Facing Feelings - Part 3: In this heartfelt episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don Grothoff open an honest conversation about the emotional challenges faced by personal caregivers. Drawing from their experiences as mindset coaches and family advocates, they explore the complex feelings that often accompany caregiving—chronic stress, guilt, anticipatory grief, anger, resentment, loneliness, and the painful loss of self that can lead to burnout and exhaustion.

Referencing insights from the Cleveland Clinic's article on caregiver burnout and The New York Times piece on anticipatory grief, Gina and Don unpack how these emotions manifest and why they're so common among those caring for loved ones. They discuss the importance of recognizing these feelings early, setting healthy boundaries, and finding ways to care for oneself while caring for others.

Listeners will gain practical tools for emotional regulation, including mindfulness, EFT tapping, and mindset shifts that help caregivers move from survival mode to a place of balance and compassion. This episode serves as a reminder that caregivers deserve support, rest, and healing just as much as those they care for.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #CaregiverSupport #CaregiverBurnout #AnticipatoryGrief #MindsetMatters #EFTTapping #SelfCareForCaregivers #MentalHealthAwareness #FamilyCaregivers #EmotionalWellness

Facing Feelings - Part 2: In this heartfelt episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don Grothoff open an honest conversation about the emotional challenges faced by personal caregivers. Drawing from their experiences as mindset coaches and family advocates, they explore the complex feelings that often accompany caregiving—chronic stress, guilt, anticipatory grief, anger, resentment, loneliness, and the painful loss of self that can lead to burnout and exhaustion.

Referencing insights from the Cleveland Clinic's article on caregiver burnout and The New York Times piece on anticipatory grief, Gina and Don unpack how these emotions manifest and why they're so common among those caring for loved ones. They discuss the importance of recognizing these feelings early, setting healthy boundaries, and finding ways to care for oneself while caring for others.

Listeners will gain practical tools for emotional regulation, including mindfulness, EFT tapping, and mindset shifts that help caregivers move from survival mode to a place of balance and compassion. This episode serves as a reminder that caregivers deserve support, rest, and healing just as much as those they care for.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Grief+is+Mourning+Sickness&crid=3C3IXN6UMHNLR&sprefix=grief+is+mourning+sickness%2Caps%2C136&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

#FocusedHealthyFamily #CaregiverSupport #CaregiverBurnout #AnticipatoryGrief #MindsetMatters #EFTTapping #SelfCareForCaregivers #MentalHealthAwareness #FamilyCaregivers #EmotionalWellness

When a family is caring for an aging loved one, everyone is affected—but often the emotions of the aging person themselves are the least talked about.

In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don begin a new series exploring the emotional experiences of every member of the family during the aging journey. Today's focus is on the aging loved one: their fears, frustrations, grief, loss of independence, and the unspoken emotions that often come out through behavior rather than words.

The conversation is deeply personal as Gina shares the story behind "The Hostage," a song written for her dad that reflects how he felt during the final month of his life—trapped by a body that no longer did what his mind wanted it to do. The song offers a powerful window into the inner world of someone nearing the end of life and helps families better understand what their loved one may be experiencing emotionally.

This episode opens the door to compassion, understanding, and better communication within families navigating aging, illness, and end-of-life transitions. As this series continues, Gina and Don will explore the emotional impact on caregivers, spouses, adult children, and even grandchildren—because a focused, healthy family begins with understanding every voice in the room.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #AgingLovedOnes #CaregiverSupport #FamilyCaregiving #AgingWithDignity #EndOfLifeCare #CaregivingJourney #AlzheimerAwareness #ParkinsonsCare #SeniorCare#FamilyHealth #EmotionalHealth #TheHostageSong

As a new year begins, many families feel the pressure to "set goals" and hope this year will be different. But should we really be focusing on goals at all?

In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don take a thoughtful look at the New Year mindset and ask an important question: Are goals setting us up for success—or disappointment? Referencing research shared by Psychology Today, they discuss why nearly 92% of goals are never achieved, and what actually gets in the way for most people.

The conversation explores the differences between goals, intentions, and decisions, and why the language we use matters—especially for caregivers, families, and anyone already carrying a full emotional load. Gina and Don break down how intentions can create flexibility, how decisions can create clarity, and how shifting your approach can lead to more peace and follow-through throughout the year.

Whether you're caring for aging loved ones, managing family responsibilities, or simply wanting a healthier mindset moving into the new year, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and a more compassionate way to move forward—without the guilt of "failed" resolutions.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/optimizing-success/202412/92-percent-of-people-never-achieve-their-goals

#FocusedHealthyFamily #NewYearMindset #IntentionalLiving #GoalsVsIntentions #HealthyFamilies #CaregiverSupport #FamilyWellness #MentalHealthAwareness #NewYearReflection #LifeTransitions #PsychologyToday #StressLessLiveMore

Gina and Don replay #186 Dementia. In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Jennifer Douds from AnswersforAging.com to dive into the world of Care Management. We explore what Care Managers do, how they guide families through complex senior care decisions, and why their role is such a valuable support system for caregivers. Jennifer also shares insights about the Second Wind Dreams Virtual Dementia Tour, a powerful program that helps people step into the shoes of someone living with dementia—offering a deeper understanding and empathy for both families and caregivers. Whether you're currently caring for an aging loved one or preparing for the future, this conversation provides clarity, resources, and inspiration for navigating the journey.

Jennifer Douds Jennifer has over 30 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, specializing in helping older adults maintain their independence, reducing anxiety around aging, and providing support to help them continue living in the places they love. She understands the challenges families face when they can't always be there for every appointment or medication reminder, or what services are available and where to find them.

She helped both of her husband's parents and is now helping her parents with these same concerns. Jennifer's company, Answers For Aging, takes on the heavy lifting involved with caring for older adults, ensuring that your loved one's care is handled with the utmost care and attention.

https://www.answerforaging.com

#FocusedHealthyFamily #CareManagement #CareManagers #AgingParents #ElderCare #SeniorCare #DementiaAwareness #VirtualDementiaTour #SecondWindDreams #CaregivingSupport #FamilyCaregivers #AnswersForAging

Gina and Don replay the #149 about naturopathic healing. Dr. Julia Ward is a compassionate and pioneering physician with over a decade of expertise in functional medicine, offering a holistic, patient-centered approach to health and wellness. After earning her medical degree from the University of Southern California and serving in the U.S. Navy, where she practiced general, urgent, and emergency medicine both domestically and abroad, she faced personal health challenges that led her to functional medicine. Frustrated by the limitations of conventional care, Dr. Ward embraced a root-cause approach, completing a fellowship with the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine in 2016.

She has since dedicated her career to empowering patients with knowledge, promoting sustainable lifestyle changes, and integrating cutting-edge science into her practice to address physical and environmental factors impacting health.

A devoted wife and mother of five, Dr. Ward combines her passion for medicine with a steadfast commitment to improving lives through transformative care.

281-710-3380

https://drjuliaward.com/

https://www.facebook.com/balancedbodyfunctionalmed

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-ward-md-55b7672a/ #PatientCenteredCare

#PreventativeHealth #RegenerativeMedicine #AntiAging #HealthyLiving #LifestyleMedicine #IntegrativeHealth #WomenInMedicine #EmpoweredHealth #HealthAndWellness #FamilyCare #SustainableHealth #MindBodyMedicine

Gina and Don playback #178 Aging in Place. In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Don and Gina welcome Stuart Madow from Visiting Angels to explore the importance of compassionate in-home care for seniors. Stuart shares his extensive experience working with families to help older adults age in place safely and comfortably. The conversation highlights the many services Visiting Angels offers — from companionship and personal care to respite support for family caregivers — and how their personalized approach brings peace of mind to both seniors and their loved ones. We dive into the realities of caregiving, the emotional challenges families face, and the value of having a reliable, professional support system.

Stuart also shares tips for families beginning their senior care journey and how to find trustworthy resources in the community. Guest Bio: Stuart Madow has worked in the senior care industry in the Lake Norman area for over 20 years. He founded and continues to facilitate the area's largest monthly gathering of healthcare providers — the South Iredell Healthcare Forum. A long-time resident of Mooresville, North Carolina, Stuart has called the area home for more than 30 years.

Originally from northeast Ohio, he is known for his dedication to building strong community connections and helping families navigate the complexities of senior care with compassion and expertise.

smadow@visitingangels.com

https://www.visitingangels.com/lakenorman/home

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Visitingangelsoflakenorman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/visiting-angels-lake-norman-nc/?viewAsMember=true #FocusedHealthyFamily

#VisitingAngels #SeniorCare #AgingInPlace #CaregivingSupport #StuartMadow #SouthIredellHealthcareForum #FamilyCaregivers #HomeCareServices #CompassionateCare

Gina and Don replay #184 talking with Sydney about fraud. In this episode, Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett of Hartnett Health to discuss an important and timely topic: senior scams and fraud prevention. From health insurance scams to the growing problem of Medicare fraud, Sydney shares her expertise and practical tips to help protect aging loved ones from becoming victims.

We explore the different types of scams targeting seniors, why they are so prevalent, and most importantly—what families can do to safeguard themselves. Whether it's understanding common red flags, setting up safeguards, or having proactive conversations with parents and grandparents, this episode is full of insights you won't want to miss. 💡

If you've ever worried about a loved one getting taken advantage of, this conversation is for you.

Helpful Sites:

https://consumer.ftc.gov/ - The latest in consumer advice from scams, identity theft to credit. https://support.google.com/voice/answer/115061?hl=en&ref_topic=1707989&sjid=6477591156788718288-NA -

Quick how to on Google voice set up.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/use-two-factor-authentication-protect-your-accounts

Two-Factor-Authentication how to. https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFTCCONSUMER/subscriber/new?topic_id=USFTCCONSUMER_8

Get consumer alerts from the Federal Trade Commission.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/how-block-unwanted-calls

Easy to read on how to block scam/spam calls. Includes what apps are vetted, and built in for different phones. Most phone carriers will have an article of their own.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #SeniorSafety #FraudPrevention #MedicareFraud #SeniorScams #CaregiverSupport #AgingWisely #ProtectOurSeniors #FamilyCaregiving #SeniorAwareness