If It's Not One Thing, It's Joanna

Karin and Andrew Edelson

Siblings Karin and Andrew Edelson are caring for their mother, Joanna, who has Alzheimer's. One year ago, they did the unthinkable - moving Joanna from assisted living back into the home she’s lived in for over 50 years. With the help of amazing caregivers, volunteer visitors, and Andrew, who has also moved back home, they are creating a lovely existence for their mom. Joanna finds joy in playing the piano and singing, belting out catchy riffs on classic tunes. Join them on their journey as they share stories about their experience and seek advice from experts on how to care for a loved one who is struggling with this devastating disease. In this podcast, they explain how they find humor and humanity while creating a community of caregiving listeners.

  1. 12/30/2025

    Episode 13: The Delicate Dance Of Siblings And Seniors

    In this conversation, Stacey McCandlish shares her family's journey, focusing on the dynamics between siblings as they navigate rapid changes in their parents’ care and, ultimately, a cross country move. The discussion highlights the importance of communication, planning, and the roles each family member plays in ensuring the well-being of their parents. Through personal anecdotes, Stacey illustrates the impact of dementia, the struggles and triumphs of managing care, and the need for siblings to come together in these challenging times. Chapters (00:00:06) - 耀 Lucky 13(00:02:05) - A Taste of Dementia on the Podcast(00:07:22) - Stacy on Her Parents' Drama(00:09:57) - Stacey McCandlish on Caregiving(00:16:52) - The Alzheimer's Care Transition(00:24:01) - A moment of silence for the chronically ill(00:24:42) - The Pain of Grieving Your Parents' Death(00:29:35) - What Advice Would You Have for People Going Through a Senior Care Transition(00:34:37) - The Dignity of Alzheimer's(00:38:11) - This Cross Country Move for a Senior Citizen(00:42:08) - A Silent Retreat for Caregivers

    47 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    Episode 12: When Hospice Is A Journey, Not A Destination

    In the final episode of our three-part series on under-utilized resources, we chat with Hope Dudek of Michigan Palliative and Hospice Care. Hope walks us through the medical aspects of hospice care, exploring its holistic approach to patient care, the role of caregivers, eligibility misconceptions, and the importance of comfort and quality of life. Hope shares insights on navigating medical decisions, the emotional support provided to families, and the financial aspects of hospice care. The discussion emphasizes that hospice is a choice, focused on enhancing life quality rather than hastening death, and it aims to dispel common myths surrounding hospice services. Chapters (00:00:03) - What You Need to Know About Hospice Care(00:01:57) - Thanksgiving at Mom's House(00:03:05) - How to Have a Thanksgiving With Split Families(00:08:17) - What Do We Do About Hospice Care?(00:09:45) - Medical aspects of hospice(00:11:32) - What Is Hospice? (Social) Care(00:20:07) - The Importance of Hospice(00:24:08) - Does Hospice Matter?(00:32:09) - What's the longest you've ever heard of anybody staying at hosp(00:36:14) - When to call hospice? Advice from professionals(00:42:35) - A Minute With Hospice: What's Included in the Care?(00:47:06) - Is It Time to Talk About Hospice?

    51 min

  3. 12/04/2025

    Episode 11: Wait, What? This Is Hospice?

    Our 3-part series on hidden gem resources continues as we sit down with Leslie Katz, Director of Patient Services at the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (JHCN). After we share Joanna's wonderful experience with JHCH, Leslie shines a light on their crucial non-medical support for seniors with life-limiting illnesses. She dispels common misconceptions by showing how broad hospice care can be, and how seniors without a hospice designation can still enjoy JHCN's services. The discussion covers everything from managing anticipatory grief to the vital role of social work, spiritual care, and unique life enrichment services like art, music and pet visits. Leslie illuminates their wide-ranging mission and how community donations sustain their essential support for patients and families. For more info and guidance, regardless of your loved one's current status, reach out to JHCN. https://jhcn.org Chapters (00:00:06) - A Ghost Appears in the Elevator(00:01:32) - Caring for a Dementian with dementia(00:02:46) - Seniors with dementia: resources to support their care(00:03:38) - There's a Camp for seniors with dementia(00:04:40) - Jewish Hospice Chaplaincy Network(00:09:15) - Dulcet Songs for Mom(00:11:05) - Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network(00:21:00) - What services can the dementia patient attend?(00:27:47) - Palliative Care in the End of Life(00:35:01) - Seniors in the Care(00:37:45) - Happy Valentine's Day, Joanna(00:39:09) - The Gift of Hospice: Available Resources for Seniors(00:43:33) - A Little Song for Your Mother

    45 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    Episode 10: Boosting Brains and Bodies At The Brown Center

    In the first of a new series on little-known resources, we chat with Sharilyn Rowe of The Brown Center - an adult day care for seniors with dementia. We explore effective strategies for engaging participants through various activities and cognitive stimulation techniques. The discussion emphasizes the importance of helping seniors keep their bodies and minds active, even in decline, and Sharilyn gives us some tips on how we can apply these techniques in the home setting. Chapters (00:00:08) - A Taste of Senior Care: Episode 10(00:02:21) - Our Special Guest for Today(00:05:31) - A Daycare for Alzheimer's Patients(00:12:19) - The Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program(00:18:16) - Living With Alzheimer's: Activities for Everyone(00:22:44) - How many participants are at the YMCA?(00:23:41) - Group Discussion at the Alzheimer's Program(00:25:01) - How is the Brown Center funded?(00:27:37) - The Brown Center's positive impact(00:28:48) - Caregiver with dementia asks for help(00:35:35) - A Mother's Night Out(00:36:32) - The Brown Center for the Deaf(00:38:35) - Looking for meaningful activities for your loved one with dementia in the future

    43 min

  5. 11/10/2025

    Episode 9: Snarky Sheila's Senior Status Report

    This is the first time that we actually interviewed a senior, our family friend Sheila Stone. She shares her experiences with the challenges of aging, especially in light of her family history, where she witnessed her mother and sister live with dementia. She discusses her past career, relationships with her children and the importance of maintaining independence as she ages. Sheila offers unfiltered insights into how families can manage tough conversations with their aging loved ones and stresses the value of community and social connections. Chapters (00:00:03) - Is Your Love Ready For The Countdown(00:00:19) - Caring for My Mother With Alzheimer's(00:01:11) - A Chat With a Senior with dementia(00:04:48) - An Interview with My Mother(00:07:59) - In the Elevator With Hillary Clinton(00:08:41) - We've come up with an easy test to find out whether you have dementia(00:10:41) - A Senior Citizen's Conversation About Dementia(00:11:48) - So Your Mother Had Alzheimer's...(00:15:25) - In the Elevator With Ron Daly(00:18:56) - What led to you leaving Huntington Woods(00:20:12) - When Did You Stop Driving?(00:22:44) - Seniors talk about the independence(00:24:17) - Seniors on the Walker(00:27:05) - A Parent's Advice for Kids(00:28:02) - In the Elevator With Bridge(00:30:25) - A Bridge Guest's Last Words(00:31:38) - Sheila on Her Mother's Retirement(00:36:46) - How to Deal with a Dementia Mom's Outings(00:42:35) - Pretty Things For Your Mother

    43 min

  6. 10/13/2025

    Episode 8: Juggling Care, Career, and Chaos

    In the final episode of the three-part series on family caregiving, lifelong friend Jill Schumacher joins the siblings to discuss the challenges of caring for her mom, even with caregivers in the house 24 hours a day. Through humor and heartfelt stories, they explore the balance of personal and professional life and share the ups and downs of caring for an aging parent. Karin and Andrew then offer takeaways from the series, emphasizing the power of community and self-care. Programming note: Andrew experienced some technical difficulties for a brief time during this episode. Any listener who emails us the timestamp of when Andrew audibly expresses frustration (which we left in) will receive a shout out during an upcoming episode. Email your response to: ifitsnotone@gmail.com. Chapters (00:00:02) - A Mother's Love Letter(00:00:37) - A Little Micro-Series(00:01:01) - Family Caregiving, Part 3(00:03:47) - Jill Schumacher on the Village of Huntington Woods(00:09:55) - Deborah on Her Dad's Anger(00:14:30) - People Talk About Death On The Podcast(00:16:57) - My 87-Year-Old Mother's Fall(00:21:52) - The Resident Who Gave My Mom Covid(00:22:22) - Living with a chronically ill mom(00:26:17) - How to Balance Caregiving and Your Mom's Care(00:29:26) - How Much Time Does a Caregiver Have to Dedicate to(00:33:30) - Walking With My Mom's Caregiver(00:36:59) - Andrew On His Mother's Alzheimer's(00:40:52) - Kramer on His Friendship With Jill(00:42:09) - PODCAST: Getting a Wired Mic(00:43:05) - Jill on 24.7 Care(00:44:14) - Caregiver Voices: Community(00:47:30) - A Voice for Family Caregivers

    51 min

  7. 09/29/2025

    Episode 7: From College Student To Caregiver at 21

    Karin and Andrew continue to delve into the challenges and triumphs of caregiving within families. They are joined by Alyssa Riddle, a yoga instructor who has been a caregiver for her father since a young age. Alyssa shares her journey of balancing her personal life with the responsibilities of caregiving, offering insights into the emotional and practical aspects of this role. The conversation touches on themes of love, family dynamics, and the unexpected paths life can take. Tune in to hear Alyssa's inspiring story and learn how she navigates her unique situation with grace and compassion.

    35 min

  8. 09/12/2025

    Episode 6: Family Caregiving Part 1 - Does Dad Know It's Me?

    The siblings kick off their 3-part series exploring the experiences of family members thrust into the role of caring for aging parents—examining not just the day-to-day work, but also the strategies these caregivers use to cope with the emotional toll. In Part 1, they share their personal journey caring for Joanna, and sit down with longtime friend Howard Krugel, who stepped in when his father became too much for his senior home staff to manage. Howard shares an inspiring story of love, resilience, and discovering blessings in the most challenging times.  Chapters (00:00:02) - Wish Upon A Star(00:01:05) - A caregiver's yoga practice(00:03:46) - The Challenges of Family Caregiving(00:04:43) - The Challenges of Taking Care of Mom(00:09:57) - One caregiver's struggle with mom's dementia(00:13:27) - A 90-year-old woman's struggle to get out of(00:15:37) - Interviewing Mom(00:17:16) - Welcome Howard Krugel to the Podcast(00:18:35) - How are you doing with ALS?(00:19:33) - How to care for an Alzheimer's patient with dementia(00:26:59) - How to Take Care of Your Dad With Alzheimer's(00:35:55) - The Cost of Care for ailing Dad(00:39:28) - A Caregiving for the Alzheimer's patient(00:43:18) - Howard On His Dad's Death(00:47:49) - A message about the podcast(00:49:25) - Oh Sam, You're So Beautiful

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Siblings Karin and Andrew Edelson are caring for their mother, Joanna, who has Alzheimer's. One year ago, they did the unthinkable - moving Joanna from assisted living back into the home she’s lived in for over 50 years. With the help of amazing caregivers, volunteer visitors, and Andrew, who has also moved back home, they are creating a lovely existence for their mom. Joanna finds joy in playing the piano and singing, belting out catchy riffs on classic tunes. Join them on their journey as they share stories about their experience and seek advice from experts on how to care for a loved one who is struggling with this devastating disease. In this podcast, they explain how they find humor and humanity while creating a community of caregiving listeners.

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