Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families

Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Medicine

Welcome to Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, where we empower families to navigate the complexities of aging and healthcare. Presented by Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, we share real stories, expert advice, and practical tools to help you and your loved ones confidently navigate aging with dignity. We explore topics like creating collaborative care plans, demystifying Medicare, handling healthcare crises, and preparing for the future. Join us as we transform uncertainty into understanding.

  1. Jun 22

    Financial Planning for Seniors

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos continue Season 2 with an essential conversation about financial planning for aging adults and family caregivers. Joined by Certified Financial Planner™and Wealth Management Advisor Dave Czarnecki, they discuss why financial planning is about much more than money; it involves protecting independence, preserving dignity, reducing family stress, and creating options for future care. The discussion explores common planning mistakes families make when they wait until a crisis occurs, how to organize important financial and legal documents, and why proactive planning helps aging adults maintain greater control over future decisions. Dave also provides a practical overview of long-term care planning and long-term care insurance, including when to begin researching coverage, common misconceptions about Medicare and long-term care costs, and the importance of having a strategy to fund future care needs. Throughout the conversation, Pam, Linda, and Dave emphasize that getting your affairs in order does not have to happen all at once. Small, consistent steps taken today can help families avoid financial regret, reduce conflict, and create a smoother path through caregiving, health challenges, and care transitions.  Key Moments: 00:00 – Season 2 Begins: Why Financial Planning Matters for Aging Adults Pam and Linda introduce Season 2 and explain why proactive financial planning is an essential part of aging well and reducing future family stress. 01:43 – Meet Dave: Certified Financial Planner™ and Fiduciary Advisor Dave shares his professional background and explains what it means to serve clients as a fiduciary advisor. 03:23 – Starting Financial Planning with Family Goals and Priorities Learn why financial planning should begin with your values, lifestyle goals, caregiving preferences, and family priorities—not just numbers. 05:13 – Costly Mistakes Families Make When They Delay Planning Dave discusses how waiting until a crisis occurs can limit options, increase costs, and create unnecessary stress for families. 07:45 – What “Getting Your Affairs in Order” Really Means Discover the key components of organizing financial, legal, and personal information before an emergency happens. 10:04 – Essential Legal and Financial Documents Every Family Needs Dave outlines the critical documents every aging adult should have in place, including powers of attorney, wills, trusts, and advance directives. 13:02 – How to Start Difficult Conversations with Aging Parents Practical tips for approaching sensitive planning discussions in a way that feels supportive rather than threatening. 14:57 – Three Simple Steps to Begin Planning Today Dave shares three practical actions listeners can take right away to start organizing important information and creating a plan. 16:19 – Supporting Aging Parents Without Taking Over Learn how adult children can offer assistance while still respecting a parent's independence, dignity, and decision-making authority. 17:58 – Documents and Information to Gather Before an Emergency A checklist of the financial, medical, legal, and contact information families should keep readily accessible. 19:18 – Long-Term Care Insurance Explained Dave provides a clear overview of what long-term care insurance is, what it covers, and how it can help fund future care needs. 22:19 – When to Consider Long-Term Care Insurance Find out why timing matters and why many professionals recommend exploring long-term care insurance before health issues arise. 24:03 – Common Myths About Long-Term Care Insurance Dave addresses common misconceptions, including assumptions about Medicare coverage and the affordability of long-term care insurance. 25:40 – Building Long-Term Care into Your Financial Plan Learn how long-term care planning fits into a broader strategy that includes finances, legal planning, and care coordination. 27:15 – Reducing Stress During Health Changes and Care Transitions Discover how advance planning can help families navigate illness, hospitalization, and caregiving transitions with greater confidence. 29:12 – What If You Feel Like You've Waited Too Long? Dave offers encouragement and explains why it is rarely too late to take meaningful steps toward better planning. 30:03 – Preserving Independence, Choice, and Dignity A discussion about how thoughtful financial planning helps aging adults maintain control over future care decisions. 32:40 – One Action Step: A 30-Minute Document Inventory Dave's simple challenge for listeners: spend 30 minutes gathering and organizing important documents this week. 33:02 – What Avoiding Financial Regret Looks Like Real-life examples illustrate how preparation can help families avoid unnecessary financial losses, conflict, and rushed decisions. 34:38 – Building Your Professional Planning Team Dave shares the value of working with trusted professionals, including financial planners, elder law attorneys, nurse advocates, and care experts. About Dave Czarnecki, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®, RICP®, WMCP®, CLTC®:  As a Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee, WI, Dave works with clients nationwide through virtual consultations. His team specializes in comprehensive financial planning for entrepreneurs and tech industry professionals, focusing on equity compensation diversification strategies.  He primarily assists closely held business owners and highly compensated tech professionals. His goal is to simplify the complexities of equity compensation, including RSUs, ISOs, ESPPs, stock options, and concentrated stock positions, through personalized planning that supports long-term financial freedom and optimizes tax efficiency.  With nearly a decade of experience, Dave has guided a diverse array of clients through major milestones such as scaling businesses, liquidity events, promotions, and retirement. Whether designing stock diversification plans, implementing tax-efficient strategies, or preparing for a business exit, he helps clients align their wealth with their goals.  He holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, Retirement Income Certified Professional, Wealth Management Certified Professional, and Certified in Long-Term Care. Dave graduated from Ripon College with a degree in mathematics and minors in economics and computer science. Outside of work, he lives in Waukesha, WI, with my wife and 3 children, and enjoys exploring the Greater Milwaukee area, coaching my children's sports teams, camping, and playing tennis & golf. __

    37 min

  2. Jun 8

    Getting Your Affairs in Order

    Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos launch into the main themes of Season 2 with this episode, exploring getting your affairs in order by diving into estate planning, powers of attorney, wills, trusts, probate, and protecting family assets. Joined by attorneys Stephen Howitz and Pedro Hernandez of Zimmer and Rens LLC, the discussion focuses on why planning ahead matters for aging adults, caregivers, and adult children. Trying to navigate difficult healthcare and financial decisions is a complex process. Together, they explain how legal planning can reduce stress and protect loved ones, avoiding unnecessary court involvement and helping families feel more prepared during health crises or end-of-life transitions. Pam, Linda, Stephen, and Pedro break down complicated legal topics into practical, easy-to-understand guidance for families caring for aging parents. They explain the differences between wills and trusts, why powers of attorney are critical, how probate works, and what can happen when no legal planning is in place. They explore blended family concerns, protecting a parent’s home, Medicaid considerations, guardianship, and the emotional realities caregivers face when trying to help loved ones stay independent while preparing for the future. This episode offers compassionate, practical advice to help families start important conversations before a crisis happens. Key Moments: 00:00 — Why Estate Planning Matters for Aging Adults Pam and Linda introduce the importance of legal planning, estate organization, and protecting aging adults and caregivers from unnecessary stress. 02:02 — Meet Attorneys Stephen Howitz and Pedro Hernandez Stephen and Pedro share their backgrounds in estate planning, probate, real estate law, and helping families prepare for aging and end-of-life transitions. 04:12 — Why Estate Planning Should Start Before a Crisis The guests explain why powers of attorney and advance planning are essential before medical emergencies happen. 07:35 — What Happens During Guardianship A clear explanation of guardianship, court involvement, medical incapacity, and how families can lose decision-making control without proper documents. 11:36 — What Estate Planning Actually Includes The discussion covers wills, trusts, healthcare directives, financial planning, property, retirement accounts, and protecting assets. 14:26 — Understanding Wills, Trusts, and DNRs Stephen explains the differences between wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and do-not-resuscitate orders. 19:05 — What Happens to Powers of Attorney After Death The guests explain executors, probate, successor trustees, and how legal authority changes after someone passes away. 23:29 — When Families Should Start Estate Planning Conversations Why waiting too long creates more legal and emotional challenges for caregivers and adult children. 27:52 — What Happens Without Estate Planning Documents The attorneys explain probate delays, frozen bank accounts, funeral costs, and family complications when no planning exists. 32:34 — Protecting Assets in Blended Families Important estate planning considerations for blended families, inheritance concerns, and reducing family conflict. 39:48 — What to Bring to an Estate Planning Appointment Helpful guidance on gathering financial information, identifying goals, and organizing important documents. 44:12 — Common Problems With a Parent’s Home After Death Mortgage issues, vacant homes, insurance concerns, and why real estate titles matter in probate and estate planning. 52:10 — Medicaid, Long-Term Care, and Keeping the Family Home The conversation explores Medicaid implications, care planning, and decisions around selling or keeping a parent’s home. 58:05 — How Adult Children Can Start Difficult Conversations Practical advice for caregivers trying to encourage aging parents to prepare legal and financial documents. 01:04:25 — Final Advice for Families Preparing for the Future Stephen and Pedro share their biggest estate planning lessons and encourage families to start planning sooner rather than later. About Stephen Howitz:  Stephen graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, before studying law, with an emphasis on probate and family law at Marquette University in Wisconsin.  After graduating from law school, Stephen dove into the world of law, working both in law firms and as a solo practitioner, where he gained experience in a wide range of legal areas. Over time, he developed a special passion and expertise in probate, trusts, estate planning and family law, helping clients navigate these deeply personal matters with care and clarity. When not practicing law, Stephen enjoys spending time with his two daughters, watching football and baseball, collecting records, and listening to music. About Pedro Hernandez: Pedro is a mindful real estate and litigation attorney who specializes in complex civil litigation and appellate cases, producing successful outcomes for clients by using his experience and legal knowledge to achieve those results.  Pedro uses a balanced approach of legal knowledge and practical wisdom to ensure that his clients get the results needed to achieve success. He has years of experience in a wide range of legal matters and specializes in real estate and property disputes. From working as a law clerk under two different Milwaukee County judges to winning an appellate court decision in a landlord/tenant dispute, Pedro has honed his skills to meet any situation a client faces throughout the litigation process. Moreover, Pedro’s ability to connect and provide personalized support is an asset for clients who feel stressed by the litigation process. He understands that litigation is not the first resort for many people in trying to resolve disagreements, but is not afraid to fight for his client’s success. This ability was honed after working many years with Milwaukee County’s indigent community on complex cases. His desire to help clients has also prompted him to develop a practice in estate planning, including wills and powers of attorney, for both English and Spanish-speaking clients that can help preserve intergenerational wealth here in the United States and abroad. __ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Zimmer and Rens LLCEstate Planning InformationFor this episode of Healthcare Redefined, as we kick off Getting Your Affairs in Order, we have a free guide ( more like a workbook) to assist you in taking action on many of the topics you will hear about this season. It’s called "Getting Your Affairs in Order: A Peace of Mind Planner".  As always, for more support, join us for our weekly free newsletter "Senior Saturday."  Your weekly dose of tips, strategies, support, and ed...

    1h 9m

  3. May 25

    Discharge Part 2: Leaving the Hospital Too Soon

    Welcome to Season 2 of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families. Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos close out their discharge planning series from the first season by discussing one of the most stressful parts of a hospital stay: what happens when someone leaves too soon or feels pressured to leave before they’re ready. Pam and Linda explain what it means to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA), why discharge planning can feel rushed, and how families can advocate for a safer transition home without becoming confrontational. They also offer a look ahead at the themes for Season 2. Pam and Linda walk listeners through practical steps to take before discharge, including asking for clear medical explanations, requesting care conferences, understanding appeal rights, and making sure medications, follow-up appointments, and home support services are fully organized before leaving the hospital. They explain why medication errors are one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions and share simple ways caregivers can reduce mistakes during transitions of care. Pam and Linda provide real-world caregiver advocacy tools to help families feel more prepared, informed, and confident during one of healthcare’s most overwhelming transitions.  Key Moments: 00:00 — Why Discharge Planning Matters Pam and Linda introduce the risks of unsafe hospital discharge and explain why transitions of care are one of the most vulnerable times for aging adults. 01:42 — Season One Wrap-Up and Season Two Preview The hosts reflect on caregiver challenges from season one and introduce the new season theme focused on getting your affairs in order. 02:32 — Three Common Discharge Situations Families Face Pam and Linda outline leaving AMA, medication mistakes after discharge, and what happens when home care is not working. 03:15 — “I Want to Leave” vs “They’re Sending Me Home Too Soon” The discussion compares two common hospital discharge concerns and why both can lead to unsafe outcomes. 04:01 — What Leaving Against Medical Advice Really Means Pam explains AMA discharge in simple language and discusses why families worry about insurance coverage. 05:31 — Questions to Ask Before Leaving the Hospital The hosts share practical caregiver advocacy tips, including asking for clear medical explanations, written discharge instructions, and follow-up plans. 08:59 — Medication Errors After Hospital Discharge Pam and Linda explain why medication changes during transitions of care are one of the biggest causes of hospital readmissions. 11:11 — Medication Reconciliation Explained Listeners learn how to compare pre-hospital and post-hospital medication lists to avoid dangerous medication mistakes. 13:31 — Why Supplements and Cannabis Belong on Medication Lists Linda explains why vitamins, supplements, herbals, essential oils, and cannabis use should always be discussed with healthcare providers. 14:41 — It’s Okay to Slow Down the Discharge Process The hosts encourage families to pause and ask questions when medication instructions or discharge plans feel confusing. 15:39 — What Happens When Going Home Is Not Working Pam discusses what families can do if a loved one cannot safely manage at home after discharge. 16:12 — Can Someone Still Go to Rehab or Skilled Nursing? The conversation explains Medicare timelines, rehab eligibility, and why contacting the hospital social worker quickly is important. 18:20 — Assisted Living vs Skilled Nursing Explained Linda outlines the differences between assisted living, rehab, memory care, and skilled nursing placement. 23:43 — Hospital Discharge Appeals and the Role of the Ombudsman The hosts explain Medicare appeal rights, discharge reviews, and how ombudsmen help families advocate for safe transitions. 28:58 — Weekend Discharges and Home Health Delays Pam and Linda explain why weekend hospital discharges can create gaps in care and what families should prepare for before going home. __ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Weekly Newsletter: "Senior Saturday"  Transitions in Care Guide - Discharging home or changing levels of care can cause risks and potential errors. The Transitions in Care Guide is designed to cover these changes and how to prevent errors with your medications or treatment plan.Family Caregiver Resources and Checklists Medicare Appeal Information — Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:  Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedIn: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting

    35 min

  4. Mar 9

    "Can We Go Home Yet?”: Inside the Discharge Process with Hospital Social Worker Marsha Hall

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined, Pam and Linda sit down with hospital social worker and discharge planner Marsha Hall to unpack what really happens behind the scenes before a patient leaves the hospital. Hospital discharge planning can feel rushed, confusing, and overwhelming, especially when you're caring for an aging parent. From understanding when discharge planning actually begins to navigating insurance coverage, skilled nursing placement, home health services, and family dynamics, Pam and Linda offer practical guidance for caregivers who want to ensure a safe transition home. Marsha shares insider insight into the role of a hospital social worker, common discharge bottlenecks, Medicare and Medicaid considerations, homebound requirements for home health, and how families can advocate without feeling powerless. If you've ever felt like the hospital was “kicking your mom out,” Pam, Linda, and Marsha discuss everything you need to know to clarify myths, explain your rights, and outline the questions every caregiver should ask before discharge day. Key Moments: 00:00 — Caregiver Bootcamp Announcement Pam introduces a new Family Caregiver Bootcamp, a two-hour workshop designed to help new caregivers organize information, ask the right questions, and build a practical 30-day caregiving action plan. 01:49 — Episode Introduction: Discharge Planning The hosts introduce Episode 12, explaining that the discussion will focus on what needs to be in place before a hospital discharge and how families can avoid unsafe transitions home. 03:18 — Meet the Expert: Hospital Social Worker Marsha Hall Pam introduces Marsha Hall, a hospital social worker and discharge planner, who explains how her role supports patients and families during hospital stays and discharge planning. 04:46 — What a Discharge Planner Actually Does Marsha explains that discharge planning starts on day one of admission and involves coordinating with physicians, therapists, and nurses while evaluating the patient’s overall situation and support system at home. 07:11 — The One Thing Families Should Never Hide Marsha stresses the importance of honesty about home conditions and caregiving limitations, noting that sugarcoating the situation can lead to unsafe discharges and hospital readmissions. 08:30 — Insurance and Discharge Bottlenecks The conversation explores how insurance networks, facility contracts, and prior authorizations can delay discharge plans or limit where patients can receive care. 14:00 — “The Hospital Is Kicking My Mom Out” Myth Marsha addresses the common complaint that hospitals rush patients out, explaining that safe discharge planning and insurance constraints often drive the timeline. 23:07 — Deciding Between Home Care, Rehab, or Skilled Nursing The team discusses how therapists, physicians, and patient preferences determine whether someone receives home health services, inpatient rehab, or skilled nursing care. 26:11 — The Difference Between Home Health and Non-Medical Care Marsha explains the distinction between skilled home health services covered by insurance and non-medical home support services like housekeeping or bathing assistance. 32:39 — Community Resources Families Should Know About Marsha outlines key resources social workers help coordinate, including the Aging and Disability Resource Center, transportation, caregiver support, Meals on Wheels, and medical equipment loans. 40:17 — Common Discharge Mistakes Families Make The hosts discuss common problems after discharge, such as missed follow-ups, declined services, and medication confusion, and how families can prevent them. 51:58 — Care Conferences: Getting Everyone on the Same Page Marsha explains how care conferences bring the care team and family together to resolve disagreements and create a safe plan before discharge. __ Pam and Linda look forward to returning with more informative episodes of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families in Season 2. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss their return. __ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  New Family Caregiver Boot CampYouTube Channel  Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFamily Caregiver Meeting AgendaWeekly Newsletter: "Senior Saturday"  - Where we share tips and strategies for assisting in the management of caring for an aging loved one. Videos, blog posts, resources, checklists, guides, workshops,  "News You Can Use" and much more!— Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:  Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting

    1h 3m

  5. Feb 23

    How to Run a Doctor Appointment Like an Advocate (In-Person, Telehealth, or By Phone)

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos share practical tips on how to run a doctor appointment like an advocate. Whether the visit is in person, through telehealth, or by phone, they walk you through exactly what to do before, during, and after the appointment. If you or a loved one has ever left a doctor's appointment and realized you were not totally sure what the plan was, this episode is for you. You will learn how to support your aging parent without speaking over them, how to ask clear questions in plain language, and how to leave every visit with a clear plan and next steps. Pam and Linda share real-life examples and offer simple scripts you can use to request information or aid a loved one in giving an accurate history. The advice and take-home tools will help you feel more confident navigating doctor visits for aging adults. Key Moments: 00:00 Why Appointments Feel Different TodayDoctor visits are shorter and more rushed, which can leave families confused about the care plan. 05:22 The Advocate MindsetThe three goals for every appointment: share accurate information, get a clear plan, and confirm understanding. 08:35 The Ten Minute PrepHow to set two to three priorities and prepare effectively before the visit. 09:44 What to Bring to Every AppointmentMedication lists, supplements, allergy details, symptom logs, and clear examples. 13:39 During the AppointmentLet your loved one lead, use respectful bridge phrases, and ask for plain language explanations. 17:47 Telehealth TipsHow to prepare for virtual visits and make them just as effective as in-person appointments. 21:30 When the Full Story Is Not SharedWhy aging adults minimize symptoms and how to share concerns respectfully. 26:25 Advocacy Versus ControlSupport your loved one without speaking over them or taking away their independence. 30:49 After Visit Follow ThroughUpdate medications, confirm referrals, and use the patient portal to stay on track. 35:02 Recap and Free ResourcesDownload the prep guide and after-visit checklist to use at your next appointment. __ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Prep for the Doctor AppointmentAfter the Visit Checklist— Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:  Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting

    37 min

  6. Feb 9

    How to Get More Help From Your Clinic: A New Caregiver’s Guide with guest Viki Droegkamp RN

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos interview RN Viki Droegkamp to help new family caregivers get more support from their primary care clinic. Viki explains that your clinic should act as the “hub” for coordinating care, and not just be a place for annual checkups, noting that caregivers shouldn’t have to manage everything alone. She outlines who to contact first, when to call directly versus messaging, and how clinics can help with care coordination, triage advice, transitional care management (TCM) after a hospital stay, and referrals for specialists, imaging, therapy, home health, oxygen, and other services. Pam and Linda also discuss with Viki the practical ways caregivers can reduce stress using MyChart (including proxy access), such as requesting medication refills, tracking lab results, reviewing provider notes, and staying on top of appointments and referral status. Viki shares key caregiver tips: keep MyChart messages short and clear with a direct question, avoid sending duplicate refill requests, and don’t rely on “Dr. Google.” She explains the common clinic supports that many families overlook, including help with prior authorizations, insurance coverage issues, preventive care reminders, forms, and driving safety concerns. The three outline clear next steps for caregivers: call your primary care clinic, ask what caregiver support services are available, and set up MyChart/proxy access to stay organized and informed. Key Moments: 00:00 Primary Care Clinics: Your Caregiving Command Center 02:00 Who to Call First at Your Clinic 04:00 Call vs MyChart: How to Get Faster Answers 05:00 Medication Refills and Controlled Drugs Explained 06:30 Prior Authorizations and High-Cost Medications 08:00 Clinic vs Urgent Care vs ER: What to Do When 09:00 Post-Hospital Follow-Ups and Transitional Care 10:00 Referrals, Home Health, and Insurance Navigation 17:30 Managing Chronic Conditions Through Primary Care 22:00 Vaccines, Preventive Care, and Medicare Visits 25:00 Forms, FMLA, and Driving Safety Decisions 29:30 MyChart Tips: Proxy Access and Messaging Mistakes __ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Prep Guide for Doctor's Visits  — Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:  Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting

    58 min

  7. Jan 26

    New Caregiver: First 30 Days

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos introduce a practical “new caregiver roadmap” designed to guide adult children, spouses, and long-distance family members through the first 30 days of stepping into caregiving. Perhaps a loved one has had a fall, a new diagnosis, or a recent hospital stay. Whatever the situation, Pam and Linda’s goal is simple: help new caregivers feel less overwhelmed by offering a calm, step-by-step plan that prioritizes stabilizing immediate risks, building basic organization systems, and creating sustainable support without trying to solve everything at once. Pam and Linda break the roadmap into three phases. Days 1–3 focus on stabilizing, starting with immediate safety risks and identifying which issue is most likely to trigger an ER visit if ignored. Days 4–14 shift into organizing, including building a care team contact list, setting one consistent communication method, and establishing one place to track everything from appointments to medications. Days 15–30 are about supporting and sustaining, clarifying what “better” looks like for the loved one, confirming legal essentials, and identifying gaps like transportation, meals, bathing safety, supervision needs, and respite options. Pam and Linda discuss common early mistakes that can snowball into crises, and also stress that caregiving works best when roles match people’s strengths. The episode offers valuable insight with practical tools such as a one-page “who to call” sheet, medication list, and a downloadable caregiver starter kit to give anyone new to caregiving the confidence needed to take the first steps. __ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  “The First 10 Things to Do When You Become a New Caregiver” blog postNew Caregiver Starter KitYour Nurse Advocate Now Monthly ProgramThe First 10 Cheat Sheet (download link)Medication List (download link) — Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:  Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting

    42 min

  8. Jan 12

    Cannabis & Care: The Truth About CBD, THC & Aging Well with Susan Marks, N.P. “The Cannabis Nurse”.

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos welcome Susan Marks, the Cannabis Nurse, to the show to unpack the myths, misinformation, and mystery surrounding medical cannabis use. Susan is a board-certified family medical practitioner with clinical experience in adult surgical practice, pediatric oncology, hematology, home care, case management, disease management, and risk management. She also uses cannabis medically to manage the symptoms of her progressive neurological movement disorder, Essential Tremor. Susan explains cannabinoids, how they interact with the body and brain, the differences between THC and CBD, and the pain and symptom relief she’s seen patients achieve through medical cannabis use. Susan first debunks the idea that cannabis is a scary thing, a gateway drug to heroin use, something to steer clear of. She says that couldn’t be farther from the truth and, in fact, cannabis is now being used to help get people off opioids and reduce their risk of fatal overdose as well as manage their pain. Cannabinoids, the compounds in the cannabis plant, operate by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, the body’s largest neurotransmitter system. Only one compound in the cannabis plant, THC, creates psychoactivity, the stoned feeling, whereas CBD acts largely as a muscle relaxant and anxiety reducer. Pam and Linda learn all about how THC and CBD work in different combinations to relieve a host of pain and disease issues, finding out from Susan how effective proper medical cannabis use can be in reducing the number of pharmaceutical medications aging clients need to take. This episode will help open minds to the enormous medical and life-improving care that cannabis can provide if we step back from fear and learn how it can benefit us. __    About Susan Marks, N.P. “The Cannabis Nurse”: Susan Marks, MSN, FNP-C, PHN, specializes in cannabis medicine. She got into medical cannabis almost 8 years ago when she went searching for an alternative to Primidone (an anti-convulsant), which she was taking for a progressive neurological movement disorder called Essential Tremor. The effects of Primidone were intolerable; it was as if her brain was no longer her own. Her tremors were getting so bad that she could barely drink out of a glass without spilling water everywhere, so she couldn't just stop the medication; she needed to find an alternative.  During her months of medical research, cannabis kept coming up as a possible treatment for seizures, Parkinson's Disease (dyskinesia), and movement disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases. As she weaned off of Primidone, she began adding her dose of cannabis, which included CBD, THCA, and a small amount of THC at night. Not only was she able to discontinue the Primidone, but her tremors were significantly better. Susan’s improvement and stillness were noticed by friends and family, and they began asking her to help them use cannabis for their medical issues. That was the beginning of her cannabis consulting business, which she calls Nurse Susan.  Susan still works with patients, but now she is teaching other nurses how to be a cannabis consultant, either as a part-time income or a full-time business. __ Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Weed - CNN Special Documentary: ​​https://youtu.be/-SZzgfyXhJI?si=Xxy3N_Dx7zi3sL3gDr. Sanjay Gupta: Weed 6 - Cannabis and Autism: https://youtu.be/E6xpAzqzhnI?si=5xDNlg9GykGdFpyZ— Contact Susan Marks, MSN, FNP-C, PHN: Website: DearNurseSusan.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-edith-marks-msn-fnp-c-phn-a811558/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEC2ccZQFhUlyu9-OTc9TvQ Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:  Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting

    38 min
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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Welcome to Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, where we empower families to navigate the complexities of aging and healthcare. Presented by Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, we share real stories, expert advice, and practical tools to help you and your loved ones confidently navigate aging with dignity. We explore topics like creating collaborative care plans, demystifying Medicare, handling healthcare crises, and preparing for the future. Join us as we transform uncertainty into understanding.

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