[♪♪] >> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET ENDOWMENT FOR KENTUCKY PRODUCTIONS.

[♪♪] >> WELCOME TO THE FIRST OF SEVERAL SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES FACING KENTUCKY'S AGING POPULATION AND THEIR LOVED ONES AS PART OF KET'S NEW NEXT CHAPTER INITIATIVE I'M Dr. WAYNE TUCKSON.

THE C.D.C.

ESTIMATES THE AVERAGE AMERICAN WILL LIVE FOR 77.5 YEARS AFTERBIRTH.

AND FURTHER EXPECTED BY THE YEAR 2030 ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS OR 20% OF US WILL BE 65 OR OLDER.

THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER REPORTS THAT BY 2050 PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER WILL OUT NUMBER THOSE YOUNGER THAN 18.

HIDDEN WITHIN THE NUMBERS IS THE BEGINNING OF A FINANCIAL AND HEALTHCARE TSUNAMI THAT WILL AFFECT US ALL TO SOME DEGREE.

HEALTH IS DEFINED AS A STATE OF COMPLETE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING AND NOT MERELY THE ABSENCE OF DISEASE.

AS BROAD AS THIS DEFINITION IS WE MUST ALSO INCLUDE PERSONAL FINANCIAL SECURITY.

SADLY FOR FAR TOO MANY OLDER AMERICANS THE HEALTH REMAIN A DREAM THAT WILL NOT BE ATTAINED.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN AND SHOULD DO EARLIER IN OUR LIVES TO PREPARE FOR LIVES AS A SENIOR AND THINGS WE CAN AND SHOULD DO TO HELP US LIVE OUR OPTIMUM LIVES.

TODAY WE WILL ADDRESS CARE GIVING HOW DOES THIS CARE LOOK.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION ARE Dr. CHRISTIAN DAVIS FURMAN THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE TRAGER INSTITUTE OPTIMAL AGING CLINIC AND PROFESSOR OF JAIR ATTIC AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

AND ELIZABETH RHODUS, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER AND DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AND A LICENSED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST.

Dr. SAM COTTON, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE TRAGER INSTITUTE AND DIRECTOR OF THE ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIAS PROGRAM IN THE TRAGER INSTITUTE AGING CLINIC.

KELLY PARSONS A SOCIAL WORKER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ON AGING AND HER RESEARCH HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE WARNING SIGNS OF DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

MS. VICTORIA ELRIDGE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF R FOR AGING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE KENTUCKY CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

AND SHE IS ALSO A LICENSED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMS AN AARP KENTUCKY EXECUTIVE COUNCILMEMBER ALSO A PAINTER AND A VISUAL ARTIST.

COMMISSIONER ELRIDGE, THE NUMBERS THAT I MENTIONED IN THE PROION DO THESE MATCHUP WHAT WE'RE SEEING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

KENTUCKY'S POPULATION OVER ONE MILLION INDIVIDUALS ARE AGED 60 AND OLDER AND TEAM KENTUCKY IS PROUD TO STAND BY EVERYONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING IS THE LARGEST GROWTH IN OLDER ADULT POPULATION IS OCCURRING IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS THERE.

AND SO WE ARE ENSURING THAT THE SUPPORTS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS TO AGE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, KELLY, WHAT IS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID THAT WITH THE INCREASING AGE OF OUR POPULATION, THIS IS REALLY NOT A GOOD THING FOR US.

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT KIND OF A STATEMENT?

>> AN INCREASE IN AGE.

>> THAT WE HAVE SO MANY MORE OLDER AMERICANS LIVING, THIS MAY BE A DRAIN ON SERVICES AND RESOURCES AND WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THAT.

>> YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEY HAVE ALREADY PUT IN THE MONEY TOWARDS THOSE SERVICES LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.

IT ALSO JUST TO DEPENDS.

OUR BABY-BOOMERS.

SO THEY CAME FROM THE WORLD WAR II VETERANS WHICH IS WHY IT'S EXPLODING SO MUCH.

AS WE KNOW THE POPULATION IS DECREASING.

AND I THINK THAT IN REGARDS TO PAYING FOR SERVICES, MUCH-NEEDED SERVICES, THERE HAS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND SELF DETERMINATION AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THESE SENIORS HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES.

BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE SAVED AND HAVE ASSETS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

BUT AREN'T SURE HOW TO FUNNEL EVERYTHING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE PACKAGE.

BECAUSE EACH CARE PACKAGE IS GOING TO LOOK VERY, VERY DIFFERENT AND COST VERY DIFFERENT.

>> Mr. WILLIAMS THE SAME QUESTION.

YOU REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY OLDER AMERICANS, ONE OF THE BIG REASONS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF AARP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN PEOPLE SAY THIS MANY OLDER PEOPLE IS NOT A GOOD THING?

>> WE NEED TO FIRST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO DO TO US.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN ALL ENCOMPASSING PROBLEM WE HAVE TO GET ON TOP OF RIGHT AWAY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT 4.5 MILLION INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN KENTUCKY AND OF THOSE 610,000 OF THEM APPROXIMATELY ARE CAREGIVERS.

WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THAT.

SO AARP'S MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET TO AGE WHERE -- GET TO LIVE WHERE WANT TO LIVE AS THEY AGE.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT LEGISLATIVE AND PERSONAL WAYS TO HELP SENIORS LIVE A BETTER LIFE.

>> PLEASE, Dr. FUHRMAN?

>> I GET ALL THAT BUT WE SHOULD CELEBRATE OLDER ADULTS IT'S NOT ALWAYS A DRAIN ON SOCIETY.

I TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE.

WE HONOR PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 85 GOLD STANDARD AWARD.

BECAUSE THEY ARE CLIMBING MOUNTAINS AND WORKING AND CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR MINDSET.

IT'S NOT A TSUNAMI IT IS NOT A SCARY THING IT IS A GOOD THING WE HAVE OLDER ADULTS.

NOW THERE'S DIFFERENT THAT IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

BUT DEFINITELY I HAVE PATIENTS EVERYDAY THAT I WANT TO CELEBRATE.

AND SO IT'S, YEAH, WE WANT TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE AND THEY ARE VITAL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

>> WE'LL COME BACK AND I SHOW YOU WHY I CHOSE THE WORD TSUNAMI.

SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP WITH THE OLDER PATIENTS YOU ARE SEEING WHO ARE DOING MORE THINGS, IS IT THAT WE'RE FINDING WE ARE HEALTHIER AND THEREFORE THIS IS WHY WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE LIVE LONGER?

>> RIGHT.

MODERN MEDICINE HAS DONE A MILLION THINGS AND IT KEEPS PEOPLE ALIVE.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE HEALTHIER.

PEOPLE ARE NOT SMOKING AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.

OUR MINDSET HAS CHANGED.

AT THE TRAGER INSTITUTE WE FOCUS ON LIFESTYLE MEDICINE AND EXERCISE, NUTRITION, GETTING THE RIGHT SLEEP YOUR SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THAT INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

AND SO I THINK WITH THIS DAY AND AGE THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO COMMUNICATE.

PEOPLE GET GOOD INFORMATION AND KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THEIR DIET AND HAVE MORE PLANS AND MORE VEGETABLES AND LESS RED MEAT.

THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

PEOPLE USED TO NOT KNOW THEY NEEDED TO EXERCISE THEY EXERCISED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING ON A FARM AND NOW WE KNOW YOU NEED TO EXERCISE.

I THINK THINGS ARE CHANGING AND PEOPLE ARE HEALTHIER AND OLDER ADULTS THERE'S SO MUCH VALUE AND WISDOM WE NEED TO KEEP THEM ACTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

AND TO DO THAT YOU HAVE TO BE HEALTHY AND THEY ARE HEALTHY.

>> I REMEMBER A RITE OF PASSAGE WHEN I TURNED 18 I GOT MY DRAFT CARD.

WHEN I TURNED 50, I GOT MY AARP CARD.

DIFFERENT RITE OF PASSAGE.

NOW, Dr. FUHRMAN SAID THERE'S MORE INFORMATION STUFF THAT IS OUT THERE TELLING US.

YOUR ORGANIZATION PUTS OUT INFORMATION.

ARE YOU REACHING THE POPULATION THAT YOU WANT TO REACH SM.

>> ALL WE CAN DO, THE ANSWER IS YES BUT WE WANT TO DO A BETTER JOB.

AND WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CARE GIVING GUIDE.

AND WHEN WE TALK TO THERE IS A SPECIFIC GROUP WE TALK TO WHO ARE THE MILITARY WHO REQUIRE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CARE GIVING.

AARP IS CONSTANTLY IN THE ARENA OF PRESENTING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.

WE HAVE A NEW THING THAT WE'VE JOINING WITH AND I WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT, WITH UNITED WAY WORLD BY WITH 211.

YOU DIAL 211 AND IT TAKES YOU TO A PROMPT.

AND IT GIVES THE INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION ON RESOURCES AND GUIDES AND INFORMATION THAT IS IN THEIR AREA THAT WILL HELP THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY WITH CARE GIVING.

>> IF I MAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS PART OF TEAM KENTUCKY HAS BEEN WHEN I CAME ON AS COMMISSIONER KENTUCKY WAS 49TH IN THE AARP SERVICES AND SUPPORTS RANKING WE ARE NOW 42nd.

WE ARE MOVING UP AND IT'S BECAUSE OF GOOD POLICY CHANGES MAKING SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE IN.

AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES.

IN ADDITION TO 211 THE STATE OF KENTUCKY HAS AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS WHICH SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR IN-HOME SERVICES AS WELL AS CONSTRAIN THEM FOR MEDICAID IN ADDITION TO THAT.

AND RECENTLY PROUD OF I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE VETERANS.

THE DEPARTMENT FOR AGING INDEPENDENT LIVING HAS THE FIRST-EVER VETERANS FAMILY AND CAREGIVER COORDINATOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ALIGN OUR VETERANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR VETERANS THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE THE SERVICE WITHOUT THE CAREGIVER BESIDE THEM.

AND WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND HONORED TO WORK WITH AARP ON THAT.

>> AARP IS A TREMENDOUS PROPONENT OF ADVOCACY OF CARE GIVING.

>> THIS IS A GOOD NEWS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP.

WHILE THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE LIVING LONGER, THAT DOES COME WITH ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT AGING WELL, AND WHO WILL BE THERE TO HELP US WHEN WE NEED IT.

CAREGIVERS DON'T THINK OF THEMSELVES AS SUCH.

FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CAREGIVERS IN KENTUCKY, NATIONAL AGING CARE GIVING EXPERT CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE STRUGGLE.

SHE STARTED CARE GIVING AS A YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT FOR HER GRANDPARENTS THEN HER PARENTS AND SISTERS AND OTHERS WITH MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE SHE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT AGING AND CARE GIVING IN HER BOOKS AND PUBLISHED WORK.

KET'S RENEE SHAW SPOKE WITH AMY TO LEARN MORE.

RENEE?

>> THANK YOU, Dr. TUCKSON.

OUR GUEST RIGHT NOW IS AMY GUYER WHO HAS BEEN A CAREGIVER BEFORE SHE WAS AN ADULT ENOUGH TO DO SO.

HER JOURNEY FOR CARE GIVING HAS BEEN LONG.

SHE WILL SAY MAYBE CHALLENGING AND REWARDING AT THE SAME TIME.

SHE IS A NATIONAL CARE GIVING EXPERT WHO HAS WRITTEN TONS OF PUBLICATIONS AND A BOOK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND SHE IS JOINING US RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU AMY FOR YOUR TIME IT'S GOOD TO RECONNECT WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN.

>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, RENEE.

>> WHAT IS THE TYPICAL PROFILE OF A CAREGIVER?

I KNOW THAT IS CHANGING WE'VE BEEN READING AND HEARING STORIES ABOUT MILLENNIUMS PROVIDING MORE CARE.

WHAT IS THE TYPICAL PROFILE AND GENDER?

>> RIGHT.

SO WE DO HAVE CAREGIVERS IN EVERY SINGLE GENERATION NOW.

GEN Z, GENEX, RIGHT NOW BABY-BOOMERS ARE THE LARGEST SEGMENT OF CAREGIVERS AND THE GENEXERS ARE CLOSE.

WE HAVE SILENT OUR GREATEST GENERATION CAREGIVERS.

WE'VE GOT MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THEIR 80s EVEN THEIR 90s CARING TO ARE A SPOUSE, CARING FOR A SIBLING AND THEY NEED SUPPORT AS WELL.

WE DO KNOW THAT ABOUT 60% ROUGHLY ARE FEMALE AND ABOUT 40% ARE MALE.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE CARING FOR ALL KINDS OF HEALTH CONDITIONS.

WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE CARING FOR FOLKS WITH DEMENTIA.

60% OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS ARE WORKING.

AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT, RENEE, BECAUSE IF WE'RE WORKING, WE TAKE ON CARE GIVING CAN BE A WHOLE ANOTHER JOB.

IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES UP SO MUCH TIME AND YET WE'RE WORKING FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME.

IT'S REALLY A STRUGGLE BUT WE NEED THAT INCOME AND WE NEED IT FOR OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY WHEN WE'RE CAREGIVERS.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERAN FAMILY CAREGIVERS.

AND WE ARE CARING FOR VETERANS AND 60% OF THOSE WHO ARE VETERANS WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME SUPPORTS FROM THE V.A., ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM.

ABOUT HALF ARE NOT USING THEM.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL.

THE V.A.

WAS A GREAT SUPPORT CARING FOR MY DAD.

HE WAS A WORLD WAR II AND KOREAN WAR VETERAN AND WE GOT HOME-BASED PRIMARY CARE FROM THE V.A.

AND HELP PAYING FOR SUPPLIES AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

LOOK AT YOUR VETERAN CAREGIVERS.

I THINK THE BIG THING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT FAMILY CAREGIVERS ARE PROVIDING SO MUCH CARE.

WE ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THE VALUE OF THAT IS ABOUT $600 BILLION.

$600 BILLION.

AND THE STATE OF KENTUCKY ALONE THE VALUE OF THE CARE THAT 610 FAMILY -- 610,000 FAMILY CAREGIVERS PROVIDE 570 MILLION HOURS OF CARE AND THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THAT IS $8.6 BILLION.

JUST IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> AND THAT IS UNPAID SERVICE THAT IS BEING RENDERED?

>> RIGHT.

>> THOSE ARE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO ARE VOLUNTEERING THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.

THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO A FULL-TIME JOB AND THEN SOME, RIGHT?

60 HOURS A WEEK IS AVERAGE PERHAPS EVEN MORE.

FOR THOSE WHO THEY ARE STARTING OFF AND THEY ARE CURIOUS WHAT IF MOM OR DAD GET TO A POINT THAT I CANNOT PROVIDE THE IN-HOME CARE.

WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THEM DO?

WHAT SHOULD THEY BE SEEKING OUT?

>> SO ONLY THREE OR 4% OF PEOPLE ARE CARED FOR IN ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING HOMES.

IT IS A SMALL FRACTION.

VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE CARED FOR IN THEIR HOME OR LOVED ONES HOME.

THE FIRST THING WHEN YOU START I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS ANYMORE LOOK INTO WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE AT HOME FIRST.

BECAUSE THE COST OF CARE IS UNBELIEVABLY HIGH.

THE COST OF CARE IN FACILITIES IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY CONCEPT OF UNTIL YOU START LOOKING AT IT.

ACROSS THE NATION, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE GO TO AN ADULT DAYCARE CENTER FIVE DAYS A WEEK THAT WILL COST ABOUT $19,000 A YEAR.

AND THERE ARE ADULT DAYCARE CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY EVEN SOME IN RURAL AREAS.

ABOUT 59,000 A YEAR IF YOU HAVE A HOMEMAKER COMING IN TO HELP.

AT 44 HOURS A WEEK.

ABOUT 62,000 A YEAR IF YOU HAVE A HOME HEALTH AIDE WHO HAS MORE TRAINING.

AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IS GOING TO COST 54,000.

THIS IS NATIONAL AVERAGES.

IN YOUR LOCAL AREA IT MAYBE DIFFERENT.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO DO THE RESEARCH.

IN A NURSING HOME, 95,000 A YEAR.

AND A NURSING HOME WITH YOUR OWN NO ROOMMATE, 108,000 A YEAR.

THOSE ARE THE NATIONAL AVERAGES.

SO FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, CONTACT THAT AREA ON AGING ASK ABOUT HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WHICH MAY INCLUDE ADULT DAYCARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN PAYING FOR ONE-ON-ONE CARE AT HOME.

AND FIND OUT WHAT MEALS ON WHEELS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.

IS THERE SOMEONE WHO CAN DO A MEDICATION REMINDER.

A WAY WE CAN USE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP OUR LOVED ONES SAFE AT HOME.

CAN WE DO HOME MODIFICATIONS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE LIVING ON ONE FLOOR AND NOT NAVIGATING STAIRS.

YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE THAT CAN'T HAPPEN THE FIRST THING TO DO IS GET THE LAY OF THE LAND OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE CLOSE TO WHERE YOU LIVE AS THE CAREGIVER.

>> THE STRESS OF CARE GIVING.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE WHEN WE SPOKE A FEW YEARS AGO IN 2018 ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID IT'S HARD FOR A CAREGIVER IF YOU DON'T TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF.

AND WE KNOW THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL AND MAYBE SOCIAL ISOLATION THAT COMES WITH CARE GIVING FOR THOSE WHO ARE DOING THAT TALK TO US ABOUT THAT AND WHAT TECHNIQUES SHOULD CAREGIVERS BE PRACTICING WHEN IT COMES TO SELF CARE?

>> IN TERMS OF SELF CARE, I MODERATE A FACEBOOK GROUP FOR AARP AND THE AARP FAMILY CAREGIVERS DISCUSSION GROUP AND WE HAVE 18,000 MEMBERS.

AND SO MUCH OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE GROUP IS SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER.

YOU CAN DO THIS.

PEOPLE WILL POST I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE.

OR I'M SO FRUSTRATED AND STRESSED OUT AND BURNED OUT AND GET THAT SUPPORT TO SAY OKAY HOW CAN WE HELP WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND YOU CAN DO THIS.

AND THAT MORAL SUPPORT.

AND MANY CAREGIVERS FEEL ISOLATED THEY DON'T HAVE THE SOCIAL SUPPORT.

YOU CAN AT LEAST FIND IT IN AN ON-LINE GROUP AND THAT IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO THING THAT CAN REPLACE A HUG IN-PERSON BUT YOU CAN GET VIRTUAL HUGS.

>> THANK YOU.

CERTAINLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ENRICHING CONVERSATION I HOPE HELPED SOMEONE ELSE AS THEY TAKE THIS CAREGIVERRING JOURNEY WITH SO MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ACROSS THIS NATION WHO ARE DOING THAT INCREDIBLE REWARDING WORK.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND YOUR EXPERTISE WITH US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

AND BE SURE TO VISIT AARP.ORG/CARE GIVING FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.

>> THANK YOU, AMY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AMY.

THAT WAS REALLY A LOT FOR US TO SIT HERE AND UNPACK.

LET'S GO WITH YOU Dr. RHODUS, CARE GIVE SOMETHING A WHOLE OTHER JOB.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE ELSE AN ENTIRE PERSON WHAT THEY ARE EATING, SLEEPING, MEDICAL STATUS.

IT'S NOT JUST US OR OUR JOB OR ANXIETIES DURING THAT DAY.

BUT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE HAD THAT THIS OTHER INDIVIDUAL IS FUNCTIONING AS BEST THEY CAN, IS HEALTHY IS DRINKING ENOUGH GOING TO THE BATHROOM ENOUGH.

THERE ARE SO MANY ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE.

AND IT IS A SPECTRUM SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE HAD A HIP REPLACEMENT MIGHT NEED DIFFERENT CARE THAN SOMEONE WHO IS FURTHER ADVANCED STAGES ORNA PALLIATIVE CARE THAT NEEDS 24 HOUR SUPPORT.

MY JOB TODAY AS A CAREGIVER MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT FROM SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN MY ROLES THAT CHANGE.

AND THE WORK WE DO, SUPPORTING THAT CAREGIVER TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT YOU AT WHATEVER STAGE YOU ARE AT.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU RESOURCES AND YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT TODAY BUT IN AGING YOU ARE DEAL WITH DEGENERATIVE CONDITIONS.

THOSE YOU FEEL CONFIDENT TODAY THINGS WILL CHANGE IN FOUR, FIVE, SIX MONTHS AND WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AT THAT STAGE AS WELL.

>> WHILE I HAVE YOU, WHO IS THE TYPICAL PERSON THAT IS PROVIDING THIS CARE?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

A LOT OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.

THE CHILDREN WHEN THEIR PARENTS ARE NEEDING SUPPORT OR THE SPOUSE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY THAT ARE RECEIVING SUPPORTS THROUGH THEIR SPOUSE.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN WE DO A LOT OF WORK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND RURAL AREAS AND IT BECOMES A WHOLE FAMILY EVENT THAT WHEN YOU DO HAVE ONE PERSON THAT IS PROVIDING YOUR CARE ALL THE TIME THAT PERSON CAN EXPERIENCE A LOT OF FATIGUE AND BURDEN AND STRESS.

WHEN WE HAVE A CARE CONVOY IS WHAT THEY CALL IT SOMETIMES, A WHOLE CONVOY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

THAT WE TAKE ROTATIONS AND SUPPORT.

THAT IT CAN BE THE NEIGHBOR OR THE COUSIN, THE AUNT OR THE SISTER, WHOEVER IS AVAILABLE WE'RE ALL PITCHING IN TO SUPPORT THIS INDIVIDUAL AS THEY AGE.

IDEALLY IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK LOOKING AT CAREGIVERS.

WE HEARD ABOUT A CARE CONVOY.

BE REALISTIC WITH ME.

ARE WE SEEING A CONVOY OR WE'RE SEEING THIS LONE TROOPER?

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH SOCIALIZATION YOU HAVE PRIOR TO NEEDING CARE GIVING.

IF YOU ARE PART OF A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION WE FIND THAT YOU ARE VERY WELL SUPPORTED.

PEOPLE ARE CALLING AND BRINGING CASSEROLES OVER.

PEOPLE ARE ASKING IF THEY CAN HELP TAKE YOUR LOVED ONE TO THE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

IF YOU'VE GROWN-UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE THE SAME NEIGHBORS FOR 50, 40 YEARS THAT IS A CARE CONVOY AS WELL.

HOWEVER WE ARE IN A SOCIETY THAT IS VERY, VERY TRANSIENT.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF ADULT CHILDREN WHO DO NOT LIVE IN THE STATE OF THEIR ADULT PARENT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF LONG DISTANCE CARE GIVING.

AND I HAVE TO SAY I THINK WITH COMMISSIONER ELRIDGE ONBOARD AND OUR STATE BACKING US I'M EXCITED TO OFFER THE CARE SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO COME OPEN FROM THESE CONVERSATIONS SO THANK YOU.

>> Dr. COTTON, SO MOST PEOPLE ARE AT HOME AND NOT IN A NURSING HOME.

AGAIN I WILL COME BACK.

SOMEBODY IS PAYING A PRICE EMOTIONALLY, TIME WISE, AND PHYSICALLY FOR THIS.

AGAIN, WHO IS THIS PERSON?

>> I WOULD SAY ACROSS KENTUCKY WHAT WE'RE SEEING LARGELY AT THIS MOMENT IS THAT WE HAVE THIS UNTAPPED WORKFORCE UNPAID WORKFORCE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LIKE Dr. RHODUS SAID THEY ARE USUALLY THE CHILDREN OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THAT SUPPORT.

THEY MIGHT BE WORKING THEIR 40 HOURS AND 50 HOURS A WEEK AND THEN HAVING TO COME HOME AND DO THE EXTRA THINGS TO PROVIDE CARE.

I THINK IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE CARVE OUT THE FUTURE IT'S REALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT UNPAID WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING.

AND REALLY ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS TO THEM TO DEVELOP THESE CONVOYS I LOVE THAT AS WELL.

THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN TAP INTO IN A NATURALLY OCCURRING WAY AND THINKING ABOUT DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES AS WELL AND ADDING TO THAT NATURAL SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS.

>> 600 BILLION DOLLARS COMMISSIONER ELRIDGE.

>> YES, SIR.

>> WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY?

>> WHAT WE GET IS KENTUCKY IS A PHENOMENAL STATE.

TO THAT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE ARE VERY RESOURCEFUL STATE AND WE SAW THAT HAPPEN THROUGH COVID, THROUGH THE NATURAL DISASTERS.

NOT ONLY WAS IT CARE GIVING AT A NORMAL TIME BUT YOU ADD IN THOSE DIFFERENT LEVELS AND WE SEE PEOPLE TIME AND TIME AGAIN STEP UP FOR THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO OFFER AT TEAM KENTUCKY AND THROUGH THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES IS SUPPORTS AT VARIOUS LEVELS.

BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE AS A COMMONWEALTH.

IT'S WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

OUR AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING.

THERE ARE 15 OF THESE AGENCIES ACROSS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS.

AT THE STATE LEVEL WE ARE PROVIDING RESPITE SERVICES TO OVER 5,000 CAREGIVERS.

RESPITE SERVICES ARE A CHANCE FOR CAREGIVERS TO STEP BACK AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

SO THAT WAY THEY CAN REFRESH AND RENEW AND COME FORWARD AND CARE FOR THEIR AGING LOVED ONE AGAIN.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS WE HAVE OUR PROGRAMS FOR INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY.

THERE ARE VARIOUS WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOW THAT WE JUST GOT STARTED 18 MONTHS AGO ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE OUR ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE CENTERS THAT ALLOW FOR THAT RESPITE FOR AT THAT TIME WORKING INDIVIDUAL.

AND THEN TO THAT WE HAVE OUR STATE RUN PROGRAMS AND OUR MEDICAID ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS.

THERE IS A VARIETY OF SERVICES OUT THERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH Dr. TUCKSON, IS FOR THE WORKING ADULT CAREGIVER THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS WORKING AND GOING HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR AGING LOVED ONE IS FOR THAT EMPLOYER TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY.

WHAT WE SEE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IS THAT YOU HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF EMPLOYEE RETENTION WHEN YOU HAVE FLEXIBILITY.

IF I NEED TO LEAVE WORK EARLY TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOM TO TAKE HER TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR MAKE SURE SHE HAS THE SERVICES THAT IS NEEDED IN-HOME KNOWING I HAVE THE JOB SECURITY TO DO THAT SO I CAN COME BACK TO WORK.

>> CAN I ADD ONE THING?

I WANT TO ASK Dr. FUHRMAN.

>> IT IS JUST A PROGRAM.

>> HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SEE WHERE A FAMILY MEMBER CAN TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK AND BRING THEIR ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL IN TO SEE YOU?

>> IT'S HARD.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES DOCTORS RUN BEHIND AND THEY ARE WAITING AND THE PROCESS OF COMING TO SEE IT'S NOT LIKE IT IS JUST AN HOUR.

LIKE IT TAKES LIKE A WHOLE DAY.

BUT TELEHEALTH HELPED A LOT.

COVID HELPED US REALIZE WE CAN DO THE TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND NO ONE LEAVES THE HOME LIKE DOING A HOME VISIT IS THE BEST.

THEY HAVE THE MEDICINES LINED UP.

WE DO TELEHEALTH.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE JOB THAT IS WILLING TO LET THEM -- WHAT HAPPENS IS I SEE THIS THE CAREGIVERS GET FIRED.

THEY CAN'T WORK AND THAT IS A LOSS, LOSS ALL THE WAY AROUND.

>> THE AREA ON AGING THERE'S ONE IN EVERY COUNTY THROUGH THE NATIONAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965.

AND WHAT THEY HAVE THERE ARE PARTICIPANTS AND PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS REALLY CONNECT TO IS THE NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM FOR IT PEOPLE 65 AND OVER UNLESS YOU HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA.

IT MIGHT BE 55 FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF DEMENTIA AND THIS GIVES YOU $2,000 FOR RESPITE CARE WHICH IS CAREGIVER BREAK SO YOU CAN HIRE SOMEBODY IN THE HOME AND GIVES YOU $300 FOR SUPPLIES.

CHECKS, SHOWER CHAIRS.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS IT'S NOT ASSET BASED.

NOBODY IS GOING TO LOOK AT YOUR BANK ACOULD COUNT OR YOUR RECORDS I THINK IT'S FOR TRACKING SO WE CAN SEE HOW MANY CAREGIVERS WE HAVE.

WHILE IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS WE WANT IT TO BE, IT CAN PAY FOR A DRIVE IN EVALUATION BY AARP IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR DRIVING AND SUPPLIES AND AGAIN IT'S RUN THROUGH THE AREA ON AGING.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

>> HOLD YOUR THOUGHT I WANT TO GET TO THIS PIECE INTERESTING ABOUT THE SANDWICH GENERATION.

FROM SOMEONE IN THE SO-CALLED SANDWICH GENERATION, HERE IS A PERSON WHO IS A SINGLE PARENT AND CARING FOR ELDERLY MOTHER WITH LATE STAGE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

LAURA ROGERS SHARES CONVERSATION WITH LIZ HODGE ON THE CHALLENGES OF BALANCING CARE GIVING WITH LIFE'S OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> SHE HAS JUST REALLY DECLINED SO QUICKLY.

>> LIZ'S MOTHER LINDA NOW 76 WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SIX YEARS AGO.

>> WE ASK HER CAN YOU SHAKE A SHOWER?

YES, OF COURSE I CAN.

CAN YOU COOK A MEAL.

OF COURSE I CAN.

BUT IF YOU LET HER DO IT SHE CANNOT FIND THE SINK OR TURNS THE OTHER WAY IN THE SHOWER AND REACHES FOR THE WATER.

>> SHE AND THREE SIBLINGS HAD TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS WHICH INCLUDED CONSULTING THE MOTHER'S WILL WHO WOULD BECOME THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER.

>> SHE NAMED ME OUT OF MY SIBLINGS.

>> THAT STRAINED RELATIONSHIP ADDED ANOTHER LAYER TO AN ALREADY EMOTIONALLY DRAINING EXPERIENCE.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA I'M PROCESSING WHILE I'M CAREGIVERRING WHICH IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO YOU WEREN'T THERE FOR ME WHY DO I NEED TO BE THERE FOR YOU NOW.

WHERE WERE YOU FOR MY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION?

>> DESPITE THAT BACK STORY, A SILVER LINING.

HODGE SAYS SHE AND HER MOTHER BONDED SINCE THAT DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS.

>> HER FORGETTING OUR HISTORY IT HELPED ME HEAL OUR HISTORY.

AND SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER NOW THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

>> A RELATIONSHIP THAT INCLUDED FINDING THE BEST FIT FOR LONG-TERM CARE.

AS HER HEALTH HAS DECLINED LINDA IS NOW IN MEMORY CARE WHICH IS TYPICAL FOR AN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT.

>> THEY NEED A LOT OF ASSISTANCE.

THEY CAN'T CARE FOR THEMSELVES THEY CAN'T BATHE, NOT MOBILE CAN GO NONVERBAL AND INCOULDN'T NANT THAT THEY NEED CARE.

>> HODGE WORKED AS A CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT TRAINING THAT PROVED HELPFUL THROUGH HER MOTHER'S HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR FAMILY FOR HER THAT I KNOW ARE IN HER BEST INTEREST.

>> FINDING BALANCE AND SUPPORT IS STILL A CHALLENGE.

>> IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF THE CAREGIVER.

I HAVE TO KEEP UP MY JOB AND BEING A MOM AND KEEP UP TRYING TO BE A FRIEND AND LIFE AND SLEEPING.

>> THERE'S THE FINANCIAL BURDEN.

HODGE AND HER SIBLINGS LIQUIDATED HER MOTHER'S ASSETS TO PAY FOR HER CARE.

>> IT IS $9,000 A MONTH A MONTH TO CARE FOR HER.

OUR FEAR AS A FAMILY IS WHAT HAPPENS IF WE RUN OUT OF THAT MONEY.

WHO IS GOING TO PAY 9,000 A MONTH?

>> WHICH ADDS STRESS TO THE SITUATION ALONG WITH GUILT FOR NOT BEING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE.

>> ESPECIALLY WOMEN WE ARE CARETAKERS.

WE FEEL GUILTY IF WE ARE NOT MAKING DINNER FOR YOUR DAUGHTER AND BEING AT THE NURSING HOME WHEN YOUR MOM IS SICK.

>> ALONG WITH JUG GELLING THE RESPONSIBILITIES THERE IS THE SADNESS AND GRIEF THAT COME WITH LOSING A PARENT.

>> THE NURSES WOULD HEAR LIZ HODGE ALL THE TIME AND ASK FOR ME CONSTANTLY.

SHE STOPPED ASKING FOR ME.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO I AM WHEN I COME NOW.

SHE KNOWS I AM A FAMILIAR WARM FACE THAT SHE LOVES.

AS HODGE PREPARES FOR THAT FINAL GOOD-BYE SHE IS THINKING ABOUT HER OWN MORTALITY AND EVENTUAL END OF LIFE CARE INTEREST I STAY HEALTHY AND ACTIVE AT SOME POINT IS THIS GOING TO BE ME AND MY DAUGHTER TAKING CARE OF ME LIKE THIS?

>> Mr. WILLIAMS, MS. HODGE'S STORY IS NOT UNIQUE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> THAT IS A POWERFUL PIECE.

AS I WAS LOOKING THE THAT I WAS THINKING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH $ 600 BILLION.

BUT I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AARP IS ADVOCACY TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE USING THEIR OWN PERSONAL FINANCES TO HELP WITH THE LOVED ONE WHO THEY ARE CARING FOR.

AND IN SO DOING, WE ARE LOOKING FOR WE WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS ABOUT THAT.

BUT AARP THROUGH ONE OF ITS RESOURCES WHICH IS THE AARP FAMILY CARE GIVING GUIDE SPEAKS TO STEPS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE.

I WISH I HAD HAD KNOWN THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW THROUGH THE STEPS THAT AARP PROVIDES.

WHEN I BECAME A CAREGIVER IT TALKS ABOUT STARTING A CONVERSATION FORMING A PLAN, FINDING SUPPORT AND TAKING CARE OF ONESELF.

SO THE RESPITE BUSINESS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I JUST WANT TO BRING UP ONE MORE POINT AND THAT IS THE FACT THAT ALL OF US EITHER SNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS A CAREGIVER, WILL REQUIRE CARE GIVING, IS A CAREGIVER OR WILL NEED CARE GIVING.

SO THAT'S A STATEMENT THAT COMES FROM FORMER FIRST LADY ROSILYN CARTER AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS THE STALWART OR A BENCHMARK BY WHICH AARP OPERATES.

>> COMMISSIONER ELRIDGE YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB HERE IN KENTUCKY AND WE ARE LUCKY THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE LOOKING OUT FOR US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE URBAN AREA VERSUS OUR RURAL AREAS?

PARTICULARLY WITH CARING FOR OLDER FOLKS WITH MULTIPLE INFIRMARIES?

>> AS FAR AS THE DISCONNECT, I WOULD SAY WHEN YOU SEEN ONE FAMILY YOU'VE SEEN ONE FAMILY.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS A DISCONNECT URBAN VERSUS RURAL.

IT'S FAMILY BASED IT'S UNIQUE HOW EACH FAMILY IS.

AS THE PIECE SHOWED HAVING A DISCONNECTED FAMILY AND STILL STEPPING UP AND TAKING CARE OF INDIVIDUALS.

TO THAT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THEY DO HAVE THAT STRONG BOND.

WE STILL SEE THAT.

IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON, NORTHERN KENTUCKY VERY MUCH IS A FAMILIAL BASE TO THAT.

AND IT'S ALSO NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT KENTUCKY DOES TIME AND TIME AGAIN OF HAVING NEIGHBORS STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

SOMETIMES THAT NEIGHBOR IS YOUR GUARDIAN.

THAT IS WHO IS THERE TO HELP YOU.

SO I WOULDN'T PIT IT URBAN VERSUS RURAL.

>> AND LOOKING IF THAT PERSON NEEDS RESPITE, ARE THERE MORE RESOURCES IN CERTAIN AREAS IN THE COMMONWEALTH VERSUS IN OTHERS?

>> THERE ARE VARIOUS RESOURCES.

THERE ARE MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN URBAN AREAS.

TO BE HONEST.

WITH THE MORE OF THE RURAL AREAS, WHAT WE SEE IS THERE ARE MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL STEP UP AND HELP OUT FROM TIME TO TIME.

WITH THE NATIONAL FAMILY CARE GIVING RESOURCES AND THEN ALSO WITH THE RESPITE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE THROUGH SOME OF OUR STATE GENERAL FUNDED PROGRAMS AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS THERE ARE A VARIETY TO THAT OUR NATIONAL FAMILY GIVER PROGRAM IS ONE THAT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA.

BUT ALSO ONE THING I WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T BRING UP, THERE ARE GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE CARING FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE ALSO CAREGIVERS TO AGING PARENTS.

THE WITH PROGRAM WE HAVE RESOURCES AS WELL AS TEAM KENTUCKY REINSTATED KENTUCKY FAMILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM OR WHAT IS KNOWN AS GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN WHICH GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE CAN RECEIVE STIPENDS TO GET BEDS, GET FURNITURE, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLOTHING ANY RESOURCES NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AS WELL.

>> CAN I JUMP IN?

>> PLEASE.

>> SOMETHING I WANT TO TAP INTO WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESOURCES.

BUT SOMETHING I HEARD IN THE VIDEO THAT I HEAR A LOT FROM CAREGIVERS WORKING WITH THEM IN THE FIELD IS THIS CONCEPT OF GUILT.

FEELING GUILTY FOR ASKING FOR RESPITE.

AND SO REALLY, CHANGING THE DISCOURSE AND THE CONVERSATION AROUND THIS TO MAKE CAREGIVERS MORE AWARE THAT TAKING RESPITE, TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF THAT IS ALL PART OF SELF CARE.

LARGELY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SELF CARE IN GENERAL THERE'S BEEN THIS MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THAT.

WE'RE TOLD YOU HAVE TO BUY THE APP AND DOWNLOAD THIS AND WATCH THIS PROGRAM OR FOLLOWING THIS THAT OR THE OTHER AND THAT IS ALL BOGUS, RIGHT.

AT THE END OF DAY ENGAGING IN SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY AND ALSO ENGAGING IN RESPITE GETTING THAT SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED TO RECHARGE YOUR BATTERY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT TO BE COMPASSION WARY NNS.

>> COMPASSION FATIGUE.

>> WE LOSE 50% OF OUR CAREGIVERS TO THE DISEASE.

>> 50%.

>> FROM THE STRESSES.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THE DOCTORS THEY ARE NOT TAKING THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION.

THINGS CHANGE SO QUICKLY FOR OLDER AS IN GENERAL THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME.

>> AND SOMETIMES WE SEE THIS THAT THE CAREGIVER DIES BEFORE THE PATIENT.

AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THEY ARE SO STRESSED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT IS AN IMMUNE RESPONSE IT IS NOT HEALTHY.

YOU DON'T GET SLEEP AND YOU CAN'T BE HEALTHY AND YOU DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR AND THAT IMMUNE RESPONSE PEOPLE DIE FROM IT.

>> THE WORD SHE USED WE LOSE 50% OF OUR CAREGIVERS I FEARED WHAT YOU MEANT BUT SOME DIE, SOME DROPOUT.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THEY DIE.

>> WOW.

>> THEY DIE UNDER THE STRESS OF CARING FOR SOMEONE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IS WE RECOGNIZED THAT ESPECIALLY THROUGH COVID AND WANTING TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING AND THE DEPARTMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WE HELD A CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH FORUM.

AND PARTNERED TOGETHER OUR CAREGIVERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERS AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPITE OF SELF CARE.

BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE AS PANELISTS ARE MODELING THAT AS WELL.

>> SO Dr. COTTON TELL ME, I'M HEARING A LOT ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO PROVIDE CARE FOR FOLKS NOWADAYS?

ARE WE PUTTING IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE PIPELINE?

>> I WOULD SAY FROM THINKING ABOUT FAMILY CAREGIVERS, AGAIN WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS UNPAID WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING.

AS PART OF THEIR EVERYDAY CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONE.

I THINK TAPPING INTO THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS THE SUPPORT GROUPS HELPING INDIVIDUALS GET PINPOINTED TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHATEVER THE CONDITION IS THEY ARE PROVIDING CARE TO.

HELPING THEM DO SIMPLE THINGS LIKE NAVIGATE THE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND KNOWING WHERE TO GO KNOWING ABOUT OUR ADRC'S ACROSS KENTUCKY.

>> WHAT IS THAT?

>> ALZHEIMER'S -- AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS.

TAPPING INTO THOSE NETWORKS AND TRAINING INDIVIDUALS ON HOW TO REALLY DEVELOP THIS CARE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR LOVED ONE.

THE VIDEO WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE BECAUSE SHE SHARED SOME OF THOSE INTENSE FAMILY DYNAMICS SHE HAD EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO BEING THE CAREGIVER.

AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS BE ABLE TO UNDO 20, 40 YEARS OF A PROPER PARTICULAR RELATIONSHIP OR A CHALLENGING RELATIONSHIP JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE THAT PERSON'S CAREGIVER.

AND THAT IS WHERE MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COME INTO PLAY.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO ANSWER?

>> I WAS GOING TO CHIME IN THE IDEA OF STIGMA AND NOT ONLY STIGMA AS A CAREGIVER BUT THE DISEASE WE'RE CARING FOR.

THERE'S STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AS A CAREGIVER IF I'M HAVING ANXIETY, GUILT OR DEPRESSION I MIGHT BE TRYING TO HIDE THAT BECAUSE IT IS KNOTS A COMFORTABLE TOPIC TO BRING UP.

I SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT HOW I'M ANGRY WHEN I NEED TO DO THE OTHER THINGS.

AND THIS IDEA OF SIGMA FOR THE PERSON I'M CARING FOR.

THERE IS A STIGMA AROUND ALZHEIMER'S AND SCHIZOPHRENIA, THAT PEOPLE ARE AGING WITH THAT WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT.

WE TALKED TO LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO SAY WE JUST KEEP MOM AT HOME WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

WE DON'T LET HER GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK BAD ABOUT US.

WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT AND FRANK CONVERSATIONS OPENLY AND CONFIDENTLY THAT IT'S OKAY TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

IT IS OKAY TO TALK ABOUT US NEEDING HELP AND JUST A HUG AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO THAT HUG CAN BE A POWERFUL THING.

A 20-EMBRACE CAN TURN OFF THE STRESS RESPONSE.

A 20-SECOND HUG CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS.

>> AGING IN PLACE.

THIS IS NOT FOR THE WEAK NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.

YOU HAVE TO BE A TOUGH INDIVIDUAL.

>> YOU DO.

>> SO UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JANE AND PUT EVERYONE IN THE ATTIC.

WHAT IS AGING IN PLACE AND HOW DO WE DO THIS?

>> LEXINGTON IS DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THE DWELLING UNITS THAT WERE LOCALLY PASSED.

I THINK THAT AS A WHOLE FOR THE STATE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES YOU HAVE AND REALLY AGING IN PLACE THAT LINE IS SAFETY.

AND THAT'S WHEN IT'S HARD DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE.

HOW CAN WE USE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS TO MAKE SURE THE HOME IS SETUP AND GET SOMEBODY TO PAY FOR A RAMP FOR SOMEONE WHO USES A WALKER OR A WHEELCHAIR.

AND THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR NOSE TO THE GRIND STONE IF YOU ARE A CAREGIVER TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND THAT IS WHY THE AREA ON AGING AND THE ADRC IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR STATE BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUR ONE STOP SHOP TO FIND OUT HOW CAN I KEEP MOM OR DAD OR MY SPOUSE IN THE HOUSE LONGER OR HOW CAN I ADAPT THE HOUSE TO MAKE IT EASIER.

WITH APPS ON THE PHONE NEIGHBORS CAN BE IN TOUCH.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WANDERS A LITTLE BIT.

>> JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> YOU KNOW IT IS A TEAM EFFORT THAT CAREGIVER CONVOY.

AND YOU HAVE TO TO BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT IT AND YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR NOSE TO THE GRIND STONE.

>> SHOULD I BE CONCERNED TWO OF THE SIX MEMBERS OF THE PANEL ARE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS?

IS THIS TELLING ME WHERE SOME OF OUR NEED IS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WE LOOK HOW PEOPLE OCCUPY THEIR TIME.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IDEA OF PERSON, ENVIRONMENT FIT IS CONTINUAL AS A PERSON MY ABILITY TO THINK, MOVE, FUNCTION MATCHES THE IDEA WITH WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN MY ENVIRONMENT.

DO I NEED A RAMP?

DO I NEED A BENCH FOR MY BATH TUB?

WHAT IS IT MY ENVIRONMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED SO I CAN SUCCESSFULLY AND INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITY OR OCCUPATION OCCUPY MY TIME IN A FUNCTIONAL WAY.

WHEN WE'RE THINK BEING HOW DO WE KEEP PEOPLE INDEPENDENT AND FUNCTIONAL IN THEIR HOME SO THAT THEY CAN AGE IN PLACE.

AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WE LOOK AT THE PERSON'S ABILITY AND CAPACITY.

WE LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THAT INDIVIDUAL TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME TO MAXIMIZE HEALTH.

>> Dr. FUHRMAN, YOU ARE THE PHYSICIAN ON THE PANEL.

NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEDIATRICIANS A LOT OF FOLKS IN FAMILY PRACTICE.

WHERE ARE WE AS FAR AS THE JAIR TRITION WITH WE NEEDING THE NUMBERS?

>> I'M NOT SURE THERE WILL BE ENOUGH BECAUSE IT IS NOT SEXY.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OLDER ADULTS.

THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THE GRANTS OF U OF L TRAIN EVERYBODY TO BE LIKE BASELINE A DEPUTIZE YOU TO BE A JERRY TRITION AND THE CAREGIVER IS PART OF THE TEAM AND WE CAN TRAIN THE CAREGIVER.

AND I SAY THIS TO MY LEARNERS THERE'S FOUR M'S.

WHAT MATTERS MOST LIKE GOALS OF CARE, ADVANCED DIRECTIVES FEAR NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

MEDICATIONS, WE SAID THIS IN THE CAR.

DO NOT USE BENADRYL.

MEDICINES ALL OF THIS IS OVER-THE-COUNTER.

THE PM'S, THE DM'S THE CAREGIVER IS PART OF THAT TEAM AND CAN STOP THOSE MEDICINES.

MOBILITY, FUNCTIONAL STATUS GET PEOPLE UP AND WALKING.

AND ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THE DEMENTIA, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

WE -- WE CAN TRAIN THE CAREGIVERS TO LOOK FOR THE FOUR M'S AND HELP AND BE PART OF THE CARE TEAM.

>> BEFORE I MOVE OFF OF YOU, YOU'VE GOT TO EXPLAIN TO US WE'VE HEARD ABOUT AGING AGING IE WHICH IS OPTIMAL AGING?

>> TWO BIG PARTS.

AND YOU CAN DEFINE IT FOREVER OPTIMAL AGING FOR YOU PERSONALLY NOT THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT TWO BIG THINGS IS EXERCISE AND EATING RIGHT.

SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE MOVING.

JUST MOVING.

MOVING AROUND IN THEIR HOUSE.

AND EATING HEALTHY EATING APPROPRIATELY.

YOU NEED FOOD TO LIVE.

AND SO IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE TWO BIG THINGS AND ALSO HOWEVER THEY WANT TO DEFINE IT.

AND IT'S NOT LIKE A PASS/FAIL.

IT IS A CONTINUUM.

AND SO THAT'S HOW WE LIKE TO SEE IT AS A BIG PICTURE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, Mr. WILLIAMS?

>> I THINK THE OPTIMAL AGING ANALOGY IS GREAT.

IT GIVES A MORE FOCUS ON THOSE TWO ITEMS THAT WE NEED EATING PROPERLY AND EXERCISE.

THE HUMAN BODIES AS WE KNOW WERE NOT DESIGNED TO SIT AROUND.

AND WHEN WE SIT AROUND WE LOSE THAT MOBILITY.

>> IF YOU DON'T USE IT YOU LOSE IT.

>> THE MORE YOU MOVE THE LOOSEN YOUR JOINTS WILL BE.

>> MOTION IS LOTION.

I MAY HAVE -- Dr. COTTON, ARE WE GETTING -- WE ALSO HAVE TWO SOCIAL WORKERS ON THIS PANEL.

WHICH TELLS ME THAT ONE OF THE REAL PROBLEMS IS GETTING PEOPLE MATCHED UP WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE.

>> YEAH.

I WOULD SAY ACROSS THE BOARD THE MORE WE THIS PANEL AND PEOPLE WE WORK WITH IN THE FIELD, ARE EDUCATING CAREGIVERS AND JUST THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM, ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAP INTO THOSE NETWORKS OF CARE, I THINK THE MORE HELPFUL THAT WILL BE IN THE LONG-RUN FOR INDIVIDUALS.

I WOULD SAY ALSO IT'S GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT Dr. FUHRMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT RELATED TO GAR IN GENERAL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO START THINKING MORE FROM THE FRAMEWORK OF WHEN WE ARE EDUCATING CAREGIVERS AND INDIVIDUALS PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT COGNITIVE RELATED CHALLENGES THAT WE SHOULD ALSO BE THINKING FROM THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR COLLEAGUES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, FOR A LONGTIME AS PART OF ONE OF OUR GRANTS I USED TO DO HOME VISITS AND ASSESSMENTS WITH INDIVIDUALS.

I WAS DOING THINGS ABOUT ONE PATIENT WHOSE HOME I WENT WHO NEEDED SUPPORT WHO CAME OUT WITH 27 MEDICATIONS SHE WAS TAKING ALL OF THESE.

EVERYDAY.

>> 27?

THAT IS TOO MANY.

>> I'M NOT A MD I AM A SOCIAL WORKER BUT I CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SAY I NEED TO CALL A FRIEND HERE PHONE A FRIEND.

AND JUST BE MORE CONSCIENTIOUS OF WHEN WE'RE DOING THOSE ASSESSMENTS IN THE FIELD AND POINTING PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR ME THINK BEING GOING BACK TO OT, THOSE THINGS LIKE FALLS RISK AND WHAT THAT PERSON NEEDS HELP WITH AS THEY OCCUPY THEIR TIME EVERYDAY TO USE THAT LANGUAGE.

REALLY ALSO THINK BEING THAT IN TERMS OF THOSE REFERRALS AND BEING MORE DELIBERATE FROM AN INTERPROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT.

>> EARLIER IN THE CONVERSATION YOU MENTIONED ARE WE PLACING ENOUGH EMPHASIS ON CARE GIVING.

AND I JUST GOT TO THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, MAYBE ONCE MORE IN THE STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE CARE GIVING WAS MENTIONED.

SO THE TERMINOLOGY IS NOW GETTING OUT THERE.

THE STIGMA ONLY IS GOING TO BE REMOVED AS WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> Dr. RHODUS TAKE ME THROUGH A DIFFERENT WAY.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND MOVING MY MOTHER BACK FROM OUT EAST HERE TO KENTUCKY WITH US.

ONE MUST DIVEST THEMSELVES OF VARIOUS ITEMS.

NOW, WE ALL LOVE OUR STUFF.

HOD DO YOU WORK A PERSON THROUGH THIS AIN'T COMING?

I BELIEVE YOU HAVE IN THE PAST USED THE TERM DECISION FATIGUE.

EXPLAIN THAT AND TELL ME HOW WE DO THIS?

>> THESE ARE LOTS OF CHANGING THROUGHOUT OUR LIFE ESPECIALLY AS WE NEAR THE END OF OUR LIFE.

AND WE MENTIONED THINGS MATTER.

WHAT MATTERS THE MOST?

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HEARD IN THE VIDEO CLIP THAT SHE IS NOW THINK BEING HOW WHAT DOES SHE NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR HER DAUGHTER TO TAKE CARE OF HER.

HEARING CONVERSATIONS WHAT MATTERS THE MOST.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT MY CLOTHES AND HOME ENVIRONMENT OR MY CHAIR OR PICTURES ON THE WALL WHAT DO I HAVE TO HAVE THAT IS GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL WHOLE LIKE I CAN BE IN THIS PLACE SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY.

WHEN WE DO MOVE AND WE MIGHT MOVE SEVERAL TIMES WHAT ARE THOSE KEY THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IT CAN BE CHALLENGING.

AND AGAIN, ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL.

WE HAVE A SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO HAVE THINGS.

THEY MIGHT LIKE TO HAVE 150 THINGS OR 1500 THINGS BUT WHAT DO WE NEED FROM A SAFE STANDPOINT AS WE FOCUS ON THOSE BEING THE TOP PRIORITIES.

IF I HAVE 1500 NOTE PADS MAYBE I CAN HAVE THREE THOUGH I DON'T LIKE THAT DEPARTURE IT CAUSES ME GRIEF TO LET GO OF MY THINGS I KNOW I NEED TO RECOGNIZE BEING IN THE SPACE I HAVE LIMITED ABILITIES TO EXPAND WHAT DO YOU NEED TO FUNCTION AND BE SAFE.

>> Dr. FUHRMAN, IS IT OKAY TO GET ANGRY IF THE PERSON FOR WHOM YOU ARE CARING FORGETS THINGS?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS HAPPENS A LOT.

WE SEE PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEY ARE GOING TO FORGET THINGS.

LIKE THEY FORGET WHAT THEY TOLD YOU THE DAY BEFORE.

>> YEAH.

>> TURNING THE TV UP LOUD.

>> A LOT OF EDUCATION BECAUSE THE FAMILY GETS SO MAD I JUST TOLD HER THAT AND SHE FORGOT.

SHE IS GOING TO FORGET.

YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF EDUCATION FOR THE CAREGIVERS THEY DON'T KNOW SOMETIMES THAT YOU HAVE TO TURN SOMEONE EVERY TWO HOURS.

>> HOW ABOUT THE OLDER PERSON NOT DEMENTIA BUT OLDER.

>> AND THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN FORGET THINGS AS NOT HAVING DEMENTIA, TOO.

BUT ONCE YOU GET STRESS AS A CAREGIVER AND THE SITUATION IS STRESSFUL YOU CAN'T HANDLE ANYTHING EVERYTHING IS A CATASTROPHE.

WE TALK ABOUT OPTIMAL AGING, IT'S THE PHYSICAL, THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL THE WHOLE PICTURE SO WE NEED THE DOCTORS AND THE SOCIAL WORKERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, THE CHAPLINS THE PHARMACIST.

IT IS A COMPLICATED.

AND I CAN WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS ALL DAY LONG IT DOESN'T HELP ANYTHING THEY NEED THE TEAM.

>> IS IT OKAY TO GET ANGRY?

SOMETHING I USED THAT HELPED ME WAS WHEN MY UNCLE ACTED OUT I HAD TO PROGRAM IN MY MIND IT'S NOT MY UNCLE IT'S THE DISEASE.

>> I USED THE TERM TSUNAMI.

AND I WASN'T USING THE TERM TSUNAMI BECAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE FORCE BUT THERE IS A POWER THAT IS OUT THERE THAT IS COMING TOWARD US.

I THINK THE NUMBERS OF US ARE GETTING OLDER I AM ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED.

AND THAT IS THE THING.

IF WE'RE PUTTING OUR HEADS IN THE SAND AND SAY THIS IS COMING, THAT IS WHY I SAY TSUNAMI.

NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, I WILL GIVE EACH OF YOU 30 SECONDS TO WRAP UP AND TELL ME SOMETHING.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE OLDER PATIENT?

>> I THINK THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE MOST IMPORTANT.

WE ARE GOING TO BE AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT THAT?

WHETHER IT'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CAREGIVER OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY HOUSE, WITH MY DOG, MY THINGS HOW DO WE MAXIMIZE THIS ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE ARE MEANINGFUL TO US TO PROLONG RELATIONSHIPS FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.

>> SELF DETERMINATION.

AND AUTONOMY ARE THE MINE THINGS THAT I WOULD MAIN THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IN REGARDS TO AGING.

AND TO DO THAT YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE ADVANCED DIRECTIVES POWER OF ATTORNEY SHE WAS SHOCKED IN THE VIDEO THAT SHE WAS NAMED THE MOST ESTRANGED DAUGHTER.

SO MANY PEOPLE THEY COME TO YOU MOM DOESN'T HAVE CAPACITY ANYMORE.

LET'S LOOK AT HER WILL.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT?

AND THE PERSON DOESN'T KNOW THEY ARE IN THERE.

>> WE WILL HAVE MORE SHOWS TALKING ABOUT THAT.

TO U OF L. >> EMPOWER THE CAREGIVER THEY ARE PART OF THE TEAM.

SPEAK UP.

YOU KNOW THE PERSON THE BEST MORE THAN ANYBODY.

TALK TO THE TEAM TALK TO YOUR PROVIDERS LET THEM KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND TELL THEM Dr. FUHRMAN SAID STOP MEDICINES IF POSSIBLE.

>> SELF CARE AS WELL.

>> ONE WORD.

I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.

>> PLAN.

PLAN MAKE A PLAN RIGHT NOW.

HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THANK YOU, PANEL IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL DISCUSSION.

AND WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE TOPIC LATER ON IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

WE ARE AN AGING POPULATION BUT IN MY OPINION PERHAPS SELFISHLY SO I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A BAD THING.

THAT SAID, NO MATTER YOUR AGE WE NEED TO PREPARE BY TAKING BETTER CARE OF OURSELVES STARTING TODAY AND HAVING LONG AND SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FUTURE PLANS WITH OUR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CHECK OUT THE KET'S WEBSITE AT KET.ORG.

AND VISIT OUR NEXT CHAPTER PAGE TO GET CONNECTED TO MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ABOUT AGING AND AGING WELL.

I'M Dr. WAYNE TUCKSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES.

[♪♪]