Today is part three, where Ashley discusses her journey as part of the "sandwich generation" and how she learned to balance caregiving with self-care. Join us as we explore the emotional and practical aspects of being a caregiver and discover critical insights from Ashley's experience.
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24:26
Ashley Coleman Part 2
Welcome back, everybody. It's Melissa Burton with Robyn Arab and our special guest, Ashley Coleman, for part two of Ashley's story. In this episode, Ashley delves deeper into her journey of caring for her mom, who moved into an assisted living facility in March 2022. Ashley shares the challenges and lessons learned, from dealing with staff issues to managing her mom's habits and the transition to memory care. Discover the nuts and bolts of Ashley's experience, including how she handled her mom's smoking, alcohol, and the presence of a beloved pet.
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29:44
Navigating her Mother's Journey
Today, we have a guest on our podcast: Ashley Coleman. Listen to our three-part series about her journey.
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25:02
Empowering Journey of Care for Aging Parents
In this podcast episode of Daughters on Fire, Melissa Burton and Robin Arab use their experiences and expertise to assist those caring for an aging parent. With the aim of promoting self-care, they discuss the vital importance of looking after one's mental and physical health while being a caregiver.
Discussing their experiences, they reveal how oftentimes, caregivers put their needs on the back burner, to the detriment of their health and their ability to provide care. This episode sheds light on the overlooked issues that run parallel to caregiving, such as chronic pain, sleep deprivation, and menopause, which can severely affect a caregiver's well-being.
With compassion, understanding, and actionable advice for seeking medical help and treating these issues, the duo stresses the need for open conversation about health-related concerns with professionals. Emphasizing that there is no need for caregivers to silently suffer, the duo underscores the importance of self-care as health care, igniting a conversation about breaking the stigma around seeking help for mental and physical health.
Serving as a safe haven for caregivers, the tips, discussions and community offered in this episode can help caregivers lead healthier, less stressful lives while providing the best care possible for their loved ones.
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15:12
Embracing Multi-generational Living
Stressed and burned out from caring for an aging parent? In this podcast episode, Melissa Burton and Robin Arum discuss the challenges and harsh economic realities many adult children face as caregivers. Not only will you receive actionable advice from seasoned professionals, but you'll feel a sense of camaraderie from a community that understands your struggles. You are not alone. Listen in as they provide insights into the effects of today’s economy on caregivers and offer strategies to alleviate some of the financial pressures.
They delve into how increased living costs and staggering caregiving expenses can be burdensome, affecting the quality and accessibility of care for aging parents. This is particularly true for the 'panini generation' – sandwiched between caring for their own children and their elderly parents. As incomes stagnate and expenses rise, many are feeling the financial squeeze more than ever before.
Are there subtle changes you could make to your lifestyle to help curb the financial stress? Melissa and Robin suggest taking steps like downsizing and cancelling unnecessary subscriptions. They highlight the importance of boundaries, especially when dealing with different family dynamics, and explain why they are essential for maintaining balance within the family.
Conversely, they shed light on the possible benefits of multi-generational living. With adult children and grandparents under the same roof contributing physically and financially, everyone might fare better. Of course, some careful planning and clear communication are required to make it work. They leave you pondering on whether it might be time to tap into the financial benefits of multi-generational living, may it be in crisis-driven or a healthier way.
Listen to this podcast episode as we navigate the complexities of becoming an empowered caregiver in today's economy, offering solutions and reassurances that you don't have to face these challenges alone.
South Africa