A Look Back at Year Three in the Upside to Aging!

I can’t believe we are in June! The time has surely flown by, and I am excited to share a reflection of what’s been happening over the past year. Year three in the Upside to Aging has sure brought with it some beautiful surprises, and I want to thank YOU for your continued support of The Upside to Aging.

The Upside to Aging was Interviewed!

In August of 2018, I was honored to be interviewed by Diane Berardi’s iHeart Radio show Parent’s are Hard to Raise. I was able to discuss one of my favorite topics, Activities in Dementia Care. A primary mission of the Upside to Aging is to offer family caregivers non-medical activity interventions to help ease dementia behaviors and triggers. Diane was a wonderful host, and I had such a fun time speaking with her.

Check out this blog post for the full interview The Upside to Aging Interview on ‘Parents Are Hard To Raise.’

A Proud Alumnus of the Erickson School

In April 2019, I was honored by the UMBC Erickson School this year ESAS Alumni Award. I learned so much at the Erickson School and have taken many of the lessons I learned in the classroom with me on the Upside to Aging journey.

My cohort inspires me every day with the work that they are doing in the aging services. I am thankful I had the opportunity to learn and work with them all! If you are looking to expand your career in the aging services or start one I highly recommend the Erickson Schools Management of Aging Services program.

A Growing Guest Author Community

Throughout the year, we had a series of Guest Post Authors who offered their expertise on various topics relating to the aging field. I am so fortunate for their contributions and think it is so important to collaborate with others in their support of older adults.

Kevin A. Wisniewski shared a beautiful piece on Every Season’s Greetings: The Importance of “Green” Spaces for Older Adults. For many who are providing care, getting out into nature can sometimes feel more like a chore than a relaxing activity to share together. Kevin even offers ways to make the whole experience easier on the family caregiver and their loved one!

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Fiona S Giles offered The Upside readers Why Hydration Matters – A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Older Adults Healthy and Hydrated. As many family caregivers will tell you getting your loved one to drink the necessary daily intake of water can be extremely difficult, but hydration in older adults is vital for their overall health and well being. Fiona suggests easy ways to get your loved one drinking fluids throughout the day.

Would you like to become a Guest Post Author, too? Check out our Guest Post Guidelines here https://theupsidetoaging.com/guest-post/.

Let’s Talk, Aging Season One

I’ve always been inspired by listening to others share their work and passion in the aging services. There are so many interesting projects happening all for the benefit of the older adults in our lives. The Let’s Talk, Aging series was started to highlight these projects and to share them with family caregivers as a set of resources. The first season was absolutely incredible, and I was honored to speak with so many fascinating groups of people!

The series was even recognized as the Top 15 YouTube Aging Influencers by FeedSpot Blog Reader which was really such an honor, and I am super proud! Check out this highlight post with all of the winners The Upside to Aging Awarded Top 15 Aging Youtubers.

Watch on our Youtube Channel!

Listen on iTunes

Season One Line up

Joyce Williams (Grandma Williams) An Interview with Joyce Williams, 2018 UK Blogger Finalist for ‘Grandma Williams’

Carol Bradley Bursack An Interview with Carol Bradley Bursack, Family Caregiver Turned Author, Blogger, and Columnist

AlzAuthors (Vicki Tapia, Jean Lee, Ann Campanella, Kathryn Harrison) An Interview with the AlzAuthors Team, a Collector of Stories and Personal Journey’s through Dementia and Alzheimer’s

The Conversation Project An Interview with Kate DeBartolo of the Conversation Project, Talking Matters

Meg LaPorte (Age in America) An Interview with Meg Laporte on her Series Age in America

Rick O. Weijo (Remember Me) An Interview with Rick O. Weijo: How to Leave your Legacy for Future Generations

Nichole Kain (Home and Place Project) and Nathan Lamaster (SMART CEUs Hub) Let’s Talk, Aging! Emerging Professionals in the Aging Services Discuss the Future of Senior Living

Gary Joseph LeBlanc An Interview with Gary Joseph LeBlanc: Dementia Care and the Use of Redirection in Hospital and LTC Settings

Kathryn Harrison and Jackie Guenette (I Smile for Grandpa) An Interview with Kathryn Harrison and Jaclyn Guenette Illustrator and Author of I Smile For Grandpa

Jack York and Laura Mock (It’s Never 2 Late) Let’s Talk, Aging! An Interview with Jack York & Laura Mock of It’s Never 2 Late.

Mike Belleville Let’s Talk, Aging! Mike Belleville on Living Beyond Lewy Body Dementia

Season Two Coming Soon!

I had so much fun with the first season that I am excited to announce that Season Two starts up in July! More details to come on this soon, but if you or someone you know is interested in being interviewed for the series, please contact me at https://theupsidetoaging.com/contact/.

Caregiving Both Ways Release Date, August 15, 2019!

Preorder your copy of Caregiving Both Ways today at Amazon.com, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, and INDIEBOUND!

Last month I finally got to announce that my book Caregiving Both Ways will be released on August 15, 2019!! I’ve been working hard to create a useful and meaningful guide for family caregivers of someone living with dementia, and I couldn’t be more proud of this book.

I am thankful to Mango Publishing for offering me this wonderful opportunity to offer this type of support to family caregivers. Over the past 15 years, I have watched as family caregivers are left to “figure it out” when caring for a loved one with dementia and almost always their loved one hadn’t discussed a care plan of wishes and preferences when it came to decisions in their care.

Caregiving Both Ways is designed to walk you through the caregiving process with tangible and applicable tips and tricks for in the moment dementia care. It is easy to read and can be picked up and put down as it benefits you. I’ve even included 100 Care Questions to help you start a care conversation with your loved ones!

Caregiving Both Ways comes out on August 15, 2019, but you can pre-order your copy today at Amazon.com, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, and INDIEBOUND!

Thank you!

Thank you to all of you who have joined me on the Upside to Aging journey. I’ve been humbled by your support and look forward to an exciting year ahead with so much more to share.

Take a look back at years one A Year in the Upside to Aging and two Another Year in The Upside to Aging: A Reflection on An Exciting Two Years!