#193 Joyful Holidays, Smart Planning: Tips for Kids and Aging Parents
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this festive holiday episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don share practical, real-life tips to support both the youngest and oldest members of your family during the busy season. Whether you’re navigating holiday meals with picky eaters, planning safe and stress-free travel with aging parents, or creating a warm and accessible home for visiting grandparents and energetic kids, this episode offers helpful strategies to make your celebrations smoother and more joyful. Gina and Don discuss healthy holiday eating for kids and seniors, smart family travel tips for the...
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#192 Protecting Your Loved Ones: Elder Law and Long-Term Care Strategies
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
Join Gina and Don on this powerful episode of Focused Healthy Family as they sit down with elder-law specialist Louise M. Paglen of The McIntosh Law Firm () to dive into the critical legal issues that affect aging loved ones and the families who care for them. With over two decades of experience in estate planning, guardianship, long-term care planning, Medicaid and VA benefits, Louise brings her compassionate, family-centered approach to demystify elder law and empower listeners. In this conversation you’ll learn: What “elder law” really encompasses — and how it goes beyond just...
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#191 Safety, Comfort, and Connection: Holiday Prep for Aging Family Members
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this warm and practical episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don talk about preparing your home for aging loved ones visiting during the holidays. Whether it’s Christmas, Thanksgiving, or another family gathering, a few thoughtful adjustments can make a world of difference for comfort, safety, and peace of mind. From preventing slips and falls to making seating and lighting more accessible, they share easy, compassionate ways to make your home welcoming for everyone—especially parents or grandparents who may need extra care. Tune in to learn how to balance festive fun with...
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#190 Seasons of Remembering: Finding Peace in Holiday Memories
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this heartfelt episode, Gina and Don reflect on the memories that shape us—those of loved ones who have passed and the holidays we shared together. As the season approaches, they explore how remembering can bring both joy and longing, and how we can honor those memories while still being present for the moments we’re creating today. Join them for a conversation filled with warmth, nostalgia, and the gentle reminder that our memories keep love alive, even as time moves on. #FocusedHealthyFamily #HolidayMemories #RememberingLovedOnes #FamilyConnections #GratitudeAndGrace #MindfulHolidays...
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#189 Unwrap Peace This Holiday Season
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
As the holidays approach, Gina and Don invite you to take a deep breath and rethink what this season can truly be about. Instead of getting caught up in the hustle, the shopping, and the endless to-do lists, what if you chose calm over chaos? In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, they share simple, heartfelt reminders to slow down, be present, and enjoy the moments that matter most—with your loved ones and with yourself. Let this be the year you release the pressure and rediscover peace in the season. #FocusedHealthyFamily #HolidayCalm #MindfulLiving #StressFreeHolidays #FamilyTime...
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#188 From Confusion to Clarity: Understanding Medicare Options
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett and Sal Marafioti from Hartnett Health to shed light on one of the most confusing — yet essential — topics for families and seniors: Medicare. Together, they break down the two key parts of Medicare — Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage — helping listeners understand what each offers, what’s covered, and how to make the best choices for your individual needs. Sal brings a deeply personal perspective, having navigated his own complex medical journey. His experience helps others make sense of...
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#187 Republish 117 Interview with a Single Mom - Claire Martin
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
It is another republished past from Gina and Don, this going to Claire Martin and her venture into a Single Mom. Enjoy. Today Gina and Don interview Claire Martin and now in her own words she will describe who she is and why we love talking to her: Hi, I’m Claire Martin the founder and host of “Strong, Single and Human” Podcast. So, who the hell am I? I moved to Australia 13 years ago for love!!!!! oh and to have fun, work hard and live the Australian dream…. the last thing I expected was to be a 49-year-old single mum navigating the challenges of raising a child on my own with no...
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#186 Guiding the Journey: Understanding Care Managers & Dementia Awareness
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Jennifer Douds from to dive into the world of Care Management. We explore what Care Managers do, how they guide families through complex senior care decisions, and why their role is such a valuable support system for caregivers. Jennifer also shares insights about the Second Wind Dreams Virtual Dementia Tour, a powerful program that helps people step into the shoes of someone living with dementia—offering a deeper understanding and empathy for both families and caregivers. Whether you’re currently caring for...
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#185 Driving My Life Away
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don take a thoughtful ride through the journey of driving—from the excitement of getting your first driver’s license to the difficult reality of taking the keys away from an aging loved one. They explore what driving represents: independence, freedom, and identity. But when safety becomes a concern, families face tough decisions. How do you know when it’s time? How do you have those conversations without damaging relationships or dignity? Gina and Don share insights, stories, and strategies to help families navigate these...
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#184 From Medicare to Money: Protecting Seniors from Fraud
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode, Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett of Hartnett Health to discuss an important and timely topic: senior scams and fraud prevention. From health insurance scams to the growing problem of Medicare fraud, Sydney shares her expertise and practical tips to help protect aging loved ones from becoming victims. We explore the different types of scams targeting seniors, why they are so prevalent, and most importantly—what families can do to safeguard themselves. Whether it’s understanding common red flags, setting up safeguards, or having proactive conversations with parents...
info_outlineGina (half-awake): “Ugh... Don, wake up… again.”
Don (groaning): “Seriously, Gina? Another alarm? Is this what adulthood is supposed to feel like?”
Sound effect: Alarm continues, faint sunrise ambiance fades in.
Welcome back to Focused Healthy Family! In this heartfelt episode, Gina and Don wake up—quite literally—with a jolt, setting the stage for a warm and approachable dive into a sleep struggle that’s all too real for so many families: the changing sleep patterns and nighttime challenges faced by older adults.
Together, Gina and Don explore why older adults often:
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Experience shifts in their circadian rhythms, feeling sleepy earlier in the day and waking up at the crack of dawn—what experts call a phase advance Sleep Foundation.
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Have more fragmented and lighter sleep, spending less time in deep, restorative stages and waking more often through the night Sleep Foundation.
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Struggle even more with routine changes—like daylight saving time or traveling—due to a slower recovery in adjusting internal body clocks Sleep Foundation.
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Have sleep interrupted by health-related factors: chronic pain, nighttime bathroom trips (nocturia, affecting up to 80% of older adults), insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (affecting 9–20%), and even REM sleep behavior disorder, where dreams are acted out physically Sleep Foundation.
It’s a delicately layered picture—one that listeners likely recognize, even if they haven’t pinned a name or explanation to it. Gina and Don bring these realities to life through stories, gentle humor, and practical empathy.
Gina (later): “Well, maybe that alarm wasn’t so bad—got us talking about something important.”
Don (smiles): “Early bird or not, here’s to better sleep—together.”
This lighting-hearted yet informative episode blends cozy realism with expert-backed guidance, making it a perfect pick for family members, caregivers, or anyone who’s noticed the nighttime shuffle isn’t quite the same anymore.
#FocusedHealthyFamily #SleepAndAging #SeniorHealth #HealthySleep #CaregiverSupport #SleepAwareness #AgingWell #ElderCare #BetterSleep #SleepHealth #SleepTips #FamilyCaregivers