Lisa and Lana: Taking Care of Our Parents

Sometimes caring for our parents feels like a 100% of our time is spent focused on their needs and their journey. But this is your life too!So let's take some time to talk about us ... the caregivers!  What are we learning about ourselves... as we care for others?How do we gain perspective when our world feels narrow and restricted?In this episode, we'll share some of the things were discovering, and some techniques we have found helpful when we feel stuck in a constant loop of past regrets and worries about our future.We're so glad to have you join us today! We know that carving out time to take care of yourself, while taking care of your parents, sometimes feelsimpossible. Thank you for spending some of your valuable time with us.****************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

Sore knees can make life miserable. But having knee replacementsurgery is a big deal.  And we're not going to lie to you, caring for your elderly parents, post surgery, is a lot. Be prepared to be super tiredfor at least the first 2 weeks.In this episode, we'll share our experiences of caring for our loved onesand walk you through some helpful things to know about the realities of kneepain and knee surgery.What are some non-surgical options?When is it time to have the knee replacement surgery?What you need to do to get your parents and their home preppedScheduling care for your parents post op is serious businessA bit about the surgeryWhat does recovery look like for your parent ... and for you?How to motivate your parents to do the necessary Physical Therapy?It's an undertaking for sure. But with a bit of planning and some patience, you'll get through it!! We promise!****************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

Medication can be so confusing! And truthfully everything just gets even more complex as your parents get older.In this super informative episode, we will share our stories about what we've learned along the way and also mistakes that we've both made.Nurse Lana has a wealth of professional and personal experience as she cares for her father-in-law with the very complex and complicated Parkinson's Disease.We will discuss the things that are confusing, what to watch out for, solutions and some great suggestions and ideas on how to manage the sometimes unmanageable world of medications.****************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

The Grady family finally has hospice care in the home.And now we find out what that looks like.How does hospice help?How does dad feel about this stage of his life?What does it feel like for the family?As with all of our episodes, there will be stories and laughter and a few tears. ****************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

In our last episode we discussed what happened that led up to the Grady family's decision to bring in Hospice care.Now it's time to discuss this new and scary option with dad.It's never an easy conversation. And no matter how much you prepare, things change quickly. There will always be surprises. But it's always helpful to listen to other peoples stories and perhaps get a few ideas of how you'll handle this stage in your caregiving journey.****************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan Creamer Find us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

Hospice.  A word that strikes fear.The path to Hospice Care is unique for every individual and every family.In this Three Part Series we share the personal journey and experiences of the Grady family's decision to begin this important stage of caring for our parents.What is hospice?How do you approach talking about it?How do you begin?What's it like?In Part One, we talk all about what happened that brought us to the point where comfort care was needed for Ron Grady.Info:Pema Chodron: Embracing the Unknown****************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan Creamer Find us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

The dreaded UTI.  When you meet another person who is also caring for their elderly parent, the UTI is the biggest ice breaker.  The topic comes up and the conversation quickly moves to swapping horror stories, commiserating, and complaining.In this episode we go over the traditional symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection and why they are often not helpful at all when determining if your parent has a problem.As always we share our own experiences (mostly so you can learn from our mistakes) and give you some things to be on the lookout for, outside the normal symptoms. We'll discuss some helpful preventative measures, and give you a few methods and tools that can get your parents the assistance and medical care they need.****************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW??!Unfortunately, too often, the answer is … no. Your parent’s hearing loss can cause a lot of conflicts, frustration, and loneliness.In today’s episode we share our experiences and the things we've learned along the way. What causes hearing loss? What issues does the loss cause? How do we spot when our parents are struggling?– especially the early stages.And what are the solutions to help with hearing loss? – Sometimes it’s an easy fix! Some solutions are too expensive. And often the options aren’t really helpful at all - and even seem to create more problems.But never worry! We’ll share our stories and all of the things we are learning about how to connect and communicate with our parents – and give you some methods to make you and your parents lives just a bit easier.JBL Headphoneshttps://a.co/d/dNUXaQR***************************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

Pack your bags!  We're going on a guilt trip!Guilt is one of the most common feelings we caregivers experience. Unfortunately, resentment and anger usually love to tag along for the trip.  When these three emotions are fed a daily dose of - a lack of sleep, overwhelm, and not being appreciated...things can get ugly.It's important for those in the trenches to know that what you're feeling is normal and you're not alone.  So, in this episode we share our stories of guilt, anger, and resentment with heartfelt honesty and, as always, with some laughter.But don't worry! You'll also get some insights and things were learning along the way.  We may not be able to completely unpack this heavy bag, but we have some tips to lighten the load a bit.Click to watch: Anger: Responding, Not Reacting, with Tara BrachClick to watch: Listening to shame | Brené Brown | TED***************************************************************Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

You definitely need to listen to this episode!! If you're parent hasn't already been in the hospital, they most likely will at some point.Maybe it will be a planned surgery or maybe it'll be an urgent 911 call. Either way, you need to be as prepared as possible and Nurse Lana walks us through the whole dang process!   This episode is chock full of our stories and lots of helpful and important information to make the process less scary.Going to the Hospital for a planned procedure:Getting yourself, the house and both of your parents prepared for a planned visit to the hospitalDiscussions with the surgeon and nursing staff about what to expect and what care and equipment you will need when they come homeGetting to and from the hospitalWhat do you need to make sure to take with you to the hospital? The 911 call:Like a fire drill, making sure you know what you need to do when you have to make that call is the key. What can you have in place so you're not running around the house freaking out?  It's an overwhelming moment while caring for your parent.The Hospital Stay:Be your parents advocate. What does that mean? What does that look like?Follow your intuition and know your rightsWho do you contact when things go wrong or you have concerns on your parents care?Who is the Nurse Care Manager? (also known as the Social Worker/Discharge nurse) When do you reach out to them and why are they so important in your parents care?Navigating the tricky process of getting your parents discharged and homeWhat is the hospital's process? And why does it take sooo long?Managing your parents expectationsManaging your own expectations Discharge paperwork, referrals, prescriptions, and waiting! (Usually with parents who aren't feeling well and are very impatient and frustrated. ) It's a lot!Expectations for when they come home:Home Care - How is it set up? When will you hear from them?Understanding the responsibilities and time table of the Home Care Team: Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech therapist, and AidWhat is your parents state both mentally and physically and making sure their recovery goes a smooth as possible.This episode will truly make a difference in your caregiving journey!!Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

We caregivers take on a lot of roles as we go through the various stages of caring for our parents.  Sometimes it's just too much.  Sometimes it's not sustainable for our own health.  If you're anything like us, stating your own needs, and letting go of some of these roles and responsibilities feels almost impossible.  How do we learn to ask for help? ... when we really hate asking for help.Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

We're finishing up our conversation on "Home for the Holidays" and a quick focus on the family dynamics - specifically the siblings. You might be the sibling who lives at home and cares for your parents there. You might be the sibling who cares about your parents from afar. The holidays are time when everyone gets together and often these two perspectives can collide. In today's episode we share some insights in what each of these groups might be feeling and give some suggestions in how better to handle these tricky days.Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

Holidays are tricky at the best of times. But as our parents get older, things get even trickier.We'll give you things to look for, to get a better idea if your parents are struggling.(they can be really good at hiding that fact)Then we'll talk about the dinners, events, parties.  Are your folks still willing or even able to host?How can we help? And what traditions might need to change to make our holidays a bit easier.And finally, if your parents are in the later stages of health, how do we makesure they are safe and feel included in our family celebrations.Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerAdditional original music by:Michael Ramir C.Grady Miller / GradyMillerMusic.comPodcast recorded at Second Story Sound, Grand Rapids, MIFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents

Welcome to our podcast!  We are two old friends, Lisa Grady and Lana Davis, and each week we share  the realities of caregiving, with some humor, storytelling, problem-solving and honest reality checks. With our first-hand and hard-earned knowledge, we give you tangible tips, tools and take-aways, knowing full well that caring for your parents, can easily become overwhelming, frustrating, draining, absurd, and sometimes…not so pretty. IYKYKSo, if you’re also in the thick of it and feel like no one “gets it” – this is the place for you!  Join us!  You are not alone!Podcast theme written and sung by Lisa GradyTheme music produced by Ricardo GiarratanaAll graphics and characters created by Nan CreamerFind us on our Linktree!linktr.ee/takingcareofourparents