“I recommend that caretakers take a break. Even if it’s for 5 minutes, you will be able to be more focused and present with the person you’re caring for.”
–Mary Elaine Petrucci
Mary Elaine Petrucci is a speech-language pathologist who has been working for over twenty years with children and adults working in schools, home care, hospitals, nursing homes, and memory care settings as well as independent and assisted living facilities. She has an MBA in Healthcare Management from Boston University.
As part of the “sandwich generation”, she assisted her parents in choosing qualified home healthcare services that matched their needs as well as finding a quality adult day care program and providing financial support to meet their social and emotional needs. During this process, she realized that there are huge groups of people seeking guidance around their parents’ healthcare and wellness as they retire in record numbers daily! Mary-Elaine has decided to assist these family caregivers just as she did her own parents
Mary Elaine is the host of the health and wellness podcast Caregiver Cast. She is launching a Caregiver Conference and has an ongoing Facebook group full of resources, expert information and interviews for caregivers. In today’s episode, we discuss tools and strategies caregivers can use to be prepared, reduce stress, and help those they love.
Links:
Timestamps:
[04:16] What lack of preparation can do to caregivers and their loved ones
[10:20] Aid devices for aging loved ones to foster independence
[17:30] What to do, legally, if you have older parents that may need caregiving
[26:04] Where to find support
[30:35] Joining the Caregiver Conference
DISCLAIMER – The information presented on this podcast should not be construed as medical advice. It is not intended to replace consultation with your physician or healthcare provider. The ideas shared on this podcast are the expressed opinions of the guests and do not always reflect those of Margie Bissinger and the Happy Bones, Happy Life program.