Working Daughter

Nancy Vasta is the Vice President of Consumer Health Engagement at Cigna and is the strategy lead for all of Cigna’s US customer-facing clinics. She is focused on redefining how individuals engage with their health in an evolving delivery system and those individuals, of course, include caregivers. In this episode, Nancy shares what Cigna is doing during COVID-19 to help better support their people and caregivers. Key Takeaways: [2:35] How does Cigna support caregivers? [4:10] The act...

Michelle Woodbrey is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors. She checks in to discuss how she is holding up currently during the pandemic as she now finds herself as a working mother while also homeschooling her daughter and unable to visit her aging parents. Michelle’s father needed extra care due to his Parkinson's Disease, but that is now off the table as both he and her mother stay at home in their senior living facility. Key Takeaways: [2:15]...

Katie Tardiff is passionate about helping individuals with complex needs live at home for as long as they can. Katie is a Gerontological Nursing Practitioner with over 14 years of experience providing clinical care. She is also the Vice President of Clinical Services for Seniorlink, where she leads efforts that result in the improved quality of life within caregiver homes. In this episode, she shares how caregivers can adapt to these trying times as everyone takes precautions towards...

Ellen Minor is frightened that her elderly father who lives with her will fall and she will not be able to have paramedics come and help him up. She is being what her father thinks is ‘too bossy’ but that’s because she cannot take any risks in having him become infected with coronavirus. Amy Carrier also has an aging parent in her home. She has to decide whether or not to bring in outside help. If she doesn’t, then she does not see a realistic way to care for her mother and get her job done....

Dr. Bill Haley is a Professor at the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida. With his collaborative work with Dr. David Roth of Johns Hopkins University, they have discovered some new things about caregivers that might surprise you. In this week’s episode, Dr. Haley breaks down their research and underlines some of the positive results of caregiving. Key Takeaways: [2:35] Many caregivers experience positives and negatives simultaneously in their caregiving...

Jennifer Levin is a millennial and was faced with the shocking news at 32; she had to put her father in a nursing facility because of his Parkinson's disease. At the time, she was heavily focused on her career and living in a different state than her father. sShe felt terribly alone and isolated during that time because none of her peers could relate. Jennifer shares her experience on what it was like caring for her father as a millennial. when her career was just starting to blossom. Key...

Anne Ellet, with Memory Care Support, is a Nurse Practitioner that specializes in Dementia Care. She has seen a wide variety of care facilities that do not allow for patients to express their individual selves and their quality of health is reduced because of it. Simple things like allowing a person to go outside to eat can make a big difference in their quality of life, yet facilities are too afraid to take chances. Ann describes her work with memory care and how we can develop better...

Helen Adeosun is the Co-Founder and CEO of CareAcademy, a training center that provides in-home caregivers the education they need to provide excellent care. On today’s episode, Helen discusses where the culture of caregiving is headed and how adult children can better care for their aging parents as they begin to need extra help. Key Takeaways: [1:00] How did Helen get started in care? [3:45] There is a lot of gray area in the caregiving world. [9:45] Child care is often anticipated...

Ilana Berger works for an organization called Hand in Hand and its mission is to provide fair wages and benefits to domestic workers who help out in your home. If you hire a domestic worker, even if it is to care for your aging parents or your young children, you are an employer! This means you have the ability to provide support and care to the people who helped you the most! Find out on this week’s episode, how you can help make a difference! Key Takeaways: [1:10] How did Hand in Hand...

Adrienne M. Penta is a Managing Director, as well as the executive director of the Brown Brothers Harriman Center for Women & Wealth at Brown Brothers Harriman. As more women are contributing substantially to the workforce, that also means that there is a lot more stress for them to bear when a loved one gets sick and they’re faced with the decision to quit their job to be a full-time caregiver. On this week’s show, Adrienne shares what a financial advisor can do for you during this...

Chris MacLellan was with his partner Richard for 11 years before Richard passed away from esophagus cancer. Richard was originally given only 3-4 months to live, but ended up surpassing that and living for three more years. Chris shares his experience and story about what it was like caring for his partner and why the quality of healthcare may be different for a hetrosexual couple. Theirs is a love story. Key Takeaways: [0:55] Chris’s partner, Richard, was diagnosed with esophagus...

Joseph Fuller is a Professor of Management Practice in General Management at Harvard Business School and he co-leads one of the school’s initiatives, Managing the Future of Work. He is the co-author of a recent Harvard study that tackles how and why employers should invest in a culture of care. On today’s episode, Dr. Fuller explains how a care culture is directly related to the future of work, and what companies need to be aware of when providing benefits to their employees. Key...

Today’s episode features two working sons and showcases the unique challenges male family caregivers face. Zack Demopoulos is the host of the Raisins Rents podcast and shares his story as a working son caring for his Greek parents. Josh Lamont is the founder of JRL Strategies and shares his story on the frustrations of not knowing about both state and non-profit programs that could have helped his aging veteran father earlier. Key Takeaways: [1:25] When Zack’s father got sick, he had no...

Brigid Schulte is the Director of the Better Life Lab at New America. She is also a journalist and best-selling author. On today’s episode, Brigid sheds light on the millions of me who are caretakers, the differences in how men and women approach care, and thoughts on working sons dealing with elder care. Key Takeaways: [1:25] Women do about twice the amount of childcare than men are. They are still seen as the primary caregiver. [3:50] More men are doing more hands-on care for their...

Teepa Snow is an occupational therapist with 40 years of clinical practice experience and is one of the world’s leading educators on dementia. She founded Positive Approach to help provide dementia care training, services, and products around the world. On today’s episode, Teepa sheds some light on how to make dementia care more manageable for the working daughter. Key Takeaways: [1:10] It’s so hard to find the right resources for people who are taking care of elderly parents with...

Today we feature two first-generation working daughters. Phyllis Myung is a first generation Korean American and she shares her struggles with caring for an elderly parent with dementia. Our second working daughter is Shaista Kazmi, who was not only expected to care for her aging mother-in-law, but also her elderly father at the same time. Find out more about their insights and stories on this week’s episode. Key Takeaways: [:05] A quick word from our sponsor — Wellthy.com. [:25] Korean...

Working Daughter is a show about caregiving, working, and doing both at the same time. Host Liz O’Donnell gives voice to the millions of family caregivers juggling eldercare, career and life, telling their stories and answering their questions.