Life Is A Sacred Journey

Alexandra Crosswell, PhD is a psychological scientist in the UCSF's Center for Health and Community where she studies the effect of stress on health and aging. She is currently studying the effects of the experiences of adult caregivers, and what can help caregivers thrive in their difficult role.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Is there a role for faith-based organizations in providing social support to senior adults? To help us gain an understanding of the increased role religious congregations now play in providing social support to the elderly, we are joined by Sheila Stevens.Sheila Stevens is CEO of Sheila Stevens and Associates focusing on leadership, interpersonal communication, and team development. She spearheaded a project on "Village Elders" focusing on the legacy from elders to youth in the African American Community. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Forget about surviving from pay check to pay check, let's talk about facing daily choices between a meal or medication.6.4 million of our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grandmothers and grandfathers struggle daily to afford food and rent, access healthcare and to remain connected to their families and communities.Kevin Prindiville poses a challenge, "We cannot hold up our hands and say we should have helped them 50 years ago. We must, and we can, take action."SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram. 

There are almost 40 million people aged 65+ in the United States. America's 50 and older population will reach 100 million this year.Anthony Cirillo is a passionate advocate for these caregivers and seniors, helping them lead a quality life through a platform of educate aging - physically, emotionally and finnacially. He calls this "Rocking the Aging Experience". His book entitled "Who Moved My Dentures" dispels myths about aging.Catch him here for insights on how to live your best life as a caregiver, elder or boomer.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Today Judy Thomas, CEO of the Coalition of Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) joins us to share tips on "Living fully until the very end". The CCCC promotes and improved healthcare practices and standards across the continuum of care. Plus, it also has a national impact on transforming the culture of care for people who are seriously ill through advancing the cause of palliative care in America.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Eldercare tends to sneak up on everybody involved. Adult children allow themselves to believe that their parents will never get sick or old. Parents fail to acknowledge that they will one day become dependent upon others. And ignoring the inevitable only makes it more difficult to cope when a crisis finally occurs. Fortunately, you can make your caregiving journey far easier by facing it head-on.The ElderCare Ready Book tells you what to expect and how to prepare for the challenges you'll encounter. You'll learn: How to be prepared for your eldercare journey How to implement the necessary steps to manage and control your loved one's care: How to identify what information and documentation you will need How to access certain necessary information How to organize and keep this data at hand for use when needed Common misconceptions about eldercare and legal documentation How to keep your loved ones safe What to expect from care providers And much more . . .SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOL

You can’t control getting older, but you can influence the quality of life. Does your retirement plan provide for the cost of Long Term Care? More importantly would you like it to? Financial Planner David Rae outlines the ins and out of aging well for the Gay Community.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Choosing a nursing home for a family member is one of the most difficult decisions in life. It is stressful, time-consuming task that is often made worse by the fact that a loved one has suffered a medical crisis. You may face great pressure to locate a nursing home and arrange care in a very short period of time.So, how exactly do you choose the right long-term care facility for your loved one? Nicole Howell is the Executive Director for Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa County and is responsible for ensuring that the 9,000 residents of long-term care in her community have access to the highest level of care, respect and above all are able to live free of abuse and neglect.Tune into Life is a Sacred Journey, Thursday 4/28 as Nicole shares tips on how best to get the best out of the long-term care system for your loved one. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Last Dance at the Savoy includes a resource guide and, through Scott’s experiences, addresses questions such as how do I recognize early warning signs and get proper diagnosis? How do I handle the complex changes and strains in our relationship?Author/Actress Kathryn Leigh Scott has written several books of fiction and nonfiction. She starred in the cult favorite “Dark Shadows” and has recently appeared in a recurring role on “The Goldbergs.” SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Consider the facts, 80% of people say that if seriously ill, they would ant to talk to their doctor about end-of-life care, BUT 7% report having had an end-of-life conversation with their doctor. Furthermore, 60% of people say that making sure their family is not burdened by tough decisions is "extremely important", BUT 56% have not communicated their end-of-life wishes. When it comes to end-of-life care, one conversation can make all the difference. This week, Micheal Pope and her guest Linda Best  help you get your thoughts together and then have the conversation. Whether you’re getting ready to tell someone what you want, or you want to help someone else get ready to talk, we hope this show will be a useful guide. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram. 

In the last 25 years, aging on the island increased by 6.5 percent, and in 2010 the elderly population was greater that the number of Cubans between 0 and 14 years of age, representing 17.8 percent of the total 11.2 million inhabitants. Cuba is able to provide high quality care to a poor population, with limited financial resources. Yet, the Cuban people enjoy better health outcomes in every category of measure: low infant mortality; low rate of depression and sickness in the elderly; and almost everything in between.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Meet Christine Williams, author of The Listening Project: Lessons of Life, Love and Listening to God. The book is the result of the authors personal journey to discover how to become a better spiritual listener. Readers are offered a guide, through personal questions, struggles and spiritual healing, to become better listeners in their own lives. The book is not focused on any specific religious tradition, but is centered on the individuals relationship with his or herself and the world.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

It's our last episode for 2015 and were making it count! We're taking a look back at the year 2015 and answering the question, "What if we treated aging like we treat childhood, what would our communities look like?" This is your fireside chat with Micheal Pope, only on Life is a Sacred Journey. Every week, we put the spotlight on a wide range of topics around aging and caregiving here on Life is a Sacred Journey. Our mission is to provide community education so that you can awaken to your best selves and discover a deeper connection to the world of aging around you.The show is brought to you by the Area Agency on Aging in partnership with ASEB (Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay). Catch us every Thursday at 5 pm Pacific Time here on BlogTalk Radio. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Joy is not for just the lucky few–it’s a choice anyone can make. In this groundbreaking book, based on his popular course, James Baraz helps you discover a path to the happiness that’s right in front of you, offering a step-by-step program that will reorient your mind away from dissatisfaction and distraction and toward the contentment and delight that is abundantly available in our everyday lives.Filled with engaging exercises and practical advice to make happiness your natural default setting and grounded in Buddhist principles – though accessible to people of all faiths or no faith at all – the book takes you step-by-step through cultivating behaviors and attitudes that bring well-being into your life. About Life is a Sacred Journey:Life is a Sacred Journey covers a variety of topics on aging and caregiving, allowing each of us to awaken to our best selves as well as discover a deeper connection to the world of aging around us.The show is brought to you by the Area Agency on Aging in partnership with ASEB

In her book, Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimer's or Dementia: A Journal for Caregivers, Jolene Brackey has a vision.A vision that will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer's disease and focus more of our energy on creating moments of joy.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

End of life care is something we all face, yet too many people are dying in a way they wouldn't choose, leaving loved ones feeling burdened, guilty, and uncertain. While we desire to have our health care wishes honored and not be a burden, many of us fail to have "the conversation" with loved ones about what those wishes are before treatment or unforeseen decisions must be made. This week, we are joined by Rickey Bowen, Independent Comprehensive Financial Planner and expert on this topic.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Aging in place is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level." The value of aging in place is recognized more now than ever before. Today, with families scattered, the responsibility for the details of care can be overwhelming. With so much to consider on a daily basis, it's easy for important needs to get lost in the mix. Moli Steinert, Executive Director at SteppingStone - an Adult Day Health Care Center is here to help us put those critical pieces of the puzzle together. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

Margaret Cullen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)Teacher and was one of the first ten instructors to be certified by the Center for Mindfulness.  For 20 years she has been pioneering mindfulness-based programs in health care, education, business, and academic settings. In 1995 she helped launch the first MBSR program at Kaiser in Oakland and later collaborated on a revised manual for the entire northern California region. She introduced MBSR to the Cancer Support Community (CSC) in both Santa Monica and Walnut Creek, California where it still thrives, 20 years later. Margaret continues to facilitate support groups, teach mindfulness programs, and offer workshops on forgiveness at CSC in Walnut Creek.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook. FOLLOW us on Instagram.

America is headed towards a caregiving cliff. The AARP reports that today, the majority of long-term services and supports are provided by family members. However, the supply of family caregivers is unlikely to keep pace with future demand.Rising demand and shrinking families to provide long-term services and support call for new solutions to financing, access and delivery of elder care and family support.Sherwin Sheik, Founder of CareLinx - an online nationwide marketplace that directly connects families with professional and affordable caregivers - is here to share his insights on how technology is bridging the gap and changing our experience of caregiving today/and the future.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.

End of life care is something we all face, yet too many people are dying in a way they wouldn’t choose, leaving loved ones feeling burdened, guilty, and uncertain. While we desire to have our health care wishes honored and not be a burden, many of us fail to have “the conversation” with loved ones about what those wishes are before treatment decisions must be made.SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel.L!KE us on Facebook.FOLLOW us on Instagram.