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This transcription discusses the importance of senior care and the challenges associated with it, particularly medication management. It highlights the founder of Devoted Daughter Resource, Kelly Bradley, who shares her personal experience and offers practical solutions to caregivers. The transcription also emphasizes the need for support and a circle of care, as well as self-care to prevent burnout. It discusses the emotional side of caregiving and the importance of nurturing relationships. Kelly also encourages finding joy and silver linings in the journey of aging. The transcription suggests using family flashback cards to facilitate meaningful conversations. All right, someone's been busy. Websites, articles, even a whole PowerPoint. You went all in on this senior care deep dive. And there's a lot to unpack here, but it's clear this Devoted Daughter Resource is the real deal. It really is. And we're gonna break it all down for you today. What's interesting is this isn't just some big company. It makes a difference, right? Knowing the advice comes from real experience. Huge difference. And in this case, it started with Kelly Bradley. The founder. Exactly. Seems like she had to learn all this stuff the hard way when she was caring for her own mom. Who had diabetes, right? Yeah, you can tell from her website, her LinkedIn, she gets it. The emotional part, the practical stuff. The whole nine yards. And that's probably why she didn't stop at just creating a senior care business. She built this whole community around it. Right, like that Facebook group, The Silver Lining. That's the one. Kelly goes live every week to talk about all of the different challenges of senior care. It's like having a direct line to someone who's been there. Okay, so let's talk about some of those challenges. One thing that really jumped out at me was this whole thing with medication management. Apparently, half of all people don't take their meds the way they should. I know, it's a scary thought. And you know, Kelly really dives into the reasons behind this in her medication management presentation. It's not always just forgetfulness, is it? Exactly. Sometimes it's difficulty swallowing pills or dealing with side effects. Or even just not really understanding those instructions. Kelly covers all of that. Which is something I think a lot of us take for granted. You know, we just assume our parents are fine managing their own health. And then she hits you with that statistic that medication mistakes are a bigger threat than things like homicide. Seriously. That one stopped me in my tracks. Yeah. And it really highlights how important all of this is. Like, we think of over-the-counter meds as no big deal, but even those. They can be dangerous if they're not taken the right way. Exactly. Like, we buckle our seatbelts, we lock our doors. But this is a whole other kind of danger we don't even think about. And there are a lot of factors at play there. Everything from how our healthcare system is set up to how we view aging as a society. It's like we accept those risks as just part of getting older. And that's exactly why a deep dive like this is so important. 100%. Kelly is pulling back the curtain on this whole issue that nobody's talking about. Love that. So what can people actually do about it? Well, the good news is, Kelly doesn't just point out problems. She offers solutions, too. In her materials, she gives all these practical tips. You know, everything from those high-tech pill dispensers to simpler things like linking medication to a daily routine. Finding what works for your parents. Exactly. What about those parents who are, let's just say, a little resistant to help? Ah, the resistant older adult. Kelly has a whole section in her guide dedicated to just that. Oh, I bet she has some good ones. And one of her biggest pieces of advice. Appeal to their desire to help you. Instead of saying, Dad, you need to use a grab bar, try this. Dad, it would give me such peace of mind if you would use this grab bar just for me. Oh, that's good. Right. It totally changes the whole dynamic. It takes the pressure off of them. Because it's like Kelly points out, a lot of this resistance comes from a place of fear, you know? Absolutely. Fear of losing their independence, fear of being a burden. Exactly. And that's why empathy is so important here. Meeting them where they're at and finding ways to address their concerns. While still making sure they're safe and taken care of. Right. And speaking of support, I love how Kelly emphasizes building a circle of care. It's not all on you. Tell me more about that. So, she has this great visual in her PowerPoint. Shows all these circles, right? Like a target. And each ring represents a different layer of support. It gets you thinking beyond just family. Neighbors, friends. Even your parent's hairdresser. Like crowdsourcing your support system? Exactly. And that's where this master task list comes in. Okay, what's that? How do we use it? Think of it like a brain dump. Every single thing, big or small, that needs to be done for your parent's care. You write it down. And then, and then, you start assigning those tasks to people in your circle of care. So instead of you feeling like you have to do everything yourself. You've got a team. Exactly. I love that. Maybe your sister can help with meals. A neighbor can drive to appointments. A friend can just be someone to talk to. It's about tapping into everyone's strengths. And just knowing you have people to call on. It can make all the difference. Absolutely. Prevents that caregiver burnout before it even starts. Which, by the way, we're gonna dive into more in a bit. And you know, it's funny, because we think of asking for help as this weakness. But when it comes to caregiving, it's actually the opposite. 100%. It's about knowing your limit. And so you can be the best caregiver you can be, right? Exactly. You can't pour from an empty cup, as they say. Speaking of which, let's talk about some of those times when caregiving can feel especially overwhelming. Kelly talks a lot about transitions. Oh yeah, transitions can be tough. And one that really stands out is those hospital stays. Because it's like you're already stressed about your parent being in the hospital. Right. And then you've gotta deal with all that medical stuff. It's intimidating. And you're expected to be an expert on your parent's medical history like that. Instantly. Kelly told this story in one of her presentations about a client's medication, right? The hospital accidentally doubled the dosage because they didn't have their full history. Oh wow. Scary stuff. And it really drives home that point that Kelly makes about advocating for your parents. Yeah, because you can't assume that information is being shared. Even between hospitals and doctors. Exactly. So you really have to be on top of it. Be proactive. Yeah. Kelly even has a checklist in her guide. Like, always carry a list of their medications. Make sure you understand any new prescriptions or procedures. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Yes. Even if you think they're dumb. You are your parent's voice. Especially if they can't advocate for themselves. Exactly. Which is a big responsibility. But Kelly's tips definitely make it seem less scary. And this is where that circle of care comes back in, right? Absolutely. So how does delegating actually work in practice? Okay, so let's say your dad just got discharged from the hospital. Suddenly you're the care coordinator, right? It's a lot. But if you've got your circle of care set up, boom, you can start assigning tasks right away. Okay, so instead of you running around like crazy, picking up prescriptions, making meals, giving emotional support. You've got your people. I love. Maybe your sister handles meal prep for the week. A neighbor takes them to appointments. A friend is there for you to vent to. A support system for you and your parents. Exactly. I love that. And you know, Kelly really emphasizes the emotional side of all this, too. Because even with a great support system, it can still feel really overwhelming. Right, and she's big on self-care. Like even little things. Even 15 minutes. A walk, reading a book, listening to music. Just taking that time for yourself. Prevents burnout. Exactly. Because you can't be any good to anyone else if you're running on empty. Right, like she says in her blog, you can't be everything to everyone, but you can be your best self for those who matter most. Love that. I do, because it's so easy to get caught up in all the doing that you forget to take care of yourself. The struggle is real. I love how Kelly gets that. She's so real, you know? Oh yeah, she doesn't sugarcoat it. She tells it like it is. The good, the bad. And it makes you feel less alone in all of it. Totally. It's like she's right there with you, every step of the way. And speaking of steps, Kelly also talks about the importance of pacing yourself, right? Absolutely. Like this is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be good days and bad days. You just have to ride the waves. Embrace the journey. Love that. You know, it's funny because we often focus so much on the logistics of senior care that we forget about the emotional side of it. And Kelly does such a good job of addressing both. She really does, and it makes such a difference. It's interesting, right? We talk about senior care, and it's all about the logistics. The to-do lists. The medications, the appointments. But there's this whole other emotional side, and Kelly really gets that. Absolutely. Yeah. It's easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day stuff that you forget about the heart of it all. The relationship. Exactly. And how important it is to nurture that, even now. And that even with all the challenges, there's still those moments of joy, right? Oh, for sure. Kelly talks about finding those silver linings of aging. Yeah, like these later years can be a time for connection, for sharing stories, for expressing love in ways you haven't before. It's a whole different way of looking at it. It is. Instead of seeing caregiving as this burden, it's a privilege. I love that. And it makes me think about those family flashback cards. Oh, yeah. Those are great. Such a cool idea, because sometimes you just need a little help getting those conversations going. Totally. And it's not just like generic conversation starters. Kelly put a lot of thought into these cards. There are questions about family history, funny memories. Things you would never think to ask. Exactly. And it can spark those really special moments of connection. Yes. Laughter is so important. Kelly talks a lot about finding those moments of joy, even when things are tough. Because it's not about pretending it's all easy. It's about choosing to focus on the good. And remembering that even small gestures of love can make a world of difference. Exactly. Because ultimately that's what it's all about, right? Love. Love. Taking care of the people who took care of us. And it can look different for everyone, but it's about being there, being present, being supportive. Yes. And advocating for their needs every step of the way. So well said. As we wrap up this deep dive, is there one thing, one piece of wisdom that you hope our listeners take away from all of this? You know, out of everything we talked about, I think the most important thing is to just embrace the journey. It won't be easy. There will be ups and downs, but it's all part of it. And there's beauty in that, isn't there? Absolutely. It's a chance to grow, to learn, and to connect with your parents on a deeper level. Beautifully said. And Kelly gives you the tools to do that, right? She doesn't sugarcoat it, but she gives you the knowledge, the resources. And the encouragement. Yes. And that's what we're here for too, right? To remind you that you're not alone in this. Exactly. There's a whole community out there cheering you on. And we're here for you every step of the way. That's right. We'll be back next time with another deep dive. Until then, take care.