In this episode of The Care Table podcast, Amy Huddleston speaks with Rachel about her long-distance caregiving journey with her parents, discussing the challenges and lessons learned while navigating their illnesses. Rachel shares her experiences with hospice care, the importance of having long-term care insurance, and the emotional and logistical challenges of downsizing and transitioning her father to assisted living. The conversation emphasizes the need for open discussions about end-of-life wishes and the value of hiring professionals to assist in caregiving.

Takeaways:

- Rachel's parents had long-term care insurance, which was invaluable during their illnesses.
- Hospice care provided essential support and dignity at the end of life.
- Having a geriatric care manager can alleviate the burden on family caregivers.
- Conversations about end-of-life wishes should happen early and openly.
- Downsizing can be an emotional and challenging process for families.
- Dementia can complicate medical decisions and requires careful management.
- It's important to know where financial assets are located and how to access them.
- Transfer on death designations can simplify the inheritance process.
- Life is unpredictable, and planning ahead is crucial for families.
- Rachel emphasizes the importance of self-care for caregivers.

Sound bites:

"Life is too short."

Products/Books/Resources:

Aging Care Life Association to search for geriatric care managers: https://www.aginglifecare.org/
American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance: https://www.aaltci.org
Mama Bear Legal Forms: https://www.mamabearlegalforms.com/

CapTel phone: https://www.captel.com

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Caregiving Journeys
00:54 Navigating Parental Illnesses
05:53 The Importance of Hospice Care
10:47 Transitioning to Assisted Living
16:23 The Downsizing Dilemma
23:13 Managing Dementia and Medical Decisions
30:55 Finding the Right Care
37:40 Lessons Learned from Caregiving
47:09 Final Thoughts and Advice

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