For Those Who Care

RuthAnn Batchelder
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  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
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Welcome to “For Those Who Care”. Hosted by RuthAnn, who spent 25 years caring for her husband, Lance, a disabled U.S. Navy Veteran living with two rare blood cancers and early onset dementia, this podcast was created for caregivers and those who support them. Gain valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the caregiver’s life through honest conversations, personal stories, and interviews with caregivers and experts. RuthAnn and her guests explore the challenges, joys, and often overlooked moments of caregiving.  Whether you are a caregiver yourself or someone who wants to better understand and support the caregivers in your life, this podcast offers insight, encouragement, and community. Join us to connect, listen, and find strength in the caregiving experience. 

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  1. EPISODE 61

    61 - Season 2 Preview: A Quick Look Back & What’s Ahead

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to For Those Who Care! After a much-needed break, RuthAnn returns with an exciting relaunch for Season 2. Reflecting on 25 years of caregiving - including the heavy moments and heartfelt guest stories from Season 1 - she shares what’s coming next: more caregiver conversations, expert insights, and the essential knowledge she wishes someone had shared with her. This season isn’t just for caregivers. It’s for anyone who wants to be better prepared. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Full episodes return next week!

    5 min
  2. 62 - I Called 911 for a Medical Emergency - Why Did the Fire Department Show Up?

    EPISODE 62

    62 - I Called 911 for a Medical Emergency - Why Did the Fire Department Show Up?

    Send us Fan Mail After 10 years of calling 911 as a full-time caregiver, I finally got answers to the question I never remembered to ask: “Why is the fire department here instead of the ambulance?” In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with EMS Fire Chief Tom to break down exactly what happens when you dial 911 for a medical crisis. We cover: Why firefighters show up firstThe must-have documents every caregiver needs readyHow to talk to 911 dispatchers so help arrives fasterSafety tips to protect your loved one and the respondersWhat to expect when EMS walks through your doorHow to follow up and improve the next callThis isn’t just for caregivers — it’s for anyone who might ever need to call 911. If you’ve ever been confused, scared, or just wanted to be more prepared — this episode is for you. EMS Fire Chief Tom returns in Part 2 with even more answers. 0:26 Intro: Why I made this episode   2:31 Must-have documents for EMS & where to keep them   10:28 Key medical info every caregiver needs ready   13:16 What to tell 911 dispatch so the right help arrives fast   17:26 Why the fire department shows up first   20:52 Tips for non-English speakers or communication barriers   24:50 Home safety tips for patients + responders   37:46 House fire: what to do & how to prepare   44:09 End-of-life conversations: why you need them before 911 is called   53:51 Closing thoughts + please subscribe & share

    55 min
  3. 63 - After the Fire Department Arrives: 911 Medical Emergency Part 2

    EPISODE 63

    63 - After the Fire Department Arrives: 911 Medical Emergency Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail When you’re in the middle of a medical emergency, all you can think about is your loved one who needs help right now. It might be days later, after things settle down and the house is quiet again, that you think of all the questions you wanted to ask. Now that we know why the fire department shows up first, EMS Fire Chief Tom takes us inside the house and answers those other questions for us. In this episode you’ll hear: Step-by-step: what the crew does the moment they walk inWhat to do when your loved one is on hospice and a medical emergency happensHow home health services can help you stay in your home longerJust how much firefighters have to know todayThe real culture inside the fire department Tom’s personal story of why he became a firefighterHow to follow up afterward and thank the crewIf you’ve ever had to let the fire department into your house for a medical emergency, this episode is for you. I wish I could have listened to it fifteen years ago. 00:58 What actually happens when the fire department walks in 04:33 Calling 911 when your loved one is on hospice 09:25 How responders handle a stressed-out caregiver 14:55 Do firefighters burn out from the same houses over and over? 17:59 If your loved one falls, call 911—don’t try to lift them yourself 27:25 Who the fire department refers caregivers to for help and resources 30:20 Common misconceptions about EMS responses to medical calls 40:28 How EMS has evolved in handling calls on chronic illness, disability, & aging 46:57 Just how much knowledge firefighters have to carry today 49:21 How to thank the crew or give feedback after a call 53:29 Tom’s story: why he became a firefighter and why he stayed 01:00:57 Thank you, Chief Tom, the Nampa Fire Dept, and thank you to every firefighter out there

    1h 3m
  4. 64 - Unlocking Disability Care: Chanda Hinton on Integrative Care and Caregiver Support

    EPISODE 64

    64 - Unlocking Disability Care: Chanda Hinton on Integrative Care and Caregiver Support

    Send us Fan Mail Disability advocate and Chanda Center for Health founder Chanda Hinton joins RuthAnn to talk about living as a care recipient after a life-changing spinal cord injury, why caregivers matter more than they know, and how integrative care is changing what is possible for people with long-term disabilities. Together they explore honest topics like caregiver burnout, what actually feels supportive from the care recipient side, and how practical help for caregivers can shape real health outcomes. Plus, you’ll get a glimpse into Chanda’s advocacy to expand access to services in ways that clearly show her passion and make this an inspiring conversation to listen to. If this conversation resonates, please subscribe and share it with another caregiver or care recipient. You never know who you might help by passing it along.​ Timestamps: 00:48 – Chanda’s story: her spinal cord injury at age 9 and what led her to create the Chanda Center for Health.​ 05:20 – What integrative health means and how care recipients benefit from these therapies.​ 08:54 – Why strong caregiver/care recipient partnerships create the best healthcare outcomes. 13:01 – Chanda’s advice for caregivers facing burnout and overwhelm. 18:22 – Insight from a care recipient to caregivers and other care recipients. 25:56 – How practical help for caregivers improves outcomes for people with disabilities, and what systemic changes are still needed. 31:47 – Behind the policy work: how the Chanda Center helped expand access to integrative therapies through Medicaid.​ 39:28 – Chanda’s guidance for organizations seeking a Medicaid waiver or building their own integrative health center.​ 41:49 – How caregivers and care recipients can find and learn more about the Chanda Center for Health.​ 44:27 – Final reflections and closing. Visit https://chandacenter.org for more information.​ Photo © Megan Blowey Photography, used with permission.

    45 min
  5. 65 - Walter and Kristine’s Journey: Searching for Answers (Part 1)

    EPISODE 65

    65 - Walter and Kristine’s Journey: Searching for Answers (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail In this first part of Walter and Kristine’s story, Kristine shares her heartfelt reflections on the years she and Walter spent searching for a diagnosis. After six long years, they learned that Walter had Erdheim-Chester Disease — the same rare blood cancer RuthAnn’s husband, Lance, faced.  Kristine opens up about how their faith sustained them, how their relationship changed as she became his caregiver, and how her nursing background helped her navigate a world of uncertainty and hope. Her story is one of courage, love, and unwavering dedication through life’s hardest moments. If this story touches your heart, please share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. Sharing helps others feel seen and reminds caregivers everywhere that they’re not alone.

    1h 1m
  6. 66 - Walter and Kristine’s Journey: Love, Loss, and Resilience (Part 2)

    EPISODE 66

    66 - Walter and Kristine’s Journey: Love, Loss, and Resilience (Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail In the final part of Walter and Kristine’s story, Kristine reflects on the challenges they faced as Walter applied for disability and came to terms with leaving work behind. She shares how that transition changed their relationship, the toll of balancing full-time work with caregiving, and the struggle of navigating life with no manual for Erdheim-Chester Disease. RuthAnn and Kristine also recall meeting in person for the first time at the inaugural ECD conference and the meaningful connections formed when the caregiver support group began. That network became a source of understanding and encouragement through an isolating journey. Kristine closes this chapter by remembering Walter’s final weeks on hospice and how she began rebuilding her life after 14 years of caregiving. Her story speaks to courage, faith, and the ongoing process of rediscovering oneself after loss.

    53 min
  7. 67 - Jenna on Functional Training: Building Strength for Daily Life

    EPISODE 67

    67 - Jenna on Functional Training: Building Strength for Daily Life

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of For Those Who Care, I’m talking with my former personal trainer Jenna about what functional training really means and why it matters, especially for caregivers. Jenna explains how this kind of training helps people stay strong, mobile, and ready for the physical demands that come with caring for others. She shares a story about a client who didn’t have much time to work out but found ways to stay consistent—and how those small efforts made a big difference for her and her family. Jenna and I also talk about what she noticed in my own movement patterns as a full-time caregiver, what that revealed about the toll caregiving can take, and how training helped me rebuild strength and confidence. Jenna also opens up about her experience working with Lance and how she adapted his training to match his mobility and goals. It wasn’t about adding more years, but about giving him more purpose, comfort, and quality in the time he had. This conversation is a great reminder that movement can be a source of strength, hope, and even healing for caregivers and anyone living with disability or chronic conditions. This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or professional fitness advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or certified fitness professional before making changes to your exercise or nutrition routine.

    1h 2m
  8. 68 - Whispers of the Mind: Stories of Courage and Resilience with Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor

    EPISODE 68

    68 - Whispers of the Mind: Stories of Courage and Resilience with Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor

    Send us Fan Mail Neurologist and author Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor joins me to talk about her book, Whispers of the Mind: A Neurologist’s Memoir, and why she felt called to share these deeply human stories now, after more than three decades in neurology. She reflects on how she found her way into neurology, the patients and families who changed her forever, and what they taught her about resilience, courage, and the many ways people keep showing up for life while facing terminal illness. Dr. Taylor shares who she believes will benefit most from reading Whispers of the Mind—from caregivers and families to medical students, residents, and seasoned clinicians—and what she hopes they carry with them after closing the book. She also offers grounded, heartfelt advice to young women who feel called to both medicine and motherhood, speaking honestly about the challenges and rewards of doing both.​ We talk about what nearly drove her away from medicine and what ultimately kept her in it, as well as the personal experiences that shaped who she is as a neurologist. Dr. Taylor describes how these moments deepened her compassion for patients and families and influenced the way she shows up for them.​ She opens up about her own experience with grief and how it changes the brain—sometimes looking and feeling like a traumatic brain injury, yet with the possibility of healing—and how hard it can be to function when you are in that fog. Speaking directly to anyone who has wondered if their deep grief meant they were “losing their mind,” she offers validation, language for what is happening, and gentle guidance for moving through it rather than around it, including a poignant story in her book about pseudo-dementia from severe depression and profound grief.​ Dr. Taylor also offers practical advice on how to live as well as possible while dealing with serious neurological conditions, emphasizing that these stories are about the shared emotions of patients, caregivers, and clinicians alike. She shares how her beloved therapy dog, Prancer, became an essential part of her medical team, bringing comfort and connection to people in some of their most difficult moments. For anyone who has ever experienced the coldness of medical providers, this conversation and this book reveal the deeply human side of medicine.​ Learn more about Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor and her work at: https://www.carolynlarkintaylorauthor.com/ Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor.

    47 min
See All Season 2 (19)

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About

Welcome to “For Those Who Care”. Hosted by RuthAnn, who spent 25 years caring for her husband, Lance, a disabled U.S. Navy Veteran living with two rare blood cancers and early onset dementia, this podcast was created for caregivers and those who support them. Gain valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the caregiver’s life through honest conversations, personal stories, and interviews with caregivers and experts. RuthAnn and her guests explore the challenges, joys, and often overlooked moments of caregiving.  Whether you are a caregiver yourself or someone who wants to better understand and support the caregivers in your life, this podcast offers insight, encouragement, and community. Join us to connect, listen, and find strength in the caregiving experience. 

Information

  • Creator
    RuthAnn Batchelder
  • Episodes
    79
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 For Those Who Care
  • Show Website
    For Those Who Care