Guest Interview: Mary Ellen Gilbert with Navacare

This week, my guest Mary Ellen Gilbert with https://navacare.org/ shares how we can see the early signs that an aging parent or family member needs more support, even when they insist they're fine. She shares how her company helps families find the right place where their loved one can be the most comfortable at a time when nothing seems comfortable. We need to understand that the person in need is not resisting the help; they're resisting losing thier independence. That we can help them stay as independent as possible with the right support. We need to have these conversations early, so we're not scrambling to figure out what they would have wanted without their input. We always feel guilty that we're doing it wrong if we don't ask early enough to know what they would want. As caregivers, we also need support to know we're not the only one going through this. Navacare offers a free support group for family members in the Clearwater, Tampa Bay area, and they have an online course that can be purchased that walks families through the A-Z of the aging process. These resources are so valuable and can be found in their website https://navacare.org/ Once Mom or Dad is safe, or even better, before they need your support, reach out to me to prepare for your tomorrow at my 30 minute introductory meeting