Caregiver Camp Podcast Caregiver Camp Podcast

Elder and adult mediation offers families the opportunity to have the difficult conversations about elderly care with support from an independent and experienced mediator; their ultimate goal is to make the conversation easier and equip them to make decisions with which they are all comfortable. In episode two, Corporate Caregiver Camp podcast host, Tanya Krim, interviews Crystal Thorpe, an expert in elder mediation and the lead principal of company Elder Decisions and its parent company Agreement Resources, LLC. 
Crystal has 18 years of experience in elder mediation and states that the value and purpose of a mediator is to focus on the present and the future in order to help resolve family conflict and disagreements. She has co-authored the book, Mom Always Liked You Best: A Guide to Resolving Family Feuds, Inheritance Battles & Eldercare Crises (2011), 
a practical guide for resolving family feuds, inheritance battles and eldercare crises.
In this episode, you will hear:
The definition and goal of elder mediationWhy people opt to engage in elder mediation and identification of its key benefits The diverse nature of the caregiving issues which siblings confront vis-à-vis aging parents which can lead them to consider mediationWhy investing in elder mediation plays a valuable and effective role in the management of sibling relationships when caregiving for aging parents How the Covid-19 pandemic has added additional stresses to families The role of the elder family member in the conversation, and why it is important to include them in the decision-making processThe availability of Zoom in elder mediation as a method to enable geographically dispersed siblings to engage in mediation How companies can support employees by offering an elder mediation option
Crystal Thorpe Bio:
Crystal Thorpe is a mediator, trainer, co-founder and the principal of Elder Decisions® and its parent company Agreement Resources, LLC. She facilitates family meetings for families to have successful conversations, and she mediates disputes among adult family members about caregiving, living arrangements, family communication, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, estate planning, family real estate, and personal property distribution.
Crystal has trained hundreds of mediators from around the world in the growing field of Elder & Adult Family Mediation, and provides trainings in Conflict Resolution Skills for public audiences, eldercare professionals, work groups and others. She has presented seminars and workshops for the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, the Association for Conflict Resolution, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, the New York State Bar Association Elder Law and Special Needs Section, the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, and the Northeast Human Resources Association.
Crystal is an author and contributor to publications such as The Washington Post and New York Times.  She holds an MSW and an MBA from Boston College and an undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science/Psycholinguistics, magna cum...

Welcome to the Second Season of the Caregiver Camp podcast! In the first Episode of the season, Caregiver Camp host Debbie Howard interviews brilliant gerontologist, Keren Etkin who is the founder of The Gerontechnologist, a media platform that covers the agetech ecosystem and provides online courses through AgeTech Academy. Keren is one of the most sought-after experts in agetech and has recently released her first book, The AgeTech Revolution - a book about the intersection of technology and ageing. 
Keren is a passionate pioneer for agetech and sees the future as brighter when technology solutions have the benefit not only to reduce the stress on adult caregivers but also to change the future of aged care. The time is ripe for innovation and opportunity, and the technology acceleration the world has experienced due to the global pandemic has presented a pivotal moment in time to shift what aged care currently looks like and make it new, improved, and better. 
In this Episode you will hear:
The future of agetech, going beyond Zoom and stepping into the metaverse Common misconceptions about older adults and what they wantThe necessity of having older adults connected online in a time when everything from your banking, to your groceries to your social relationships is onlineHow employers can support their staff who are caregivers of older adults, with knowledge and resources to help ease the stressThe value that older adults can bring to agetech development - they know what they want and can be part of the agetech development systemHow Amazon’s Alexa is pioneering joint caregiving with options to leave reminders for family members and even detect falls and provide emergency call servicesThe future of caregiving and giving more attention to what U.S President Biden has called a critical crisis that policymakers and society need to address
About Keren:
Keren Etkin has been named one of the most influential people in aging and is a sought-after public speaker and advisor for agetech startups, investors in the longevity economy, care providers, and organizations who work on innovation in aging.
Currently, in addition to running The Gerontechnologist, Keren is the founder/director of AgeLabIL - an interdisciplinary R&D center which focuses on agetech at Shenkar college.
Previously, Keren was the first employee at Intuition Robotics, the startup behind ElliQ, the world’s first social robot designed with and for older adults, and co-founder & VP of Product at Sensi.Ai, a startup that developed the first and only AI solution for remote care monitoring.
She holds an M.A. in Gerontology B.Sc. in Life Sciences.
Connect with Keren Etkin:
Website: TheGerontechnologist.com
LinkedIn
YouTube
Twitter
Spotify
Links mentioned...

In Episode Ten of the Caregiver Camp Podcast, host Debbie Howard speaks with a very passionate guest who has a long history of working with aged care residents, starting his journey as a caregiver first visiting his elderly neighbors as a young child and listening to their stories. These days, our guest, Benjamin Surmi is the Director of Education and Culture at Koelsch Communities, who provide senior care for over 2000 residents in 41 care communities across the western United States.  
In the past two years, the pandemic has accelerated technology in all facets of our lives and age care residents have not been immune to the rapid pace. Benjamin shares what age technology Koelsch Communities have trialled with their residents and their learnings, including that the best tech innovations are the ones that make our physical and in-person relationships better, rather than replace them.   
In this episode you will hear:
How Benjamin began his caregiver career in aged care at the tender age of seven and why it has become a lifelong passionHow age technology under-delivered before the pandemic and how it is now enhancing senior living What a window visit is and how digital technology is helping residents to stay connected to their families in new waysTechnology innovations that have been tried and failed with aged care residents Predictions for technology that will stick around post-pandemic How age technology can support and enhance life for a resident with memory lossHow virtual reality can become a shared experience for age care residents and their families The value and importance of Spotify music playlists for residents Finding a balance between humanity and technology in caregivingHow companies can support employee caregivers with employee assistance programs and partnerships with senior care homes
About Benjamin:
Benjamin Surmi works with 2000 residents in about 41 care communities across the western United States in his role as Director of Education and Culture at Koelsch Communities. He holds a Master's degree in Gerontology from California State University at Fullerton. Benjamin is a passionate innovator in the area of memory care, in addition to designing the content and delivery of the orientation program for over 2000 employees. He also delivers educational and inspirational presentations to aging residents, their family members, and professionals, with a focus on improving how we support people living with dementia so they can thrive. Benjamin also manages partnerships with universities for cutting edge research, applying academic knowledge to everyday use situations
 About Koelsch Communities
Family-owned and operated for 60 years, Koelsch Communities is committed to caring for senior citizens. Since 1958, they bring a legacy of excellence in Independent, Assisted Living, and Memory care throughout eight states across the United States. Aaron Koelsch, the President, was nurtured as a child in the skilled living environment, and with the same passion for excellence as his parents, has been a leader in the company for over 25 years.
Connect with Benjamin:
Website: https://koelschseniorcommunities.com/ 
Facebook:  @KoelschCom
IG: https://www.instagram.com/koelschcommunities/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminsurmi/ 
Links to items mentioned in this episode: 
Koelsch Innovation Labs
YouTube: a...

Authentic inclusion - what does this mean for organizations and individuals? On Episode Nine of the Caregiver Camp Podcast, Debbie Howard chats with Frances West of FrancesWestCo, a global advisory company working with public, private, and non-profit organizations including start-ups, to operationalize inclusion as a core business imperative to drive disruptive innovation.
With digital technology accelerating at a faster pace due to the pandemic, it is even more imperative that organizations think about digital inclusion in all aspects for employees to be able to feel authentically included. Frances explains the importance of approaching digital inclusion with “human first” thinking, and designing for the human experience first and foremost as the key to being authentically inclusive. 
In this episode you will hear:
How authentic inclusion needs to be approached holisticallyDesigning digital technology for workplaces for the human experience Challenges of digital inclusion in the workplace and how they can be overcome How we can all be more digitally inclusive Designing products to be inclusive for hearing and visually impairedDigital inclusion for elders and digital tech adoptionHow organizations need to be thinking of their employees to include their caregiving responsibilities (as part of being inclusive)
About Frances:
Frances West is a former IBM executive and was the organization’s first Chief Accessibility Officer where she was recognized for establishing IT accessibility standards, shaping government policies, and developing human-centric enterprise technology and solutions.  She founded FrancesWestCo, a global advisory firm in 2016, providing strategy and advice for C-suite, government, startups and venture capitalists on digital inclusion and innovations. She is the author of Authentic Inclusion™ Drives Disruptive Innovation, a timely and actionable book featured at CES and SXSW.
Sought by Fortune 500 companies, government organizations, non-profits and start-ups, Frances West delivers virtual or on-site keynotes that influence, inspire, and impact audiences to prepare organizations for future growth. Whether keynote, townhall, or fireside chat, Frances’s presentations influence leaders, impact business and inspire transformation, and are customized for live and virtual events.
Connect with Frances:
Website: https://franceswest.co/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frances.west.104 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/franceswest34/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frances-west-0b81924/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fwest34 
Links to items mentioned in this episode: 
International Labor Organization and Global Business and Disability Network
Leave no one offline: A primer on engaging your company on digital accessibility 
Ask the C-Suite: Episode 2 (July 8, 2021)
A Chief Accessibility Officer’s Keys to Success
TEDxMountainViewCollege
a...

If they are lucky enough, everyone ages. In Episode Eight of the Caregiver Camp Podcast, host Jon Brody speaks with Linda Mac Dougall, a holistic health practitioner, massage therapist, disability consultant and author of the importance of The SPIRIT Method of Massage for Seniors. 
Massages are often seen as a luxury but as Linda explains, massage therapy can have a multitude of health benefits especially for seniors and those with a disability. From preventing blood clots to increasing mobility and being utilized for pain management, massage as a practice can be instrumental to improving life quality. Linda is on a mission to share her insights and experience. Linda shares her top items a caregiver should be looking out for when caring for a senior and or a client with a disability. 
In this episode you will hear:
The importance of ergonomics when it comes to choosing furniture and disability equipment Why caregivers need to take a holistic approach to caring when it comes to seniors which includes: What are the everyday check-in items caregivers should be looking out forNutrition and why organic fruit and vegetables are better for youThe importance of good posture for your internal organsLearning to avoid “Blind Eye Care”The benefits of massage therapy for caregivers as well as care receivers The difference in skin texture as we age and how massage can be tailored for different conditionsWhy foot care is important for overall health when you have a disability and how some simple treatments can improve your health
About Linda
Linda got her M.A. in Counseling Psychology because she was seeking answers to family dysfunction.  She already had a background of working with the developmentally disabled population since high school.  She went on to be an administrator of two group homes for United Cerebral Palsy for over a decade.  Following her ex-husband's career, she then moved to Hawaii and became a Federal advocate for the state of Hawaii's families dealing with their population of developmentally disabled.  Her work there brought change to the system in the way of studies and a medical review board as well as the state guardians beginning to imitate her way of questioning and challenging the way things had always been done.
Today her focus has changed to the older adult population.  She is a senior health advocate and massage therapist, a holistic health practitioner, and a management consultant for caregiving situations.  As a senior herself, Linda is also an advocate for change in the senior living space.  Her background and focus on awareness led to the writing of her book "The SPIRIT Method of Massage for Seniors: Raising the Bar...A Primer for Massage Therapists and Caregivers".
Connect with Linda:
Website: https://www.loveyourlongevity.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveyourlongevity/
IG: N/A
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/linda-mac-dougall-984820
Twitter: holisticdoc1
Book - The S.P.I.R.I.T. Method of Massage for Seniors https://www.loveyourlongevity.com/the-spirit-method-of 
Connect with Host:
Jon Brody: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-brody-1281106/ 
Website: a...

Everyone is affected by employment law, either as an employee or as an employer. In Episode Seven of Caregiver Camp Podcast, Jamie Dokovna, an employment law specialist, discusses employment law issues in the current reality of the Covid-19 pandemic. For many of us, it has reinforced that people do not have the same situations, and that lives can be very complicated. Whether you are an employee or employer, there are many gems for you in this episode about how we can create workplaces that better support the over 53 million working caregivers in the U.S, including the nearly 42 million who are responsible for their elderly family members.  
In this episode you will hear:
How Jamie came to be working in employment lawThe evolution of employment law throughout the pandemicWhy negotiating or renegotiating a tailor-made agreement rather than a generic, standard ‘at will’ contract rather than resigning may be the answer to better work situations for both employers and employees who have to integrate their work-life-caregiving situationSeveral examples of a tailor-made agreements for working caregivers and corporationsHow training can improve understanding between managers and working caregiversThe importance of working caregivers to learn to advocate for themselves
About Jamie: 
Jamie Dokovna focuses her practice on business litigation, with an emphasis on employment law and commercial matters as well as condominium and homeowner association law. Jamie has extensive experience representing employers in various aspects of employment law and litigation, including litigating claims for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), claims brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for overtime and other wage violations, and claims based on housing discrimination. 
In addition to Ms. Dokovna’s litigation experience, she counsels clients on a wide range of employment and compliance issues. She also advises clients on day-to-day issues, including ADA compliance, litigation prevention measures, wage compliance, severance agreements, company-wide policy creation and implementation, employee investigations, discipline and termination, hiring, background checks, unemployment compensation issues, worker’s compensation issues, workforce reductions, and employment contracts. 
Connect with Jamie:
Website: https://beckerlawyers.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-dokovna-4aba195/ 
Connect with Tanya:
Tanya Krim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyakrim/
Website: https://caregivercamps.com/