LANCE A. SLATTON: 2023 “50 Under 50” Honoree - Redefining Caregiving

“Anything is possible if you have the desire and passion to make it happen.” That is the mantra of our Episode 76 guest, Lance A. Slatton. Tirelessly dedicated to giving back, Lance has become a standout in the healthcare industry. A native of Michigan, he is a Senior Case Manager at Enriched Life Home Care Services, a leading care provider. His wealth of knowledge and experience, along with his innovative approach to providing care, has led to his award-winning home care company being named Michigan’s top-rated service over the past five years.

But Lance is committed to sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience far beyond the Michigan state line. His ingenuity and fortitude led to the creation of his podcast and YouTube show, All Home Care Matters. Reaching over 12 million viewers globally.

If that weren't enough, as a contributor to McKnight’s Home Care News, Lance’s articles explore diverse topics from “the state of Medicare” to “innovations in senior care technology” to “caring for the caregiver” and more.

Recognizing Lance’s contributions to the industry, he was named a “50 Under 50” honoree by the New York City Journal for 2023.  

Don Priess and I share a candid, enlightening conversation that explores the challenges, possibilities and advantages of home care for our loved ones. If you are a caregiver, know a caregiver or may be a caregiver someday, today’s chat with the inimitable Lance A. Slatton is a must listen.
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Transcript

Susie Singer Carter: 0:00

Hi everybody, it's Susie singer Carter and I just wanted to take a minute to tell you about a wonderful product I just discovered. It's called sociopathy. And so CRV in Latin means to share and unite. It is the simplest way for older adults and people with disabilities to connect and engage with their family and friends. There's no username, no password, no login and no app to choose from. It's just a dedicated device. It's the sociol, the C to M connect to me, device it's always on and ready to use, and families and caregivers just install the app on their smartphone. And then you can just begin sending photos, videos, and even have live live video chats and your loved ones. They don't have to do anything. They just love it. And because all of us must fight elder abuse and work together to bring awareness to this issue says the obvious supporting my efforts to produce my vital documentary, No Country for Old people. When you subscribe to sociology for your loved ones, they will donate the payments received and you can help us reach our goal while connecting with your loved ones in the simplest way CCRB connecting generations made simple globally. To learn more, please visit their website at www sosiale.com. And when choosing the payment, select the annual subscription the proceeds will go to help the production of our documentary, No Country for Old people and I thank you so much. When the world has gotten down,

Don Priess: 1:30

and Alzheimer's sucks, it's an equal opportunity disease that chips away at everything we hold dear. And to date, there's no cure. So until there is we continue to fight with the most powerful tool in our arsenal. Love. This is love conquers all is a real and really positive podcast that takes a deep dive into everything. Alzheimer's, The Good, the Bad, and everything in between. And now here are your hosts Susie singer Carter, and me, Don priests.

Susie Singer Carter: 2:06

Hi, everybody. I'm Susie singer Carter.

Don Priess: 2:09

And I'm Don priests and this is love conquers all calls. Hello, Susan.

Susie Singer Carter: 2:14

Donald, you sound like a million miles away. Where are you?

Don Priess: 2:18

Well, it's interesting. If anyone's paid attention to any of our episodes up till now. We're both kind of in different worlds and kind of like in a parallel universe is you're not sitting where you used to be sitting. And I'm not sitting where I used to be sitting. And yeah, we had made some changes in our scene. I don't know. I mean, I'd moved from where I am currently working into an office that's not here. It's actually right next to you, isn't it?

Susie Singer Carter: 2:48

It is because of the documentary folks, we've moved into the same office in the loft where I my office normally is and so that we can edit together and and kill each other.

Don Priess: 3:02

That's right. When she reaches out to when she reaches out to hit me, she can actually reach out and hit me down. So it's perfect. I'm not right now. I'm gonna

Susie Singer Carter: 3:13

watch that. Watch this. Watch this watch.

Don Priess: 3:20

That's Entertainment

Susie Singer Carter: 3:21

magic right there. This is we're here. It's love conquers all in this and love will conquer this hiccup for a while. But it's all for a good cause. Because we're editing. We're in the editing process of No Country for Old people, which is our documentary that we are now. We're still raising money for what did I mention that? Again, it's

Don Priess: 3:45

just shocking. So

Susie Singer Carter: 3:47

we are we have a GoFundMe, which you're welcome to share with with your network and with your friends and family as we're still raising money for the finish the film. And there is, of course, the link and the QR code in our show notes. But today, we're not going to talk about that too much, because we got a really terrific guests that I am excited to have. And I know you are done. You know? Yeah. I mean, I'll let you introduce Lance is it's Lance a Slaton, who is all all home care matters, which Don will introduce formally, but I just want to say that we're really excited and, you know, proud to have him here as a guest. And we were we were able to meet Lance and his team when we were guests, Rick mountcastle and I were guests on his show back in April. And there he's done. They're just a terrific presence in our community and so really excited to to have him with us here on our podcast. So Don, Why don't you introduce our illustrious guest?

Don Priess: 5:03

Without further ado, is

Susie Singer Carter: 5:04

that what you're saying? Without further ado or a don't?

Don Priess: 5:08

Exactly. Well, here we go. Let's say slack is redefining caregiving through his companies enrich life, homecare services and all home care matters. As founder and senior case manager, he identified a lack of resources for caregivers, and now his award winning homecare company has been Michigan's top rated service for the past five years. But Lance did not stop there is ingenuity led to the creation of his podcast and YouTube show all phone care maps, reaching over 12 million viewers globally. The platform serves as a beacon of support to communities worldwide. As a contributor to Midnight's homecare news Lance's articles explored diverse topics from the state of Medicare to innovations in senior care technology to caring for the caregiver and so much more. Lance's tireless dedication and far reaching impact demonstrate that he's a leader not just for today, but for many years to come in the caregiving sector. And with that, let's welcome the oh so busy Lance a. Slaton? Hello, Lance.

Unknown: 6:11

Hello, Don, thank you so much, Susie. Always good to see you.

Susie Singer Carter: 6:14

It's wonderful to see you. I mean, oh my gosh, you are so busy. Like so busy. I don't know how you I don't know how you manage it. Like you have what 20 balls in the air. And yet you're very calm and cool. And and, and your demeanor just comes off. So Real. So comforting, comforting, why you probably are so perfect in this in this industry, because you bring comfort just by you who you are.

Unknown: 6:41

Oh, thank you. Yeah, yeah, we you know, I am a little busy, I do get asked quite a bit aside from you know, being the host of all homecare matters. I'm a senior case manager for our family's home care company, we actually serve as the bottom half of Michigan. And then I have three wonderful children. And one of them, I'm their soccer coach. And I'm on the senior center board of directors for one of our local cities and the school board.

Susie Singer Carter: 7:06

Amazing 10 minutes seriously, like, you need to do a podcast on how to manage your time. And I mean, it's very, very impressive. I met you, because you reached out to me and said, you know, we we love what you're doing. And we want to support you and what you have. And so we're very grateful for that. And likewise, I want to support you, which is you know, very much in line with what I have been doing, whether it's been in a podcast, or it's been walking, the walks out, you know, out with the public with the Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's, Los Angeles, us against Alzheimer's, I have I have really leaned into the caregiving community. And it has grown exponentially since I started, hasn't it?

Unknown: 8:01

It absolutely has. And, you know, to follow up on that Susie, you know, the work that you and Rick and Don are doing for No Country for Old people. This, this is something that we say all the time when we're helping to share posts or you know, have you on or Rick on, this is something that needs to be shared, this is something that is going to affect and touch every family everywhere at some point and don't sit there and think, Well, you know, my mom's healthier, I'm healthier, my spouse is healthy, whatever it may be. We're all healthy until we're not. And you know, these families need to be aware of the realities of what happens when their loved ones are faced with long term care illnesses or having to go into long term care facilities.

Susie Singer Carter: 8:45

It's true, and the challenges are there, they're monumental, they really are the infrastructure is just not there. And whether you're in you know, long term care or assisted living or even home care for what you, you know, do it. This the infrastructure as best as we even in the best case scenario is still lacking, you know, for the for, for the kind of quality of life that we expect and deserve. Absolutely. So, and that's why what you're doing is so super important as well. So you talk I want to get a little personal because I want to know why what brought you to this there, it has to be a story. So what brought you to this, this, this focused in your life?

Unknown: 9:34

Absolutely. So years ago, my grandparents lived in the South, and my family and I we lived up here in Michigan, and I would spend my summers with my grandparents growing up because you know, you only get weekends you know, and that's not a lot of time to go down south to see and visit. You know, and occasionally we would get holidays and things if things worked out. And I became extremely close with my grandparents. You know, and as I grew older, you know, my grandparents get, you know, sick, they develop, you know, illnesses. And you know, my grandfather passed, and then my grandmother is now living alone and being old school southern mentality. She never got a driver's license, never worked outside of the home, but she worked in the home, you know, she raised six children and also ran a Christian orphanage and adopted two children. You know, they were the prime example for how I would want to live my life or how I would want my family's life to be an example of, and my grandmother would wake up in the evenings or in the morning and shoot, Call the local police. And being up here in Michigan, you know, I tell people all the time, you can have a phone call with a loved one, and think everything's fine. But it's really once you get below the surface, when you really start to notice there's issues, right. And so finally, after the third or fourth time of calling the police, they contacted the family down there that was living there. They contacted my mother and said, you know, mom is not doing well, she's waking up calling the police thinking there's these massive parties going on in the home. And there's nobody there. So she came to live with us for the last years of her life. And ultimately, it got to the point where she had to be in a nursing home, that really had a profound impact on me. And I had dedicated my life and career and education to healthcare. I was in route to go into medical school, and we get up my wife and I now fast forward, we get a call, my father is not doing well. And the home health nurse basically said he can't live on his own. He came to live with us. And he needed a 24 hour care that my wife and I were providing no outside help. And aside from the nurses that would come once or twice a week for a short visit. We're going through this journey for two plus years a very intensive journey. And never once had anybody ever shared with us. Have you thought about getting home care? Have you thought about getting some respite? You know, we're in our early 20s, my wife graduated started her career, I'm pursuing medical school, our hands are full. And again, just like for most families, you don't know what you don't know. When that time comes. You don't know. Okay, there's homecare, there's, you know, the Area Agency on Aging, all these different resources available. And it made me a little upset once I realized that there were all these resources in this whole world out there. I knew more Hospital Health Care Medicine, not all these social support services, and nobody ever shared them with us. And so we kind of talked about finding a way to help families that were going through what we went through, because if we went through it, there's got to be countless others, not knowing there's a whole industry of homecare out there. And so I thought I invented the wheel by suggesting, hey, let's let's find people that can go in and help these families. And so our family decided to start our company, and our company has been in business now for almost 12 years. And something we're very proud of is the last five years, we've been the number one rated company in Michigan. And I don't say that to you know, puff my chest out or to be braggadocious in any way. I say that because we're rooted in the values and the principles of a family, not as a corporation, where you know, the most important thing is just the bottom line. The most important thing to us is these families are getting the support and their loved ones are getting the care that we all deserve, when the time comes that we need care. So part of that was for the last 12 years or so minus COVID. We would go out to communities, we were hosting caregiver support groups, we were doing Long Term Care Resource seminars, we had two semi trailers packed full wall the wall with cases of unopened depends walkers, shower chairs, wheelchairs, power chairs, hospital beds, and all these families that were at these events, if they couldn't afford it, or maybe they didn't even qualify for Medicare, we would loan this equipment out to them just to help them in their time of need. And then minus the supplies you don't want back after they're used. Why you know walkers and shower chairs, they would give them back to us so then we can help another family. So COVID hits us and we're seeing the writing on the wall senior centers, nursing homes, churches, all these public gatherings and spaces are closing. And so we are like how can we continue helping people? What can we do to still reach these people who are so in need? And if like you guys, for us, our governor, we're going to be shut down for two weeks. We're going to be shut down for three, you know, and that turned into two, three years. But we just started all homecare matters just as a temporary gap to fill. While we're waiting for things to open back up and now it's turned into a whole thing on its own. And, you know, we're just always looking for more ways that we can help reach families and educate them and support them.

Susie Singer Carter: 14:54

Incredible and so, just on a on a on a business side is Is the nonprofit or is it for profit? Like how does how do you? How do you launch something like that you know where you are going, you actually gather getting all this equipment and you know, things that to help.

Unknown: 15:13

Yeah. So I've had so many people tell us over the years, you need to be a nonprofit, we're not a nonprofit, Suze. But we operate in the sense of a nonprofit, you know, when our staff go into a home, same as it would be with a nonprofit, they're expecting to get paid for their work. But if we're going in and doing support groups, or loaning out equipment or supplies, we're not expecting anything in return, other than knowing we've helped somebody. And because of that, all these facilities and senior centers in different places around Michigan, they know who we are, they know, we're not going to take this brand new, you know, power chair and put it on eBay, or Craigslist, or Facebook marketplace, they know who we are, because we've established that reputation that it's going to get to the people that really need it, not the ones that don't. So they just, it gets all donated to us, and then we turn around it and donate it out to the families.

Susie Singer Carter: 16:05

Wonderful. Wow, it's really it's really a model that, you know, is is unfortunately not prevalent, you know, and so that's the sad part is like, you know, organizations like your organization, all homecare matters is far and few between. So you know, I I have people reach out to me, and this is not, you know, I am I am not, I don't do what you do, you know, I bring conversate Don, and I bring conversation to the table because we like you have lived this, and I lived it for, you know, 16 years with my mom being her, her her point person, her person. And, and her being my favorite person in the world. And so and realizing that, you know, other other people like you, same same mentality must be going through the same thing that I'm going through and just don't you know, but just don't have not either had the platform to ask for help or didn't know how to ask for help, I was playing Whack a Mole like I was doing, and not just not having the bandwidth to to to get the help they needed. So what we're doing is really keeping the conversation going with love conquers all. And then and then trying to keep it as positive as possible, trying to find the silver lining and everything. Because when you're in it, you know, like, you know how dark it can get. And, and that that doesn't note that does that doesn't do? anybody any good. It doesn't do anybody any good to get dark, it can get dark, and it can get frustrating and depressing. And, you know, but But what is the alternative? Eric? Right. So we need to keep it, you know, like what you're doing is so beautiful. Because you're you're you're actually you're out there doing? I'm talking about it? I'm opening up the conversation with Don, and you are you are you are who we are directing our audience to if that makes sense, right?

Unknown: 18:10

Absolutely. Yeah. And, you know, we like to tell families, you know, if if we can't help you, we don't want to hurt you, you know, if if, if you need help, we're gonna find a way we can help you it may not be with having our staff in your home. It may not be through supplies, but it might be directing you to the type of help that will support you and help you and your time in need. And far too often Susie, you know, families are taken advantage of, you know, based on their, you know, blissful ignorance. And I don't mean ignorance in a negative sense. But I My favorite thing is you don't know what you don't know, you know, we didn't know, we didn't know, we could get support for like for my father, you know, but nobody told us either, you know, in so many of these families, they're just, you know, they're either still raising children, grandchildren, and now they have a parent, they're trying to support. They're trying to do the best they can, we don't need to hinder that we need to help support that.

Susie Singer Carter: 19:02

Right. Like we are the we're the sandwich generation, you know, on steroids, like now because we were all living longer, which is wonderful. But, you know, we're not we're like the Dagwood sandwich of generations, because we're multi multi generational, right.

Unknown: 19:20

So absolutely.

Susie Singer Carter: 19:21

Let me ask you a hard question. Don, you can just butt in any time. I'll just keep talking. I don't actually

Don Priess: 19:27

I don't. Yeah,

Susie Singer Carter: 19:32

but But you know, just sort of circling back to what I said a couple minutes ago was that this art caregiving industry has exploded. And I saw it you know, because when I started really after my stepdad died about eight, eight years ago, and no, it was 2010 that was way over eight years ago. My that was when the year my My mom moved in with me because she was experiencing Groundhog's Day as when you like you do with Alzheimer's. Right. And so and when I started, when I did my film, my mom and the girl, that was really the beginning of the conversations that we continue to have now. And and when we did that, when we started even love conquers AWS, which was 2019. It there was not that many source resources, there just wasn't there was reached, there were resources, but not like there are now how but But with that, come with, with the abundance of resource also brings a little bit of, you know, greed, for lack of better word, and there's a lot of there are now a lot of resources. But, but also, there's so many how do we how do we think how do we find out who are the good ones? And who are the bad ones? who are who are out there just for the greed just to just to cash in on the 53 million caregivers, that is the number we hear ad nauseam, in fear in the community, we hear well, there's 53 million caregivers out there. And, you know, just to go back to a pilot that Don and I wrote for Fox called Silver Linings, and, you know, which was we kind of predicted this 10 years ago when we wrote it for Fox. And and it was about this young woman who was in her 30s, who was an agent phobe, totally get ageist but, but saw dollar signs in older people's eyes to ching ching ching. And you know, her arc was falling in love with the older people and finding out that they were actually worthwhile. But it was comedy, obviously, but with a message. But the point is that that has come to what I've noticed, and And wow, if I was in the throes of it now and I was playing whack a mole, like I was last year, it is so difficult to decipher who are the good people and who are not? And, you know, how are you dealing with that? And how are you working with your clients and trying to steer them in the right direction? And do you agree with me? Maybe you don't agree with me? Maybe No, I

Unknown: 22:13

fully agree with you. We, you know, it's gonna be kind of a two part answer. We might take a little bit of a rabbit trail. But two things first popped into mind as you're describing that. About eight years ago, we we gave a big presentation to the UAW headquarters in downtown Detroit, you know, Motor City, the UAW president was there. And we gave this wonderful presentation, just explaining exactly what people are entitled to about Medicare, what they can get what they can't get, just so they knew what to expect, because these are retirees, and you know, they're going to be going into that phase, either with their parents or themselves. And one of the gentleman came up to us at the end, and he said, You know, I need to talk to you guys. His mother was 98 years old, lived in one of these big, historic, beautiful homes in downtown Detroit that her and her husband moved there in the 40s, I guess, and raise him and his sister and all their family. She's in a nursing home, she had a hip replacement, the nursing home, would not let her go home. Unless she had a hospital bed. They weren't even interested in hiring us. That wasn't the point. He's saying. We had to pay $4,800 to buy her a hospital bed. And conveniently, they had to buy it through the nursing home who happened to own a medical supply and equipment wing? Go no

Don Priess: 23:30

surprise, right?

Unknown: 23:33

Well, he did not know any better, and nor should he noni butter. So we're explaining to him, you know, go talk to your mom's primary care physician, don't talk to the physician at the nursing home, explain the situation, get them get an order for a hospital bed. Her Medicare will help cover that hospital bed for you. And it just blew him away. He was looking at us kind of you know, a little suspect and we have nothing to gain by this. Just, let's say he says no, and you got to get from the nursing home. Hey, worst case scenario, you're buying it anyways. Best case scenario is we're right. And we're saving you and your mother a lot of money. That man call this this was like on a Thursday, he called us Friday evening, and he was in tears literally grown man crying in tears. And a he couldn't understand why the nursing home would try to take advantage of them be why didn't the social worker or the discharge planner ever even explained to us Hey, we'll go through Medicare. And he toured the checkup and gave it to the nurse or the discharge planner at the nursing home and just was disgusted. But there are people even nursing homes, hospitals, home care companies, everybody unfortunately, has to be very aware of what you are able to get what you're not able to get and what resource our resources are available to. The second one Suzy is and I don't know if this company may have reached out to you and I won't publicly shame them by saying their name but we had a few months ago, we had a Alzheimer's company, I use that term loosely reach out to us wanting to be on all homecare matters. And they were offering us a significant amount of money to do like a half an hour preview or, you know, infomercial with them. And we look them up, and they are selling a cure to Alzheimer's. And on their website, let's say Don, you know, saw and he goes to their website. $7,900 is the cheapest item you can buy. And it's like a two week supplement. Well, now let's say you need a month or six months. And you know, we just very politely said, you know, our reputation, our integrity won't allow us to work with you. And really, you should be shameful, even trying to give people this kind of false premise that you have a cure at Alzheimer's. And my other thought, and we didn't say this was if you really had the cure, you wouldn't need to come on our show, you wouldn't be on the front of every newspaper in the world, you know, exactly. But to answer your question, you know, if it's medical advice, talk to your primary care doctor, they're going to give you good sound advice, if it's for equipment, contact your arms, buds, men for Medicare, talk to them about your resources, what you know, it's called DME is durable medical equipment, there's a lot of things that Medicare will help cover the costs for, you know, and if you have a question, or you're not so sure, do your homework, do your research, like you said, You did some reconnaissance for our talk today. Do your research, you know, look these people up if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,

Susie Singer Carter: 26:34

right. I mean, I have that I didn't have that company, I think God reach us but you know, the truth. But I'd have a lot of, of of our audience say to me, Susie, have you heard about this? Have you heard about that would you should have them as a guest on your show, yada, yada, and I'll say and I want, and it's, it's heartbreaking to me because they, they, they're, they feel this false hope is out there. There's a lot of false hope. And so and I feel like I'm the bearer of bad bad news saying to them, you know, listen if this were true, because I'm I work very closely with the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's, Los Angeles, here in Los Angeles, and, and, and also us against Alzheimer's in, in DC, I mean, all of these organizations would know about these, these products and these things far before I would, and far before anyone else would. So if you know, these are, it's it's Charlotte, it charlatans really is what's going on. And even beyond that, like, for instance, you you and I want to get to dementia, TLC and all of your other, you know, you you've got some partnerships out there that you're you are endorsing and becoming a part of which is wonderful. A lot of them actually. And, and, but but for all the ones that you're working with, there's there's now 1000s of others. And the information is there's a flooded, there's a glut of information out there, a lot of it is repurposed. And a lot of it is is people you know, I don't know, if they're trying to cash in on the 53 million. I don't know why we're getting into this conversation. But I feel like because you're so involved with it. And like, I wonder, I feel like it's important for some, someone like you that is very prolific. I mean, we just have one podcast, and this is our baby, we don't do it for money, really, we do this because we want to keep the positive conversation and bring our wacky silliness, whatever we can and make people smile at the same time while they're going through a shitty time, you know, for lack of a better word. And so we just, you know, that's why we do it, but but you are actually offering the service, which is different than what we're doing. And how how can you know, Susie, or dawn or you know, the millions of other people out there that are going through things like this? How does how do we how do we get through all the noise there's a lot of noise out there. There's a lot of podcasts. There's a lot of organizations, there's a lot of there's a lot of, you know, you've got caregiver, you've got the caregiving.com you've got, you know, Home Care Network you've got and these are all people that I love, but I'm saying how do we there's so many there's only so much time how

Don Priess: 29:26

David with social media, but yeah, you're inundated with social media posts. Yeah. So your information is coming at you continuously. How do you get through it? And no, it's what

Unknown: 29:39

I for me and this is just my opinion. I think you go with brands that you trust, people that you trust, but also find the ones that really resonate with you like like with our show Susie. We don't specialize just in dementia or Alzheimer's but we cover it and we include it. We're trying to reach people you know, dealing like we had a mother last share, you know, she shared the story of her disabled son that grew up that grew up never even knowing he had any sort of disability or he was any different. And she didn't tell him till he was in his early 20s. And, you know, as a parent, and as a son, I'm thinking, you know, how would I want to get what I as a child would I want to know, and as a parent, what I want to tell them, you know, so we try to cover topics that are just in long term care in general, without a specialty in just one area. But as far as for, you know, your audience, or if, like your example, I would go with what really resonates with you, you know, like, the ladies, the sisters doing Confessions of a reluctant caregiver, their, their spin is a little bit different than like our spin, you know, they're, they're just kind of putting it all out there their personal experiences. And it's not sugar coated, which is what kind of drew me to their show, because so many times on social media, everything is sunshine and rainbows or it's all doom and gloom, right? You know, in, in caregiving, it's, it's a little bit of both, you know, and you got to take the good with the bad and the bad with the good, but I still feel at the end of the day, it's more good than bad. You know, I think people just have to decide, you know, what ones they they feel most resonated towards, and also making sure that you're not hearing crazy stuff. Like, you know, I probably wouldn't be, you know, here with the privilege of speaking with you. And Don, if we were talking about Yeah, we've, we got a company here, they got the cure to Alzheimer's, you think we're crazy, you know, and you would not want to introduce your audience to that. That's the same approach we take, you know, we're trying to, you know, we want leading experts, people that are of sound mind, a sound message. And, and, and sound integrity, and sound integrity, amen.

Susie Singer Carter: 31:50

No, it's true. And there's, there's just, I find it daunting myself, you know, being in the Senate. So just I find it daunting and saying, Wow, every time I go to social media, there's 10 new profiles on dementia alone. And I think, what new information are they bringing? And and why are they there? What is what's everybody's reason for being there? I know what my reason is, and I am just curious, this is no, no, I'm not throwing shade or anything. I'm just trying to, to see, like, as if I were, if this were 10 years ago, and I was going I was in the thick of it, how would I? How would Where would I go and I and I and I wonder if my audience feels the same? You know, and I think so.

Unknown: 32:34

Well, and I guess I would look at it like, you know, let's say Susie's 10 years ago, and there was another Suzy doing Love conquers halls, Suzy 10 years ago would probably be drawn to that, because you're talking about your experience caring for your mom. Right? You know, so Suzy 10 years ago would resonate and could identify with that.

Susie Singer Carter: 32:54

Right, right. No, it's true. I mean, and then, yeah, I'm just I could go on for days about this. But let's talk about you. And let's talk about all your your incredible collaborations that you're doing right now, which I again, I don't know how you're doing it, but I'm open to learning because I love what you're doing. Not that we're not busy enough with our documentary, which is really been, you know, keeping us it's a beast of a project. That's all I'll tell you is it's a beast.

Unknown: 33:30

You know, probably takes more it probably is more involved in everything we're doing.

Susie Singer Carter: 33:34

Oh my gosh, it's it is I mean, I love a good channel

Don Priess: 33:37

so deep. It's unbelievable. Yeah, we didn't I mean, even though we've been aggregating as of yet all the interviews and the information everything and and every day, something new comes in that can change the course of telling that story.

Susie Singer Carter: 33:53

It making a film is fluid. It's a fluid process, right? Yeah,

Unknown: 33:59

I Yeah. So I'm in all of you guys. Well, thank

Susie Singer Carter: 34:03

you. Well, well then it's mutual but I think it's great to have you guys out there you in particular lancing the face of it because, you know, I it makes it makes it gives me a sense of comfort that when you when you start to connect with another group, I think well good, you're gonna bring your values to that group. And I hope that you know, I think well because I felt for a while there I was like, thinking I'm Superwoman I'm gonna bring my goodness like I'm gonna be the mythbuster for everything out there everything dementia I can't I'm just one little girl and and I know what those

Unknown: 34:43

Susie you're small but mighty,

Susie Singer Carter: 34:44

thank you. Well, thank you. But while I'm in the midst of this documentary, which is really like Don said, it is a rabbit hole and it is a fluid process and I am I am not to like leave any stone unturned. So just as what I think we've got everything that we could even imagine that we need, something comes along and we go, Oh, God, darn it, we have to date, we have to have to, we have to incorporate this. It's too important. So I'm

Don Priess: 35:13

sure you experienced the same thing, you know, because there is new information every day in all areas of caregiving, you know, and every day, it's every day. And that's probably what led you to that there. The various you know, starting all home care matters, and, and McKnight and all those things, you know, because there's so many different ways you need to disseminate this information.

Unknown: 35:37

Yeah, and you know, I'll just follow up. I mean, my passion is writing, I shared with you guys and you know, our pre call, we didn't start all homecare matters really to be an ongoing forever thing. We started it because of COVID. And these facilities and centers, and you know, everything, just kind of closing their doors, and it was a temporary thing, because I just enjoy helping in so you know, people say, well, like Susie, how do you do all of this? For me, it's not really work, you know, kind of like for you guys, I just enjoy doing it. So it's not like I'm dreading it or, you know, I begrudge it, or I'm miserable doing it. It's just very naturally easy to do when you enjoy it, and you love doing it. And you're just hoping you're reaching that one person who needs to hear that one thing on that one day, and we get emails like that. And it's like, okay, you know, mission accomplished. We don't get another email, you know, so that's why I take great pride in. So yeah,

Susie Singer Carter: 36:32

no, did I get it? It's like, when we did my mom and the girl, that about my mom, which was not a documentary, it was, it was a film. And, you know, people kept saying that the story is too good. You have to do a film on it. And I was like, just what people need another film on or on Alzheimer's? Because there isn't enough films on Alzheimer's. And then, you know, I started seeing the value in this little story that came from my mom, that was so profound. And I thought, well, maybe, why not? Let's do it. And to this day, like, you know, I just got a a, an email yesterday about from some people that I respect so much it that are out to, you know, altruistic people in this in our industry, who are quietly bringing so much resource to people in the background, like amazing people who said, We just watched your film and cried our eyes out, laughed and cried, and what better, what better reward is that set up six years, seven years later, and to continue to touch people. And this little love story, really, which is how I want to do the documentary is a love story. It's a love story to my mom, and to everyone else who's going through this right now. So I think love is the powerful thing, and that, you know, whether you're loving what you're doing, or loving the people that you're doing it with, and if you're lucky enough, both like me, then then it's it is a win win, right? Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. That's why That's why we are we connected really well. Go on. Oh, wait, yeah.

Don Priess: 38:16

I did want to share my voice still work. I think that the you know, this, the The arena is so huge that sometimes, you know, you get overwhelmed you oh my god, you know, how can we how can we really make a difference? And something similar to what you said, you get an email, if you change one person's life, if you made one person's life even better for an hour, or saved a life? Or you know, I mean, that's that's worth all of it. And we have to realize that it cuz sometimes you might think oh my god, it's futile. It's few I kids too big. But I think that all of us in coming from what we're doing what we're doing what some other people are doing these great things, is to look at it that way. It's that, you know, we're chipping away a little bit. We're not going to solve it all at once. There is no solution, per se. But there's ways to just make it better

Susie Singer Carter: 39:12

to navigate it. Well. It's the starfish story. It's one starfish at a time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. And that's what it is. And it's so simple. It's really at the end of the day. It's simple, but my mom used to say was that what's the alternative? My mom, I go mommy, how are you? This was in the middle of her the depths of Alzheimer's. I'd come and see her. Good morning, mommy, how are you today? I'm great. I'm alive. And the alternative sucks. You know, and because she really did love life, and she loved people. She didn't suffer fools but she definitely loved the people. She had such a good bear you barometer for good people. And she was able to bring the best out of people. And I just thought wow, look at her in her all's Mine was in the throes of Alzheimer's, and yet she's still finding a way to love life. That's a beautiful thing. Yeah, that's, that's what we all that's that's the lesson that we all need to learn. Because life is not easy, no matter what, like you're talking about your story with someone whose son had a disability born with that, you know, life is it's not fair. It's equal opportunity unfairness. And so we need to figure out how to enjoy this gift that we're given, which is the breath that we breathe, until we can't breathe it anymore. And and, and that's the key to me, is and that's what makes me that's what motivates me every day is to, is to, you know, disseminate that that point of view that I did not originate, but I inherited it. And so, and I think it's important, I think that's what it's all about, you were here for a very short time. And we everything or else around us is borrowed. But what we have is our hearts that last forever, that's the that's the thing. That's what we have is the love. And that's what that's the big, that's the big driving force. So tell us about dementia TLC, because I love to talk about dementia. And now you're you're partnering up with dementia TLC yet another thing that Lance and his team are doing.

Unknown: 41:30

So a few, two months ago, we're actually this will be a first we haven't announced anything yet, we were given the opportunity to take over dementia TLC, because the founder, Leah Waller is a practicing attorney or lawyer over in the UK. And she started it just out of a passion to help others like how so many of these great projects do start. And we talked with her and you know, something that meant a lot to me personally is because she appreciated and respected our values and our integrity. She had opportunity to actually sell this to some companies and she turned them down. And you know, all home care matters is something she really admires. And she said, You know, I'd be willing to give it over to you. So we've taken over her domain had dementia tlc.co.uk. So if you go there, it just reroute you to all homecare matters. But then we've also built out an entire massive resource section of dementia, TLC on all home care matters is website. And it's pretty much the Genesis and the revelation of dementia from everything you need from the start to the end. And we're just excited because what we're planning to do now, Susie, and I'll make the offer to hear while we're talking. Anybody that has projects, works articles that they want to contribute, and they get full credit to it, of course, we're going to have that as part of dementia TLC brought to you by all home care matters, to just continue to try to get the word out to people and share these resources. So we were very honored to have this, you know, opportunity to take over this really respected and renowned brand

Susie Singer Carter: 43:14

wonderful thing. That's wonderful. And thank you actually very much. I mean, we actually did an interview with another podcast advocate in in the UK PIPA Kelly, I don't know if you know, Pippa,

Unknown: 43:27

but if you don't know pepper, I don't know her personally, but I know what you should know of

Susie Singer Carter: 43:31

her. And you should have her she is an amazing, first of all, she's a incredible journalist. And it's probably the best interview I've ever had songs yours. But I mean, as he was, it was really she really approached it like such an incredible journalist and she knew everything about my history. I was uncanny. And I actually after listening to it back and I don't listen to my interviews very often. But for some reason I was I did and I literally forwarded it to my daughters and said, Well, this is your mother's legacy. Just listen to this interview. If you ever want to know my legacy, this is it because she had framed it so well and just really told the story of Susie and Mike in terms of dementia and Alzheimer's but really who I am and what I what I represent and what I brought to the industry. And it was so beautiful because she acknowledged stuff that I had forgotten that I had been dead and her passion for my film was over the top like it you know, it was just amazing and I think her passion for the dementia realm and for Alzheimer's is is incredible. You should definitely PIP if you're listening you know I love you and she will you should definitely connect up with her. We're in terms of dementia TLC because she is a just a plethora of classy resource. I mean she is a class act

Don Priess: 45:01

We'd love to. Absolutely. I mean, it seems right, you know, right down there. Yeah. Right. Right in your ballpark. I want I wanted to go back a little bit. And, and talk about, you know, because where do you get your resources for? Where did you find when you first started? You said, I didn't know anything about it? How did you go from five years ago, not knowing anything about it to now where you are now and exploding and doing these amazing things? Where do you find your resources,

Unknown: 45:32

lots of classes, reading a lot of books. I mean, this is going back now done 21 years, maybe 20, to about 21 years 20 to be safe. Lots and lots of books, my wife jokes with people, she says, you know, he's so exciting. He reads Medicare books for fun, you know. And, you know, in a lot of Gerontology courses at college, hospice, palliative, but, you know, again, I was already, you know, in the medical school route, so it wasn't too far off the path. But, you know, medicine is more about, you know, the physiology and cells and, you know, biology, where this is more gerontology, you know, what happens when people get to a certain age of 65 or older, you know, in learning and researching all the resources and everything that is available to families, so that if I ever come into contact, who was in a situation like I was, you know, 20 plus years ago, they'll have an answer, you know, I'll give them most resources, you know, we we just started back up our dementia conferences that we do all over, where it's a year long program, it's once a month, totally free, we don't charge anybody. And we have books for each topic. So like this past month, it was called Making Sense of dementia. Next month is going to be the, you know, the dementia caregiver toolbox. And we come in and you know, the books are about 2030 pages. And then we set up tables with all these different hands on resources that people can get, you know, and we'll tell them where they can get a mat, you know, books that we recommend, you know, the 36 hour day is a tremendous, tremendous resource and book, but for some families, it's a little over their head, because it is more, you know, scientific and medically inclined. You know, one of the books I'm a big fan of, I had to actually read it. During one of my courses. It was, my name is Hannah Hannibal he shakes. And this lady and her husband, they're kind of pioneers. And this goes back to the late 70s, early 80s, where her husband started showing signs of memory loss, while the doctors just wrote it off as being senile still at that point. And she kind of wrote her the biography about how she still kept her husband in her home, the accommodation she had to make. It was really from the time the diagnosis till his passing. And she became kind of an icon in the world of dementia. But it was before the advent of social media and internet, so not as many people are aware of her. But she would go and speak at different conferences, and just a remarkable book that in my caregiver support groups that we facilitate, we recommend everybody read it. It's an easy, quick read. But these people are trying to figure out how do we do the day to day stuff? Not what medicine to take necessarily, or what tests we should have? But how do I best take care of my husband or my wife or my parent? And this lady wrote a remarkable roadmap for doing so.

Susie Singer Carter: 48:35

It's wonderful. No, I love it. I think, you know, I'm not to push our own project, but it's sort of like with my mom and the girl, which is our movie, you know, from, and it will, I will do this because I've been asked to do this, I just haven't had the time to do it. But it really does identify almost almost every challenge a caregiver or someone who is has a loved one that is experiencing those stages, the earlier stages of which I call crossing over the bridge, it's you know, when they're in fright flight, because they know they have it, but don't want to admit it. I'm not sick. How dare you, you know, that kind of a thing. And this is the part of the of the disease, which is the hardest, I think. And I and I love talking about it because I stumbled through it. And my movie really shows those stages of how I leaned into it and embraced it. And that's how I found the joy. And that's how I allowed my mom to have her joy. Instead of correcting her or, you know, admonishing her for having behavior that may on the outside seem wrong, bad. I mean, it's not it's the disease. And so if we can get around that and realize that that's the disease talking it's it's If someone had too much to drink, I'm not talking about like an alcoholic, but someone who might be a little tipsy and say something that's a little off. It's because it's because of something else. That's not who they are. Exactly. And so and but I and I made every mistake in the book, and I tell that all the time on my podcast, there isn't a mistake I didn't make. I used to take Mommy, what day is it? You know, the day? Where do you live? I would go through everything because I thought I was going to teach her out of it. I was going to, you know, I was going to be no one else could cure it. But I was gonna mom and I were so close. We got this. Um, you know, I would tell her everyday, you know, you have, what do you have mom? I have Alzheimer's. Like, like, like, that was gonna change anything. You know, all it did was it was a source of pain for her. But she loved me so much that she trusted me. Yeah. So that's why I think and I think like we You said this book that you've just mentioned, books like that, that are stories. Movies, films, are storytelling are. It's just a powerful tool. Yes, it's a powerful tool, because it makes it reminds us that we're not alone. We can see it. We can visualize it, we can hear it. And so we realize, oh, my gosh, we are, we're just a part of another community. It's just a community, we didn't know we're going to be a part of. Exactly right. So I love what you're doing. I love that I think that's, it's actually more important than than anything is just to know that you're not alone. And to know that what you're doing is probably exactly what you should be doing. And I have a lot of our audience and friends will tell me Oh, my God, you know, thank you for telling us that because we didn't, we thought we were going crazy. Or I was, you know, I'm feel awful. Because my mom told me I wish that you were never born. Well, that's not your mom talking. That's the disease talking. And if you asked her in a lucid moment, she probably would break into tears like my mom would do. Right? So I mean, those are, those are the things that that we like to talk about.

Don Priess: 52:11

And you talk about a lot of that on McKnight on care news, you write articles that employ some of this, you know, this practical information, you know, because you can get all the medical information you want. But the practicality of it, right? Where people can use it in everyday life. When did that start? And where do you come up with those those subjects? And is it based on what people ask you? Or is it else a little bit,

Unknown: 52:36

it's a little bit of both done, we do a column for them once a month. And it's really geared towards the long term care industry. So more towards professionals. And, you know, like the one we just did, this month was about, you know, the future of Medicare and long term care. Because being in home care, we come into contact with countless families. And as you guys may or may not know, Medicare and health insurance doesn't pay for home care. And the best place for anybody, as long as it's safe and as practical and possible is to be in their home when they have dementia. Because if they've been in that same home for 40 years, they still have that portion of those memories and their long term memory part of their brain, you take them out of that home, put them in a strange facility, they're not going to get the quality of care is Susie. Sure well knows. And they're never going to get that sense of comfort and safety. Because it's just like the way that dementia works. It's not going to go from that short term feeling, okay, I'm safe here, Mom, you're fine, you're gonna be okay. It will never have the chance to transform and pass over to the long term portion. So now it's going to be that same thing every day, that fear that fright, the confusion, feeling loss, I want to go home where I am, I want to go home, you know, so I just I try to touch on topics that you know, are really relevant today, you know, and also things that may not be getting discussed as much as they should. You know, I'm a big proponent that I think we need to find a way I don't know the answer. I don't pretend to know the answer. But I think we need to find a way, especially with our baby boomers, like Suze has alluded to 53 million, right? That's a lot of people are facilities as a stand in America, I don't believe they can support all these baby boomers having resonance in them. You know, and I use, I use COVID as a prime example, where, you know, a lot of our communities and states they were all enacting these emergency, you know, mash units, almost these hospitals and parking lots and taking over community janitors and putting in beds, makeshift hospitals. That was in ships in New York. Yes. So that's that was for COVID and the COVID numbers, you know, whether they are anticipating the numbers to be greater than the baby boomer population that I don't know. But if we have to do that for COVID, what are we going to have to do when All these baby boomers need to maybe be in a nursing home or a long term care facility for years to take care of them in their own home, it's going to be costly. Yes, it's going to be cost effective. I feel like they will maintain their health at a higher level. I even tell families when they have a loved one with dementia, you may look at it and say, oh my gosh, you know, mom, dad, their memory, I said, but they're going to function at a higher level and maintain their health for longer by being in this home. Then if you take them out now, and all of a sudden they're waking up in a strange facility, you will see a decline and they may not recover from that

Susie Singer Carter: 55:36

100% 100%. If I could do one thing i If I could do over again, I would have kept to my mom, I would have fought to keep her in my home because that's when she was thriving. When she lived with me. Her her life was good. She loved it, she was enjoying herself. And people were enjoying her still. And the minute she had to I was forced, my hand was forced. That's when everything went downhill. 100% Because that is not going to imprint where you're at. It's just not and even living with me. That was hard. She She kept wondering where's her home, and I had signs everywhere your home. This is your home. This is you live here with me and your granddaughter and the puppies. And you're your favorite daughter, because I'm the only daughter you know, and a lot of humor and a lot of a lot of music and a lot of love. Yeah, and

Unknown: 56:35

I you know, I was talking to somebody the other day Susie about the trailer for the film, which is so just powerful, impactful, which I think is absolutely and I think that's what you want, right from a trailer. But I I said and I don't mean this in any way other than what I'm trying to convey is everybody has Susie's mom. Yeah, everybody has Susie's mom. And that's why, you know, everybody needs to see this film, they need to take attention to it and really understand. This isn't unique to Susie and her mom, this could be any one of our family members. And that's why it's so important that we get this film out there for everybody to

Susie Singer Carter: 57:11

us. It's us. It's our Yes, it's our future. Yes. Also, one other thing I wanted to talk about is that you, you know a lot about Medicare and Medicaid. And I have a part of that, that I talk about in the documentary where and I've asked everyone that we interviewed what is can you describe what Medicare is? Can you describe what Medicaid is? And every single answer from experts was different. Because it's that complicated. It's, it's so complicated that it is so hard to to navigate that whole CMS system. And and for, and when you're in a crisis mode, you know, like whether your parent is going through what my parent went through last year, or just dementia in general, or just need someone coming out of a hospital needs a bed? Well, you're in a crisis mode, because that has to happen, like right away. But we don't know, we as as a public are so uneducated, in this CMS system, the systems that are you know, that we just don't know. And and it's also so confusing. So I don't know, you know, I encourage you, I know that would be another interview like that would take a whole interview with you. But if you it sounds like you really have knowledge of this, and I think that people are missing and don't understand it enough. Because, you know, even when you said that I and I know just from my research that yes, Medicare doesn't cover home care. But it could depending on where you're at in your home care if are you in hospice and home care, where are you in your home care? Am I Am I correct?

Unknown: 58:54

kind of sorted? Yes. It's a confusing. Yeah. So So hospice is completely paid for through Medicaid. There is no cost to the family. It probably would be another interview. So I'll try to kind of summarize very you know, soundbites for you but Medicaid vary state to state Medicaid is ran by the state Medicare is ran by the national federal government. Every state is different. Medicaid is for poverty level, essentially. But let's say I'll use my father as an example. He he didn't get Medicare because he had a federal job. So but he got really good insurance because he didn't get Medicare is kind of a trade off. He had a very, very generous pension. And when it got to the point where he no longer could safely stay in our home due to the care he required, which is IV antibiotics, every you know, eight hours, things like that. He had to go in a facility that was never a choice. It wasn't voluntary. We weren't. There was no decision to be made. It was something that had to be done. He ended up having We need to do a complete spin down of all of this money in order to then qualify for Medicaid. And unfortunately, because he was now on Medicaid, and he was not going to be coming out of the facility, he got to live on $60 a month. Right, because of that's the Medicaid guidelines at that time for Michigan, Medicare. He got 21 days in a nursing home slash rehab, long term care facility, however you want to call it because they kind of changed their names a little bit to get away from that nursing home stigma. But they're essentially the same thing. Some, if you have supplements, you can get up to 100 days, but they also look at the timeline. It's not, okay, I'm in here for 100 days, I'm gonna go home go in the hospital, you have to be in the hospital 72 hours to then qualify to go back into a facility for Medicare to cover it. If you still have Medicare days left, they will look back over this timeline as period of time. And if you've already used up those days, Medicare is not going to pay. Just like you get so many rehab visits, you get so many visits, and so many that in a lot of families aren't even a lot. A lot of families aren't even aware that they could get what's called home health care. So you have home hospice, you have home health care, and you have home care. Home care is the one not covered by any sort of health insurance or Medicare. That's your support staff, your activities of daily living, bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, you know, things like that, home health care, Susie will, will use you, let's say you're in the hospital, you're on Medicare, and you don't want to go in a rehab facility because you just had a hip replacement, you want to go home, well, you can get an order for home health care, they will come the nurse physical therapists will come to your house, usually it's a nurse will come they'll be like your case manager, you get nine weeks at a time, you had to be in the hospital for 72 hours. And you can go and then go into a rehab or you can decide you know, I don't want rehab, I want to go home home, I have home health care, home health care can continue nine weeks at a time, then the physician can recertify it and get another nine weeks and continue going like that. However, that's only if you're still in need of these skilled services. So if the nurse says I don't think Suzy really needs any more physical therapy, we they're going to have a goal or a target for what you know, the data or analytics say that is the best they're gonna get you to, even if they if they get you to that point, they're stopping their visits, even if you want to still come and you still want more physical therapy. They're saying we got Suzy as good as we can get her. There's no more improvement that can be made because they have to justify, you know, billing Medicare and having you come out for it. Right. And then hospice, you know, hospice would take over all of your care. And, you know, admission is voluntary, you can discharge yourself. I know like with my father, when he went into hospice, he became severely dehydrated. The hospice provider that we had, they believed in doing hydration, so he could get fluid IVs, just for hydration purposes, not antibiotics. But that's the thing I want to stress here. It's not a one size fits all. Different hospices have different ideologies or different philosophies and what they will provide and Don shake, and he knows. So ask those questions.

Don Priess: 1:03:23

That's so much a big part of the documentary is that, you know, we've asked how many people what the definition of hospices and there is no, not even close to being a single answer. I mean, and it's so confusing. And you ask

Susie Singer Carter: 1:03:38

hospice versus palliative, and it's just No, one no way to know what. Yeah. Yeah, it's very confusing.

Unknown: 1:03:50

Palliative is becoming a little more popular, at least here in our area. And you know, sometimes families think, well, I don't want Mom, I don't want my spouse, whoever it is. I don't want to go into hospice because they think it's impending immediate death. Right. Okay. It doesn't always mean that, you know, their, their job is to make sure the person is out of pain and comfortable for something they do not expect nor plan to treat or cure. Palliative, you'll get a little more services, there's a lot more options for care. But again, it's it's voluntary. You know, we had a lady she was in hospice, and she cut herself really, really badly. She was going to need antibiotics, all these different things. She discharged herself from hospice, went to the hospital, got treatment, and got that taken care of then came home and got readmitted into hospice. You know, but again, hospice is just like home care Susie and Don, Michigan's a non licensed state for homecare. Michigan is a non licensed state for home care. There is no state oversight into the home care industry in Michigan. I could hire Don to be an NGO We need to take care of somebody, Don may have not a clue of what to do or how to do it. But there's nothing preventing us from doing that. Illinois, on the other hand, they are a licensed state. So it is regulated through the Department of Health and Human Services. I'm a big proponent. We're all a big proponent of the state of Michigan, because we're not the only state either I want to stress that, but I'm just worried about our state, I'm a big proponent of our state becoming a licensed state, but you know, then you're getting into politics, legislation, and, you know, stuff way out of my paygrade. But, you know, families get taken advantage of in that too, because they'll hire somebody think they're accompany. And it's really, you know, two sisters or two cousins, or two best friends who are, you know, just saying we're a company because they can, but then it's like, do they have the credentials? Do they have the training? What happens if one of the people get sick? Do they have somebody else to come and be there, because you have to be at work in the morning, and you can't leave your dad alone, you know. And, you know, then you get into insurance workman's comp and all the other assets that, you know, a true company would have, and background checks and everything else. But

Susie Singer Carter: 1:06:03

this is this is this is actually the fear of my fear for the future. With this didn't have the exponential growth of our seniors, where, you know, we're basically creating a COVID like, situation, you know, because there's no, there's not going to be the infrastructure. And as you know, in COVID, all the regulations went out the door, even the states that had regulations, you know, CNAs were, I mean, anybody could be a CNA, there was no training that was required, there was no, nothing all, all bets were off. It was like, as long as they could get bodies in there. They were happy. And so that's why so much, you know, so many more tragedies happened, because there were a lot of, you know, the majority. And I'm not exaggerating, the majority of frontline workers were not, you know, they were not qualified to be there. And that's what's going to happen. That's because we're not going to have enough in infrastructure. And so it's going to be you know,

Unknown: 1:07:11

it's the Wild West. Scary.

Susie Singer Carter: 1:07:13

It's the Wild West. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So, wow, we could just talk for like, 12 more hours. You know, we

Don Priess: 1:07:22

wanted to ask you. Yeah, I know, you were just honored. recently. I know what the number 50 in it. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Unknown: 1:07:32

Okay, so yeah, I have trouble talking about myself. But we, we found out about two weeks ago. Well, actually, it was announced about two weeks ago. And we found out back in January that I had been chosen as a 50. Under 50 for 2023. Something I was extremely proud of. And it's a great honor. And we had posted our team on social media, because I didn't want to make it about me whatsoever. And my philosophy with that down in my perspective is I think all of us, you know, Susie, you, Rick, you know, I saw you guys had patina on recently. Everybody in this? Yeah. Oh, she's amazing. Everybody in this field to me, though, is the 50, under 50. Because we're all trying to help and we're all trying to make a difference. I don't feel like anything I've done is any different than what anyone else is doing. But it was just it was quite an honor. And quite a surprise that, you know, I'm pretty proud. You should

Susie Singer Carter: 1:08:31

be proud. You should absolutely. Well, you know, it's like frig mon castle. When I first met him. He was like, I have this 15 minutes of fame. And I never thought I would have 15 minutes of fame. And I said, well then wear it, but you do it work at baby because you know what, it's it's important. And that and that, that, that gives you a tool that, you know, gives you a little power. And that's important. And that's, you know, it's like we were our podcast, our little little tiny podcasts that we started in December 2019. And in June of 2020, we we get chosen best podcast out of not expecting it not think not. And it was more like wow, people are listening to us people like it people were doing a good thing. Yeah, right. And so that's that's how you have to look at it. And, you know, and the same with there are awards from my mom and the girl was like, is it not? Yeah, of course, it's nice. It makes you feel good. But more than anything, it really gives us a tool and some credibility in the field that I want to that I want to be have credibility in. So I think that that that's that's it's an honor, but it's also you know, it, it gives it's, it's, it's well, it's well, it was well given to you, because you you have the infrastructure to use it. So yeah, you should be proud and and we're proud to know Are you? Oh, yeah, we're, yeah. And I'm so happy that you are in our sphere. And we hope like to be continued this conversation because a lot, a lot to talk about with you. And, you know, listen, our audience I know that you did if you haven't met this man you you will follow them now because so much great information such a big heart, such a, you know, a throwback to a time like you just give such a sense of comfort that is so needed in all the tumult that's out there. So follow all of your things which will be in our show notes. There's too many to say right now. We'll be there'll be there's so many my friends to follow Lance and his and his team. And knew so much great information and and resource. And we thank you for sharing your time with us a lot of privilege. Yeah, absolutely. Do anything else done. You want to say all

Don Priess: 1:11:10

right. I don't have anything else to say, Lance. Was there anything that we didn't cover that you wanted to say? Or

Unknown: 1:11:18

a week? I just want to say thank you, to you and Susie, I, I just want to say thank you again, to you and Susie for the incredible work. I've just grown to love Susie and admire everything you guys are doing with this film. And anytime, anywhere, we can do anything to help get the word out more, you know, just let us know. We're happy to do so.

Don Priess: 1:11:37

Let me choose that. Thank you and vice versa.

Susie Singer Carter: 1:11:41

Yeah. All right, everybody. We'll talk to you soon. And

Unknown: 1:11:47

take care. Thanks, you guys.

Susie Singer Carter: 1:11:51

Wow. That's all I can say is wow, that is a wow. Oh, my gosh, a lot. I thought that I thought that we did a lot and frankly, I'm a little bit I'm a little bit feeling inept. I feel like we need to. Yeah, I feel like we need to up our game here. A little bit done. I don't

Don Priess: 1:12:14

know we're, we're doing enough. My gosh, amazing.

Susie Singer Carter: 1:12:29

I know. Well, I hope listen, I hope that you know, we there was so much to touch on in this episode. I felt like we were jumping around like, you know, like, we were on some kind of relay race. Like I wanted to get it all in. Yeah, clearly, there wasn't enough time to get it all in because he's just a plethora of great information. I'd love to get him back on the show to talk about Medicare. And yeah, more in depth. Because it's such a it's such a confusing topic. I mean, even after what he tried to explain today, I am still confused. Are you?

Don Priess: 1:13:08

Yeah, yeah, pretty much. You know, it was just kind of those Well, what why? Yeah, it's like, yeah, I mean, okay. I get that little moment. But wait, what about this, and then it changes from state to state with Medicaid and it's just state this combination is just Yeah, it's, it's insane.

Susie Singer Carter: 1:13:25

It's daunting. It's daunting. I'm glad that we just talked about Alzheimer's and

Don Priess: 1:13:31

so much easier. less complicated.

Susie Singer Carter: 1:13:35

Easy, breezy. No problem.

Don Priess: 1:13:40

But no, and I just like his spirit to I like his spirit. I like to you know, yeah, great sense of person. And

Susie Singer Carter: 1:13:48

he's very tall and makes you feel very calm and and cared for his very good book, Bowie buoy. As I say, not, that would be David. Yeah. It's not him. It's not David boy. This is Lindsey Slaton. And he's, but you know, I like I feel like his story is, is not dissimilar to all of ours, which is that, you know, his interest in this field, in particular comes from his relationship to it personally. And, and like he said, When, which I relate to is that when you're doing something that you love to do, it's not work. And you know, because people I say, Susie, how are you know, can you please just sit down and rest and stop doing something for a second? And, and the fact is, it doesn't feel like work when you're doing something that you love.

Don Priess: 1:14:43

Yes. And you know why that is? Why that's because that's because love is powerful. Love is contagious, and love conquers all.

Susie Singer Carter: 1:14:53

Thank you, Don. Thank you, everybody for watching and listening and sharing. And don't forget to donate To our GoFundMe for No Country for Old people and don't forget to come and listen to us again hey, this is Susie singer Carter and I just wanted to take a minute to talk to you about bed sores. I know but if you're like I was you probably don't have a clue what a bed so really is. Most people don't. I mean, no one told me and I really just assumed it was part of the body that was like the name says sore from lain in one position too long and if you change the position, all better. Wrong. bedsore is really a euphemism for more appropriate names such as pressure wound, and keep it as ulcer. Unfortunately, I discovered what a bedsore really was. When my mom was admitted into the hospital last year with a stage four ulcer, that is the worst level, you don't ever want that to happen. bed sores can develop quickly and worsen rapidly and can lead to serious health issues, even death if they're not properly treated, or properly treated. And that includes cleaning and dressing the wound, but most importantly, reducing pressure off the sore by frequently changing the position of the person off of their wounds so it can heal and that can mean propping the person up 30 degrees to the side, far enough to be off the lower back, but not too far as to be on the side hip where there isn't much cushion right between the skin and the bone. This is why I'm so excited to tell you about that sir rescue, which was designed by an amazing woman when Jul a nurse who was tired of fooling around with simple pillows and bulky wedges that just don't work. The beds are rescue positioning wedge cushions are uniquely designed to provide ergonomically correct and comfortable support for a sustained period of time without touching the sore and the curvatures and bilateral angles and make it possible for the bedside cushion to be used to support many other body parts as well. You can flip the heels you can put it under the head, you can put it under the arms behind the knees, both sides. You can even use it as a breakfast in bed table, the curvatures of the bed so rescue fit the curvatures of your person's body, and it's made to meet all the patients safeties, and bed bound positioning standards for acute and long term care facilities. I wish I had it for my mom, I really do. So chances are if you have a loved one in long term care facility, or at your home, you may become a pressure injury soldier too, but bedsores should never never get to stage four and one way to ensure that they don't is to make sure that as soon as one begins to develop, you keep the pressure off. You can do that easily with beds so a rescue and you can find bedsore, rescue and many other pressure solutions online at jewel nursing solutions home of the patented bedsore rescue positioning wedge cushions pads and pillows that's Jul, je w e l l nursing solutions.com. And when you use the special code and C F O P the entire amount of your purchase will go to support our important documentary No Country for Old people, which chronicles my mother's journey navigating the nursing home long term care crisis that literally began with an unreported untreated pressure wound. So take the pressure off yourself and your loved one with the bedsore rescue