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. 70: Life After a Stroke: Supporting the Caregiver with Lana Wilhelm

    6D AGO

    70: Life After a Stroke: Supporting the Caregiver with Lana Wilhelm

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by retired nurse and stroke caregiver Lana Wilhelm for a deeply personal and practical conversation about what happens after a stroke. In 2021, Lana’s husband Rick suffered a severe stroke, and overnight she transitioned from bedside nurse to full-time caregiver. Drawing from both her professional background and lived experience, Lana shares the emotional realities of stroke caregiving, including navigating uncertainty, managing behavioral changes, coping with guilt, and finding support when the initial wave of help fades. She also discusses the unique aspects of stroke recovery, why caregiver support directly impacts patient outcomes, and how she is working to build community through Stroke Caregiver Connection and her two books. Episode highlights include: -From nurse to caregiver, one family’s overnight transition -Finding steadiness in the “wait and see” journey of stroke recovery -Feeling grateful and overwhelmed at the same time -Why supporting caregivers is essential, not optional -Creating community so no stroke caregiver feels alone Helpful links from the episode: -Stroke Caregiver Connection: www.strokecaregiverconnection.com -Book: Stroke and the Spouse: A Guide for the Survivor's Care Partner by Lana Wilhelm -Book: Stroke and the Caregiver: The Definitive Caregiver Guide by Lana Wilhelm  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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    37 min
  2. 69: The Beauty of Personal Care As We Age with OT Lindsay DeLong

    MAR 31

    69: The Beauty of Personal Care As We Age with OT Lindsay DeLong

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by occupational therapist Lindsay DeLong, founder of EquipMeOT, for a conversation about supporting personal care routines as we age. Together they discuss how everyday activities like grooming, bathing, and getting ready for the day are closely tied to dignity, identity, and emotional well being. Lindsay shares how common physical changes can make these routines more challenging and offers practical strategies for caregivers to support loved ones while still encouraging independence. She also highlights adaptive tools that can make personal care tasks easier and explains how small modifications can help older adults continue the routines that help them feel like themselves. Episode highlights include: -Why personal care routines matter for dignity and identity -Common challenges older adults face with grooming and hygiene -How caregivers can support independence safely -Adaptive equipment for grooming, bathing, oral care, and beauty routines -What to know before purchasing medical or adaptive equipment online Helpful links from the episode: -EquipMeOT website: equipmeot.com -EquipMeOT YouTube channel: @EquipMeOT -Instagram: @EquipMeOT 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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    55 min
  3. 68: Spirituality in Caregiving with Dr. Aaron Blight

    MAR 15

    68: Spirituality in Caregiving with Dr. Aaron Blight

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined once again by caregiving expert and author Dr. Aaron Blight, returning to Caregiver Chats after his first appearance in Episode #25, Reflecting on Your Caregiving Mindset. This time, the conversation explores the role of spirituality and faith in caregiving. Caregiving often places people in some of the hardest moments of life, including times of decline, uncertainty, and end of life. For many, these moments naturally prompt deeper reflection, spirituality, or questions of faith. Together, Dr. Lakelyn and Dr. Blight discuss how spirituality can support caregivers across belief systems and how even small daily practices can help sustain the caregiver’s spirit. Episode highlights include: -Understanding why caregiving often awakens spiritual reflection -Exploring three levels of faith that can support caregivers -How spirituality shows up during end-of-life caregiving -Simple daily practices that nourish the spirit -The role of faith communities in practical and emotional support Helpful links from the episode: - caregivingkinetics.com -Book: When Caregiving Calls: Guidance as You Care for a Parent, Spouse, or Aging Relative by Dr. Aaron Blight 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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    40 min
  4. 67: A Daughter’s Cross-Country Dementia Caregiving Story with Nicole Smith

    MAR 1

    67: A Daughter’s Cross-Country Dementia Caregiving Story with Nicole Smith

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Nicole Smith—author, advocate, and dementia daughter—for a heartfelt conversation about caring for multiple parents living with dementia across different states during the pandemic. Nicole shares what it was like to navigate healthcare, legal, and financial systems while learning the language of caregiving in real time. Together, they discuss the importance of building a care team, the emotional realities of asking for help, and how Nicole transformed her experience into advocacy through her book Diagnosis Dementia and leading a Daughterhood Circle. This episode offers validation, perspective, and practical guidance for caregivers—especially those caring from a distance. Episode highlights include: -Caring for multiple loved ones with dementia across state lines -Navigating the healthcare, legal, and financial complexities of caregiving -Why building a care team matters—and why it’s so hard to ask for help -Turning lived experience into advocacy through Diagnosis Dementia and Daughterhood Circles -Practical insight and encouragement for long-distance caregivers Helpful links from the episode: Nicole’s website: www.njsmithbooks.com Book: Diagnosis Dementia by Nicole Smith Daughterhood Circles: daughterhood.org Area Agencies on Aging: eldercare.acl.gov/home Find Geriatric Care Managers - Aging Life Care Association (ALCA): aginglifecare.org Steve Gurney: retirementlivingsourcebook.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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    43 min
  5. 66: Let's Talk About Dating with April Ibarra

    FEB 15

    66: Let's Talk About Dating with April Ibarra

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by return guest April Ibarra, gerontologist and aging expert, for a thoughtful conversation on a topic that many families don’t know how to approach: what happens when an aging parent or loved one starts dating again. From companionship and loneliness to online dating safety and changing family dynamics, this episode explores how caregivers and adult children can support their loved one’s emotional well-being while also addressing important concerns. With over 35 years of experience in senior care, April offers practical strategies, compassionate guidance, and empowering insights to help families navigate this delicate, yet joyful stage of life. Episode highlights include: - How to talk with aging loved ones about loneliness, companionship, and the desire for connection - Supporting safe dating, both online and in-person - Navigating emotions when a parent begins a new relationship - Balancing respect for independence with family concerns - Celebrating love, intimacy, and thriving in later life Helpful links from the episode: - www.aprilibarra.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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    34 min
  6. 65: What Cancer Caregivers Need Most with Sheri Biller

    JAN 30

    65: What Cancer Caregivers Need Most with Sheri Biller

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Sheri Biller, philanthropist, cancer caregiving advocate, and co-founder of the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. Sheri brings both personal experience and professional passion to the conversation as she shares how her foundation is changing the landscape of supportive care for serious illnesses, especially for cancer patients and their caregivers. The Biller Family Foundation defines supportive cancer care as a whole-person approach that complements medical treatment by addressing the emotional, physical, and practical needs of people with cancer and their caregivers—from diagnosis through survivorship. Dr. Lakelyn and Sheri will discuss what true supportive care means, the emotional and logistical toll of cancer caregiving, and how caregivers can find the resources and community they desperately need—but often don’t know that it is available or where to turn.  Episode highlights include: - Sheri Biller’s personal and professional caregiving journey - What “supportive care” really means in the cancer world - Addressing the deep emotional isolation many cancer caregivers feel - Practical ways caregivers can access connection, resources, and relief - Tips for navigating the intensity of caregiving for loved ones undergoing treatment Helpful links from the episode: www.acsresources.org www.CancerCare.org  www.cancersupportcommunity.org  www.supportivecarecare.org  www.alexslemonade.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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    31 min
  7. 64: The Validation Method for Dementia Care with Carmen Bowman

    JAN 15

    64: The Validation Method for Dementia Care with Carmen Bowman

    Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Carmen Bowman, consultant, educator, and founder of Edu-Catering, to discuss the Validation Method, a compassionate approach to dementia care. Caregivers often feel stuck when faced with repeated questions like “Where’s my mom?” or behaviors they don’t understand. Instead of arguing, redirecting, or dismissing, Carmen introduces simple yet powerful techniques—like rephrasing, entering into a loved one’s world, and asking “tell me more”—that reduce stress, build trust, and create space for authentic connection. Through real-life examples, Carmen shows how caregivers can shift their approach and bring more empathy and understanding into daily interactions. Episode highlights include: -What the Validation Method is and why it matters in dementia care -Why “arguing” or “redirecting” often increases stress and distrust -How to rephrase questions with empathy to build trust -The power of presence, slowing down, and stepping into a loved one’s world -Simple tools caregivers can use, like “tell me more” and emotion-matching -Why tears and grief can be healing—not something to avoid Helpful links from the episode: - Carmen’s website: edu-catering.com - Validation Training Institute: vfvalidation.org - Book: Validation: The Feil Method by Naomi Feil - Visit www.homeinstead.com/care-resources to explore more caregiving resources 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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    34 min
  8. 63: Joyspan: Adding More Joy to Every Year with Dr. Kerry Burnight

    12/31/2025

    63: Joyspan: Adding More Joy to Every Year with Dr. Kerry Burnight

    Dr. Lakelyn welcomes Dr. Kerry Burnight, a nationally recognized gerontologist and bestselling author of Joyspan, for a powerful and uplifting conversation about redefining what it means to grow older. In this episode, they explore how caregivers can cultivate “joyspan”—the quality of life in aging, not just the quantity—and help their loved ones do the same. Together, they challenge ageist myths, highlight the importance of mindset and lifestyle over genetics, and explore four science-backed pillars that support joyful longevity: Give, Connect, Adapt, and Grow. Episode highlights include: -What is Joyspan—and why it matters as much as lifespan -How caregivers can shift from a decline mindset to a growth mindset -Practical ways to spark joy and purpose in your own aging journey -How to support aging loved ones in building more joyful lives -Reframing independence as interdependence Helpful links from the episode: -Dr. Kerry Burnight’s website: drkerryburnight.com -Joyspan: The Book – Available at major retailers 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: Facebook: @homeinsteadinc Instagram: @homeinsteadinc YouTube: @homeinsteadinc TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

    47 min
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
26 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
    76
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Home Instead, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Caregiver Chats

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