My Care Friends

Women & Autoimmune Diseases series (Episode #4): Living with the Diagnosis This video is part of a collaborative series between My Care Friends and United States of Healthcare, highlighting women and autoimmune diseases. In this episode, Todd Keitz of My Care Friends and Joyce Yaccarino Griggs of United States of Healthcare sit down with Meghan Davis. Meghan is a scleroderma warrior! Her journey has been fraught with many of the challenges that women with an autoimmune disease face. This is episode is not focused on someone struggling with an autoimmune disease, it's about empowering women living with autoimmune diseases. Today, we hear about Meghan's battle and how it has led her to become a powerful advocate for other women. The driving force for that is her mission and motto, Powering Life Possible, which instills hope, saves lives, and raises awareness. Check out our other videos in the series https://lnkd.in/g5gCBt3K, where we touch on topics including journaling and patient generated data, getting to the diagnosis, tips to move forward post-diagnosis, how to partner with your care team, navigating the psychological aspects of being diagnosed, and more. To stay informed about all of our series, follow us here on LinkedIn, subscribe to our YouTube channel https://lnkd.in/gfc6b83N and/or click for a free full-access membership on My Care Friends -- where you can join the Autoimmune Diseases group and interact with caregivers and patients...including Meghan. https://lnkd.in/gcS2tw9t

Kindness is a wonderful thing -- whether receiving or giving. There's a wonderful article from Senior1Care that has been re-posted on My Care Friends. It's about 10 Simple Acts of Kindness That Make a Big Difference to Seniors. This is wonderful for caregivers to keep in mind, even if just one is possible. You can also help by spreading the word - like this post, share with others. Plus...you can always sign up for a free, full-access membership on www.mycarefriends.com to see helpful, insightful articles each week, learn about our ongoing programs such as Women & Autoimmune Diseases, Dementia & Alzheimer's, and make new caregiving friends that walk in your shoes, and much more. #caregiving #advocacy https://lnkd.in/gmGhXhem

This is World Alzheimer's Month -- and tomorrow (21st) is World Alzheimer's Day. Let's take a moment to understand the disease and help raise awareness. A good place to start is with World Alzheimer's Reports from Alzheimer's Disease International. Tomorrow their 2024 World Alzheimer Report will take a deep dive into the current perceptions of dementia by those living with the condition, carers, health care practitioners and the general public. Additionally, we invite you to follow us here on LinkedIn and sign up for a free, full-access membership on www.mycarefriends.com. In the coming weeks and months, we will be sharing details about our upcoming special series on Dementia & Alzheimer's -- featuring voices speaking from all viewpoints, from the U.S. and around the world. #alzheimers #dementia #caregiving https://lnkd.in/eW6aUV_U

Women & Autoimmune Diseases: Getting to the Diagnosis & Beyond series Episode 3: Communication Tips for Managing the Healthcare Providers on Your Team This series is ongoing with monthly podcasts focused on the many challenges women face related to autoimmune diseases, providing them and their caregivers with knowledge and know-how to consider. In this episode, our Founder/CEO Todd Keitz and VP of Programming & Community Katie Seymour, Ed.D, along with Joyce Yaccarino Griggs, Founder/President of United States of Healthcare, speak with M. Elizabeth Bennett, Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In our discussion with Dr. Bennett, we learn how to best communicate with your healthcare providers, including: - how to handle the most common challenges a woman with an autoimmune disease faces when managing communication with her healthcare team - how to actively participate in decision-making processes - how to navigate the dynamics among various specialists - how to ensure that all members of her family and circle of support are well-informed We hope you find this episode enlightening and helpful. Stay tuned for great episodes lined up for the remainder of 2024 and we welcome your ideas for additional topics and guests in 2025. For more information on this series, autoimmune diseases, and so much more, go to www.mycarefriends.com to sign up for a FREE full-access membership and join the Autoimmune Diseases group...and any others of interest. Also, follow us here on LinkedIn for lots of exciting news in the weeks and months ahead! #autoimmunediseases #womenshealth #advocacy https://lnkd.in/ereEyTvv

Our Founder/CEO Todd Keitz is a member of American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY)'s National Advisory Council. We stand and advocate proudly next to him, Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD and all of the wonderful people at AACY to bring greater awareness about Caregiving Youth!

In this wrap-up episode, we discuss the "Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight" special series -- a collaboration between My Care Friends and Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver. We highlight the wisdom and resilience shown by many of the caregiving youth featured in the series, while acknowledging the need to support those struggling. There's so much more you can learn. If you haven't had -- or won't have -- a chance to watch all 13 episodes, this wrap-up episode will give you talking points about the challenges faced by this often-overlooked population...Caregiving Youth! Follow us here on LinkedIn for up-to-date information about our other special series, new upcoming features in our online community, and much more! #caregivingyouth #caregivers #advocates https://lnkd.in/eMtqscHp

Week 6 - Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight series This is the final week of this very special series. Today's episode is with two young caregiving sisters from Australia, Alia and Nahla. Their stories are powerful and we believe you will think so, too! As always, thanks to our partner on the series, Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver. Tomorrow will be the final episode of the series and it will bring together our Todd Keitz and Katie Seymour, Ed.D, along with Natalie Elliott Handy and JJ Elliott Hill of Confessions, for a brief conversation about the highlights and impact of this special series. Please press the subscribe button on our YouTube My Care Friends Network to be kept up-to-date about the podcasts and webinars from ALL of our special series. Each of them provide actionable "knowledge and know-how" for all stakeholders of the caregiving journey to consider. Also, we invite you to follow My Care Friends, Todd and Katie here on LinkedIn, as well as create a free, full-access membership on our online community. (Stay tuned in the next week for an upcoming announcement about a new exciting feature on the community website.) #caregivingyouth #caregiving #patientadvocate https://lnkd.in/gr9YicxK

Week 5 - Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight series This week's Tuesday confessions episode provides an insightful look into the lives of two extraordinary caregiving youth in Canada, Aaliyah and Samiha. Although 10 years apart in age, both demonstrate a level of wisdom and maturity beyond their years. Their stories are powerful and inspiring! Thanks to Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver for partnering with us on this Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight special series. The series has one more week/three more episodes to go, with a special recap and thank you episode on Thursday, September 5. We hope you'll watch this powerful episode with Aaliyah and Samiha -- and every episode in this series on the My Care Friends Network on YouTube. Follow My Care Friends here on LinkedIn to stay informed about: - the final episodes of this Caregiving Youth series - our other special series (Dementia & Alzheimer's, Women & Autoimmune Diseases, Employer Support of Caregiving Employees, and Caregiving Continuum) - exciting upcoming new features to our free online community for caregivers (come join us!) - collaborations with leading organizations and voices in the caregiving and elder care worlds. #caregivingyouth #caregiving #advocacy Hospice Toronto https://lnkd.in/ge_qCzDD

Week 4 - Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight series This week's Thursday education episode is with Marvell Adams Jr., CEO of Caregiver Action Network and Antoinette 'Toni' Gingerelli, MPP, Director of Policy & Advocacy at National Alliance for Caregiving. The special topic is Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Policies to Support Caregiving Youth. It may not be a sexy topic, but it's incredibly important and you will likely be surprised at what you learn! Our CEO Todd Keitz, along with Natalie Elliott Handy of our series partner Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver, have a candid and insightful discussion with Marvell and Toni. There's so much to this incredible episode and we invite you watch! The Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight series drops two episodes each week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, through the week of September 2. We invite you to follow us here on LinkedIn to stay informed about upcoming episodes of this Caregiving Youth series -- and all of our exciting programs, online community features, and more! (Caregiver Action Network Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers via phone, chat, or email Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 7:00pm Eastern. Visit https://lnkd.in/ejbxTh2q or call 855-277-3640.) https://lnkd.in/esh8v4Qc

Week 4 - Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight series This week's Tuesday confessions episode provides a powerful and insightful look into the life of Aditya Akella, a 16-year-old caregiver for his younger brother with autism. Aditya demonstrates a level of wisdom and maturity that belies his young age. His advocacy efforts, including speaking at the UK House of Lords and participating in a documentary, further highlight his dedication to raising awareness and creating positive change for young carers like himself. His story is inspiring! Check out his blog: https://lnkd.in/e69UNSSb Thanks to Natalie Elliott Handy and JJ Elliott Hill of Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver for partnering with us on this Caregiving Youth: Hidden in Plain Sight special series. The series drops two episodes each week, Tuesday "confessions" and Thursday "educational" episodes, through the week of September 2. We hope you'll watch this powerful episode with Aditya -- and every episode in this series! Follow My Care Friends here on LinkedIn to stay informed about: - upcoming episodes of this Caregiving Youth series - our other special series (Dementia & Alzheimer's, Women & Autoimmune Diseases, Employer Support of Caregiving Employees, and Caregiving Continuum) - exciting upcoming new features to our free online community for caregivers (come join us!) - collaborations with leading organizations and voices in the caregiving and elder care worlds. https://lnkd.in/esPw-cPi