Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
When you become a caregiver for a loved one with cancer, you are thrust into the most important role in your life, and probably one that you are the least prepared for. We are here, to say you are not alone, there is help and you will succeed. Listen to our stories, our experts, gain knowledge, confidence and power as a caregiver
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Meditation
06/03/2026
Meditation
Caregiving is hard, grueling demanding work. Caregivers are prone to caregiver fatigue and burnout. As a caregiver is it important to be there for your loved one. But never taking the time, or never considering your own well being actually diminishes what you can do as a caregiver. Self care is an important part of the caregiver's regime. Fran and John speak with Mark Bregman, an expert in meditative therapy. Through some simple breathing techniques and visualizations you can recharge your batteries, giving some respite to your mind and body. It doesn't have to be complicated, and it does not have to be yet another thing to do.
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Resources
06/03/2026
Resources
There are many resources available for family caregivers. Sometimes it's hard to know just where to look. We want to provide access to as many resources as we can, and will keep this page upadted as we learn of nedw ones. If you know of some you want to share please write to us via our website "Loving Support and Caring for the Cancer Patient" by Stan Goldberg Fran's Place for Cancer Counseling Rosalyn Carter Caregiver Institute Family Caregiver Alliance National Cancer Institute 1-800-4-CANCER American Cancer Society 1-800-ACS-2345 Cancer Care 1-800-813-HOPE Caregiver Action Network 1-202-772-5050 In Episode 9 on Meditation, Mark mentioned Dr. Emmett Miller. Here is his website In Season 3, Episode 7, John and Fran spoke with Certifed Therapeutic Musician Carolyn Brodginski. Resource Carolyn referenced are Music for Healing and Transition Program There, you can learn more about therapeutic musicans, including where to find one. Carolyn's website is There you can learn about the mountain dulcimer as well as other elements of Carolyn's work. In Episode 5 & 6 Dr Wong mentioned some resources for clinical trails. In addition to those listed above, check out the following: In Season 3 Episodes 3 & 4 John and Fran talked about the state of public policy in caregiving around the world. Here are some resources.... Caregiving and Public Policy in USA and beyond In July 2025 the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Caregiving Alliance published an article on the state of caregiving and caregivers in the United States. I have attempted to recap that article here, and to add additional facts about caregiving public policy in some other countries around the world. As of 2025, there are 63 million family (sometimes referred to as ‘informal’) care givers in the United States. That is defined as an adult who is caring for a friend or family member with a medical condition or disability. That is roughly 1 in 4 Americans. That number has grown by 45% since 2015. The growth is primarily related to the aging baby boom population, and in increase in chronic medical or cognitive conditions requiring care. Those numbers are expected to grow. Of the 63 million caregivers, 59million are caring for an adult, while about 4 million are caring for a child. The estimated economic value of caregiving is $6 Billion annually. The average caregiver is 51 years old, more likely to be a woman (61% are women), and spend on average about 27 hours per week in caregiving, with 24% reporting their caregiving is over 40 hours per week. About 40% of caregivers live with their patient, 32% get some paid outside help, and 53% rely on friends, neighbors, or family members. The duties caregivers provide, and tasks they perform vary greatly. However, there are some key themes. 55% perform nursing related tasks, such as wound care, administering medications, monitoring vitals, giving injections, handling IV lines etc. The other primary role is patient advocate, with 70% coordinating with medical team, and about 2/3 communicating with Health Care Providers. Most caregivers that are working age (18-64) have a regular job (70%). The tension between holding down a job and caregiving is evidenced by caregivers experiencing arriving late to work, leaving early, or otherwise taking time off to care for a loved one. Many caregivers experience physical, psychological and financial stress trying to balance work and caregiving. While caregiver friendly benefits have improved somewhat since 2015, There is a dearth of regulations in employment law surrounding caregiving. Most benefits are at employer discretion and vary among employers. Only 49% of caregivers have told their supervisors of their caregiving duties. Caregivers are suffering from chronic fatigue, stress and compassion burnout. 20% rate their physical health as “fair” or “poor”. 25% say they have difficulty caring for themselves with 45% reporting physical symptoms. 64% of caregivers report high emotional stress. There are some major gaps between the demands put on caregivers, and resources either available to, or used by caregivers to aid the. Over ½ of caregivers are performing some kind of nursing or medical task, however only 22% say they received adequate training to perform these tasks. While 70% of all working age caregivers are employed outside their caregiving duties, there are few regulations or employment law supporting flexibility in working arrangements for caregivers. In addition, 39% of caregivers self-report that some form of respite care would be helpful to them, yet only 13% use respite care. The reasons are many, however, trust and shame are the two main reasons caregivers do not use respite care. So, what is being done to bridge these gaps between need and services? At the Federal level, within the United States, employees can take time off to care for a family member, up to 12 weeks, and have their job guaranteed upon their return (Family Medical Leave Act). However, this law applies only to employers with more than 50 employees, (only 4% of all employers have more than 50 employees), the time off is unpaid, and is limited to 12 weeks, which may or may not be enough time to care for a loved one. Medicare will now reimburse health care providers for the time they spend training and educating caregivers on basic nursing tasks. This should provide additional incentive for doctors’ offices to ensure caregivers walk out of the office with adequate training to care for their loved one. There is no universal paid leave policy in the US, although some states (8 currently) offer some partial paid leave for family caregivers, and/or tax credits to offset cost of expenses associated with at home caregiving. For Medicaid patients (Medicaid is a Federal/State health insurance program for qualifying low-income citizen), there is a partial direct payment program available for qualifying patients/caregivers. In 2018, Congress passed the RAISE Family Caregiver Act. RAISE stands for Recognize, Assist, Include, Support Engage). An advisory council was formed and developed 5 strategies to address family caregiver issues. The 5 strategic areas are: 1. Increase awareness of family caregivers for available services, through outreach and education. 2. Build partnerships among non-profits, state and local governments 3. Strengthen the support services available to caregivers 4. Ensure financial and workplace security for caregivers 5. Expand research and study best practices in caregiver support Eight years later, some progress has been made, but in the Us it is mostly a patchwork of programs varying by location, with a mix of direct payments, tax credits, governmental services, and non-profit services. Since we have several podcast listeners from outside the US, I wanted to look at policies in countries outside the US, in hopes of seeing some best practices that could be applied universally. Un fortunately, what I found was a similar patchwork of programs and approaches that vary by country. Still, there is some good elements that all those working in public policy for caregivers could use. Europe: There is no universal program across EU countries, but rather programs that reflect the cultural norms of various countries. For example, Scandinavian countries are more likely to have community-based support that provide patient care. In Mediterranean Europe, the norm is for family members to care for a patient, so programs are structured to support the family caregiver. Germany and Austria provide direct payments to family (referred to as ‘informal’) caregivers but is only a partial compensation. Some countries offer paid leave for caregivers, with Belgium the most generous, with up to 48 months of paid leave. Spain and Germany also offer pension credits for time spent outside the formal workforce as a caregiver. This is an important piece, universally, of a caregiver’s financial security. With so many leaving the workforce to care for a loved one, they not only lose their current income, but also the retirement benefits that accrue to workers. Over the course of a lifetime, this could add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Australia: Australia’s major elements include providing workplace flexibility, respite care, and direct supplemental payments to caregivers. The major obstacle is overcoming workplace resistance to participate in support programs. Canada: Like the US, there are little universal policies at Federal level. Polices vary among provinces. Canada did pass the CARE Act, which provides tax credits, pension credits and a (lightly used) publicly funded home health care program, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia provide some direct payments to Caregivers. Japan: Japan has mandatory long-term care insurance for every worker over 40 years. This ensures universal access to care services and lessens the burden on informal caregivers. They also rely on community based integrated care, which provides healthcare, housing, and nursing care in familiar surroundings. For the caregivers, Japan employs “Kaijo Cafes”, a place for caregivers to share experiences, find support among fellow caregivers and reduce the feeling of isolation. Conclusion: Informal caregiving is growing in the US and around the world, as the population ages and lives are extended with advances in medical care. For most people, the role of caregiver falls to family members. The percentage of adults caring for a sick or disabled family members range from 15% to 40% of adults across the globe. It is a growing force, and the problems associated with it are not going away. Some steps are being taken, albeit is slowly and in a patchwork, to help ameliorate the situation of caregivers. Policy makers, in local, state, regional or Federal levels of government, corporate human resource policy makers, health insurance industry, and healthcare field all have a part to play in improving the conditions and giving informal caregiving a viable, sustainable future. Individually, we are but a lone voice, but collectively, voices raised with those policy makers will bring this to light and make things happen. As a caregiver, you are over your head with responsibilities. Buit we all have friends, neighbors, family that are in those ‘outer rings’ of the concentric circle that can lend support. Getting them to advocate for caregivers can be a step to recognizing and supporting the work caregivers do, with the people that can do something about it. In Season 2 Episode 11 ...John and Fran talked about Fran's book "Losing Mom". You can find it on Amazon here.... Season 2 Episode 10 A Monster Calls Fran and John spoke with Jenny McClintock, an educator and child of a cancer patient. Her drama class performed the play "A Monster Calls" about a 13 year old facing his mother's terminal illness. Below is a link to the performance Season 2 Episode 9- Caregiving on PBS John and Fran talked about the Caregiving Documentary on PBS, and wellbeings.org. Below are some links to these organizations Season 2 Episode 7- Clinical Trials Dr Wong referred to a few organizations that can be helpful in learning about clinical trials. We want to share those sites with you National Cancer Institue (NCI) American Society of Clinical Oncology SWOG Cancer Research Network European Society of Clinical Oncology FDA National Comprehensive Cancer Network John and Fran talked about journaling in Season 2, Episode 1. Here is the book John is writing to his grandkids In our discussion with Professor Yang about handling medications, she mentioned the following website to refer for medication handling information In Episode 12...Caring for Your Child, Kristen mentioned Gold Rush Cure, a non profit advocating for children with cancer. Their mission is to provide hope and encouragement to children fighting cancer. Their website is And... Sage's latest song "Cold Country Woman" is here! n Episode 8.... Nutrition, we spoke with Certified Dietitian Toni Marinucci. To get more information on nutrtion, diet and healthy eating , go to Toni's webiste or check out her instagram page. In Episode 7...Music Therapy Dr. Ravaglioli referred to the American Music Therapy Association as a reource. The website link is Dr. Ravaglioli's Music Therapy Practice can be found at She can also be reached through her email In Episode 6... Caregiver as Collaborator, Emily suggested creating a binder or some means to keep and record important information. The link below is an example of the kinds of templates that are available to caregivers. This is just one example of many, but can give you an idea of what is available. Some interesting recent articles on Caregiving Here are some recent books on caregiving to check out
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From Caregiver to Volunteer to Advocate
05/13/2026
From Caregiver to Volunteer to Advocate
Today Fran and John speak with a couple who were caregivers for their first spouses when they were diagnosed with cancer. They both went through difficult times caregiving for their spouses, and through tragic loss. They came through their grief, found each other, and turned to volunteerism to channel that energy. Today they are amazing advocates for cancer patients, caregivers, and families of cancer patients. Theirs is truly an inspirational story for all caregivers. 000001C4 000001C4 00002AF4 00002AF4 0018A324 0018A324 00007E86 00007E86 00132D49 00132D49
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The Sound of Music
04/22/2026
The Sound of Music
Fran and John speak with a Certified Therapeutic Musician. A unique title, and a unique instrument she plays. Carolyn Bodginski is a Certified Therpeutic Musician, helping patients, family caregivers and even hospital staff deal with the stresses of having, and caring for, someone with a life threatening illness. Her instrument of choice: The Mountain Dulcimer. The sweet and soulfull voice of a mountain dulcimer brings soothing, calm and peace to anyone hearing it, or playing it.
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Clinical Trials Part 2
04/01/2026
Clinical Trials Part 2
In this episode, we continue the conversation with Dr. Fui Sun Wong, Oncology Pharmacist and Professor of Pharmacology about the many aspects of clinical trials.
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Clinical Trials Part 1
03/18/2026
Clinical Trials Part 1
In today's episode, John speaks with Dr. Siu Fun Wong, an Oncology Pharamacist and Professor of Pharmacology. It is a deeper dive into the world of clinical trials, as a follow up to last season's introduction to clinical trials.
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Public Policies in Caregiving Part 2
03/04/2026
Public Policies in Caregiving Part 2
In todays,episode, we continue the discussion of public policies with respect to caregiving, outside the United States. In my limited research, I found no consistency among various programs and policies in place around the world. Although, there are definitely some 'best practices' that could be incorporated into existing programs and policies. While most of the discussion surrounded itself with programs at the national level, its apparent advocacy and resources at the local level may be the fastest and best way to gain attention and get services needed for caregivers. There is a caregiver crisis around the world, and small steps taken at the local level may be the best way to close the gap between caregivers' needs and resoources available to them.
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Public Policy Part 1
02/18/2026
Public Policy Part 1
There is a caregiver crisis happening throughout the world. For the vast majority, the role of caregiver falls to a family member or close friend when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness or disabiity. It is one of the most important jobs a person will have, and yet, one they are least prepared to take on. The gap between caregiver support needs, and resources available is widening. In today's episode, John and Fran talk about the state of caregiving, and of caregivers in the United States. Our next episode will focus on policies and programs outside teh United States.
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Concentric Circles of Caregiving- Part 2
01/28/2026
Concentric Circles of Caregiving- Part 2
In part 2, we continue the conversation with Patty and Lori. Two women whose partners are the primary caregivers to their parents. If you are a caregiver, we know the feeling of isolation can be overwhelming. You feel like its all on you to take care of your loved one. Its 24/7 and can be grueling, physically and emotionally exhausting. But there is help out there. Just as you surround your patient with total care, there are others, in those outer rings of the concentric circles, that are there to support you. To provide a hand with tasks, or perhaps just a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen. It can be a family member, a friend, a church group, a caregiver support group. But as the caregiver, you have to raise your eyes from the immediate duties and see and seek the help. If you are a friend, spouse, partner, neighbor of a caregiver, you are in one of those concentric circles. You can lend support, even in the smallest ways to lighten the load of the caregiver. Be sensitive to their needs, be aware of the daily duties that acumulate and ca weigh heavily on a caregiver. Its a long road on the caregiver journey. Even the smallest respite can go along way.
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Concentric Circles of Caregiving
01/14/2026
Concentric Circles of Caregiving
Caregiving can be described as a set of concentric circles, sort of like a bullseye, where the center of the circle is the patient- the focus of everyone's attention. The next circle, or ring, is the primary caregiver, closest to the patient and the most intensely involved. As you move out from the center, other rings emerge, such as the spouse or partner of the caregiver. Then family members , children or siblings could be in the next ring. The next may be friends or neighbors, then support groups or church community. The circles can go on indefinitely, depending on one's social network. In this episode, Fran and John speak with two women who are the partner and spouse of the primary family caregiver. They are in that second ring, in a role to support and encourage their loved one who is the primary caregiver. They describe for us, the challenges and opportunties to provide support to their partner. In addition, Lori and Patty are close long time friends, and have been able to provide support, encouragement and advice to one another as they too navigate caregiving.
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Episode 14 Year End Recap
12/10/2025
Episode 14 Year End Recap
This year we covered topics such as friendship and caregiving, with two friends that were both cancer survivors and helped each other through their cancer journeys. We spoke with a pharmacist who provided information on handling medications. A doctor spoke to us about navigating clinical trials. We spoke to an educator whose students performed a play about a child dealing with a parent with a terminal illness. Fran also talked to us about her book "Losing Mom", dealing with the loss of a parent as seen through the eyes of a child. We also wanted to provide some resources and ideas for caregiving through the year-end holidays. We are both profoundly grateful for your listenership and feedback. Knowing that the dialogues we have, and the guests we bring on are helpful to you means the world to us. We want to wish you all the peace and joy, strength and courage for this holiday season. We will be back next year, with new guests, and new topics to explore. Thank you for your encouragement and support. Our mission is to educate and inform, but also to say 'you are not alone'.
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Episode 13 Caregiving During The Holidays
11/25/2025
Episode 13 Caregiving During The Holidays
In today's episode, John and Fran discuss ways to approach caregiving during the holiday season. Caregiving is difficult, challenging and stressful. The holidays can and will add to the pressures and anxiety of caregiving. But with the ideas discussed, you may find some ways to simplify the holidays, recruit support engage your loved one, and navigate through the holidays finding some joy , peace and laughter. We wish all of you a very happy holiday season. May you find some joy and peace and laughter with your loved ones duringthese coming weeks.
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Episode 12 Mid Year Update and Request
09/04/2025
Episode 12 Mid Year Update and Request
Sorry for the delay in getting this episode out to you all. It's been quite a summer! My new wife and I spent the month of July on the other sode of the country, caring for my sister to recover from knee replacement surgery. Then it was my turn. I developed a large abscess, and with fever approaching 104, went to the ER at the local hospital. I spent 9 days in the hospital with a drain and IV antibiotics. We are now back home, but still working through whatever the medical conditions are. Needless to say, it was difficult getting our podcast out, and I am sorry. I know we have a devoted following of listeners, and Fran and I truly want to be a resource for you. So I am hopeful that I will be back to full strength and energy soon and can keep going. In the meantime, this episode is about you. We want to hear from you about what issues you want to learn more about, what are the things that you could use some advice or help with. So please reach out to us. We want to provide meaningful and relevant topics to bring you. Thank you for listening to our episodes, and please pass thi so to frirnds, family, even your health care providers. John & Fran
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Episode 11 "Losing Mom" A discussion with Dr Fran about Her Book
07/23/2025
Episode 11 "Losing Mom" A discussion with Dr Fran about Her Book
When a serious illness affects a parent, oftentimes the young children are overlooked or excluded from the situation. Externally, they may seem fine, but internally they are observing, processing and trying to make sense of what is happening. In her insightful book, Dr Fran put us in the mind of young Stella, who witnesses the decline and ultimately, the death of her mother. We see how each of the siblings responds to the family crisis, and where the youngest sibling is left. Written in the style of a memoir, written over time as Stella matures, it allows the reader to see into her thoughts and understanding of her reality. It is an insightful book, and a must read for anyone with young people in their lives.
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Episode 10 A Monster Calls....
07/09/2025
Episode 10 A Monster Calls....
When a cancer diagnosis is given, it is given not only to the patient, but to every family member. Like a rock trown into a calm lake, those waves emanate out impacting family and friends surrounding the patient. Over the course of our podcast, John and Fran have spoken to friends caring for a friend, spouses caring for a partner, a parent caring for their sick child. In today's episode, we examine and explore dealing with a chroinic illness through the eyes of a young person experiencing the illness of a parent. Through her own personal experiences, and as an educator in the dramatic arts, our guest has been able to help her student confront the reality of life-threatening illness of a parent, and to express their emotions in a healthy way. "A Monster Calls" is a play about a teenager confronting the reality of a sick parent amid the turmoil of everday teenage life. It is a powerful story.
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Episode 9 Caregiving on PBS
06/22/2025
Episode 9 Caregiving on PBS
In this episode, John and Fran talk about the upcoming documentary "Caregiving" to be aired, Tuesday June 24 at 9PM on Public Broadcasting System (PBS) stations across the USA. It will also be available to watch via streaming on . The documentary is produced by Wellbeings , a family caregiver advocacy group , resource, and center for support. Produced by the actor Bradley Cooper (who cared for his Dad when he was diagnosed with cancer), and narrated by actress Uzo Aduba, Caregiving tells the personal stories of family caregivers, their triumphs, their challenges, fears and emotions. John learned about this project over a year ago, when Wellbeings was compiling stories for the documentary. He wrote to them, describing his caregiving journey with Mary, as well as the work he has been doing since; developing a support group for family caregivers of cancer patients at a local hospital, his work with a patient support and advocacy group for for patients diagnosed with appendiceal cancer, and this very podcast. After Mary died, but before he started this advocacy work, John wrote an open letter to family caregivers. Providing advice and counsel from the point of view of one who has travelled the path, John set out to give some pointers and what, and what not, to do as family caregiver. Wellbeings graciously accepted John's story, and his open letter, to use as part of their media campaign in the days and weekds leading up to the broadcast. Both are available on blog page, and on their instagram page.
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Season 2 Mid Season Update
05/15/2025
Season 2 Mid Season Update
It's been a while since we published a new episode. There has been a lot going on... with Fran's practice, with John's medical situatiuon, as well as personal things. We wanted to let you know what we have been up to, and also to let you know that we have not let you go! We have been talking, about next episode ideas, and plans for the balance of the year. As always, if there's a topic you want to hear about, let us know. We will do our best to research it and create an episode. In the meantime, hang tight-we will be back with new topics and new guests. And remeber-you are not alone.
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Season 2 Episode 7 Navigating Clinical Trials
04/23/2025
Season 2 Episode 7 Navigating Clinical Trials
In this episode, John and Fran talk with an Oncology Pharmacist with a deep knowledge of the clinical trial world. We heard about the diferent phases of clinical trials, and what each means; when and where to look for clinical trials. We also heard about the rights and responsibilities of both the trial investigator as well as the patient. If you are considering joining a clinical trial, there is a lot of information to process. Hopefully this discussion will give you enough background to be able to ask the right questions. We have posted websites on our blog page that Dr Wong referenced during our conversation You can find them at www.caregivercompanion.libsyn.com
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Season 2 Episode 6 Caregiving Stress Part 2
04/09/2025
Season 2 Episode 6 Caregiving Stress Part 2
Caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint. The caregiving continuum takes a caregiver through all kind of responsibilties, tasks and pressures. In this episode, John and Fran talk about the pressure of caregiving at the end stages of treatment, whether that is remission and surveillance, or hospice and end of life decision making. As a caregiver, it is important to recognize, that even if your loved one is in remission, they are living in a body changed by the illness, and possibly the treatments. Alternatively, if you are facing end of treatment options, having those difficult conversations with your loved one is important for those left behind to understand their wishes.
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Season 2 Episode 5 Dealing with Stress in Caregiving Part 1
03/26/2025
Season 2 Episode 5 Dealing with Stress in Caregiving Part 1
There are many pressures people are dealing with in today's world. Watching the news, one sees wars, famines, natural disasters all around us. In our own personal world, prices, jobs, family, kids all contribute to a heightened anxiety. It seems a symptom of modern society. Add to this ambient stress levels, the added pressure of receiving a cancer diagnosis for a loved one, and the pressure is intensified. In this episode, John and Fran talk about the physiological and psychological responses to stressful situations, in particular the initial phases of caregiving. There are resources that can help the family caregiver. Self care is an important element in dealing with stress as well. Small things can go a long way.
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Season 2 Episode 4 Caregiving with Rare Cancers
02/26/2025
Season 2 Episode 4 Caregiving with Rare Cancers
Winston Churchill, in describing the old Soviet Union, once said "it is a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigmna". When a loved one is diagnosed with a rare cancer, it can certainly feel that way. With limited information, and uncertainty about where to turn, a caregiver can feel incredibly lost and overwhelmed. Today John and Fran spoke with a woman, who cared for her husband Jeffrey, when he was diagnosed with rare appendiceal cancer. She talked openly and candidly about her journey and what she learned along the way. February is rare disease awareness month, in the United States, and we want to recognize those individuals battling rare diseases, and the people who love them and care for them.
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Episode 3 Handling Medications
02/12/2025
Episode 3 Handling Medications
When we become caregiver, we take on many roles and wear many hats. Nurse, advocate, cheerleader, chief paperwork officer, to name a few. One of the most important roles we play is the handling and administration of medications for your loved one. With advances in pharmaceuticals, there are many anti-cancer drugs that can be taken orally as opposed to intravenously. That allows patients to avoid the infusion centers and risk of infection with an IV. However, the benefits of oral meds means more diligence required by the caregiverr to help administer and handle meds in a safe manner. Today John and Fran speak with a practicing hospital pharmacist and professor of pharmacology about the proper steps a caregiver should take to manage medications safely.
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Season 2 Episode 2 Friendship and Caregiving
01/29/2025
Season 2 Episode 2 Friendship and Caregiving
In this episode, John and Fran talk with two friends, Laurie and Bonnie, who shared the common experience of breast cancer patients, support group members and advocates for other patients. Their friendship took on a new dimension when Laurie was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, after 26 years remission of her breast cancer. Laurie and Bonnie open up about that journey, and how Bonnie ,almost organically stepped into the role as caregiver to her friend. Their's is a story of strength, courage and bonds of friendship that is both endearing and compelling.
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Season 2 - We're Back!!
01/16/2025
Season 2 - We're Back!!
It's been a while, we know. Holidays, moving, caregiving, and life in general kept us away from the podcast microphone. But we are back! Fran and John share what the holidays were like for them, and discussideas for upcoming episodes. Season 2 should prove to be quite interesting and informative. Above all, we want Caregiver Companion to be a place where you can come, at the end of long day, and listen to people who have been, or are still on your same journey. Our message is 'you are not alone", and our mission is provide you, as a caregiver, a sense of community and fellowship, to be your companion on this journey. We wish you all the best for a year or growth, renewal, strength.
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Episode 18 Wrap Up for 2024 and Thank You
11/14/2024
Episode 18 Wrap Up for 2024 and Thank You
This is our final episode for 2024. We will be back in 2025 with more topics and guests. It was a little over a year ago that the idea for this podcast was born. In 2019, I wanted to do something to help cancer patients and their familes, and by what I believe to be Divine Providence, I met my good friend Ray, who also lost his spouse to cancer. Ray introduced me to people at the local hospital where he volunteered, and we formed and developed a support group for family caregivers of cancer patients. There I met Dr Fran Baumgarten, and we all collaborated on the support group. That was 2019, and the support group has been running ever since. While the feedback has been very positive, we are able to reach only those patients and their families at the cancer center. Last year I began thinking about how to reach more people, and make it easier to access, and the podcast idea was born. I spoke with Fran about possibly joining me as a guest from time to time. To my great joy, Fran was all in, and agreed to co-host with me. So we were off and running. Of course neither of us knew anthing about podcasting. A crash course ensued. We recruited support, and thanks to my neice Toni-Anne, herself a podcaster, who gave us advice, introductions to tech people, and pointed us in the right direction. And a special thanks to my talented son Danny, who created our podcast cover art, as well as all the graphics and artwork used for the slides with our suport group. I know this means a great deal to him to lend his great talents to this cause, and I appreciate him so much. This podcast has exceeded our expectations beyond compare. After 17 episodes we have over 1,000 downloads, and are heard around the globe, including the US, Canada, Greece, Australia, Russia, France, Brazil, Romania, Argentina, Sweden and Bangladesh. We want to say a big THANK YOU to all our listeners. Your listenership tells us we are providing something helpful and of value to you. You encourage us to keep bringing interesting guests and meaningful topics to you. We are now planning next year's episodes, and if you have suggestions, comments, questions or ideas please reach out to us, through our website or through our email Also, if you need support or help from a therapist. Reach our to Fran's Place There you can find help at little to no cost. We want to wish you peaceful, restful and joyful holiday season. Take one step at a time, take care of yourselves, and continue on. I want to leave you with the words of theoretical physicist Wald Wasserman.... "Life's purpose is companionship, friendship, love... and none of that could be experienced without you, so thank you, thank you, thank you"
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Episode 17 Caregiving During the Holidays
11/03/2024
Episode 17 Caregiving During the Holidays
The holiday season can be difficult to navigate under the best of circumstances. But trying to manage through the holidays while caring for a loved one is particularly difficult. The added stresses of shopping, cooking, baking, holiday meals, parties, all build on top of an already anxiety ridden situation. But there are ways to manage the holidays. Today we talk with a licensed family therapist who gives us some ideas on how best to juggle the high expectations of the holidays while caregiving.
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Episode 16 Cultural Nuances in Cancer Caregiving
10/02/2024
Episode 16 Cultural Nuances in Cancer Caregiving
We have covered many different topics in family caregiving over the course of our episodes. These issues are universal to all caregivers across age, gender, and cultures. But within each of the topics discussed, there can be cultural nuances that create a particular perspective that impacts the caregiver. And, there may be cultural factors that create unique and particular nuances in caregiving. Today, we speak with an experienced nurse navigator whose patient cohort are from the hispanic community. Angela talks about the similarities in caregiving issues, and also the unique barriers that different cultural groups face in caregiving.
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Episode 15 Palliative Care.....Myths and Misconceptions
08/28/2024
Episode 15 Palliative Care.....Myths and Misconceptions
Palliative care is a compassionate approach to healthcare that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for patients facing serious illness, at any stage of treatment. It aims to provide relief from symptoms, pain, and stress, while adressing the emotional, social and spiritual needs of both patients and their caregivers. Unlike curative treatments, which seek to eliminate disease, palliative care prioritizes comfort and support, by helping individuals navigate complex medical decisions and maintain their dignity. By integrating a holistic perspective into care, palliative services strive to improve overall well-being and ensure that patients can live as fully and comfortably as possible.
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Episode 14 Mentoring
08/14/2024
Episode 14 Mentoring
It is often said we cannot control the twists and turns life brings us, but we can control how we react to them. Today, John and Fran speak with someone who has experienced cancer, both as a patient and as a caregiver. Michael had been caring for his wife with chronic illness for years when he received his own cancer diagnosis. Today, thankfully, Michael is in remission and serves as a mentor to other patients traveling the same path he did. He also is an an active supporter and leader of a support group for family caregivers. There is a path forward for all caregivers, and utilizing your lived experience can be a valuable gift to others going through it.
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Episode 13 Confronting Cancer as a Couple
08/01/2024
Episode 13 Confronting Cancer as a Couple
All relationships will face challenges over the course of time. Whether its money, jobs, kids, in-laws, couples will face diffuculties. Learning how to navigate through those difficulies is the key to success. Now layer upon that the uncertainty and challenges when one of the partners is faced with a cancer diagnosis. That can be like a magnifier upon the "normal" issues all couples deal with. Today Fran and John speak with a yuoung couple who, after learning of a cancer diagnosis, decidednto ove forward with their lives. Dealing with the cancer, but also making a life for themselves at the same time. Listen to a poignant story of compassion, courage and committment.
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