Caregiver Chats

Home Instead, Inc.

The Caregiver Chats podcast is a space for family caregivers and care partners to find support and expertise to help make the caregiving journey a little more manageable. Dr. Lakelyn and her guests will focus on five key areas of caregiving that tend to be most challenging: Caregiver Support; Aging in Place; Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiving; Care Planning; and Caregiver Self-Care. Guests will include aging industry experts and advocates and caregivers who will share their experiences and personal stories with Dr. Lakelyn. New episodes will drop regularly on all major podcasting platforms.

  1. 1d ago

    83: The Surprising Truth About Navigating Vision Loss with Christi Stearns & Ricky Enger

    Dr. Lakelyn welcomes Cristi Stearns and Ricky Enger from Hadley, an organization that provides practical help, resources and community for adults adjusting to vision loss and the people who support them. Together, they discuss how family caregivers can support a loved one through vision changes while helping them maintain independence. Cristi and Ricky explore both the emotional and practical sides of vision loss, from recognizing changes and navigating grief or isolation to adapting everyday activities like driving and reading. They also share tools, technology, peer support and resources that can help people living with low vision, and their families, build confidence and stay connected. Episode highlights include: - Signs of vision loss and when to seek support - How vision loss can affect independence and emotional well-being - Tools and technology that can make daily life easier - The value of peer support and connection - Practical ways caregivers can support a loved one Helpful links from the episode: -Hadley: hadleyhelps.org To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caregiverchatspodcast | instagram.com/homeinsteadinc Facebook: facebook.com/homeinsteadinc YouTube: youtube.com/@HomeInsteadInc TikTok: tiktok.com/@homeinstead.inc

    83: The Surprising Truth About Navigating Vision Loss with Christi Stearns & Ricky Enger

  2. Oct 17

    82: Karen Sandone on Facing Younger-Onset Dementia as a Family

    Dr. Lakelyn welcomes family caregiver and advocate Karen Sandone to share her family’s journey after her husband, Anthony, was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 55. Karen opens up about the long road to a diagnosis, how Alzheimer’s changed the future they had imagined, and what she has learned about caregiving, grief, family and finding meaning in the present. Karen also shares how her family’s experience inspired her to become an advocate and help create Surviving the Now, a community for families navigating younger-onset Alzheimer’s. Through sharing their story, Karen hopes to raise awareness, create connection and help other caregivers know they are not alone. Episode highlights include: - Karen and Anthony’s journey to a younger-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis - How the diagnosis changed their family and plans for the future - Balancing caregiving, work, relationships and changing needs - Finding purpose through advocacy and sharing their story - Building community through Surviving the Now Helpful links from the episode: - Surviving the Now: survivingthenow.com - Instagram: @ksandone and @anthony_vs_alzheimers - TikTok: @ksandone and @Tonystok - Facebook: @klsandone To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caregiverchatspodcast | instagram.com/homeinsteadinc Facebook: facebook.com/homeinsteadinc YouTube: youtube.com/@HomeInsteadInc TikTok: tiktok.com/@homeinstead.inc

    82: Karen Sandone on Facing Younger-Onset Dementia as a Family

  3. Sep 30

    81: Nicole Will's Checklist for Choosing a Senior Living Community

    Dr. Lakelyn welcomes back Nicole Will, international thought leader on aging, caregiving and connection, to take a closer look at one of the biggest decisions families may face: moving a loved one into senior living. Building on their Episode 10 conversation about the care continuum, Nicole shares a more person-centered way to approach the search, one that begins not with the building, but with understanding where a loved one has the greatest opportunity to thrive. The conversation goes beyond choosing a community to explore what helps someone truly feel at home once they arrive. Nicole shares how families can look for signs of genuine connection, belonging and purpose, while continuing to play an important role in supporting and advocating for their loved one throughout the transition. Episode highlights include: - Why the search should start with the person, not the building - What to ask and notice when evaluating senior living communities - The difference between living in community and truly having community - Why integration, purpose and connection matter after move-in - How families can remain involved and advocate for their loved one - How technology can support connection and engagement in senior living 00:00 - Introduction & The Emotional Toll of Senior Living 06:28 - Start With the Person, Not the Building 12:18 - Living in a Community vs. Having Community 15:15 - Touring Tips & Spotting Red Flags 23:20 - Practical Considerations: Costs, Staffing, & Tech 32:28 - Understanding the Continuum of Senior Care 37:16 - Navigating Grief, Identity, & Integration Helpful links from the episode: - Caregiver Chats Episode 10, featuring Nicole Will: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/10-care-options-considerations-with-nicole-will/id1684948365?i=1000631357616 - WillGather Podcast: willgather.com - Rendever: rendever.com To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caregiverchatspodcast | instagram.com/homeinsteadinc Facebook: facebook.com/homeinsteadinc YouTube: youtube.com/@HomeInsteadInc TikTok: tiktok.com/@homeinstead.inc

    81: Nicole Will's Checklist for Choosing a Senior Living Community

  4. Sep 16

    80: What Matters Most at the End of Life with Dr. Julie Masters

    Dr. Lakelyn welcomes gerontologist Dr. Julie Masters for a thoughtful conversation about what it means to be there for someone we love at the end of life. Together, they explore why accepting death can be especially difficult for family caregivers, including how the loss of a loved one can also bring changes to a caregiver's identity and sense of purpose. They also discuss life review, meaning and connection, including ways families can create meaningful moments with loved ones experiencing memory changes. Dr. Masters shares perspective on how caregiving may shift at the end of life, from doing and fixing to simply being present, and how families can navigate letting go and saying goodbye. 05:03 Why society fears death 12:03 Hidden meaning inside hospice 15:02 Identity shifts in caregiving 20:46 4 phrases to say first 25:31 Waiting to pass alone 33:24 Processing relief after loss 37:34 Dementia and the end of life experience 46:33 Proof you've done enough Episode highlights include: - Why accepting death can be especially difficult for family caregivers - How caregiving shapes our identity and what happens when that role begins to change - Using life review to create meaning and connection, including for people experiencing memory changes - Understanding the emotional changes that can come as a loved one approaches the end of life - Redefining caregiving through presence, letting go and saying goodbye Helpful links from the episode: - Caregiver Chats Ep. 42: “Hospice and End-of-Life with Jules Stracquadanio”: - Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caregiver-chats/id1684948365 - Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3csmFRxvRSmhnT0JropmdG - YouTube: youtu.be/UI0o0VZDGdc - Caregiver Chats Ep. 53, “Let’s Talk About Death with Lisa of Death Deck”: - Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caregiver-chats/id1684948365 - Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/39mTUFYFt40Vp9cMtB05D4 - YouTube: youtu.be/WB44JARGEA0 - Learn more about the Department of Gerontology at University of Nebraska-Lincoln: gerontology.unl.edu - Area Agency on Aging, Lincoln, Live & Learn podcast: youtube.com/@aginglivelearn To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caregiverchatspodcast | instagram.com/homeinsteadinc Facebook: facebook.com/homeinsteadinc YouTube: youtube.com/@HomeInsteadInc TikTok: tiktok.com/@homeinstead.inc

    80: What Matters Most at the End of Life with Dr. Julie Masters

  5. Aug 30

    79: Caring for a Narcissistic Parent Without Losing Yourself with Rebecca Johnson, LMHC

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by licensed mental health counselor Rebecca Johnson for an honest conversation about one of caregiving's most complicated and often unspoken realities, caring for a narcissistic parent. For many adult children, becoming a caregiver means stepping back into painful family dynamics that never truly healed. Feelings of obligation, guilt, resentment, grief, and responsibility can exist alongside love and compassion. Rebecca shares practical strategies for navigating these complex relationships while protecting your emotional well-being and maintaining healthy boundaries. Together, they discuss how caregivers can care for someone who once caused emotional harm, why boundaries are acts of protection rather than punishment, and how healing can happen even when the relationship never becomes what you hoped it would be. Episode highlights include: -Understanding the unique challenges of caring for a narcissistic parent. -Why caregiving can reactivate childhood wounds and trauma. -Navigating guilt, obligation, and difficult family expectations. -The importance of boundaries (or "parameters") during caregiving. -The difference between self-care and soul care. -Coping with ambiguous grief, anticipatory grief, and disenfranchised grief. -Practical tools for protecting your mental health while providing care. Helpful links from the episode: -Restoration Counseling: restorationcounselingfl.com -Workbook (on Amazon): Finding Your True North: A Recovery Workbook for Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents: a.co/d/0e8u3htA - After the Narcissicist Private Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/afterthenarcissist/ - Dr. Ramani YouTube channel: youtube.com/@DoctorRamani To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @caregiverchatspodcast @homeinsteadinc Facebook: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    79: Caring for a Narcissistic Parent Without Losing Yourself with Rebecca Johnson, LMHC

  6. Aug 17

    78: Lessons from the Caregiving Journey with Yvette Nicole Brown

    Dr. Lakelyn welcomes Emmy-nominated actress, producer, author, and caregiver advocate Yvette Nicole Brown for an honest and heartfelt conversation about caring for her father, who is living with Alzheimer's disease. Together, they discuss Yvette's caregiving journey, the lessons she's learned over more than a decade, and how her background in acting and improvisation has helped her navigate the ever-changing world of dementia care with flexibility, humor, and grace. They also explore the importance of caregiver advocacy, including Yvette's work with Care Out Loud, Hilarity for Charity, and her upcoming keynote at the National Alliance for Caregiving Summit. Episode highlights include: -Yvette's caregiving journey with her father -How improv has shaped her approach to caregiving -Lessons learned along the way -The importance of caregiver advocacy and community -What she wishes she knew when she first became a caregiver Helpful resources from this episode: -Squeezed podcast with Yvette Nicole Brown: lemonadamedia.com/show/squeezed -Instagram: @yvettenicolebrown -Care Out Loud: wecareoutloud.org -Hilarity for Charity: wearehfc.org -National Alliance for Caregiving: caregiving.org To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @caregiverchatspodcast @homeinsteadinc Facebook: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    78: Lessons from the Caregiving Journey with Yvette Nicole Brown

  7. Jul 30

    77: Hearing Loss: Signs & Solutions with Dr. Debbie Abel, AuD

    Dr. Lakelyn welcomes audiologist Dr. Debbie Abel for an important conversation about hearing loss and why recognizing it early can make a tremendous difference in health, relationships, and quality of life. Hearing loss is often dismissed as a normal part of aging, but untreated hearing loss can affect communication, increase social isolation, contribute to fall risk, and is associated with cognitive decline. Dr. Abel shares practical advice for family caregivers on recognizing the signs, starting compassionate conversations, understanding today's hearing technology, and helping loved ones successfully adjust to hearing aids. Episode highlights include: - Signs a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss - Why hearing loss should never be ignored - How to start the conversation with compassion - What happens during an audiology evaluation - Practical communication tips for families - How hearing aids have changed over the years - Why adjustment takes time—and why follow-up appointments matter - The connection between hearing loss, dementia, and fall risk Helpful links from the episode: - HearingLoss.com - American Academy of Audiology: audiology.org - Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): hearingloss.org - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): asha.org - Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on hearing loss: cdc.gov/hearing-loss/about/ - Cliff Olson, AuD - YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DrCliffAuD To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @caregiverchatspodcast @homeinsteadinc Facebook: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    77: Hearing Loss: Signs & Solutions with Dr. Debbie Abel, AuD

  8. Jul 15

    76: How to Talk with Kids About Dementia and Grief with Mindy Crouch, LCSW

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by geriatric social worker and author Mindy Crouch for a thoughtful conversation about helping children understand dementia and grief. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience supporting older adults and families, Mindy shares practical guidance for caregivers who are navigating difficult conversations with children after a loved one is diagnosed with dementia or experiences a significant loss. Together, they discuss how honest, age-appropriate conversations can reduce fear, strengthen family bonds, and help children develop healthy coping skills. Mindy also shares how her interactive children's books, Understanding Dementia and The 4 Bridges of Grief, empower families to learn, process emotions, and stay connected through life's most challenging moments. Episode highlights: -Why children should be included in conversations about dementia and grief.  -Common misconceptions children have about memory loss and death. -Age-appropriate ways to explain dementia. -Helping children express difficult emotions and ask questions. -Interactive activities and resources families can use together. Links from the episode: - mindycrouch.com -PandoGeriatrics.com  To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at caregiverchats@homeinsteadinc.com. Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @caregiverchatspodcast @homeinsteadinc Facebook: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    76: How to Talk with Kids About Dementia and Grief with Mindy Crouch, LCSW
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4.7
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

The Caregiver Chats podcast is a space for family caregivers and care partners to find support and expertise to help make the caregiving journey a little more manageable. Dr. Lakelyn and her guests will focus on five key areas of caregiving that tend to be most challenging: Caregiver Support; Aging in Place; Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiving; Care Planning; and Caregiver Self-Care. Guests will include aging industry experts and advocates and caregivers who will share their experiences and personal stories with Dr. Lakelyn. New episodes will drop regularly on all major podcasting platforms.

Information

  • Creator
    Home Instead, Inc.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Home Instead, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Caregiver Chats

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