In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos introduce a practical “new caregiver roadmap” designed to guide adult children, spouses, and long-distance family members through the first 30 days of stepping into caregiving. Perhaps a loved one has had a fall, a new diagnosis, or a recent hospital stay. Whatever the situation, Pam and Linda’s goal is simple: help new caregivers feel less overwhelmed by offering a calm, step-by-step plan that prioritizes stabilizing immediate risks, building basic organization systems, and creating sustainable support without trying to solve everything at once.

Pam and Linda break the roadmap into three phases. Days 1–3 focus on stabilizing, starting with immediate safety risks and identifying which issue is most likely to trigger an ER visit if ignored. Days 4–14 shift into organizing, including building a care team contact list, setting one consistent communication method, and establishing one place to track everything from appointments to medications. Days 15–30 are about supporting and sustaining, clarifying what “better” looks like for the loved one, confirming legal essentials, and identifying gaps like transportation, meals, bathing safety, supervision needs, and respite options. Pam and Linda discuss common early mistakes that can snowball into crises, and also stress that caregiving works best when roles match people’s strengths. The episode offers valuable insight with practical tools such as a one-page “who to call” sheet, medication list, and a downloadable caregiver starter kit to give anyone new to caregiving the confidence needed to take the first steps.

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Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• “The First 10 Things to Do When You Become a New Caregiver” blog post
• New Caregiver Starter Kit
• Your Nurse Advocate Now Monthly Program
• The First 10 Cheat Sheet (download link)
• Medication List (download link)

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Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting:

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