The Psychology of Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp

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Cancer Caregiver Support: Caregiving & Bereavement Support with Ronni Levine, LMFT

Listen To My Latest Podcast Episode: Cancer Caregiver Support: Caregiving & Bereavement Support with Ronni Levine, LMFT

How to Support Elderly Parents Moving to Assisted Living

aging parents blog caregiving difficult conversations housing senior care Feb 24, 2021

Helping aging parents move into a senior living or assisted living environment can be overwhelming, and emotions can easily escalate. Here are 12 tips for managing those emotions during difficult conversations with elderly parents.

1. Expect that this will be emotional.

Expect that this is going to be emotional. Know that it is reasonable that this is emotional and that there will be some fallout. Everyone is entitled to their feelings about this transition. Starting this discussion with the understanding that this will indeed be an emotional conversation will help you get through it.

2. Prepare for "the Talk."

Before you have this conversation, take the time to prepare. Here’s how:

Do a Dress Rehearsal

It can help to talk this conversation through with someone you trust before you bring it up with your loved one (like a dress rehearsal).

This has a couple of benefits:

It will help you to clarify exactly what you want to...

Managing Caregiver Guilt and Shame about Moving Aging Parent to Assisted Living

aging parents blog caregiving tips housing podcast senior care Jan 27, 2021

Have you helped your loved one move to a senior living or assisted living community only to find that in the midst of experiencing relief that your loved one is being cared for and is safe, you also have intense feelings of guilt and shame?

You're not alone. Many caregivers struggle with guilt and shame after moving older loved ones into a senior living community. Perhaps you feel that you've let your older loved one down, like you're not being a dutiful spouse, daughter, or son. This can lead to emotional distress and discontent.

To help you navigate the emotionally turbulent waters of caregiver guilt and shame, I've prepared 5 strategies for helping you to move through guilt and shame when helping your older loved one adjust to senior living.

5 strategies for moving through guilt and shame when helping your older loved one adjust to senior living

1. Be...

How to Start a Senior Living Discussion with Aging Parents

aging parents blog difficult conversations housing podcast Jan 20, 2021

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There may come a time when you're faced with the conversation of talking with your aging parents about moving into a senior living or assisted living community. Many people dread this conversation.

Even simply starting the conversation can bring up all sorts of worry and feelings of guilt and shame.

If you're facing this situation, it can help to prepare. In today's episode, I share:

6 Strategies for setting yourself up for success with the senior living discussion
Examples of how to start the conversation
Tips for managing escalation of emotions during this talk
How to go about finding senior housing or assisted living communities
The importance of taking care of yourself through it all.

6 Strategies for setting yourself up for success with the senior living discussion

1. Don't wait until there is a crisis

Starting these conversations long before your loved one has a medical, mental...

Expert Tips for Finding Senior Living with a Mental Health Condition

aging parents housing interview mental health podcast senior care Jan 13, 2021

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When he was in his late 80s, Candy Cohn's father unintentionally stopped taking medication for a long-standing bipolar disorder and experienced a significant mental health crisis requiring hospitalization and intensive treatment. It was following this episode that Candy knew that she needed to help her older parents find a senior living community that would provide more continuity and medication management and offer opportunities for a better quality of life than they were getting at home. But, where to start?

I have witnessed many older adults living with significant mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, at times struggle to find senior living communities.

There are some mental health conditions that are expected in assisted living environments, like depression and anxiety, which often occur with dementia and medical conditions. In fact, one in three residents takes a medication for a...

Older Adults, Families, and Senior Care Communities Working Together During COVID-19 (Ep #004)

caregiving tips covid-19 for professionals housing long-term care mental health older adults podcast senior care Apr 14, 2020

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Episode #004

We’ve all heard stories of older adults on lock down in their long-term care community. Maybe you’ve even seen the images of family members visiting their loved ones separated by windows or glass. Like a granddaughter sharing her engagement ring, a son sitting outside talking on the phone with his dad inside his apartment, or a couple presenting their newborn to the grandfather.

As a Psychologist who specializes with older adults and families, and who provides a lot of education and training to long-term care communities, I have the unique opportunity to see into the inner world of the older adult living in a long-term care community, the concerned family member, and the long-term care community and it's staff as well.

In this episode, I explore the common emotional experiences during COVID-19 of older adults, their families, and the senior care communities they live in. And, ...

Talking With Your Partner (When You Don't Agree) About Moving Aging Parents In With You! (Ep#023)

aging parents blog difficult conversations housing Oct 30, 2019

The idea of moving your aging parents in with you is complicated and if you're facing this possibility AND you're in a relationship, this can up the ante of complications.

A few weeks ago, I was featured in the Chicago Tribune in an article that had to do with how to go about making the decision to move your aging parents in with you! In today’s episode, I take a deeper dive into what to do if you and your partner don’t agree on moving your aging parents in with you!

[ Read Transcript Here ]

Today, I wanted to dive a little deeper and talk about what to do if you and your partner don’t agree on moving your aging parents in with you!

You and your partner were raised differently. You had different parents, different family structures, different family systems, and different roles and values! Your relationship with your aging parents is unique and your partner’s relationship with their aging parents is unique as well. So...

Why Is Moving Aging Parents In With You So Complicated? (Ep #022)

aging parents caregiving family dynamics housing Oct 23, 2019

The idea of moving your aging parents in with you is really complicated. If you're facing this possibility AND you're in a relationship, this can up the ante of complications.

A few weeks ago, I was featured in the Chicago Tribune in an article that had to do with how to go about making the decision to move your aging parents in with you! So, I decided to create a 3-part series on moving aging parents in with you!

The transition of moving aging parents in with you is not only practically challenging, it's emotionally REALLY COMPLICATED!! So, I thought it would be helpful to create an episode answering the question, "Why Is Moving Aging Parents in With You So Complicated?"

[ Read Transcript Here! ]

To answer the question, Why Is Moving Aging Parents in With You So Complicated? I have to discuss three complexities that you and your partner will indeed experience as you approach moving aging parents (or in laws) in with you!

Complexity...

Moving Older Parents in With You? These 7 Tips Will Help! (Ep# 021)

aging parents blog housing Oct 15, 2019

A few weeks ago, I was featured in the Chicago Tribune in an article that had to do with how to go about making the decision to move your aging parents in with you!

In today’s episode, I take it a step further and share tips for moving your aging parents (or in-laws) in with you AND I talk about pros and cons to help you really think about this decision!

[Read Transcript Here!]

Today, I wanted to walk you through...

7 tips to consider If you’re in the process of moving your aging parents (or in-laws) in with you.

1. Take your time with this move/transition and lay a roadmap.

Sometimes, crisis strikes and you have to act fast. But, if you’re considering this move and there is no crisis, really take the time to think it through and be mindful each step of the way. This includes many conversations with your spouse and children. And, even many conversations with your parents (if they’re able). Maybe even...

How To Find Senior Living Options! A Step By Step Guide (Ep #010)

blog caregiving caregiving tips housing Jul 31, 2019

This month has been all about senior housing!!!

THE WHAT!

A couple of weeks ago, I described the different living options for older adults (link here!). I answered the question, "WHAT are the different housing options for older adults, anyway?!"

THE WHY!

Last week, I reviewed WHY it's so important to know the different types of living options (read it here!).

THE HOW!

In this blog and video, I give you a tutorial on HOW to go about finding living options.

I figured, it's one thing to tell you that you need to know the living options, it's quite another to help you figure out how to go about finding them!

As we get started, I want you to know that I am not affiliated with any of the resources I am about to list. My goal is to give you options and methods to help ease the process of caring for your aging parents. With this in mind, I'll share pros and cons for each method I list.

For this blog you will really want to watch the video!...

Why You Should Know Living Options For Older Adults! (Ep #009)

aging parents blog caregiving housing Jul 17, 2019

Last week, I listed the various types of living environments for older adults, this week, I wanted to share exactly why you should know living options for your aging parents.

Why is knowing the different living options for older adults so important?

You need to know what options are available as your parents' care needs change.
Knowing options will help you to identify the best fit and feel for your parents’ care needs
Being familiar with options before you need them will help to increase your comfort in conversations with your parents about their living options. (The more comfort you have, the healthier the conversation is likelier to be!)

Here are are...

7 (Additional) Reasons Why It’s Important to Know The Different Living Options For Older Adults!

Watch it here, read it below, or do both!

7 Reasons Why It’s Important To Know

The Different Living Options For Older Adults!

1. Helps you to prepare...

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I'm so glad you're here!

Older adults have mental health needs just like everyone else. But here’s the thing: Older adults are often left out of the conversation when it comes to mental health and wellness. Together we can change this.

I created the Psychology of Aging Podcast to have conversations about mental health and wellness that include older adults. We talk about common mental health concerns as we age, resources to help older adults live their best lives, and we have fun doing it.

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Stay mentally and physically well during the Coronavirus Pandemic with my wellness guide for older adults.

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Worried about your aging loved one's driving? Know the warning signs!

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COVID-19 Wellness Guide for Older Adults

You'll get tips for staying mentally and physically well during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

How to Support Elderly Parents Moving to Assisted Living

1. Expect that this will be emotional.

2. Prepare for "the Talk."

Before you have this conversation, take the time to prepare. Here’s how:

Managing Caregiver Guilt and Shame about Moving Aging Parent to Assisted Living

5 strategies for moving through guilt and shame when helping your older loved one adjust to senior living

1. Be...

How to Start a Senior Living Discussion with Aging Parents

6 Strategies for setting yourself up for success with the senior living discussion

1. Don't wait until there is a crisis

Expert Tips for Finding Senior Living with a Mental Health Condition

Older Adults, Families, and Senior Care Communities Working Together During COVID-19 (Ep #004)

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Episode #004

Talking With Your Partner (When You Don't Agree) About Moving Aging Parents In With You! (Ep#023)

Why Is Moving Aging Parents In With You So Complicated? (Ep #022)

Complexity...

Moving Older Parents in With You? These 7 Tips Will Help! (Ep# 021)

7 tips to consider If you’re in the process of moving your aging parents (or in-laws) in with you.

1. Take your time with this move/transition and lay a roadmap.

How To Find Senior Living Options! A Step By Step Guide (Ep #010)

Why You Should Know Living Options For Older Adults! (Ep #009)

7 (Additional) Reasons Why It’s Important to Know The Different Living Options For Older Adults!

7 Reasons Why It’s Important To Know

The Different Living Options For Older Adults!

I'm so glad you're here!

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COVID-19 Wellness Guide for Older Adults