as well as general suicide prevention takeaways that anyone can use to support someone who is having thoughts of ending their life. Resources: DH Employee support: https://careers.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/Employee%20Wellness%20Mental%20Health%20Resources.pdf [https://careers.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/Employee%20Wellness%20Mental%20Health%20Resources.pdf] NAMI NH support groups: https://www.naminh.org/support-groups/ [https://www.naminh.org/support-groups/] Warning Signs Poster: Recognize the Warning Signs Poster NH 2024 Rev4 [https://www.naminh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/National-Recognize-the-Warning-Signs-Poster-2022.pdf-2.pdf]

Identifying Your Emotions

Today we're talking about something that seems really simple but a lot of folks struggle with it—but absolutely foundational to good mental health and great relationships: knowing how you feel. Have you ever said "I'm fine" when you're anything but? Have you ever felt so overwhelmed that you couldn't even begin to explain what was going on inside you? That's not just frustrating—it can deeply affect the way we communicate, make decisions, and relate to the people we care about most. So today, we'll explore: 1. What it really means to identify your emotions 2. Why this skill is so important for communication 3. How emotional awareness impacts your relationships 4. And practical ways you can build this skill—no matter where you're starting from Resources: Feelings Wheel for Adults www.calm.com/blog/the-feelings-wheel [https://www.calm.com/blog/the-feelings-wheel] Sources: • Barrett, L. F. (2017). How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, https://jyotsnabooks.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/how-emotions-are-made-the-secret-life-of-the-brain.pdf • https://hbr.org/2014/06/manage-a-difficult-conversation-with-emotional-intelligence • https://medium.com/%40johnnysbooksummaries/summary-of-emotional-intelligence-why-it-can-matter-more-than-iq-by-daniel-goleman-ce6d3fdf4254 • https://mindfulness.com/mindful-living/name-it-to-tame-it • https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/Putting-Feelings-Into-Words-Produces-8047 • https://positivepsychology.com/understanding-emotions/ • https://thefeelingswheel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/willcox1982_feelingswheel.pdf • https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-lisa-feldman-barrett-how-to-understand-emotions • https://www.mentalhealthwellnessmhw.com/blog/from-overwhelm-to-control-the-name-it-to-tame-it-method • https://www.nami.org/anxiety-disorders/critical-things-to-know-about-emotions-for-mental-health-and-healing/ • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meaningfull/202310/got-feelings-you-cant-explain-youre-not-alone • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindfulness-insights/202312/why-its-vital-to-identify-process-and-express-your-emotions • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229062501_Knowing_what_you%27re_feeling_and_knowing_what_to_do_about_it_Mapping_the_relation_between_emotion_differentiation_and_emotion_regulation?utm_source=chatgpt.com • https://www.unh.edu/pacs/recognizing-emotions

Identifying Our Needs

Often if we are feeling unhappy or unsure in a relationship it can be because our needs aren't being met. But what if you don't know what your needs are? Something that's paramount to understanding what you, as an individual, needs is your relationship with yourself. In this episode of It's a Code You!, we will help you understand how to cultivate your relationship with yourself, how to self-reflect and not only identify your needs but effectively communicate them to others. Sources: https://psychcentral.com/blog/weightless/2015/08/10-simple-questions-to-help-you-identify-or-clarify-your-needs#1 https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-self-care-is-and-what-it-isnt#what-it-isnt https://royallifecenters.com/how-to-find-and-meet-your-needs/ https://www.calm.com/blog/how-to-communicate-your-needs-in-a-relationship https://positivepsychology.com/self-actualization/ https://bigthink.com/life/self-actualization-gene/