In this episode, Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett of Hartnett Health to discuss an important and timely topic: senior scams and fraud prevention. From health insurance scams to the growing problem of Medicare fraud, Sydney shares her expertise and practical tips to help protect aging loved ones from becoming victims.

We explore the different types of scams targeting seniors, why they are so prevalent, and most importantly—what families can do to safeguard themselves. Whether it’s understanding common red flags, setting up safeguards, or having proactive conversations with parents and grandparents, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss.

💡 If you’ve ever worried about a loved one getting taken advantage of, this conversation is for you.

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Gina (half-awake): “Ugh... Don, wake up… again.”
Don (groaning): “Seriously, Gina? Another alarm? Is this what adulthood is supposed to feel like?”

Sound effect: Alarm continues, faint sunrise ambiance fades in.

Welcome back to Focused Healthy Family! In this heartfelt episode, Gina and Don wake up—quite literally—with a jolt, setting the stage for a warm and approachable dive into a sleep struggle that’s all too real for so many families: the changing sleep patterns and nighttime challenges faced by older adults.

Together, Gina and Don explore why older adults often:

• Experience shifts in their circadian rhythms, feeling sleepy earlier in the day and waking up at the crack of dawn—what experts call a phase advance Sleep Foundation.

• Have more fragmented and lighter sleep, spending less time in deep, restorative stages and waking more often through the night Sleep Foundation.

• Struggle even more with routine changes—like daylight saving time or traveling—due to a slower recovery in adjusting internal body clocks Sleep Foundation.

• Have sleep interrupted by health-related factors: chronic pain, nighttime bathroom trips (nocturia, affecting up to 80% of older adults), insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (affecting 9–20%), and even REM sleep behavior disorder, where dreams are acted out physically Sleep Foundation.

It’s a delicately layered picture—one that listeners likely recognize, even if they haven’t pinned a name or explanation to it. Gina and Don bring these realities to life through stories, gentle humor, and practical empathy.

Gina (later): “Well, maybe that alarm wasn’t so bad—got us talking about something important.”
Don (smiles): “Early bird or not, here’s to better sleep—together.”

This lighting-hearted yet informative episode blends cozy realism with expert-backed guidance, making it a perfect pick for family members, caregivers, or anyone who’s noticed the nighttime shuffle isn’t quite the same anymore.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #SleepAndAging #SeniorHealth #HealthySleep #CaregiverSupport #SleepAwareness #AgingWell #ElderCare #BetterSleep #SleepHealth #SleepTips #FamilyCaregivers

In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don unpack the reality of imposter syndrome and how it shows up in parenting—especially for those in the sandwich generation. Many parents feel the pressure of raising children while also caring for aging loved ones, leaving them questioning if they’re doing enough on either side. Gina and Don explore how these doubts take root, the toll they can take on family relationships, and practical ways to shift toward confidence, resilience, and self-compassion.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “winging it” as both a parent and a caregiver, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #ImposterSyndrome #SandwichGeneration #ParentingStruggles #ParentingSupport #CaregiverLife #MindfulParenting #PositiveParenting #ParentingJourney #SelfCompassion #HealthyFamily #ParentingPodcast