How to Cope With Caregiver Stress with Todd Keitz

💡Welcome back to the Steadfast Care Planning podcast, the show that helps you plan for care to live well. Our guest is Todd Keitz, not just a seasoned CEO of My Care Friends and 17 Commerce, but also a compassionate caregiver advocate drawing from his profound personal experience. Todd's caregiving journey began unexpectedly when he was just nine years old, continuing throughout his life and intensifying in 2018 when he started caring for his parents.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In this episode, Todd opens up about the shift from his fulfilling life in California to the 24/7 responsibilities of a caregiver in Florida. He shares the stresses and unpredictabilities of caring for aging parents and the vital importance of self-care and organization to manage the relentless demands of caregiving. Todd digs deep into navigating the healthcare system, the power of positive thinking, and maintaining an attitude of gratitude even in the toughest times.

🔍 Listeners will get an exclusive insight into My Care Friends, Todd's innovative platform designed to support fellow caregivers. The discussion covered the mental and emotional tools that can buoy caregivers, including both free resources like Insight Timer and the invaluable community Todd is nurturing at My Care Friends. Stay tuned as Todd imparts words of wisdom, from pre-caregiving preparations to sustaining your well-being amidst the trials of a caregiver's life. In this episode they covered:

🔹 Todd’s caregiving journey beginning at an early age and its evolution over the years

🔹 The life transitions Todd made amid his caregiving role for his parents

🔹 The fluctuating nature of caregiving commitment and how it impacted his personal well-being

🔹 Dealing with stress as a caregiver and tools to manage it

🔹 Navigating the healthcare system and tips for advocacy

🔹 Handling family dynamics and setting boundaries

🔹 Using technology and resources like My Care Friends to support caregivers

🔹 Advantages of staying positive throughout the caregiving journey

For more information about Todd Keitz and My Care Friends please visit:

https://mycarefriends.com

Or, LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkeitz/ ______________________________________________________________________________

➡️ Watch this podcast:  https://youtu.be/K1fgsq7sLQE 

#LongTermCare #ToddKeitz #SteadfastCarePlanning #LongTermCareInsurance #MyCareFriends

For additional information about Kelly, check her out on Linkedin or www.SteadfastAgents.com.

To explore your options for long-term care insurance, click here.

Steadfast Care Planning podcast is made possible by Steadfast Insurance LLC,
Certification in Long Term Care, and AMADA Senior Care Columbus.

Come back next time for more helpful guidance!

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 0:53 Living well before the caregiving journey
• 1:55 What does caregiving look like for Todd logistically?
• 3:00 What was life like before caregiving?
• 3:55 Untypical caregiving evolution from 24/7 to 5-30 hours per week.
• 4:25 Why has the caregiving journey changed for Todd?
• 5:30 Lessons learned specifically about dealing with stress as a caregiver.
• 5:49 Meditation and exercise have been really important to lowering stress.
• 7:07 Biggest stressors of the caregiving journey.
• 7:50 The need to be flexible and go with the flow.
• 8:17 AMADA Senior Care Commercial
• 8:55 Additional stressors throughout caregiving include navigating the healthcare system and communicationg with other family members.
• 9:55 Tips for Navigating the healthcare system.
• 10:36 Learn who is the best person in each doctor's office to deal with.
• 10:53 Keep communicating and calling with respect but keep asking questions.
• 11:08 Stay positive and try to understand that the doctors and nurses are stressed out, as well.
• 11:33 An attitude of gratitude goes a long way.
• 12:15 How to work with family throughout the caregiving journey.
• 12:52 The biggest tip is communication and good communication but also maintaining time for oneself when caregiving.
• 13:38 Setting expectations and boundaries and limits as a caregiver.
• 14:56 The CLTC Commercial
• 15:25 Tools for mental and emotional stress of caregiving, Insight Timer and My Care Firends
• 16:12 My Care Friends is for caregivers to connect, share, and support each other.
• 17:15 Free to access My Care Friends
• 18:08 Best to prepare from an emotional, physical, spiritual routine.