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  • Tax Implications for Seniors

    Tax Implications for Seniors
    2026/07/06
    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos continue their series on getting your affairs in order with a conversation many families avoid until they’re forced to face it: taxes. Joined by Enrolled Agent and tax professional Megan Steinfeld of Cream City Accounting, they discuss what happens when retirement, widowhood, caregiving, or the death of a loved one suddenly leaves someone responsible for tax matters they haven’t handled before. Megan shares why tax issues often feel overwhelming, what families commonly miss when stepping into a parent’s financial world, and how a little preparation today can prevent confusion and stress later.Throughout the conversation, Megan offers practical guidance and peace of mind for aging adults and family caregivers. She explains that most tax mistakes are fixable, why IRS notices are not always bad news, and how families can stay ahead of problems by organizing documents, understanding income sources, and knowing where important records are kept. Whether you're helping an aging parent, preparing your spouse for the future, or simply trying to get your own affairs in order, this episode provides clear, approachable advice to help you feel more confident and prepared when tax responsibilities inevitably become part of the caregiving journey.Key Moments:00:00 – Why Tax Planning Matters for Aging Adults Pam and Linda introduce the importance of tax preparation, financial organization, and reducing family stress.02:33 – Meet Megan Steinfeld, Enrolled Agent Megan explains her background and what it means to be an IRS-authorized Enrolled Agent.04:39 – How Retirement Changes Your Tax Situation Understanding Social Security, pensions, retirement accounts, investments, and tax withholding.06:27 – Common Tax Mistakes Families Make Why moving too quickly or filing with incomplete information can create problems.08:22 – Can Tax Mistakes Be Fixed? Megan shares reassuring news about correcting errors and responding to IRS notices.09:55 – Do Seniors Still Need to File Taxes? How age alone does not determine filing requirements and what factors matter most.11:10 – Identity Theft Protection for Older Adults Why filing returns and using IRS Identity Protection PINs can help prevent fraud.13:08 – Working During Retirement How part-time employment can affect Social Security taxation and overall tax liability.15:06 – When to Seek Professional Tax Help Red flags including IRS notices, inherited assets, home sales, and the loss of a spouse.20:26 – Special Tax Considerations for Seniors Enhanced deductions, filing thresholds, and changes introduced for older taxpayers.22:13 – Organizing Tax Documents Before a Crisis Simple systems for tracking tax forms, online accounts, and financial records.25:02 – Selling a Home or Moving to Senior Living Potential tax implications, deductions, and common recordkeeping challenges.27:22 – What Happens When a Parent Passes Away? Estate returns, trust considerations, and understanding the step-up in basis.29:19 – Tax Myths Families Need to Stop Believing Why retirement does not automatically eliminate taxes or filing obligations.32:47 – Three Steps to Get Organized Today Practical actions aging adults and caregivers can take immediately.38:31 – Handling Taxes After the Death of a Loved One How adult children can verify filing status, retrieve records, and manage final returns.42:14 – What If Taxes Haven’t Been Filed for Years? Megan explains how families can get back on track and create a manageable action plan. About Megan Hawley-Steinfeld, EA: Megan Steinfeld is an Enrolled Agent (EA) and owner of Cream City Accounting. As a federally licensed tax professional authorized directly by the IRS, Megan specializes exclusively in taxation, tax planning, and taxpayer representation. With more than a decade of experience, she helps individuals, families, and business owners navigate complex tax situations with confidence and clarity. Megan is passionate about information literacy and helping people understand tax topics that often feel overwhelming, especially during major life transitions.__Resources Mentioned in This Episode: As always, for more support, join us for our weekly free newsletter "Senior Saturday." Your weekly dose of tips, strategies, support, and education to help you best care for your aging loved ones. IRS Identity Protection PIN ProgramIRS Resources on Tax Forms and Filing Requirements for Seniors—Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting: Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingContact Megan Steinfeld:Website: CreamCityAccounting.comLinkedIn
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    47 分
  • Financial Planning for Seniors

    Financial Planning for Seniors
    2026/06/22
    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos continue Season 2 with an essential conversation about financial planning for aging adults and family caregivers. Joined by Certified Financial Planner™and Wealth Management Advisor Dave Czarnecki, they discuss why financial planning is about much more than money; it involves protecting independence, preserving dignity, reducing family stress, and creating options for future care. The discussion explores common planning mistakes families make when they wait until a crisis occurs, how to organize important financial and legal documents, and why proactive planning helps aging adults maintain greater control over future decisions.Dave also provides a practical overview of long-term care planning and long-term care insurance, including when to begin researching coverage, common misconceptions about Medicare and long-term care costs, and the importance of having a strategy to fund future care needs. Throughout the conversation, Pam, Linda, and Dave emphasize that getting your affairs in order does not have to happen all at once. Small, consistent steps taken today can help families avoid financial regret, reduce conflict, and create a smoother path through caregiving, health challenges, and care transitions. Key Moments:00:00 – Season 2 Begins: Why Financial Planning Matters for Aging Adults Pam and Linda introduce Season 2 and explain why proactive financial planning is an essential part of aging well and reducing future family stress.01:43 – Meet Dave: Certified Financial Planner™ and Fiduciary Advisor Dave shares his professional background and explains what it means to serve clients as a fiduciary advisor.03:23 – Starting Financial Planning with Family Goals and Priorities Learn why financial planning should begin with your values, lifestyle goals, caregiving preferences, and family priorities—not just numbers.05:13 – Costly Mistakes Families Make When They Delay Planning Dave discusses how waiting until a crisis occurs can limit options, increase costs, and create unnecessary stress for families.07:45 – What “Getting Your Affairs in Order” Really Means Discover the key components of organizing financial, legal, and personal information before an emergency happens.10:04 – Essential Legal and Financial Documents Every Family Needs Dave outlines the critical documents every aging adult should have in place, including powers of attorney, wills, trusts, and advance directives.13:02 – How to Start Difficult Conversations with Aging Parents Practical tips for approaching sensitive planning discussions in a way that feels supportive rather than threatening.14:57 – Three Simple Steps to Begin Planning Today Dave shares three practical actions listeners can take right away to start organizing important information and creating a plan.16:19 – Supporting Aging Parents Without Taking Over Learn how adult children can offer assistance while still respecting a parent's independence, dignity, and decision-making authority.17:58 – Documents and Information to Gather Before an Emergency A checklist of the financial, medical, legal, and contact information families should keep readily accessible.19:18 – Long-Term Care Insurance Explained Dave provides a clear overview of what long-term care insurance is, what it covers, and how it can help fund future care needs.22:19 – When to Consider Long-Term Care Insurance Find out why timing matters and why many professionals recommend exploring long-term care insurance before health issues arise.24:03 – Common Myths About Long-Term Care Insurance Dave addresses common misconceptions, including assumptions about Medicare coverage and the affordability of long-term care insurance.25:40 – Building Long-Term Care into Your Financial Plan Learn how long-term care planning fits into a broader strategy that includes finances, legal planning, and care coordination.27:15 – Reducing Stress During Health Changes and Care Transitions Discover how advance planning can help families navigate illness, hospitalization, and caregiving transitions with greater confidence.29:12 – What If You Feel Like You've Waited Too Long? Dave offers encouragement and explains why it is rarely too late to take meaningful steps toward better planning.30:03 – Preserving Independence, Choice, and Dignity A discussion about how thoughtful financial planning helps aging adults maintain control over future care decisions.32:40 – One Action Step: A 30-Minute Document Inventory Dave's simple challenge for listeners: spend 30 minutes gathering and organizing important documents this week.33:02 – What Avoiding Financial Regret Looks Like Real-life examples illustrate how preparation can help families avoid unnecessary financial losses, conflict, and rushed decisions.34:38 – Building Your Professional Planning Team Dave shares the...
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    37 分
  • Getting Your Affairs in Order

    Getting Your Affairs in Order
    2026/06/08
    Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos launch into the main themes of Season 2 with this episode, exploring getting your affairs in order by diving into estate planning, powers of attorney, wills, trusts, probate, and protecting family assets. Joined by attorneys Stephen Howitz and Pedro Hernandez of Zimmer and Rens LLC, the discussion focuses on why planning ahead matters for aging adults, caregivers, and adult children. Trying to navigate difficult healthcare and financial decisions is a complex process. Together, they explain how legal planning can reduce stress and protect loved ones, avoiding unnecessary court involvement and helping families feel more prepared during health crises or end-of-life transitions.Pam, Linda, Stephen, and Pedro break down complicated legal topics into practical, easy-to-understand guidance for families caring for aging parents. They explain the differences between wills and trusts, why powers of attorney are critical, how probate works, and what can happen when no legal planning is in place. They explore blended family concerns, protecting a parent’s home, Medicaid considerations, guardianship, and the emotional realities caregivers face when trying to help loved ones stay independent while preparing for the future. This episode offers compassionate, practical advice to help families start important conversations before a crisis happens.Key Moments:00:00 — Why Estate Planning Matters for Aging Adults Pam and Linda introduce the importance of legal planning, estate organization, and protecting aging adults and caregivers from unnecessary stress.02:02 — Meet Attorneys Stephen Howitz and Pedro Hernandez Stephen and Pedro share their backgrounds in estate planning, probate, real estate law, and helping families prepare for aging and end-of-life transitions.04:12 — Why Estate Planning Should Start Before a Crisis The guests explain why powers of attorney and advance planning are essential before medical emergencies happen.07:35 — What Happens During Guardianship A clear explanation of guardianship, court involvement, medical incapacity, and how families can lose decision-making control without proper documents.11:36 — What Estate Planning Actually Includes The discussion covers wills, trusts, healthcare directives, financial planning, property, retirement accounts, and protecting assets.14:26 — Understanding Wills, Trusts, and DNRs Stephen explains the differences between wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and do-not-resuscitate orders.19:05 — What Happens to Powers of Attorney After Death The guests explain executors, probate, successor trustees, and how legal authority changes after someone passes away.23:29 — When Families Should Start Estate Planning Conversations Why waiting too long creates more legal and emotional challenges for caregivers and adult children.27:52 — What Happens Without Estate Planning Documents The attorneys explain probate delays, frozen bank accounts, funeral costs, and family complications when no planning exists.32:34 — Protecting Assets in Blended Families Important estate planning considerations for blended families, inheritance concerns, and reducing family conflict.39:48 — What to Bring to an Estate Planning Appointment Helpful guidance on gathering financial information, identifying goals, and organizing important documents.44:12 — Common Problems With a Parent’s Home After Death Mortgage issues, vacant homes, insurance concerns, and why real estate titles matter in probate and estate planning.52:10 — Medicaid, Long-Term Care, and Keeping the Family Home The conversation explores Medicaid implications, care planning, and decisions around selling or keeping a parent’s home.58:05 — How Adult Children Can Start Difficult Conversations Practical advice for caregivers trying to encourage aging parents to prepare legal and financial documents.01:04:25 — Final Advice for Families Preparing for the Future Stephen and Pedro share their biggest estate planning lessons and encourage families to start planning sooner rather than later.About Stephen Howitz: Stephen graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, before studying law, with an emphasis on probate and family law at Marquette University in Wisconsin. After graduating from law school, Stephen dove into the world of law, working both in law firms and as a solo practitioner, where he gained experience in a wide range of legal areas. Over time, he developed a special passion and expertise in probate, trusts, estate planning and family law, helping clients navigate these deeply personal matters with care and clarity.When not practicing law, Stephen enjoys spending time with his two daughters, watching football and baseball, collecting records, and listening to music.About Pedro Hernandez:Pedro is a mindful real estate and litigation attorney who specializes in complex civil litigation and ...
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    1 時間 9 分
  • Discharge Part 2: Leaving the Hospital Too Soon

    Discharge Part 2: Leaving the Hospital Too Soon
    2026/05/25
    Welcome to Season 2 of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families. Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos close out their discharge planning series from the first season by discussing one of the most stressful parts of a hospital stay: what happens when someone leaves too soon or feels pressured to leave before they’re ready. Pam and Linda explain what it means to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA), why discharge planning can feel rushed, and how families can advocate for a safer transition home without becoming confrontational. They also offer a look ahead at the themes for Season 2.Pam and Linda walk listeners through practical steps to take before discharge, including asking for clear medical explanations, requesting care conferences, understanding appeal rights, and making sure medications, follow-up appointments, and home support services are fully organized before leaving the hospital. They explain why medication errors are one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions and share simple ways caregivers can reduce mistakes during transitions of care. Pam and Linda provide real-world caregiver advocacy tools to help families feel more prepared, informed, and confident during one of healthcare’s most overwhelming transitions. Key Moments:00:00 — Why Discharge Planning Matters Pam and Linda introduce the risks of unsafe hospital discharge and explain why transitions of care are one of the most vulnerable times for aging adults.01:42 — Season One Wrap-Up and Season Two Preview The hosts reflect on caregiver challenges from season one and introduce the new season theme focused on getting your affairs in order.02:32 — Three Common Discharge Situations Families Face Pam and Linda outline leaving AMA, medication mistakes after discharge, and what happens when home care is not working.03:15 — “I Want to Leave” vs “They’re Sending Me Home Too Soon” The discussion compares two common hospital discharge concerns and why both can lead to unsafe outcomes.04:01 — What Leaving Against Medical Advice Really Means Pam explains AMA discharge in simple language and discusses why families worry about insurance coverage.05:31 — Questions to Ask Before Leaving the Hospital The hosts share practical caregiver advocacy tips, including asking for clear medical explanations, written discharge instructions, and follow-up plans.08:59 — Medication Errors After Hospital Discharge Pam and Linda explain why medication changes during transitions of care are one of the biggest causes of hospital readmissions.11:11 — Medication Reconciliation Explained Listeners learn how to compare pre-hospital and post-hospital medication lists to avoid dangerous medication mistakes.13:31 — Why Supplements and Cannabis Belong on Medication Lists Linda explains why vitamins, supplements, herbals, essential oils, and cannabis use should always be discussed with healthcare providers.14:41 — It’s Okay to Slow Down the Discharge Process The hosts encourage families to pause and ask questions when medication instructions or discharge plans feel confusing.15:39 — What Happens When Going Home Is Not Working Pam discusses what families can do if a loved one cannot safely manage at home after discharge.16:12 — Can Someone Still Go to Rehab or Skilled Nursing? The conversation explains Medicare timelines, rehab eligibility, and why contacting the hospital social worker quickly is important.18:20 — Assisted Living vs Skilled Nursing Explained Linda outlines the differences between assisted living, rehab, memory care, and skilled nursing placement.23:43 — Hospital Discharge Appeals and the Role of the Ombudsman The hosts explain Medicare appeal rights, discharge reviews, and how ombudsmen help families advocate for safe transitions.28:58 — Weekend Discharges and Home Health Delays Pam and Linda explain why weekend hospital discharges can create gaps in care and what families should prepare for before going home.__Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Weekly Newsletter: "Senior Saturday" Transitions in Care Guide - Discharging home or changing levels of care can cause risks and potential errors. The Transitions in Care Guide is designed to cover these changes and how to prevent errors with your medications or treatment plan.Family Caregiver Resources and Checklists Medicare Appeal Information —Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting: Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedIn: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
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    35 分
  • "Can We Go Home Yet?”: Inside the Discharge Process with Hospital Social Worker Marsha Hall

    "Can We Go Home Yet?”: Inside the Discharge Process with Hospital Social Worker Marsha Hall
    2026/03/09
    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined, Pam and Linda sit down with hospital social worker and discharge planner Marsha Hall to unpack what really happens behind the scenes before a patient leaves the hospital. Hospital discharge planning can feel rushed, confusing, and overwhelming, especially when you're caring for an aging parent. From understanding when discharge planning actually begins to navigating insurance coverage, skilled nursing placement, home health services, and family dynamics, Pam and Linda offer practical guidance for caregivers who want to ensure a safe transition home.Marsha shares insider insight into the role of a hospital social worker, common discharge bottlenecks, Medicare and Medicaid considerations, homebound requirements for home health, and how families can advocate without feeling powerless. If you've ever felt like the hospital was “kicking your mom out,” Pam, Linda, and Marsha discuss everything you need to know to clarify myths, explain your rights, and outline the questions every caregiver should ask before discharge day.Key Moments:00:00 — Caregiver Bootcamp Announcement Pam introduces a new Family Caregiver Bootcamp, a two-hour workshop designed to help new caregivers organize information, ask the right questions, and build a practical 30-day caregiving action plan.01:49 — Episode Introduction: Discharge Planning The hosts introduce Episode 12, explaining that the discussion will focus on what needs to be in place before a hospital discharge and how families can avoid unsafe transitions home.03:18 — Meet the Expert: Hospital Social Worker Marsha Hall Pam introduces Marsha Hall, a hospital social worker and discharge planner, who explains how her role supports patients and families during hospital stays and discharge planning.04:46 — What a Discharge Planner Actually Does Marsha explains that discharge planning starts on day one of admission and involves coordinating with physicians, therapists, and nurses while evaluating the patient’s overall situation and support system at home.07:11 — The One Thing Families Should Never Hide Marsha stresses the importance of honesty about home conditions and caregiving limitations, noting that sugarcoating the situation can lead to unsafe discharges and hospital readmissions.08:30 — Insurance and Discharge Bottlenecks The conversation explores how insurance networks, facility contracts, and prior authorizations can delay discharge plans or limit where patients can receive care.14:00 — “The Hospital Is Kicking My Mom Out” Myth Marsha addresses the common complaint that hospitals rush patients out, explaining that safe discharge planning and insurance constraints often drive the timeline.23:07 — Deciding Between Home Care, Rehab, or Skilled Nursing The team discusses how therapists, physicians, and patient preferences determine whether someone receives home health services, inpatient rehab, or skilled nursing care.26:11 — The Difference Between Home Health and Non-Medical Care Marsha explains the distinction between skilled home health services covered by insurance and non-medical home support services like housekeeping or bathing assistance.32:39 — Community Resources Families Should Know About Marsha outlines key resources social workers help coordinate, including the Aging and Disability Resource Center, transportation, caregiver support, Meals on Wheels, and medical equipment loans.40:17 — Common Discharge Mistakes Families Make The hosts discuss common problems after discharge, such as missed follow-ups, declined services, and medication confusion, and how families can prevent them.51:58 — Care Conferences: Getting Everyone on the Same Page Marsha explains how care conferences bring the care team and family together to resolve disagreements and create a safe plan before discharge.__Pam and Linda look forward to returning with more informative episodes of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families in Season 2. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss their return.__Resources Mentioned in This Episode: New Family Caregiver Boot CampYouTube Channel Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFamily Caregiver Meeting AgendaWeekly Newsletter: "Senior Saturday" - Where we share tips and strategies for assisting in the management of caring for an aging loved one. Videos, blog posts, resources, checklists, guides, workshops, "News You Can Use" and much more!—Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting: Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.comFacebook: @Your RNAdvocatePinterest: @YourNurseAdvocateInstagram: @YourRNAdvocateLinkedin: Your Nurse Advocate ConsultingYouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
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    1 時間 3 分
  • How to Run a Doctor Appointment Like an Advocate (In-Person, Telehealth, or By Phone)

    How to Run a Doctor Appointment Like an Advocate (In-Person, Telehealth, or By Phone)
    2026/02/23


    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos share practical tips on how to run a doctor appointment like an advocate. Whether the visit is in person, through telehealth, or by phone, they walk you through exactly what to do before, during, and after the appointment. If you or a loved one has ever left a doctor's appointment and realized you were not totally sure what the plan was, this episode is for you.


    You will learn how to support your aging parent without speaking over them, how to ask clear questions in plain language, and how to leave every visit with a clear plan and next steps. Pam and Linda share real-life examples and offer simple scripts you can use to request information or aid a loved one in giving an accurate history. The advice and take-home tools will help you feel more confident navigating doctor visits for aging adults.

    Key Moments:

    00:00 Why Appointments Feel Different Today
    Doctor visits are shorter and more rushed, which can leave families confused about the care plan.

    05:22 The Advocate Mindset
    The three goals for every appointment: share accurate information, get a clear plan, and confirm understanding.

    08:35 The Ten Minute Prep
    How to set two to three priorities and prepare effectively before the visit.

    09:44 What to Bring to Every Appointment
    Medication lists, supplements, allergy details, symptom logs, and clear examples.

    13:39 During the Appointment
    Let your loved one lead, use respectful bridge phrases, and ask for plain language explanations.

    17:47 Telehealth Tips
    How to prepare for virtual visits and make them just as effective as in-person appointments.


    21:30 When the Full Story Is Not Shared
    Why aging adults minimize symptoms and how to share concerns respectfully.

    26:25 Advocacy Versus Control
    Support your loved one without speaking over them or taking away their independence.

    30:49 After Visit Follow Through
    Update medications, confirm referrals, and use the patient portal to stay on track.


    35:02 Recap and Free Resources
    Download the prep guide and after-visit checklist to use at your next appointment.

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    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • Prep for the Doctor Appointment
    • After the Visit Checklist

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    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
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    37 分
  • How to Get More Help From Your Clinic: A New Caregiver’s Guide with guest Viki Droegkamp RN

    How to Get More Help From Your Clinic: A New Caregiver’s Guide with guest Viki Droegkamp RN
    2026/02/09

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos interview RN Viki Droegkamp to help new family caregivers get more support from their primary care clinic. Viki explains that your clinic should act as the “hub” for coordinating care, and not just be a place for annual checkups, noting that caregivers shouldn’t have to manage everything alone. She outlines who to contact first, when to call directly versus messaging, and how clinics can help with care coordination, triage advice, transitional care management (TCM) after a hospital stay, and referrals for specialists, imaging, therapy, home health, oxygen, and other services.


    Pam and Linda also discuss with Viki the practical ways caregivers can reduce stress using MyChart (including proxy access), such as requesting medication refills, tracking lab results, reviewing provider notes, and staying on top of appointments and referral status. Viki shares key caregiver tips: keep MyChart messages short and clear with a direct question, avoid sending duplicate refill requests, and don’t rely on “Dr. Google.” She explains the common clinic supports that many families overlook, including help with prior authorizations, insurance coverage issues, preventive care reminders, forms, and driving safety concerns. The three outline clear next steps for caregivers: call your primary care clinic, ask what caregiver support services are available, and set up MyChart/proxy access to stay organized and informed.


    Key Moments:

    00:00 Primary Care Clinics: Your Caregiving Command Center

    02:00 Who to Call First at Your Clinic

    04:00 Call vs MyChart: How to Get Faster Answers

    05:00 Medication Refills and Controlled Drugs Explained

    06:30 Prior Authorizations and High-Cost Medications

    08:00 Clinic vs Urgent Care vs ER: What to Do When

    09:00 Post-Hospital Follow-Ups and Transitional Care

    10:00 Referrals, Home Health, and Insurance Navigation

    17:30 Managing Chronic Conditions Through Primary Care

    22:00 Vaccines, Preventive Care, and Medicare Visits

    25:00 Forms, FMLA, and Driving Safety Decisions

    29:30 MyChart Tips: Proxy Access and Messaging Mistakes

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    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • Prep Guide for Doctor's Visits

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    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
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    58 分
  • New Caregiver: First 30 Days

    New Caregiver: First 30 Days
    2026/01/26

    In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos introduce a practical “new caregiver roadmap” designed to guide adult children, spouses, and long-distance family members through the first 30 days of stepping into caregiving. Perhaps a loved one has had a fall, a new diagnosis, or a recent hospital stay. Whatever the situation, Pam and Linda’s goal is simple: help new caregivers feel less overwhelmed by offering a calm, step-by-step plan that prioritizes stabilizing immediate risks, building basic organization systems, and creating sustainable support without trying to solve everything at once.


    Pam and Linda break the roadmap into three phases. Days 1–3 focus on stabilizing, starting with immediate safety risks and identifying which issue is most likely to trigger an ER visit if ignored. Days 4–14 shift into organizing, including building a care team contact list, setting one consistent communication method, and establishing one place to track everything from appointments to medications. Days 15–30 are about supporting and sustaining, clarifying what “better” looks like for the loved one, confirming legal essentials, and identifying gaps like transportation, meals, bathing safety, supervision needs, and respite options. Pam and Linda discuss common early mistakes that can snowball into crises, and also stress that caregiving works best when roles match people’s strengths. The episode offers valuable insight with practical tools such as a one-page “who to call” sheet, medication list, and a downloadable caregiver starter kit to give anyone new to caregiving the confidence needed to take the first steps.

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    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • “The First 10 Things to Do When You Become a New Caregiver” blog post
    • New Caregiver Starter Kit
    • Your Nurse Advocate Now Monthly Program
    • The First 10 Cheat Sheet (download link)
    • Medication List (download link)

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    Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

    • Website: YourNurseAdvocateConsulting.com
    • Facebook: @Your RNAdvocate
    • Pinterest: @YourNurseAdvocate
    • Instagram: @YourRNAdvocate
    • Linkedin: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
    • YouTube: Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
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    42 分