-
A Father & Daughter Bond As EMT Caregivers
This is a very special episode of Caregiving Insights with The Dr. Raj Podcast! Todd “TJ” Keitz, Caregiving Insights founder/host and My Care Friends founder/CEO is co-hosting this episode with Dr. Raj, host of the Dr. Raj Podcast, weekly contributor to ABC News Los Angeles, frequent guest on “The Doctors” tv show, and much more. This is the 4th collaboration between Dr. Raj and Todd/My Care Friends in the past few months — with many more to come. It’s the first time they’ve co-hosted a podcast and it was so much fun! This month’s episode “Father & Daughter: EMT Caregivers” is a incredibly interesting human interest story. John and Alex Myers began working together when Alex became an EMT at the age of 16…yes, 16!!…
-
Practical Tips for Caregivers & Patient Advocates
Episodes 10 and 11 contain a chock full of practical tips! I’m thrilled to be joined by Laurette Foggini, as she draws on her extensive experience on the administrative side of caregiving and patient advocacy, combined with her subsequent (and current) journey with her mom. Part 1 explores topics such as developing care plans, caregiving from a distance, transitioning to being physically present, importance of the Power of Attorney (why, and when it’s not enough), and more! Part 2 explores topics such as addressing sibling responsibilities, effects of prognosis and changes to it, travel for self-care, decisions about home care and hospice, acceptance and adapting, sons stepping into these care roles, senior fitness and more! We hope you find this conversation interesting and informative! That…
-
Self-Care for Caregivers: The Power of Reiki
In this 25-minute episode of Caregiving Insights, I chat with Sovan Purkait. We explore what led to his first Reiki experience, believing in its healing effects, and subsequently co-founding The Rainbow Miracle with his partner. The first half of the episode explores Sovan’s journey and “what is Reiki”, then we delve into the benefits to caregivers and other healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, etc. Based in India and the largest virtual Reiki practice in that country, this endeavor aims to help people around the world — virtually. I’m grateful to Sovan for his time and insights, and hope you find this conversation interesting and informative! ———————————— Todd “TJ” Keitz has been primary caregiver/patient advocate since June 2018 for his two parents, who each are faced…
-
Patient Advocacy: Considerations from a Patient & Advocate
I’m thrilled to have Amos Odeleye-Ajakaye as a guest on Caregiving Insights. In this episode, I explore with Amos his journey from Nigeria to the United States, and from healthcare professional to being a patient. As a healthcare professional, Amos knew a lot about advocacy and caregiving. Once he became a patient, his knowledge went to a whole different level. This episode explores many facets of patient advocacy and there’s lots of helpful insight…whether you are an advocate, patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional. In fact, anyone can benefit from understanding more about advocacy and how to support loved ones, friends and colleagues along their healthcare journeys. We are grateful to Amos for his time and insights! We hope you find this conversation interesting and informative!…
-
Caregiving: from blog to podcast (and soon an app)
It’s been a bit over a year since 1 Day 1 Week launched. I set out to share personal stories of my caregiving journey with my parents, in the hope it would resonate for and help many other people. From the feedback I continue to receive about the posts, I’m proud to say that goal was accomplished. Along the way, I realized a few things: 1) blogging takes a lot of time, if you’re doing “right” — considering the writing, re-writing, editing, posting, promotion, and so on. 2) while there are many people who still love reading blogs, there are infinitely more that would rather listen to or watch an interactive discussion about a topic — especially when it comes to caregiving. 3) taking into…
-
Patient Advocacy: Considerations from a Patient & Advocate
Recently, Todd was thrilled to be a podcast guest of Tracey Welson-Rossman, founder of Journal My Health and Joyce Yaccarino Griggs, founder of United States of Healthcare. The discussion touches on many topics, including defining the difference between caregiving and patient advocacy, staying organized, family conversations, documentation, reaching out for help, patient bill of rights, and more.
-
Time: Continues to fly by — literally & figuratively
Since my previous post in late January, I’ve been on 15 flights from east to west, north to south. Philadelphia, Austin, Oakland and their surrounding areas. Some work. Some play. Lots of delayed purging due to the pandemic. To enable this happen, I first had to get over my concern about traveling during Covid — especially flying. Not easy after essentially being in lockdown for almost two years and having responsibilities for immunocompromised parents. But, if life were to move forward, that needed to be done. Fortunately, I had great inspiration from people in my life who had safely navigated airports, planes, hotels, and more — and continue to take the utmost precautions, especially with mandatory masking on planes no longer in effect. Just as…
-
Time: Flies By In The Blink Of A Hospital Stay
I’m sorry it’s been quite a while since my last 1 Day 1 Week article. There are various reasons. One is that I was focusing on the Caregiving Insights podcast and have posted four episodes. With otherwise limited time, I simply couldn’t find the hours to write/edit/proof/post/promote an article. Also, the holidays and traveling/getting away from caregiving a week ago for the first time since November 2019 was a factor. Upon landing back in Florida on Monday, I received a text from my mom telling me that my dad was being taken to the ER because of chest pain. Welcome home! The Cliff’s Notes version – he had atrial flutter and then atrial fibrillation, which led to a heart ablation procedure. It appears to have worked…
-
Patient Advocacy & The Co-Creation Experience
A happy, healthy wish to everyone from 1 Day 1 Week! It’s been weeks since the last post, which was intentional considering folks were busy with the holidays and I took some overdue self-care. Now it’s time to gear up for a great 2022, bringing you many more podcasts and articles about caregiving and patient advocacy! As we step into the new year, our YouTube channel Caregiving Insights is off to a great start! I’m excited to have just posted Episode #4: Patient Advocacy & The Co-Creation Experience. In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Dr. Valerie Williams-Sanchez. Valerie and I worked together 25 years ago for a company named Medical Data International and we’ve had extensive conversations over the years about patient…
-
Healing Through The Arts (caregivers, hospitals, anyone!)
The healing referred to in this episode is about nourishing the soul. Patients and caregivers have their individual and intertwined journeys that are so often depleting. The arts are a beautiful gift to nourish oneself and those we care for. How is this accomplished? How can a hospital be involved? A family? Todd “TJ” Keitz, Creator/Chief Blogger of www.1day1week.com, explores these questions and much more with Joy Javits, Founder of DooR to DooR of UNC Healthcare in Chapel Hill. Since starting this organization 28 years ago, Joy has brought the arts to patients, caregivers, and staff in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to help the healing process. Joy’s background as a dancer and choreographer, as well as the daughter of the long-time respected U.S. Senator…
