Aging Together
TL;DR: for adult children of aging parents; for the sandwiched generation
Key themes: aging, caregiving, mental health, caregiver resources, long-term care
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The Aging Together Podcast explores the challenges and opportunities of caring for aging loved ones. In this podcast, I interview guests who are experts in their fields or can share their experiences with caregiving. Together with the guest speakers, I dive into a wide range of topics including health and wellness, care planning, caregiving, and more. The Aging Together Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. This podcast is a product of Aging Together LLC, a private care coaching practice for family caregivers.
This podcast is hosted by Dr. Pooja A. Patel, an occupational therapist with board certification in gerontology and additional advanced certifications in dementia, fall prevention, and geriatric care. She has had the privilege of working with older adults and their families for many years and has seen first-hand the unique challenges that aging can bring. From navigating physical changes and managing chronic conditions to addressing social isolation and planning for the future, aging can be a complex and oftentimes an overwhelming process.
Together with the guest speakers, she dives into a wide range of topics including senior health and wellness, senior care planning, caregiving, and more.
This podcast is for everyone: whether you are an older adult looking to age in place, a caregiver seeking support and guidance, or simply someone interested in learning more about the aging process. Let’s navigate aging, together.
Aging Together
S4E04: End-of-Life Emotional Insurance Planning | Dr. Kim Harms, JD
Summary
In this conversation, Dr. Kim Harms, an end-of-life expert, shares her personal journey through grief and the importance of legacy planning. She discusses the concept of emotional insurance, the significance of building emotional legacies, and practical steps individuals can take to prepare for their end of life. The conversation also touches on navigating difficult conversations about death, overcoming procrastination, and the impact of cultural attitudes and spirituality on the end-of-life experience. Dr. Harms emphasizes the need for open discussions about death and encourages listeners to take proactive steps in legacy building.
Takeaways
- Dr. Harms emphasizes the importance of legacy planning for emotional well-being.
- Grief is a personal journey that requires time and effort to process.
- Emotional insurance is crucial for leaving loved ones in a healthy space after death.
- Practical steps for legacy planning include organizing important documents and writing letters.
- Difficult conversations about death can be framed as acts of love for family.
- Procrastination is a major barrier to effective end-of-life planning.
- Cultural attitudes towards death can influence how individuals prepare for it.
- Spirituality can provide comfort and purpose during the end-of-life journey.
- It's essential to educate future generations about death and legacy planning.
About the Guest:
Dr. Kimberly Harms has been around the block in life. She has served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service, a dental school professor, a grief counselor, a death doula, a civil mediator, a clinical dentist with her late husband Jim in Farmington MN, a school board Chair, President of an international women’s organization, the first woman President of the Minnesota Dental Association, a National Spokesperson for the American Dental Association (21 years), Coach for Widows, an award-winning, best selling author and international speaker on the topics of grief, conflict and legacy planning and the cohost of the RethinkingDeath.Life Podcast. She has also suffered many personal losses, including the deaths by suicide of her mother and son and the death by broken heart of her husband after their son’s death. These days, she enjoys her most important role yet: mom to two remarkable kids and grandma to six delightful grandkids, splitting her time between Kansas City and Minneapolis to soak up every precious moment.
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The Aging Together Caregiver Hub is a FREE community for family caregivers of older adults. Join us today to find a peer network and access our learning studio with simple, bite-sized content, resources, and a support group.
S4 Sponsor: SafetyGrip, by Hartmobility
Patented anti-slip grip technology for all your home safety needs.
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