Hope for the Caregiver

Jackie Sheppard discusses Stress, Sugar, and Santa

Author of Silent Takeover, How the Body Hijacks the Mind, Jackie Sheppard called the show to discuss the impact of the holidays, sugar, and stress on the body ...and how caregivers can fight back.

With a lifetime of study to understand the way our bodies and mind are affected by what we eat, Jackie brings common sense wisdom to offer caregivers ...and others .... a path towards healthiness. 

Email her today for further questions. gettingstrongnow@outlook.com 

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Peter Rosenberger hosts a radio program for family caregivers broadcast weekly from Nashville, TN on more than 200 stations. He has served as a caregiver for his wife Gracie, who has lived with severe disabilities for more than 30 years. His new book, 7 Caregiver Landmines and How You Can Avoid Them released nationally Fall 2018. @hope4caregiver   facebook.com/hopeforthecaregiver 

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Caregivers and Resentment

On this show, we delved into the sticky area that plagues so many caregivers:  Resentment

7 Caregiver Landmines and How You Can Avoid Them

is NOW AVAILABLE!!!!!

Joni Eareckson Tada and Gracie Rosenberger discuss Senate Bill 693

Joni Eareckson Tada called the show to discuss Senate Bill 693 and its implications on the disabled and elderly.  Gracie joined Joni for this interview and the two women shared their powerful testimonies of facing a combined 85+years of suffering and severe disabilities.  They both struggled with wanting to end their lives when originally facing a lifetime of challenges.  Intercepting those horrific feelings and difficulties, key friends and family spoke life to both young women (they were both 17-years-old when they had their accidents. ). 

Joni expressed concern when she stated, “Our problem (Gracie’s and Joni’s) was not that our injuries were life-threatening.  Our problem was depression.  Discouragement."

Gracie asked of this bill and those who would implement it, “Are you going to provide them hope—or are you going to provide them drugs to slowly, stealthily euthanize them?”

Adding further, Joni stated, “The new language in this bill does not require hospice patients to be terminally ill to receive life-ending drugs—lethal doses of medication.  And that is entirely new for our country.  All of the rest of the physician assisted suicide bills across the United States require a person to be terminally ill.  But here, in Senate bill 693, you don’t have to be terminally ill to receive a lethal dose of medication.  You can just be disabled. You just be too old.  You could be just too depressed. And this is what alarms those of us who work against elder abuse and [work in] disability advocacy. We want to clear up that language. We want to make certain this bill does not pass.  Let’s get rid of the fraud and waste and abuse in the Medicare system and in the federal hospice program before we pour, ‘…good money after bad.’”

To contact Senators about this bill, click here to see the committee members.

https://www.help.senate.gov/about/members 

 

 

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Peter Rosenberger hosts a radio program for family caregivers broadcast weekly from Nashville, Tennessee, on more than 200 stations. He has served as a caregiver for his wife Gracie, who has lived with severe disabilities for more than 30 years. His new book is “7 Caregiver Landmines and How You Can Avoid Them.” Follow @hope4caregiver.

Henry and Sweet Tea

As caregivers, we often miss the simple things we can do that will improve our lives. While our circumstances may seem overwhelming, the way we push back doesn't have to be.  

Such is the case with Henry.  When his wife called the show and talked about her full-time caregiver, (her husband, Henry), I asked her to put him on the phone. 

Henry shared his weariness, so we delved into some basic things.  Turns out, Henry takes a pill to sleep at night. Yet, he drinks Sweet Tea into the evening.  

Sometimes, it's being willing to look at the simple things.  

Healthy Caregivers Make Better Caregivers. 

Tori Taff talks about her journey with Russ, alcoholism, and the movie, I STILL BELIEVE

www.russtaff.com   

https://www.fathomevents.com/events/russ-taff-i-still-believe 

Tori Taff's journey with Gospel Music icon, Russ Taff, started more than forty-two years ago. Behind the music and songs that garnered Russ six GRAMMY’s and 18 Dove Awards, a terrible struggle waged in Russ’ life.

 

As Tori relates, Russ was a sitting duck for alcoholism. Growing up in home filled with violence and alcohol ...all kept secret...Russ’ journey into the darkness had deep roots.

 

Alcoholism is a chronic disease. There’s no cure, but there is a recovery. Where there’s a chronic disease, there’s a caregiver.

 

Tori shares her story of coming to grips with the reality of alcoholism...and with grace and strength, she clearly points others to a place of safety.

 

 

The new documentary of their life is titled I STILL BELIEVE

In theaters:  OCTOBER 30 2018:  I STILL BELIEVE

“I would encourage someone to NOT waste time beating themselves up. to not waste energy on trying to figure out a way to make the addict to stop using …because that is not your job.  And it is crazy making. You do have to take care of yourself first and foremost. And that’s not in a silly ‘go to a day-spa way.’  That is survival."

And surrounding yourself with people who understand …and SAFE people. People that you can say, ‘this is going on in my life’ …and they’re not going to running to five other people that have coffee with them and share the latest.  That’s why the program [Al-Anon] …the ‘anonymous’ programs take that very seriously …and there’s a very good reason.” -Tori Taff

 

Peter Rosenberger hosts a radio program for family caregivers broadcast weekly from Nashville on more than 200 stations. He has served as a caregiver for his wife Gracie, who has lived with severe disabilities for more than 30 years. His new book, “7 Caregiver Landmines and How You Can Avoid Them” releases nationally Fall 2018. @hope4caregiver

A Doctor Said These Horrific Words to the Young Couple With A Special Needs Child

"Take IT home and just love it."

When their son, Jonah, was born with severe disabilities in the 1970's, a physician said these horrific words to Rob and Merrill Galbraith. Stunned, enraged, heartbroken, and desperately alone, they struggled along the path of isolation so familiar to caregivers. 

Rob, a veteran Nashville producer, songwriter, and player (Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, The Bacon Brothers to name a few) returned to the show to share insights he learned from a tough journey that spanned 34 years until their son's death. 

Also returning to the show was Greg Tornquist and his son, Aaron (40). Aaron lives with Down's syndrome, and Greg and Aaron helped us bring attention to October's Down's Syndrome Awareness Month, as well as insights Greg learned from his 40 years as a caregiver for a special needs child.

Aaron is an ETA - and Elvis Tribute Artist, and he rocked the 1956 Elvis with this attire! 

Friends for more than thirty years, we sat around the desk and swapped stories and poignant moments from our combined 100+ years of caregiving.  We also shared a few laughs that come freely now with perspective.

 

 Author, speaker, and 30+year caregiver, Peter Rosenberger, hosts HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER heard weekly on more than 200 stations. 

Sponsored by Standing With Hope

 

 

My Mother's Behavior Makes Me Want To Start Drinking Again

Kim from Michigan called the show to express her frustration with her mother, the lack of help from her siblings, and her struggle with alcoholism.