In this warm and practical episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don talk about preparing your home for aging loved ones visiting during the holidays. Whether it's Christmas, Thanksgiving, or another family gathering, a few thoughtful adjustments can make a world of difference for comfort, safety, and peace of mind.

From preventing slips and falls to making seating and lighting more accessible, they share easy, compassionate ways to make your home welcoming for everyone—especially parents or grandparents who may need extra care. Tune in to learn how to balance festive fun with mindful preparation so you can focus on what truly matters—connection, not chaos.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #HolidayHosting #AgingParents #FamilyCare #SafeHomeForSeniors #HolidayPrep #SeniorSafety #CaregivingTips #AgingGracefully #MindfulFamily #HolidayTogetherness #ElderCare #FamilyConnection

As the holidays approach, Gina and Don invite you to take a deep breath and rethink what this season can truly be about. Instead of getting caught up in the hustle, the shopping, and the endless to-do lists, what if you chose calm over chaos? In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, they share simple, heartfelt reminders to slow down, be present, and enjoy the moments that matter most—with your loved ones and with yourself. Let this be the year you release the pressure and rediscover peace in the season.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #HolidayCalm #MindfulLiving #StressFreeHolidays #FamilyTime #HolidayWellness #SimplifyTheSeason #PeacefulParenting #SelfCareForCaregivers #IntentionalLiving #MindfulHolidays

In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don sit down with Sydney Hartnett and Sal Marafioti from Hartnett Health to shed light on one of the most confusing — yet essential — topics for families and seniors: Medicare.

Together, they break down the two key parts of Medicare — Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage — helping listeners understand what each offers, what's covered, and how to make the best choices for your individual needs.

Sal brings a deeply personal perspective, having navigated his own complex medical journey. His experience helps others make sense of Medicare's many options and avoid common pitfalls. Sydney and Sal explain why it's so valuable to work with someone who not only understands the system but also genuinely cares about helping people find the right plan for their health and peace of mind.

If you or a loved one are nearing Medicare age or simply want to understand how to make smart healthcare choices, this conversation is a must-listen.

Sydney Hartnett is an Independent Insurance Agent. She understands how essential insurance is in our daily lives, as well as the challenges it can bring—and she is a passionate about helping people navigate it.

Trust is key when it comes to your insurance agent, and she is committed to being someone her clients can rely on for knowledge and genuine support.

At the heart of it all, she is here to make insurance feel a little more personal, a little less overwhelming, and always centered around what matters most… YOU

https://hartnetthealth.com/

#FocusedHealthyFamily #HartnettHealth #MedicareExplained #MedicareAdvantage #OriginalMedicare #HealthcareDecisions #SeniorHealth #HealthyAging #MedicareMadeSimple #CaregiverSupport #AgingWell #FamilyCaregiving #HealthInsuranceHelp #WellnessForAll

It is another republished past from Gina and Don, this going to Claire Martin and her venture into a Single Mom. Enjoy.

Today Gina and Don interview Claire Martin and now in her own words she will describe who she is and why we love talking to her:

Hi, I'm Claire Martin the founder and host of "Strong, Single and Human" Podcast. So, who the hell am I? I moved to Australia 13 years ago for love!!!!! oh and to have fun, work hard and live the Australian dream…. the last thing I expected was to be a 49-year-old single mum navigating the challenges of raising a child on my own with no support network but here I am. In my pre-child life, I had been a project manager running global multimillion-dollar IT projects, managing multiple teams and I reported to top-level management…but nothing could have prepared me for the immense ups and downs of being a parent let alone a single parent.

The last 9 years have been a roller coaster ride – • escaping an abusive alcoholic relationship and the fallout that comes with it, • working a high-pressure 24/7 job while trying to circumnavigate pick-ups, drop-offs and all the rest. • dealing with mummy guilt battles daily • losing said job one week before having a major heart operation • and most importantly trying to hold it together for my son's sake and his emotional stability. The one thing I realized is life throws us all curve balls and I'm no different to anyone else in fact I've had it pretty good compared with other single parents….

And so, "Strong Single and Human" was born……. My podcast is a journey into the Nirvana of single-parentdom and to find out if it is possible to live life on your own terms and stay sane somewhat!!! My goal is to help, inspire and give people hope…. that you can thrive while traversing the craziness of raising children solo. https://www.instagram.com/strong_single_and_human/

#FocusedHealthyFamilyPodcast #SingleMomLife #SingleParenting #StrongMoms #SoloParent #ParentingJourney #ResilientMoms #MomStrength #EmpoweredMoms #MotherhoodUnfiltered #ParentingSupport #MomCommunity #RaisingKidsAlone #RealLifeParenting #FamilyFocus #PodcastForParents

In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Jennifer Douds from AnswersforAging.com to dive into the world of Care Management. We explore what Care Managers do, how they guide families through complex senior care decisions, and why their role is such a valuable support system for caregivers.

Jennifer also shares insights about the Second Wind Dreams Virtual Dementia Tour, a powerful program that helps people step into the shoes of someone living with dementia—offering a deeper understanding and empathy for both families and caregivers.

Whether you're currently caring for an aging loved one or preparing for the future, this conversation provides clarity, resources, and inspiration for navigating the journey.

Jennifer Douds

Jennifer has over 30 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, specializing in helping older adults maintain their independence, reducing anxiety around aging, and providing support to help them continue living in the places they love.

She understands the challenges families face when they can't always be there for every appointment or medication reminder, or what services are available and where to find them.

She helped both of her husband's parents and is now helping her parents with these same concerns. Jennifer's company, Answers For Aging, takes on the heavy lifting involved with caring for older adults, ensuring that your loved one's care is handled with the utmost care and attention.

https://www.answerforaging.com

#FocusedHealthyFamily #CareManagement #CareManagers #AgingParents #ElderCare #SeniorCare #DementiaAwareness #VirtualDementiaTour #SecondWindDreams #CaregivingSupport #FamilyCaregivers #AnswersForAging

In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don take a thoughtful ride through the journey of driving—from the excitement of getting your first driver's license to the difficult reality of taking the keys away from an aging loved one. They explore what driving represents: independence, freedom, and identity. But when safety becomes a concern, families face tough decisions. How do you know when it's time? How do you have those conversations without damaging relationships or dignity?

Gina and Don share insights, stories, and strategies to help families navigate these sensitive moments with compassion and clarity. Whether you're a caregiver, family member, or just beginning to think about the future, this episode will give you tools to handle the road ahead.

#FocusedHealthyFamily #FamilyCaregiving #AgingParents #SeniorDriving #CaregiverSupport #HealthyConversations #AgingGracefully #FamilyDecisions #DrivingIndependence #ElderCare #AgingWell #ToughConversations

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.

Helpful Sites:

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