In this heartfelt episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don Grothoff sit down with Jondi Whitis to explore her deeply personal journey navigating her parents’ experience with Alzheimer’s. Together, they discuss the challenges and insights gained from watching her mom and dad face the stages of aging, memory loss, and the emotional complexities that come with it.

Jondi reflects on the importance of paying attention to the subtle signals of aging and cognitive decline—signs that often go unnoticed until it feels too late. The conversation highlights how her family, like many, found themselves a bit behind in building a strong support system and community as her parents grew older. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Jondi shares how connection, understanding, and compassion became the keys to navigating their journey.

This episode offers a meaningful discussion for anyone caring for aging loved ones or seeking ways to create community and support during life’s later chapters. Join us for an inspiring and educational conversation about love, patience, and the power of human connection in the face of Alzheimer’s and aging.

jondiwhitis.com

https://www.facebook.com/jondi.whitis

https://www.tiktok.com/@jondiwhitis305

Instagram: jondiwhitis

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondi-whitis-7250505/

#AlzheimersAwareness #AgingWithGrace #DementiaCare #BuildingCommunity #FocusedHealthyFamily #AlzheimersSupport #CognitiveHealth #AgingParents #SignsOfAging

Grandma’s famous apple pie, that green been casserole you love so much and of course a lot of sweet treats through the holiday. They are hard to pass up. How do you get through the holiday and still try to eat right. There is a connection between what we eat and how we behave. Gina and Don talk about how to balance out the eating to have a more wonderful holiday experience.

#holidays #christmas #thanksgiving #emotionsaroundholidays #feelingsaroundholidays #kidsandholidays #kidsandchristmas #hanukkah #Kwanzaa

In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don sit down with Mike Collins, author of Caregiving Can Make Life Crazy!, to discuss the challenges and chaos that come with caregiving. Mike shares insights from his book, focusing on the "5 H’s of Caregiving"—Heart, Head, Health, Home, and Hands.

He explains how caregiving often starts with the Heart, the emotional pull to help a loved one, before moving to the Head, where planning and decision-making come into play. They explore how caregiving impacts your Health, the adjustments needed in your Home, and the Hands-on actions that bring it all together.

This episode offers valuable guidance for anyone navigating the complex journey of caregiving, balancing compassion with practical strategies for self-care and support.

Get a free copier of "Caregiver 101: 101 Ways to Keep Caregiving From Making You Crazy!" (Go to his contact email and email him that you received this from here)

Mike Collins

You try to fit everything in, seeing the grandparents, visiting your sister, visiting the sights and being a part of the activities and celebrations. No matter your thoughts about the holidays they really are about and for the children. What can you do to make it the best? Gina and Don talk about it today on this podcast

#holidayplanningandmanaging #christmasplanning #thanksgiving #santaclaus #holidaytipsandideas #thanksmas #familyholidaytravel #happyholidays #santaclaus #helpfulholidaytips #parentsplanningforchristmas #xmasplanning

In this episode, Gina and Don (Don has just come off of a stroke him self) leads us through a deep dive into the world of strokes, exploring the different types—ischemic, hemorrhagic, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Strokes don’t come in just one form, and understanding the variations can be life-saving.

We start by breaking down ischemic strokes, the most common type, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain, cutting off vital oxygen. Next, we’ll explore hemorrhagic strokes, caused by bleeding in or around the brain, often linked to high blood pressure or aneurysms. Finally, we’ll discuss transient ischemic attacks, or “mini-strokes,” which, while brief, serve as urgent warnings for potentially larger strokes.

Join us for an eye-opening look into strokes, from understanding the science to uncovering the resilience needed to face these life-altering moments head-on.

#StrokeAwareness #LifeAfterStroke #StrokeRecovery #IschemicStroke #HemorrhagicStroke #TIA #MiniStroke #StrokeSurvive

https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms

You try to fit everything in, seeing the grandparents, visiting your sister, visiting the sights and being a part of the activities and celebrations. No matter your thoughts about the holidays they really are about and for the children. What can you do to make it the best? Gina and Don talk about it today on this podcast

#holidayplanningandmanaging #christmasplanning #thanksgiving #holidaytipsandideas #thanksmas #familyholidaytravel #happyholidays #helpfulholidaytips #parentsplanningforchristmas #xmasplanning

Talking about dementia in a more natural and compassionate way, as Teepa Snow does, can make a huge difference for both people living with dementia and those who care for them. Teepa’s “Positive Approach to Care” is all about meeting people where they are, focusing on what they can do, and building a supportive environment that respects their experience. Her techniques are designed to keep communication as comfortable and genuine as possible, rather than focusing on limitations.

Teepa’s resources, such as the videos and tools on her website, are also helpful for anyone wanting to understand dementia better—whether it’s for themselves or a loved one. Her approach might offer you insights and techniques that make communicating and understanding dementia feel less intimidating and more hopeful.

#PositiveApproachToCare #TeepaSnow #DementiaAwareness #LivingWithDementia #DementiaSupport #UnderstandingDementia #DementiaJourney #CaregiverSupport #DementiaAcceptance

Website: www.teepasnow.com

Facebook: @Teepa Snow)

Instagram: @teepasnows_pac

LinkedIn: @Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Dementia Care

YouTube: @teepasnowvideos

Do you feel in order to get it right you gotta do it yourself? Are the kids kind of slow, make mistakes and are goofy? Christmas and the holidays are suppose to be times to bring families together which means there is a lot to do you don’t have to do it yourself, Kids can help, do let them. It can be messy and slower but the chance hear to enjoy and bond with family.

#holidayplanningandmanaging #christmasplanning #thanksgiving #holidaytipsandideas #thanksmas #familyholidaytravel #happyholidays #helpfulholidaytips #parentsplanningforchristmas #xmasplanning