How incorporating mindfulness in her daily life shaped her journey as a caregiver for her mom, with Jessica Smith (Episode 68)

In today’s episode, Jessica shares her incredible journey caring for her mom, Patti. Jessica shares how presence, mindfulness and bringing in joy helps her through the most difficult times in the caregiving process. Jessica talks about impermanence, managing her emotions as a caregiver and finding an incredible partnership in her husband, Ken. She talks about processing the concept of death and how she turned her uncertainties about death into her career. About Jessica:Jessica Smith is a care partner and advocate for her mother, Patti, who has been living with Alzheimer’s since 2014. By day, Jessica is the Director of Sales for Florida Realtors but recently, she was certified as adeath doula as a way to further honor her mom’s journey and prepare for what her family will inevitably face in the coming years. The guiding principles Jessica employs in caring for her Mom stem from her work as a meditation teacher and as a student of Eastern philosophies: compassion, presence,impermanence, and going with the flow. These tactics help her to show up for her mom consistently while always maintaining an air of peace.While they don’t live in the same state (Jessica lives in North Carolina and Patti is in Florida), they see each other very frequently and for long stretches at a time. They also speak daily and Jessica helps herstep-dad make the difficult day to day decisions that he’s faced with. Together with Jessica’s husband, Ken, the three of them serve as Patti’s constellation of support. To remain grounded, Jessica enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible whether it’s working in the garden with her husband, hiking, or taking daily walks. She is also a nutrition and health enthusiast,animal lover, dancer, and avid traveler. Both she and Patti are HUGE music lovers as well, which serves as an aide in Patti’s day to day care and overall enjoyment of life.Find Jessica on Instagram: @alzheimers_awakening*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving