Mark Resnick’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. Five years later, as the disease progressed and COVID began to shut down the country, Mark was plunged into the intimate world of caring for a loved one with a dementia diagnosis in the middle of a pandemic. Mark learned more about himself and his dad than he ever anticipated. The result is Ten Days with Dad: Finding Purpose, Passion, & Peace During The Darkest Days of Alzheimer's and COVID-19. Join us for this episode of Eldercare Illuminated to hear Mark explain what those dark days revealed and how his lifelong ambition to ..read more

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a U.S. law that requires covered employers to provide employees with protected, unpaid leave for certain medical and family reasons. Yet, many Americans are unsure of the ways in which FMLA could make a significant difference in their ability to meet parenting or caregiving responsibilities as a working person. Join Torchlight host Stefanie Boucher for a conversation with Teri Weber, a partner and Senior Vice President at Spring Consulting group and subject matter expert on employee benefits and absence management programs, including FMLA. In ..read more

If you’re looking for a book to create an engrossing TV series, Kate Washington’s Already Toast should be high on your list. Published in March 2021, the book chronicles Kate’s life as a caregiver after her husband is diagnosed with a rare cancer. Lenore Tracey, host of Eldercare Illuminated, spoke with Kate about what it was like for her as the trajectory of her life is turned upside down. Sailing into their 40s with no expectation of the disaster that was about to strike, Kate and her husband were raising two children, working, and enjoying successful careers in sunny California. This is th ..read more

In this episode, host Lenore Tracey and award-winning documentary producer Paula Sellars consider a question that caregivers don’t usually think about — What if I’m not willing, able, or happy to be a caregiver? And it’s obvious companion thought — But I have to do this anyway! Caregiving is an act of love, devotion, duty, and responsibility. We may have planned to care for our elders, and we may have vowed “in sickness and in health.” We may also have a troubled relationship with the family member or friend who needs our help. Or we may turn green at the sight of blood, need a full eight hou ..read more

Most people know that sleep is essential to good health. But what you might not know is that 60 to 80 percent of us aren’t getting nearly enough of it - not by a long shot. And that’s a big deal. Studies show that insufficient sleep can lead to poorer health outcomes and quality of life, an increased risk of accidents, diminished productivity, and even an inhibited ability to learn and solve problems. Fortunately, whether you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or simply stay up too late at night, most sleep problems are treatable. In this episode, join Eldercare Illuminated host Len ..read more

Many families today are struggling with uncertainty and threats to home and hearth. Financial instability is a reality for people who have had their work hours reduced or lost their jobs completely. In this episode of Eldercare Illuminated, we’re exploring an idea that predates the country’s troubles of 2020 and has the potential to provide some relief to caregivers and the adults they love. That’s home-sharing. Housemates have been a standard for young people starting out after completing their education. What are the many benefits that may be available to an older adult when sharing a livin ..read more

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the lives of young and old alike since March. For caregivers who are juggling work, children, and aging or disabled loved ones, the disruptions have been relentless. We open our first episode of the Fall season of Eldercare Illuminated with a far-reaching conversation about what the last few months have been like when a loved one lives in a memory care unit during a COVID-19 outbreak and beyond. You’ll be surprised to hear that it’s not all bad news: - Seniors who contract this virus can recover. - Flexibility lends grace when circumstances cont ..read more

As if the coronavirus pandemic were not bad enough, it has spawned another epidemic. Testing and treatment scams, product delivery scams, tax identity theft, and a multitude of new and creative ways to get people to divulge private information or click on sites that load malware, ransomware, and other dangerous software onto their devices are on the rise. As our guest, Steve Weisman says, “Things aren’t as bad as you think, they are far worse.” But don’t despair. Steve joins Torchlight’s Eldercare Illuminated host, Lenore Tracey, and Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, for a ..read more

This podcast was recorded before the coronavirus pandemic. The need to understand the many faces of grief and how to treat each other kindly after a loved one dies is magnified under our current circumstances. Whether you are working remotely or on site, you, your family, and your co-workers may experience losses or be called upon to share condolences in this time of uncertainty. Join Eldercare Illuminated host Lenore Tracey for a conversation with Amy Tucci, President and CEO of the Hospice Foundation of America. Amy shares her knowledge, experience, and advice for individuals and families g ..read more

In this episode of Eldercare Illuminated, Torchlight’s Eldercare Practice Leader, Lenore Tracey, answers questions about the limitations on visiting nursing homes and assisted living facilities as well as the importance of social distancing for caregivers and seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. Guest host Stefanie Boucher usually presents Torchlight’s Exceptional Parenting Podcast, when she’s not writing about the challenges of raising children and navigating education issues for children with and without disabilities. Today, she looks for ways to explain social distancing and how to con ..read more