Guest: Susie Singer Carter

Episode Overview

Long-term care is a topic most families avoid—until they have no choice. In this eye-opening episode, filmmaker and advocate Susie Singer Carter shares how her mother's experience in a five-star nursing facility exposed widespread failures within the long-term care system. She discusses understaffing, preventable neglect, patient advocacy, and why public awareness is essential to reform. Through her documentary No Country for Old People and advocacy organization ROAR 4 LTC, Susie is mobilizing families across America to demand accountability and dignity for aging loved ones.

Key Takeaways

• Many long-term care problems stem from chronic understaffing and profit-driven business models.
• Families should educate themselves before a loved one requires care because crises make informed decisions harder.
• Preventable issues like pressure sores and medication misuse remain widespread despite existing regulations.
• Storytelling and public awareness can drive meaningful healthcare reform.
• Collective action—including advocacy events and community organizing—can create pressure for systemic change.

Listener Q&A

Q: Why do problems happen even in highly rated nursing homes?

A: Susie explains that ratings don't always reflect day-to-day care. Understaffing and operational issues can exist even in top-rated facilities, making family vigilance essential.

Q: What are "never events" in long-term care?

A: Pressure sores, also called bed sores, are considered preventable by federal guidelines and should not occur when patients receive proper care and monitoring.

Q: How can families advocate for change?

A: Susie believes public pressure is the most powerful force. She encourages people to educate themselves, share stories, and participate in advocacy initiatives.

Q: What kept Susie motivated after losing her mother?

A: Love. She says her mother's suffering inspired her mission to ensure others don't endure the same experience and to advocate with empathy and compassion.

What You'll Learn From This Episode

• How the long-term care system operates behind the scenes.
• Warning signs families should watch for in nursing homes.
• Why preparation is critical before a care crisis occurs.
• How advocacy movements create healthcare reform.
• The role love, empathy, and community play in caregiving and change.

Connect with Susie Singer Carter:

• ROAR 4 LTC
• No Country for Old People Website
• No Country For Old People - Amazon Prime
• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Substack
• Love Conquers Alz Podcast

Click here to claim your free gift: The Family Guide to Long-Term Care Advocacy

Guest: Anne L. Smith

Episode Overview

What happens when you realize the life you've built no longer reflects who you are? In this episode, author and speaker Anne L. Smith shares her journey through gray divorce after a 30-year marriage and the difficult process of reclaiming her identity. She discusses boundaries, therapy, journaling, and the courage it takes to create a more authentic life after 50. The conversation offers practical insights for anyone navigating major life transitions, relationships, or personal reinvention.

Key Takeaways

• Boundaries are essential for maintaining your identity within any relationship.
• A relationship can slowly deteriorate over time without a single defining moment.
• Therapy and self-reflection can uncover deep-rooted beliefs that shape our choices.
• Journaling creates clarity, helps process emotions, and supports healing.
• You are a whole person on your own—not someone's "other half."

Listener Q&A

Q: What is a gray divorce?

A: Gray divorce refers to divorces among people aged 50 and older. Anne explains that this demographic now accounts for a significant portion of divorces in the U.S., driven by longer life expectancy, changing social norms, and a desire for fulfillment later in life.

Q: Was there one moment that made Anne leave?

A: No. She describes it as a "slow burn"—years of emotional distance and gradually losing herself within the relationship.

Q: How did she heal after the divorce?

A: Through therapy, journaling, reading, and building a supportive inner circle that encouraged honesty and growth.

Q: What's her biggest lesson?

A: You are already whole. Healthy boundaries help you love others without losing yourself.

What You'll Learn From This Episode

• How to recognize when you've lost your identity in a relationship.
• Why boundaries are a form of self-respect, not selfishness.
• The emotional realities of divorce later in life.
• Practical ways journaling can improve mental clarity.
• How to embrace personal growth and create a fulfilling next chapter.

Connect with Anne L. Smith:

• Official Website
• LinkedIn – Lydia Anne Smith
• Instagram – @annesmithauthor

Click here to claim your free gift: The Life Rewritten Workbook

Guest: Lisa Skinner

Episode Overview

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia affect millions of families worldwide, yet many people still misunderstand the difference between the two. In this episode, dementia expert Lisa Skinner shares practical insights on recognizing early warning signs, understanding risk factors, avoiding common misconceptions, improving communication with loved ones living with dementia, and making lifestyle choices that may help reduce Alzheimer’s risk. Based on more than 30 years of experience, Lisa provides actionable guidance for caregivers, families, and anyone concerned about brain health.

Key Takeaways

• Dementia is an umbrella term describing symptoms, while Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease.
• Early Alzheimer’s symptoms are often mistaken for normal age-related forgetfulness, delaying diagnosis.
• Person-centered dementia care is more effective than correcting or arguing with someone experiencing dementia.
• Modifiable risk factors such as cardiovascular health, hearing loss, diabetes, smoking, diet, and exercise can influence Alzheimer’s risk.
• A dementia diagnosis does not mean life is over; people can continue living meaningful and fulfilling lives for many years.

Listener Q&A

Q: What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

A: Alzheimer’s is a specific neurodegenerative brain disease. Dementia refers to the symptoms and behavioral changes caused by diseases affecting the brain.

Q: How can I tell normal aging apart from Alzheimer’s symptoms?

A: Occasional forgetfulness—like misplacing keys or forgetting why you entered a room—is common with aging. Persistent cognitive decline, confusion, and worsening memory issues should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Q: Can Alzheimer’s be misdiagnosed?

A: Yes. Certain conditions, including Lyme disease, can mimic dementia symptoms, making comprehensive medical evaluation important.

Q: What can I do today to lower my risk?

A: Focus on heart health, manage chronic conditions, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, limit alcohol, address hearing loss, and reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode

• How dementia and Alzheimer’s disease differ.
• The most common myths surrounding Alzheimer’s.
• Why communication techniques can dramatically improve caregiving outcomes.
• The biggest modifiable risk factors linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
• Practical ways to support brain health as you age.

Connect with Lisa Skinner:

• Minding Dementia Website
• Dementia Awareness Speaker Website
• Facebook – Minding Dementia
• X (Twitter) – Lisa Skinner
• LinkedIn – Lisa Skinner
• YouTube – Lisa Skinner
• Instagram – Minding Dementia

Click here to claim your free gift: The Alzheimer’s Risk Reduction & Caregiver Communication Checklist