The Caregiver Community

Caring for an older adult often means finding ways to make daily life safer, easier, and more enjoyable. This month host Karen Summey, MA, ACAPcommunity is joined by Jane Everson, PhD, and Catherine Hague, Retired English and Creative Writing Teacher. All three are active family caregivers and will offer helpful tips from the front lines of caregiving, as well as ideas for the perfect holiday (or year-round) gifts for yourself or t...

In this episode host Karen Summey, ACAPcommunity is joined by Julie Packer, Director of Professional Relations, Carolina Caring. Karen and Julie take a look at Hospice and Palliative Care services, dispel some preconceived notions, get an inside look at what these programs are, how they work, and who is eligible to receive them. It’s more than you think!  

More than 63 million adults in the United States are caregivers. That’s more than one in four adults in our nation! They’re our family, our neighbors, and our co-workers. Are you among them? Do you know some of them? Or do you employ them? Join host Karen Summey, ACAPcommunity and guest Mark Hensley, Associate State Director, Outreach & Advocacy, AARP North Carolina to hear more about the state of caregiving in America in 2025 ...

Advance care planning isn’t just a legal process – it’s a deeply human one. In this episode, we talk with an advance care planning expert about how emotions, relationships, and evolving life circumstances shape end-of-life decisions. Join host Karen Summey, MA, Project Manager, ACAPcommunity and guest Libby Dunahoo, Manager of the Advance Care Planning department for Northeast Georgia Health System as they explore what happens when...

Gardening is more than just a physical activity; it’s also deeply emotional to those who pursue it across a lifetime. It’s part of a person’s identity, grounding, and place in the world. As physical challenges ensue through the years, it’s important to know how to adapt gardening activities and tools along the way. Gardeners and their care partners can plan ahead to ensure this meaningful part of life continues despite the many cha...

Caregiving can push anyone past their limits. In this conversation, trauma-informed strategist Christy Shi Day shares how understanding our nervous system can help us stay calm, connected, and grounded — even in the most challenging moments. Learn simple, science-based tools for emotional regulation, clearer communication, and more resilient relationships with your aging parents, your family, and yourself.

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Helping Your Loved Ones Stay Strong and Healthy as They Age...In this episode of the Caregiver Community host Karen Summey, project manager for ACAPcommunity, is joined by Dr. Mitchell Straub, owner and founder of Vital Rehab and Wellness in State College, PA. Join Karen and Mitchell as they explore the intersection of well-being and physical therapy - and how care partners can spot signs that their loved ones need professional hel...

What does it mean to be a caregiver? What impacts exist for both the caregiver and the care recipient(s)? Join host Karen Summey, project manager for ACAPcommunity, and Frances Hall, Founder and Executive Director of ACAPcommunity, as they talk about the joys and challenges of caring for aging parents and other adult loved ones.

This episode of The Caregiver Community is made possible by our podcast sponsor, Pace @ Home in Newton,...

How can we make sure the home is safe and comfortable for loved ones, regardless of age? Join host Karen Summey, project manager for ACAPcommunity, and Rev. Jim Luck, retired Aging in Place and Universal Design specialist, as they discuss areas of the home to consider and strategies for keeping loved ones safe in the home.

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Supporting an aging loved one, particularly from a distance, can include unique challenges. In this podcast, Frances Hall, Founder & Executive Director of ACAPcommunity is joined by Dr. Cheryl Greenberg, a life coach for seniors and their families, presents insights into understanding loved ones’ needs from a distance, steps for effectively addressing the concerns, and some of the particular challenges of providing support from...

LGBTQIA+ adults take on caregiving roles for older adults more frequently than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Who are these caregivers and their lived experiences? What opportunities exist to support LGBTQIA+ people needing care and LGBTQIA+ caregivers? In this episode, Frances Hall, Founder & Executive Director of ACAPcommunity is joined by Dr. Joel G. Anderson, PhD, CHTP, FGSA – Professor in the College of Nursing at...

For a variety of reasons, underserved populations – rural, elderly, low education, minority groups, etc. – often experience barriers to accessing healthcare, and their caregivers find particular challenges to providing needed care. In this podcast, interviewers Frances Hall Founder & Executive Director, of ACAPcommunity, and AJ Kerley Director of Professional Relations at PACE@Home, will discuss with John Uche, MD – Medical Dir...

In the past 20 years, the US has experienced multiple types of disasters that have devastated lives and communities. In this episode, host Frances Hall, Executive Director of ACAPcommunity is joined by Karen Scallan, Owner/Advocate of Special Needs and Parent Support Services of Louisiana. Karen, a nationally recognized expert in disaster preparedness and a survivor of Hurricane Katrina offers specific strategies that support older...

Oral health and oral care often can be among the challenges experienced by aging persons and their caregivers. Host Frances Hall, Executive Director of ACAPcommunity is joined by Dr. Natalie Whitaker, a dentist and nutritionist, as they discuss oral health and its impact on overall health, and how dentists can aid in improving the quality of life for an older adult and their caregiver.

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Approximately 40% of all unpaid caregivers are men. Although there may be differences sometimes in how men and women approach caregiving, all offer vital and needed support for loved ones. In this podcast, host Frances Hall Executive Director ACAPcommunity is joined by Bob Cain (Piedmont Home Care), Mark Hensley (AARP North Carolina), and Bruce McReynolds (Griswold Home Care, Guilford County) as they share valuable insights from th...

Caregiving is the process of providing assistance and support in meeting the daily needs of another person. For caregivers of older adult loved ones, anticipating life after caregiving can be difficult for a variety of reasons. Join host Frances Hall, Executive Director of ACAPcommunity, and Rev. Gary Newsome Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Life, Lake Prince Woods Retirement Community, Suffolk, VA. as they discuss the challenges...

In this episode of The Caregiver Community, host Karen Summey, ACAPcommunity is joined by guest Jon Camp, former TV news reporter/anchor and founder of Ever Living Memories. Jon joins the podcast to share both the importance and logistics of cataloging the highlights of your lived experience and offers suggestions on how to preserve those memories and moments for future generations to learn from and love.

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Sometimes, we hear the term “assistive technology” in relation to older adults. But what exactly is that? How can assistive technology help my aging loved one or me, as the caregiver? Host Frances Hall, Executive Director of ACAPcommunity welcomes Samantha Westrich, a speech and language pathologist from the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services, who will help us understand how technology and assistive devices can help an older adu...