July 29, 2025 • 45 mins
In this heartfelt interview, Betsy Wurzel talks with Nicole àBeckett, Founder and CEO of HeroGeneration, about how her personal caregiving journey inspired an AI-powered platform designed to support families during life’s most challenging moments. Nicole shares how caring for her own parents led to creating HeroGeneration — a digital support system that offers 24/7 assistance, trusted resources, and a compassionate online community. Together, Betsy and Nicole dive into the struggles caregivers face after a diagnosis, when guidance is scarce and decisions feel overwhelming. 💬 “Caregivers don’t need to feel lost — HeroGeneration is here to help.” – Nicole àBeckett
✨ Key Features Discussed: AI assistant Andrea (named in honor of Nicole’s mom) available 24/7 Tools to organize medical info and emergency documents Zoom caregiver support groups and peer community Customizable access for families and care teams
🎓 Helpful for students, adults, and anyone caring for a loved one.
🔗 Start your free 2-week trial at HeroGeneration: 👉 https://www.herogen.co 💡 Feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver? You don’t have to go it alone. HeroGeneration is here to help you stay organized, supported, and connected.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chatting-with-betsy--4211847/support.
If you are looking for further information or to talk Betsy
- Contact: Betsy Wurtzel - sloanbetsy31@gmail.com
✨ Key Features Discussed: AI assistant Andrea (named in honor of Nicole’s mom) available 24/7 Tools to organize medical info and emergency documents Zoom caregiver support groups and peer community Customizable access for families and care teams
🎓 Helpful for students, adults, and anyone caring for a loved one.
🔗 Start your free 2-week trial at HeroGeneration: 👉 https://www.herogen.co 💡 Feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver? You don’t have to go it alone. HeroGeneration is here to help you stay organized, supported, and connected.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chatting-with-betsy--4211847/support.
If you are looking for further information or to talk Betsy
- Contact: Betsy Wurtzel - sloanbetsy31@gmail.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everyone, This is Betsy Wortheal. You're a host of
Chatting with Betsy Pastia rold Talk Radio Network, a subsidiary
of Global Media Network LLC. We're mansious to educate, enlighten,
and entertain. The views of the guests may not represent
those of the hosts of the station. And with Me today, well, first,
(00:23):
before I say who's with me today, it is stild June,
as I am recording this, but this show won't be
posted told July. But June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness months.
But we shouldn't need a month, one month just dedicated
to that cause. We should be aware of our brain
(00:44):
health every day. And if any of you out there
in the audience is concerned about memory problems memory concerns,
please consult your primary care physician in your area for referrals.
It is always better to get checked out for your
(01:06):
own peace of mind. And with me today is Nicole A. Beckett.
She is founder and CEO of hero Generation along with
doctor Shrudi Roy, who couldn't make it today. Doctor Shrudy
(01:26):
Roy is co founder and she's medical officer of Hero Generations.
Hero Generation is a digital platform that provides AI driven
tools resources and community support to help caregivers manage their
responsibilities and reduce stress. Now, folks, before I bring to Colin,
I'm just going to say this, and this is my opinion.
(01:51):
I've talked to many caregivers over the years. What I
have seen is caregivers who lacked a resource and they
were caregiving created one after caregiving or maybe during their
caregiving journey to help other caregivers. And personally, I would
go to someone who was a caregiver who has experienced
(02:15):
caregiving because they are the best resources in my opinions.
So I want to welcome Nicole Beckett to chatting with
Betsy who has caregiving experience.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Welcome Nicole, Hi, Betsy, Yes I do, Yes, I do
have caregiving experience. For having me today, Oh.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
You're welcome, my pleasure. I think you call the audience
the cale. What was your caregiving experience?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Okay, Well, my journey with caregiving really started about ten
years ago. My father was diagnosed with metastatic cross state
cancer when I was nineteen, and he battled that for
fifteen years. And throughout the fifteen years he was pretty stable,
(03:09):
you know, was very you know, relatively healthy despite the cancer,
and my mom was his primary caregiver, you know, in
the times that he needed more support. So about ten
years ago, my dad, you know, after fifteen years, decided,
you know, Hippi chemo had kind of stopped working and
(03:31):
he was going to forego any further treatment. And so
we all, you know, knew what that meant. He was
he was entering into his final phase. And so you know,
I was there, I lived nearby. I was really there
to support my mom and help her, you know, towards
the end of that that my own in my father's life.
(03:52):
And at the time, I was looking for a platform
that or a space, you know, my my career, my
whole background has been in startups and and tech and everything,
and so I was looking for a platform that in
a way, in the same way that it helps me
at work and with everything else in life, could help
me at this point in life, understand, you know, help
(04:16):
me find information, help me manage all of the you know,
my friend, my family that wanted to be supportive of
my dad. My dad was one of eight, so we
had tons in terms of family who wanted to come
in and help and be there and do things. And
I really didn't find anything that could support me in
that time. I you know, we're going through what's the
(04:38):
difference between palliated care and healptice care?
Speaker 1 (04:41):
What?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, these people are coming to the house and
helping with these different things at different times, and you know,
I need to be there to help my mom schedule
and whatever. And there was so much happening fast quick,
you know that I was looking for something to help
me organ and manage all of that, let alone the
(05:03):
emotional side of her. You know, my father was essentially dying,
and I, mind you also was six months pregnant when
he decided that. So all the things were happening, and
I wanted a space that could really help me manage,
organize just the stress and complexity that came along with that.
I didn't really find anything that suited what I was
(05:25):
looking for, and my dad passed in December of twenty fifteen.
Fast forward a little bit. My mom, who had always
dealt with a lung disease called interspecial lung disease. You know,
a few years later in twenty eighteen, she needed a
lot more support. She had lived on her own independently,
(05:47):
but it was getting to be too much to handle,
and so I moved her into an assisted living place
close by, but it suddenly became a lot more, you know,
all the doctor's appointments, helping pick up medication, housekeeping stuff
that I was really supporting with while also raising two
young children. And so again, you know, just a few
(06:09):
years later, I'm like, Okay, well, there has to be
something by now to support caregivers. I am. You know,
I don't think I knew at that time that I
was a caregiver, and I knew that I was doing
a lot that I needed to manage, and so I
was like, there's got to be something out there. And
again I really didn't find anything to support me. And
it wasn't until you know, so my mom passed in
(06:31):
twenty twenty one, and I came out of that experience
and had the you know, the time to look back
and focus and just understand the experience that I had
just been through over the past you know, six seven
years and really understand like, oh wow, I was a caregiver.
I didn't even know it at the time. I didn't
know what I didn't know. I didn't know I was
a caregiver. But I came out of that and I
(06:53):
started doing research about like supporting caregivers, and there's there
is a lot out there, but I didn't see something
that you know, could help with really critical things like
managing to do bringing in a team to support, finding resources,
finding information, and then connecting with community. You know, I
was in my thirties, so I didn't have any friends
(07:15):
who were going through that, let alone with both parents,
you know, but those people exist out there. So all
of that to say, hey, you know, I got out
of my caregiving experience and in early twenty twenty four,
I really started putting down, putting the pieces together of
what a platform could look like. And that was the
(07:35):
genesis of hero Generation. And I was put in touch
with Truthy, who's going through caregiving knowledge yourself, and we said,
you know, absolutely there's a gap. We need to do this.
Let's let's let's work on hero generation.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, that is an incredible story. I'm so sorry for
the loss of your mom and dad at such a
young age for you, and you're welcome. My dad passed
away in twenty twelve, my mom passed away last year.
(08:15):
And even though I'm grown up and they got to
see their grandchildren being you know, grown, you still miss
them and you you know, I know you think, well,
I wish my parents were here to see my children,
and you know we agree with me. That's a whole
nother show. But you are right in a call. There
(08:37):
is not, excuse me, a lot of resources when you
were caregiving, not when I was caregiving, and I had
to tell you folks. I just want to tell you
the folks that I went on hero Generation and I
had to fill out the forum. But I can't just
(09:03):
impress enough how important it is to organize yourself to
have information somewhere. But you don't have to go looking
for it. Now you have to forgive me the call
that they hate trying my brain my asthma too, as
(09:28):
there was space because I don't remember and I just
looked at it yesterday. Uh in neuro generation, where you
put like the living will your wishes, is there? Uh
there is a spot for that. That's important. How that's
so important because you know it that way you don't
(09:49):
have to carry it around. You know, you don't have
to worry about Okay, you call the ambulance, Okay, where's
your d n R. Where's your your thing to take
You're power of a trant takes on hospital you have
it on your phone, right, and that's so important. Now
I have a question because I was curious about this
(10:11):
when okay, I say me okay because I put my
son on there, and can other people have access to that?
Can you add family members?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Absolutely? So, So Here a Generation I really wanted it
to have three pillars. And the first one is that collaboration.
Told that was so important to shoot me in me
because we know as caregivers, people all the time say
what can I do to help? How can I help you?
And you're often you can't think of something on the
(10:45):
spot when they ask, or you're maybe you know, don't
want to ask. What you really need is like can
you go get me groceries? Or can you go pick
something up? And you know you may be a little
bit nervous to ask something so specific. And so what
we did on Here a Generation is a couple of things.
We created, first of all, what's called the loved Ones Profile,
(11:06):
and that's what you asked earlier. That's where you can
keep all the information all in one place, so things
like insurance, medications, doctors, locations, phone number, et cetera, any allergies.
And then of course we have a legal Documents space
where you can upload all those documents that you just
mentioned at see But in addition to that, we have
(11:27):
a team member's space where you can invite people to
be part of the team, and that can be anybody
from your you know, maybe your spouse, your sibling, a
good friend, an uncle, whomever it may be. And we
have two different levels of access. So for my case,
you know, my brother was very helpful and we're very close,
(11:49):
and so he would have the same access that I
would have to the legal documents to my mom's you know, medications,
whatever insurance card, whatever that would be. But somebody like
maybe a neighbor or an aunt or an uncle would
only get access to the pharmacies they could. You can
you can choose the different levels of what you want
people to see, because we know, like the number one
(12:11):
thing that people say when we ask them if you
could go back and start your caregiving over again, what
would you do? And they always say, bring in people
sooner and to be part of the process, be part
of the journey. It would make it so much easier.
So I'm not doing things all on my own because
we know so you so let's say, you know, I
asked my brother, you know, can you take mom to
(12:32):
the doctor tomorrow?
Speaker 1 (12:34):
And he'll say yes.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
But then I know the next question is, okay, well
where's the doctor, what's the name? What do I tell them?
What's you know? What do I need to do? And
then it kind of just becomes more of a burden.
You're like, you know what, forget it. I don't want
to have to send you all that information. I'll just
do it myself. And you keep saying, I'll just do
it myself, I'll just do it myself, and you just
it's like death by a thousand cups. You're just doing
(12:55):
so much and you're overburdened. So with your generation, you
have all that information in there, all in one place
and you can just say to you know, my brother, yeah,
just go it's in hero generation. Just go check it out.
You have like a task, maybe it says take mom
to the doctor, and within that task, it has the
doctor's name, it has the location, all the information, so
(13:16):
he doesn't have to do anything except you know, log
in and see that task that's assigned to him. And
when you assign task, it notifies people that they've been
assigned a task or they've been assigned you know something
or a note has been you know, set to them.
So we're trying to integrate as much as possible all
of these, you know, all of the features of Hero
(13:39):
Generation into people's existing you know, the things that they
use every day, like their phone, SMS, email, et cetera.
To make it as easy as possible to coordinate that
with the team. So yeah, I mean that that collaborates
collaboration piece was an INCREDI it was a you know,
probably the number one you know feature or that we
(13:59):
that we wanted to freedom zero generation.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
That is phenomenal because I if I sound like a
broken record, folks those even know what records were back
in the day. It is so important to have the
information at your fingertips, and what would happened, say Nicole,
(14:27):
if you were away on vacation, right or if someone's
away on vacation and their bloods one, mother, father, whoever
it is, gets sick and then people don't have an information.
They just don't have it. That you know, that's really
(14:47):
food for thought because now that you mentioned it, I
should probably put my brother on there. I don't have
anyone close, well, my brother's three three hours away, but
at least there would be something.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Actually I've you know, my kids, you know, they have
their immunization records and every camp, you know, this is summertime.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I sign them up for camps, and every camp asked
for the immunization records, and so I, you know, previously
I was always going back and like, wait, where's the
health system? What is my loging for that? Again? Lets
you know, go go through the process. Is that where
I have to get it? Or did I downloaded? I
forget where I put it? You know, now I have
it all in. It's as simple as just having you know,
(15:39):
having the record just stay there. You know that all
the health info is just going to be right there,
and then my husband knows where it knows where it is,
you know, people, It's just I was very blessed. My
dad was probably one of the most organized man men
on the planet, and he prepared things, you know, especially
with his health because he had been dealing with it
(16:02):
for so long. He had prepared things so well for
so long. You know, he was using Google Docs right
when it came out, just so he could update his
medications all the time because it was constantly changing. So
I took a lot of what he did you know,
which made our lives so much easier when we were
(16:23):
going through you know, really the toughest moments in the end.
And I'm so grateful for that, and I know that
it made our lives easier, and I just wanted if
I can pass that on to other people and just
make it as easy as possible. Not everybody can have
a daily Gaki in their life, you know, so if
I can to make hero Generation be that, be that
(16:45):
piece that makes it easier. Just like you said, it
just it just takes away the craziness and allows you
to focus in on what really matters, and that's that
you know, that relationship, those those you know, the moments
of times with your loved one, rather than the stress
of having to call the insurance come in, you can't
(17:07):
find the insurance card. What was it again? And you
know all that other staff.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Oh that is so true, Nicole. I have to tell
you and the owner. It's a funny story, and this
is why hero Generation is really important. But that was
an available way back when my son went to work
with his dad one time. This is way before Matt
had dementia and Josh fell. He ran. It was icy,
(17:35):
he fell and he fractured his elbow. He was complaining
of paint. So I said to my husband Nat, I said,
take Joshua hospital. I had to go. He didn't even
know who josh was. Pediatrician was yeah, he gave him
the name of my doctor. Yes, oh yes, So you know,
(18:00):
I mean it's kind of funny, but you know, they
need the real doctor. And as this was available back then,
it would have it would have helped. I mean, how
many times do you go to a doctor or you're
an emergency room to say, if you, God forbid, get
sick and go to an emergency room, what medications are
(18:23):
they on or are you on? Don't know? Your mind
goes blank.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
You know, it's interesting because we of course truthy and
I because we're dealing with it with our aging parents.
That was our initial like that's the use case. But
it's been amazing to see how so many different uses
and like one that came out the other day was
for college students. So you know, your kids go away
(18:47):
to college for the very first time they leave the house.
They you know, some might be very well informed on
who like their doctors are in their insurances, but others
not so much. And so you know, like you just said,
God forbid, something happens, they have to go to an
emergency room. Do they know what their insurance is? Do
they know, like you know, if they're on any medication?
Do they have all that info? And I think this
(19:09):
can give parents more peace of mind knowing that they can,
you know, their kids can access this if they need
to in an emergency. So there's there's just so much
value and peace of mind that comes from knowing all
of that information is one is in one place. And
we hope that your her generation can really provide that
(19:29):
to people.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Oh absolutely, I would say all the time, you know,
make sure you know where your papers are, but now
you don't have to know where they already cload it
up on hero generation. Many years ago, my neighbor, her
husband had the advanced Alzheimer's. She had a cool squad
(19:55):
and I said, Edna, do you have your your POA
And she said, oh, I need that And I said yes,
because when you know you called nine one one your
blood ones in a crisis, you can't think. You just can't.
You can't think straight. And this is so so important.
(20:19):
And Nicle, I mean the younger generation. I'm midle age
I'm sixty seven, so I'm not tech savvy, but even
I could do a Hero generation for yes, Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I often thought about my mom. My mom's on Facebook
and she loved, you know. I was like, Okay, I
need to make it for my mom, who like, if
she could do Facebook, she could do she should be
able to do Hero Generation. And it's really like We've
tried to make it as simple as possible, just inputting
information and you know, it's again just to give you
(20:51):
that peace of mind, it takes it takes a little
bit to get the info in there. I'm not you know,
I wish we could do it where it was like
magical and all your infoks magically appear. Unfortunately we're not
there yet. I feel like we could. There's the way
things are, the way things are moving with technology these days.
But for the time being, it does take, you know,
(21:11):
a couple of minutes to get the info in there.
But once he got it in there, just the peace
of mind of knowing where it is it just really
opens up, just relieves so much more stress than you know,
than you can even imagine.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yes, and caregivers, as we all know who have been
caregivers or who are caregivers. Let's relieve some of the
stress that we can. And Nicole, when you mentioned that
you didn't think of yourself as a caregiver, I didn't either. Yeah,
I didn't think of myself as a caregiver with my
(21:46):
mother in law, first with my son who has a
kind to disability, and then even now I forget I'm
a caregiver. Someone says that's he's still a caregiver, and
I forget, you know, because he's Yeah, it's a different
kind of caregiving. It's not the same as someone with dementia.
(22:07):
And but still, you know, I'm still a caregiver. Still
have to manage everything for Josh, thankfully there isn't you know,
much to manage, and with the younger generation, because I
just want to tell you if you think, oh no,
that's not gonna happen to me, I won't be a caregiver.
My children will not be caregivers. Guess again. My son
(22:29):
was a caregiver at sixty for his grandma. He helped
twenty six for his dad. The younger generation, the millennials
or whatever they're called after that, I forget, they they
will be caregivers. They will be absolutely and they you know,
(22:51):
they're great at technology. I can't type with two thumbs.
I ain't doing one of the one to the other
time to call.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Whatever gets you're done, right.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
It's just I'm amazed when I see people with their
two thumbs doing that. My brain can't work that way.
I sik my hat off to those who who can,
but I can't. But it's just so important because people think, well,
you know, I'm only eighteen or twenty or whatever age.
(23:28):
I have plenty of time before my parents need a caregiver.
Let me tell you things happen in a second. Your
life can change. Trust me.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You know, my dad was first diagnosed when I was nineteen.
They only gave him six months to live, and so,
you know, not a moment. That's what I you know,
we were preparing for, and so it can happen at
any time.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Really that, yes, that's true. What we were shocked that
My husband Met was diagnosed at the age of fifty six,
but he started showing signs before. I didn't even know
that you could get all the timer's at a young
(24:14):
age at that time, you know, fifteen years ago, right right,
I had no idea. And it's so helpful. And I
have to say something else too, because when you get
to a doctor, they'll always ask you know what medications
or you want or bring your medications with you. You
have hero generation. You don't have to bring your medications
(24:36):
with you. What's right on there. That's right, and you're
insurance in case you forget, you know, or that he
might want to copy the card. That's so.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
But because it's right there.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yeah, to them say I'm not tech savvy, that's a
good point, Nicole. Yeah, yeah, I don't think of that.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Wow, it's having everything digitized. It just makes life so
much easier.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
It does. Folks believe me when I tell you, And
I've unfortunately I've had the experience being a caregiver twice
with someone with Alzheimer's that when you were so stressed
out and you're overtired, you can't think straight. That's the truth.
(25:34):
And you know, you know what you might know when
you're not stressed. When you're stressed, your mind goes blank.
I know mine does. I'll stick for myself. My mind
goes blank. I think it's so awesome that well, I
think it's awesome. How people not that they had a
(25:56):
tragedy there don't shove a tragedy, but how they had
like a unfortunate tragedy like like you, Nicole, you lost
your dad, you were young, you lost your mom, and
you took your caregiving experience your passion and uh, doctor
(26:16):
Shrewdy Roy also and creating hero Generation to help other caregivers.
That's what I call from going from a tragedy to triumphs,
from being some people might you know say a victimhood
to victorious and helping other people that I took my
(26:40):
hat off to you and doctor Shrudi Roy, because caregivers
need a to have this information, they need to have
these resources. And one reason for Johnny with Betsy is
to provide people with resources that I wish I knew
about or that I which we're available to me when
(27:02):
I was caregiving to make my life easier. So that
that is just so awesome. And how can people go
on to hero Generation?
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Sure, so it's we're not an app, so you don't
have to download anything. You just go to hero gen
dot co so h E r O g E N
dot co c O and you just click the button
to get started, and it'll lead you through a series
of questions and put you into the platform and you
can start filling out information there. It's totally free to
(27:40):
get started, uh, no credit card required or anything, and
the loved one's profiles maintaining that information is totally free forever.
The only thing you know that we start to charge
for is if you want to start doing like to
do lists and assigning them to team members. One thing
(28:01):
I also didn't mention is that we have resources as
part of a platform as well, because exactly what you said, Betsy,
you know you didn't know you were a caregiver, and
so the fact that you don't even know that you're
a caregiver, there's so much that you don't know that
you don't know. And so we have a resources page,
again totally free, open to everybody, that people can go on.
(28:24):
We've tried to cover so many different conditions from Alzheimer's, dementia, cancer,
various cancers, you know, lung disease, mobility issues, et cetera,
you know, mental health disabilities. So anyway, we have a
caregiver guides for that and it's really tailored towards the caregiver,
(28:45):
so it'll give you sort of a high level plan
of what you can do. Some questions to ask. It'll
give you a caregiver's perspective, a journey, so a story
of a caregiver in a similar situation. It will put
you in their shoes, so you can kind of understand
what your loved one maybe going through, and of course
give you tips and things, you know, a place where
(29:06):
you can start, because again, you know, when you don't
know what you don't know, you don't even know what
questions to ask, et cetera. And so we've really tailored
everything for the caregiver. We have a digital caregiving assistant
called Ask Andrea, and so she's named after my mom, Andrea.
But you can go in. She's powered by AI, but
(29:29):
we've really really you know, developed her and wrapped her
in empathy for the caregiver. So if you go in,
you can ask any question tailored to your situation. So
you may say, my mom was just diagnosed with the
Linda Views and she's in Los Angeles. What resources are available,
and they'll give you some local organizations or you know,
(29:50):
you know, you may be in TESCALUSA, Alabama, and I'll
give you organizations there or resources. But you can have
a conversation with her and she'll you know, you can
ask you know, maybe my mom is just diagnosed with dementia.
I don't even know where to begin, and she'll say,
you know, have you you know, do you have your
(30:11):
legal documents in order? Have you thought about reaching out
to this organization? You know, here are some things you
can do. And it's by no means replacing you know,
healthcare professionals or anything like that, but it's a great
starting point and gives people an outlet any time of day.
You know, those three am even nights when you wake
(30:33):
up in the middle of the night and you're just
stressed about you know, are there any vitamins or are
there any other things I can be doing? You can
just ask Andrew at that time and she'll always give
you an empathetic answer, just saying you're doing a good job.
This is a challenging time, I understand, ask me any
questions you would like. So I really wanted to mention
(30:53):
that as well, that the resources, of course is it
just was a really big piece for us as well.
In addition, we have community events, So connecting with other
caregivers is so important because you just learn so much
and you feel that you're not so alone in the journey.
So we've got events, virtual events for all across you know,
(31:16):
in different geographies and for different conditions, et cetera, that
people can go and search through on our page just
to join. And so yeah, so at herogen dot Co,
we've got all kinds of things for people who are
going through the caregiving journey to just get started. Just
take a look again. You can start for free. There's
(31:39):
absolutely no payment necessary upfront if you want to continue
with some of the paid features. The subscription is seventeen
ninety nine a month, so we've tried to make it
pretty affordable. But you know, we just welcomed so many
people to get started, join the community. There's just so
much value in connecting with other people who understand what
(32:02):
you're going through as you go through the journey. And
we really hope hero Generation is that place.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Oh I'm getting goose pumps here in New Jersey where
it's so hot. But what you just then attroll you.
It is so true. I'm almost teary eyed because I
didn't have support for years, and I went on Facebook
in twenty fourteen and I found support and I found
(32:30):
I wasn't alone, yes, joining with other caregivers learning, I
learned from other caregivers, no call and absolutely yeah, so
much because when my mother in law was diagnosed in
two thousand, you're talking twenty five years ago, there wasn't
the information there was built and really not much support.
(32:55):
And even you know, I didn't have a smartphone back
then in ten. I didn't know if they had smartphones
in twenty ten, fifteen years ago, not like good to
this today. They had cell phones and not like it
is today, but didn't have the information. You know, the
doctors didn't even know about early on set Ollheimer's. And
(33:19):
just to know that you're are not alone, which is
why I created my support group hashtag kick Golzheimer's S
Movement so that people know they're not alone and don't
let the walk through this journey alone. Excuse me, And
here you and doctor Shrewdy come along with hero generation.
That is a fantastic tool for caregivers. And you don't
(33:45):
even have to be a caregiver, do you, Nicole, Like,
if someone just wants to go on there put their
information on just to have it for emergencies. So that's exact, folks.
This is really what you call a no brainer, especially
if you live alone, if you live alone. You need this,
(34:07):
You need hero generation and to know like you know,
they could go on and resources. Let me tell you something,
people don't know the resources in their own backyard. I
know I didn't. I did not. You don't know it
until you need it. And that's one of the many
(34:28):
blessings of me doing a show is I need so
many wonderful people like you, Nicole, who are helping others
that are experts. Thank you a resource for people. And
that's the purpose of telling with Betsy. I want to
help people. You want to help people, and it's just
(34:51):
you know, folks, let me tell you you need support
and you need to know resources because the first thing
when the doctor gives you a diagnosis, you were like,
what where do I go? What do I do? And
that's what people ask. A matter of fact, my son's
(35:11):
doctor was diagnosed with Parkinson's and she asked me if
Mad had it because he looked like he had Parkinson's,
but he didn't. And I told her about resources. She
didn't know about them, and she was a medical doctor.
She didn't know.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, that's what treaty often says. You know that she
when so her father was diagnosed with Parkinson's and then
like about a week later, her mother fell and broke
her hips. And you know, her mom deals with an
autoimmune disease. And so her mom was being discharged from
the hospital and truthy said, she just wasn't ready. She
(35:50):
didn't know that that was happening. She wasn't prepared, and
she went. She always tells the story of she went
into the bathroom at the hospital and just cried because
she wasn't prepared. And she immediately thought, I am a
healthcare professional, I am a doctor, I am trained for this.
If I'm feeling this overwhelmed and unprepared, I can't imagine
somebody without a medical background, you know, how they must feel.
(36:13):
And it really you know, that was part of the
impetus to be part of the Hero Generation, and so
you know, we really hope it's our mission that here
generation is offered as a resource in every single doctor's
office hospital. You know, especially at the point where you're
coming out of a cute situation where somebody was hospitalized
(36:34):
or just diagnosed that you know, they're saying to the caregiver,
I know this is a lot. Here's a resource, something
to help you. So immediately they feel like they have
an outlet, a place to learn or connect or just
get you know, get organized with all of you know,
(36:56):
the change in life that's about to happen, the transition.
So you know, that's part of our mission with this
as well, because you know, for me going through and
I'm sure you experience this too, Betsy, going through it,
especially with my mom. I was at every single doctor's
appointment with her, every single you know, hospital stay. I
(37:21):
was there every day and not once did anybody ever
turn to me and say, do you need support? Are
you okay? And I know that and I don't expect
I didn't expect it. The healthcare system is so overwhelmed. Ay,
you know, my parents got phenomenal health care. I'm so
grateful for it. But if we can offer this as
(37:42):
one more step, you know, I think it just it.
I hope again it's our mission where I understand the challenges.
It's not all easy, but I really hope that your
generation can be that companion piece to the phenomenal health
care that the patient received, you know, the we are
(38:04):
the phenomenal platform that the caregiver receives as well. So
that that's really our our goal and our mission with.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
All of this well, that is a wonderful and beautiful
a goal and mission, and thank you for creating Hero Generation.
I was at a at a loss. I didn't know
what Alzheimer's was twenty five years ago and I worked
as a nurse. I didn't hear about it in the
(38:32):
seventies that can stom age like call it you know,
you know, I didn't know that you could get Alzheimer's
or any dementia young. Apparently the doctors didn't know either,
And you know, there's information's changing all the time. And
even I got for a physical therapy and I was
(38:54):
talking to the physical therapist and her dad has Alzheimer's
And I said, have you heard of COLP said that
we have here in my area. She said no. I said,
I gave her the number. I said, here's the number.
They have a support group and she said, oh, thanks.
Now she's in the field. She's actually in the same
(39:16):
town that this place is in and didn't know about it.
So it's so important, folks, no matter where you were
in this world, to have a support, to have a
device that provide with resources that you can have information
on it is so important. And I'm really gonna consider
(39:44):
when I have the time to put myself on there
because God forbid something happens to me. Josh doesn't know,
my brother doesn't no anything. Ye. Yeah, so that is
very very important. I just can't thank you enough to
call it. Do you have a question? Excuse me? When
(40:09):
you get the hero generation each time someone has to
go in, so they go in through the hero Generation
dot co says it's not an app.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Okay, yeah, hero Geen dot coy. You just go to
once you signed up, you just hit log in, go
through the process and yeah, it's it's simple, just like that.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
Well that is wonderful. And how can people get in
touch with you? Nicole a back?
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Yes, please just email me. It's just Nicole and I
c O l E at hero Gem dot co. I
love you know, I love feedback for anybody who's using
it or has tried it, positive negative. I'm you know,
we were taking it all in, we're still building, growing
and all feedback is good feedback back for us, So
(41:01):
feel free to email me Nicole at Herogen dot co.
We're also of course on Instagram and LinkedIn and all
the you know social media platforms. You can message us there.
It's Shruthie and I are are very you know, close
to everybody who's who's messaging through that and the team,
and you'll always get one of us to to chat
(41:23):
with and talk to, and we're happy to answer every
and all questions that anybody may have.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Well, I thank you for connecting with me, Nicole, and
thank you.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
You're welcome to the platform too. I mean, I think
it's everybody you know putting their energy into supporting caregivers.
It's just really creating such a groundsweone that we didn't
see even, you know, five years ago. So I'm yeah,
I'm grateful to you for your platform as well.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
Oh, thank you. Appreciate that. I have to tell you, folks,
Nicole is very sweet. And when people are sweet, I
know they're really nice people. Because I tried recording what
was the last month my phone wasn't working, and the
call was nice enough to come back and do the
(42:16):
show again. So appreciate uh your patients to call in
your kindness, and I.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Bet I get all over it.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Thank you, folks. I can't really, I'm so passionate about
resources for caregivers. Yes, I interview people from more walks
of life, the caregivers and caregiving was my heart. That
is why I started chatting with Betty. This is how
chatting with Betsy came about. It's because of my advocacy.
(42:52):
And they went in my car and talked about caregiving,
and of course I had to do with my husband Matt.
So I want to thank you the call, Beckett again
for coming on. Thank doctor Shredy Roy for me for
also creating Hero Generation, and folks, I would jump right
(43:13):
on when you hear the show, I would jump right
on hero Generation dot com to look at it, try
it out, trying it out and you'll see how beneficial
it is. It's very important and I just want to
thank you again a call. Thank you everyone for listening.
(43:37):
Subscribe me to Chining with Betsy. If you don't already subscribe,
please do it for free. I'm on Spotify, Spreaker, Amazon Music.
I heart't know if I really said that. And tell
your friends about the show. This is an important resource,
very very important, and really it should be your children
(44:00):
should be on there. As Nicole said, you know college
age children, adults, they're young adults, not children, young adults.
They could use Hero Generation. And I want to thank
Jenny White as the station manager. She writes the blog,
and all the information about Nicole Beckett and the Hero
(44:22):
Generation will be in the blog, and you know, also
produces the show. And when I think Lillian Coldwell, who's
CEO Patchoral Talk Radio Network, can mix this all possible.
If you want to follow me, I am on Facebook.
That's thee Worthel w or Ze l You need a
support group at hashtag kick Alzheimer's Ask movement. And as
(44:47):
I always say at the end of my show, excuse me,
I got a cough again. In a world where you
could be anything, please be kind and shine your light
right because we need it now more than ever before.
And that's why I have to say, say, folks, this
is Betsy Worzel. You're a host of Chatting with BETSI.
(45:10):
I've patched your Ural Talk Radio Network, a subsidiary of
Global Media Network LLC. Chat with you soon. Bye bye
now
Hello everyone, This is Betsy Wortheal. You're a host of
Chatting with Betsy Pastia rold Talk Radio Network, a subsidiary
of Global Media Network LLC. We're mansious to educate, enlighten,
and entertain. The views of the guests may not represent
those of the hosts of the station. And with Me today, well, first,
(00:23):
before I say who's with me today, it is stild June,
as I am recording this, but this show won't be
posted told July. But June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness months.
But we shouldn't need a month, one month just dedicated
to that cause. We should be aware of our brain
(00:44):
health every day. And if any of you out there
in the audience is concerned about memory problems memory concerns,
please consult your primary care physician in your area for referrals.
It is always better to get checked out for your
(01:06):
own peace of mind. And with me today is Nicole A. Beckett.
She is founder and CEO of hero Generation along with
doctor Shrudi Roy, who couldn't make it today. Doctor Shrudy
(01:26):
Roy is co founder and she's medical officer of Hero Generations.
Hero Generation is a digital platform that provides AI driven
tools resources and community support to help caregivers manage their
responsibilities and reduce stress. Now, folks, before I bring to Colin,
I'm just going to say this, and this is my opinion.
(01:51):
I've talked to many caregivers over the years. What I
have seen is caregivers who lacked a resource and they
were caregiving created one after caregiving or maybe during their
caregiving journey to help other caregivers. And personally, I would
go to someone who was a caregiver who has experienced
(02:15):
caregiving because they are the best resources in my opinions.
So I want to welcome Nicole Beckett to chatting with
Betsy who has caregiving experience.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Welcome Nicole, Hi, Betsy, Yes I do, Yes, I do
have caregiving experience. For having me today, Oh.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
You're welcome, my pleasure. I think you call the audience
the cale. What was your caregiving experience?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Okay, Well, my journey with caregiving really started about ten
years ago. My father was diagnosed with metastatic cross state
cancer when I was nineteen, and he battled that for
fifteen years. And throughout the fifteen years he was pretty stable,
(03:09):
you know, was very you know, relatively healthy despite the cancer,
and my mom was his primary caregiver, you know, in
the times that he needed more support. So about ten
years ago, my dad, you know, after fifteen years, decided,
you know, Hippi chemo had kind of stopped working and
(03:31):
he was going to forego any further treatment. And so
we all, you know, knew what that meant. He was
he was entering into his final phase. And so you know,
I was there, I lived nearby. I was really there
to support my mom and help her, you know, towards
the end of that that my own in my father's life.
(03:52):
And at the time, I was looking for a platform
that or a space, you know, my my career, my
whole background has been in startups and and tech and everything,
and so I was looking for a platform that in
a way, in the same way that it helps me
at work and with everything else in life, could help
me at this point in life, understand, you know, help
(04:16):
me find information, help me manage all of the you know,
my friend, my family that wanted to be supportive of
my dad. My dad was one of eight, so we
had tons in terms of family who wanted to come
in and help and be there and do things. And
I really didn't find anything that could support me in
that time. I you know, we're going through what's the
(04:38):
difference between palliated care and healptice care?
Speaker 1 (04:41):
What?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You know, these people are coming to the house and
helping with these different things at different times, and you know,
I need to be there to help my mom schedule
and whatever. And there was so much happening fast quick,
you know that I was looking for something to help
me organ and manage all of that, let alone the
(05:03):
emotional side of her. You know, my father was essentially dying,
and I, mind you also was six months pregnant when
he decided that. So all the things were happening, and
I wanted a space that could really help me manage,
organize just the stress and complexity that came along with that.
I didn't really find anything that suited what I was
(05:25):
looking for, and my dad passed in December of twenty fifteen.
Fast forward a little bit. My mom, who had always
dealt with a lung disease called interspecial lung disease. You know,
a few years later in twenty eighteen, she needed a
lot more support. She had lived on her own independently,
(05:47):
but it was getting to be too much to handle,
and so I moved her into an assisted living place
close by, but it suddenly became a lot more, you know,
all the doctor's appointments, helping pick up medication, housekeeping stuff
that I was really supporting with while also raising two
young children. And so again, you know, just a few
(06:09):
years later, I'm like, Okay, well, there has to be
something by now to support caregivers. I am. You know,
I don't think I knew at that time that I
was a caregiver, and I knew that I was doing
a lot that I needed to manage, and so I
was like, there's got to be something out there. And
again I really didn't find anything to support me. And
it wasn't until you know, so my mom passed in
(06:31):
twenty twenty one, and I came out of that experience
and had the you know, the time to look back
and focus and just understand the experience that I had
just been through over the past you know, six seven
years and really understand like, oh wow, I was a caregiver.
I didn't even know it at the time. I didn't
know what I didn't know. I didn't know I was
a caregiver. But I came out of that and I
(06:53):
started doing research about like supporting caregivers, and there's there
is a lot out there, but I didn't see something
that you know, could help with really critical things like
managing to do bringing in a team to support, finding resources,
finding information, and then connecting with community. You know, I
was in my thirties, so I didn't have any friends
(07:15):
who were going through that, let alone with both parents,
you know, but those people exist out there. So all
of that to say, hey, you know, I got out
of my caregiving experience and in early twenty twenty four,
I really started putting down, putting the pieces together of
what a platform could look like. And that was the
(07:35):
genesis of hero Generation. And I was put in touch
with Truthy, who's going through caregiving knowledge yourself, and we said,
you know, absolutely there's a gap. We need to do this.
Let's let's let's work on hero generation.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, that is an incredible story. I'm so sorry for
the loss of your mom and dad at such a
young age for you, and you're welcome. My dad passed
away in twenty twelve, my mom passed away last year.
(08:15):
And even though I'm grown up and they got to
see their grandchildren being you know, grown, you still miss
them and you you know, I know you think, well,
I wish my parents were here to see my children,
and you know we agree with me. That's a whole
nother show. But you are right in a call. There
(08:37):
is not, excuse me, a lot of resources when you
were caregiving, not when I was caregiving, and I had
to tell you folks. I just want to tell you
the folks that I went on hero Generation and I
had to fill out the forum. But I can't just
(09:03):
impress enough how important it is to organize yourself to
have information somewhere. But you don't have to go looking
for it. Now you have to forgive me the call
that they hate trying my brain my asthma too, as
(09:28):
there was space because I don't remember and I just
looked at it yesterday. Uh in neuro generation, where you
put like the living will your wishes, is there? Uh
there is a spot for that. That's important. How that's
so important because you know it that way you don't
(09:49):
have to carry it around. You know, you don't have
to worry about Okay, you call the ambulance, Okay, where's
your d n R. Where's your your thing to take
You're power of a trant takes on hospital you have
it on your phone, right, and that's so important. Now
I have a question because I was curious about this
(10:11):
when okay, I say me okay because I put my
son on there, and can other people have access to that?
Can you add family members?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Absolutely? So, So Here a Generation I really wanted it
to have three pillars. And the first one is that collaboration.
Told that was so important to shoot me in me
because we know as caregivers, people all the time say
what can I do to help? How can I help you?
And you're often you can't think of something on the
(10:45):
spot when they ask, or you're maybe you know, don't
want to ask. What you really need is like can
you go get me groceries? Or can you go pick
something up? And you know you may be a little
bit nervous to ask something so specific. And so what
we did on Here a Generation is a couple of things.
We created, first of all, what's called the loved Ones Profile,
(11:06):
and that's what you asked earlier. That's where you can
keep all the information all in one place, so things
like insurance, medications, doctors, locations, phone number, et cetera, any allergies.
And then of course we have a legal Documents space
where you can upload all those documents that you just
mentioned at see But in addition to that, we have
(11:27):
a team member's space where you can invite people to
be part of the team, and that can be anybody
from your you know, maybe your spouse, your sibling, a
good friend, an uncle, whomever it may be. And we
have two different levels of access. So for my case,
you know, my brother was very helpful and we're very close,
(11:49):
and so he would have the same access that I
would have to the legal documents to my mom's you know, medications,
whatever insurance card, whatever that would be. But somebody like
maybe a neighbor or an aunt or an uncle would
only get access to the pharmacies they could. You can
you can choose the different levels of what you want
people to see, because we know, like the number one
(12:11):
thing that people say when we ask them if you
could go back and start your caregiving over again, what
would you do? And they always say, bring in people
sooner and to be part of the process, be part
of the journey. It would make it so much easier.
So I'm not doing things all on my own because
we know so you so let's say, you know, I
asked my brother, you know, can you take mom to
(12:32):
the doctor tomorrow?
Speaker 1 (12:34):
And he'll say yes.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
But then I know the next question is, okay, well
where's the doctor, what's the name? What do I tell them?
What's you know? What do I need to do? And
then it kind of just becomes more of a burden.
You're like, you know what, forget it. I don't want
to have to send you all that information. I'll just
do it myself. And you keep saying, I'll just do
it myself, I'll just do it myself, and you just
it's like death by a thousand cups. You're just doing
(12:55):
so much and you're overburdened. So with your generation, you
have all that information in there, all in one place
and you can just say to you know, my brother, yeah,
just go it's in hero generation. Just go check it out.
You have like a task, maybe it says take mom
to the doctor, and within that task, it has the
doctor's name, it has the location, all the information, so
(13:16):
he doesn't have to do anything except you know, log
in and see that task that's assigned to him. And
when you assign task, it notifies people that they've been
assigned a task or they've been assigned you know something
or a note has been you know, set to them.
So we're trying to integrate as much as possible all
of these, you know, all of the features of Hero
(13:39):
Generation into people's existing you know, the things that they
use every day, like their phone, SMS, email, et cetera.
To make it as easy as possible to coordinate that
with the team. So yeah, I mean that that collaborates
collaboration piece was an INCREDI it was a you know,
probably the number one you know feature or that we
(13:59):
that we wanted to freedom zero generation.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
That is phenomenal because I if I sound like a
broken record, folks those even know what records were back
in the day. It is so important to have the
information at your fingertips, and what would happened, say Nicole,
(14:27):
if you were away on vacation, right or if someone's
away on vacation and their bloods one, mother, father, whoever
it is, gets sick and then people don't have an information.
They just don't have it. That you know, that's really
(14:47):
food for thought because now that you mentioned it, I
should probably put my brother on there. I don't have
anyone close, well, my brother's three three hours away, but
at least there would be something.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Actually I've you know, my kids, you know, they have
their immunization records and every camp, you know, this is summertime.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I sign them up for camps, and every camp asked
for the immunization records, and so I, you know, previously
I was always going back and like, wait, where's the
health system? What is my loging for that? Again? Lets
you know, go go through the process. Is that where
I have to get it? Or did I downloaded? I
forget where I put it? You know, now I have
it all in. It's as simple as just having you know,
(15:39):
having the record just stay there. You know that all
the health info is just going to be right there,
and then my husband knows where it knows where it is,
you know, people, It's just I was very blessed. My
dad was probably one of the most organized man men
on the planet, and he prepared things, you know, especially
with his health because he had been dealing with it
(16:02):
for so long. He had prepared things so well for
so long. You know, he was using Google Docs right
when it came out, just so he could update his
medications all the time because it was constantly changing. So
I took a lot of what he did you know,
which made our lives so much easier when we were
(16:23):
going through you know, really the toughest moments in the end.
And I'm so grateful for that, and I know that
it made our lives easier, and I just wanted if
I can pass that on to other people and just
make it as easy as possible. Not everybody can have
a daily Gaki in their life, you know, so if
I can to make hero Generation be that, be that
(16:45):
piece that makes it easier. Just like you said, it
just it just takes away the craziness and allows you
to focus in on what really matters, and that's that
you know, that relationship, those those you know, the moments
of times with your loved one, rather than the stress
of having to call the insurance come in, you can't
(17:07):
find the insurance card. What was it again? And you
know all that other staff.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Oh that is so true, Nicole. I have to tell
you and the owner. It's a funny story, and this
is why hero Generation is really important. But that was
an available way back when my son went to work
with his dad one time. This is way before Matt
had dementia and Josh fell. He ran. It was icy,
(17:35):
he fell and he fractured his elbow. He was complaining
of paint. So I said to my husband Nat, I said,
take Joshua hospital. I had to go. He didn't even
know who josh was. Pediatrician was yeah, he gave him
the name of my doctor. Yes, oh yes, So you know,
(18:00):
I mean it's kind of funny, but you know, they
need the real doctor. And as this was available back then,
it would have it would have helped. I mean, how
many times do you go to a doctor or you're
an emergency room to say, if you, God forbid, get
sick and go to an emergency room, what medications are
(18:23):
they on or are you on? Don't know? Your mind
goes blank.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
You know, it's interesting because we of course truthy and
I because we're dealing with it with our aging parents.
That was our initial like that's the use case. But
it's been amazing to see how so many different uses
and like one that came out the other day was
for college students. So you know, your kids go away
(18:47):
to college for the very first time they leave the house.
They you know, some might be very well informed on
who like their doctors are in their insurances, but others
not so much. And so you know, like you just said,
God forbid, something happens, they have to go to an
emergency room. Do they know what their insurance is? Do
they know, like you know, if they're on any medication?
Do they have all that info? And I think this
(19:09):
can give parents more peace of mind knowing that they can,
you know, their kids can access this if they need
to in an emergency. So there's there's just so much
value and peace of mind that comes from knowing all
of that information is one is in one place. And
we hope that your her generation can really provide that
(19:29):
to people.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Oh absolutely, I would say all the time, you know,
make sure you know where your papers are, but now
you don't have to know where they already cload it
up on hero generation. Many years ago, my neighbor, her
husband had the advanced Alzheimer's. She had a cool squad
(19:55):
and I said, Edna, do you have your your POA
And she said, oh, I need that And I said yes,
because when you know you called nine one one your
blood ones in a crisis, you can't think. You just can't.
You can't think straight. And this is so so important.
(20:19):
And Nicle, I mean the younger generation. I'm midle age
I'm sixty seven, so I'm not tech savvy, but even
I could do a Hero generation for yes, Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I often thought about my mom. My mom's on Facebook
and she loved, you know. I was like, Okay, I
need to make it for my mom, who like, if
she could do Facebook, she could do she should be
able to do Hero Generation. And it's really like We've
tried to make it as simple as possible, just inputting
information and you know, it's again just to give you
(20:51):
that peace of mind, it takes it takes a little
bit to get the info in there. I'm not you know,
I wish we could do it where it was like
magical and all your infoks magically appear. Unfortunately we're not
there yet. I feel like we could. There's the way
things are, the way things are moving with technology these days.
But for the time being, it does take, you know,
(21:11):
a couple of minutes to get the info in there.
But once he got it in there, just the peace
of mind of knowing where it is it just really
opens up, just relieves so much more stress than you know,
than you can even imagine.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yes, and caregivers, as we all know who have been
caregivers or who are caregivers. Let's relieve some of the
stress that we can. And Nicole, when you mentioned that
you didn't think of yourself as a caregiver, I didn't either. Yeah,
I didn't think of myself as a caregiver with my
(21:46):
mother in law, first with my son who has a
kind to disability, and then even now I forget I'm
a caregiver. Someone says that's he's still a caregiver, and
I forget, you know, because he's Yeah, it's a different
kind of caregiving. It's not the same as someone with dementia.
(22:07):
And but still, you know, I'm still a caregiver. Still
have to manage everything for Josh, thankfully there isn't you know,
much to manage, and with the younger generation, because I
just want to tell you if you think, oh no,
that's not gonna happen to me, I won't be a caregiver.
My children will not be caregivers. Guess again. My son
(22:29):
was a caregiver at sixty for his grandma. He helped
twenty six for his dad. The younger generation, the millennials
or whatever they're called after that, I forget, they they
will be caregivers. They will be absolutely and they you know,
(22:51):
they're great at technology. I can't type with two thumbs.
I ain't doing one of the one to the other
time to call.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Whatever gets you're done, right.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
It's just I'm amazed when I see people with their
two thumbs doing that. My brain can't work that way.
I sik my hat off to those who who can,
but I can't. But it's just so important because people think, well,
you know, I'm only eighteen or twenty or whatever age.
(23:28):
I have plenty of time before my parents need a caregiver.
Let me tell you things happen in a second. Your
life can change. Trust me.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You know, my dad was first diagnosed when I was nineteen.
They only gave him six months to live, and so,
you know, not a moment. That's what I you know,
we were preparing for, and so it can happen at
any time.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Really that, yes, that's true. What we were shocked that
My husband Met was diagnosed at the age of fifty six,
but he started showing signs before. I didn't even know
that you could get all the timer's at a young
(24:14):
age at that time, you know, fifteen years ago, right right,
I had no idea. And it's so helpful. And I
have to say something else too, because when you get
to a doctor, they'll always ask you know what medications
or you want or bring your medications with you. You
have hero generation. You don't have to bring your medications
(24:36):
with you. What's right on there. That's right, and you're
insurance in case you forget, you know, or that he
might want to copy the card. That's so.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
But because it's right there.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yeah, to them say I'm not tech savvy, that's a
good point, Nicole. Yeah, yeah, I don't think of that.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Wow, it's having everything digitized. It just makes life so
much easier.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
It does. Folks believe me when I tell you, And
I've unfortunately I've had the experience being a caregiver twice
with someone with Alzheimer's that when you were so stressed
out and you're overtired, you can't think straight. That's the truth.
(25:34):
And you know, you know what you might know when
you're not stressed. When you're stressed, your mind goes blank.
I know mine does. I'll stick for myself. My mind
goes blank. I think it's so awesome that well, I
think it's awesome. How people not that they had a
(25:56):
tragedy there don't shove a tragedy, but how they had
like a unfortunate tragedy like like you, Nicole, you lost
your dad, you were young, you lost your mom, and
you took your caregiving experience your passion and uh, doctor
(26:16):
Shrewdy Roy also and creating hero Generation to help other caregivers.
That's what I call from going from a tragedy to triumphs,
from being some people might you know say a victimhood
to victorious and helping other people that I took my
(26:40):
hat off to you and doctor Shrudi Roy, because caregivers
need a to have this information, they need to have
these resources. And one reason for Johnny with Betsy is
to provide people with resources that I wish I knew
about or that I which we're available to me when
(27:02):
I was caregiving to make my life easier. So that
that is just so awesome. And how can people go
on to hero Generation?
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Sure, so it's we're not an app, so you don't
have to download anything. You just go to hero gen
dot co so h E r O g E N
dot co c O and you just click the button
to get started, and it'll lead you through a series
of questions and put you into the platform and you
can start filling out information there. It's totally free to
(27:40):
get started, uh, no credit card required or anything, and
the loved one's profiles maintaining that information is totally free forever.
The only thing you know that we start to charge
for is if you want to start doing like to
do lists and assigning them to team members. One thing
(28:01):
I also didn't mention is that we have resources as
part of a platform as well, because exactly what you said, Betsy,
you know you didn't know you were a caregiver, and
so the fact that you don't even know that you're
a caregiver, there's so much that you don't know that
you don't know. And so we have a resources page,
again totally free, open to everybody, that people can go on.
(28:24):
We've tried to cover so many different conditions from Alzheimer's, dementia, cancer,
various cancers, you know, lung disease, mobility issues, et cetera,
you know, mental health disabilities. So anyway, we have a
caregiver guides for that and it's really tailored towards the caregiver,
(28:45):
so it'll give you sort of a high level plan
of what you can do. Some questions to ask. It'll
give you a caregiver's perspective, a journey, so a story
of a caregiver in a similar situation. It will put
you in their shoes, so you can kind of understand
what your loved one maybe going through, and of course
give you tips and things, you know, a place where
(29:06):
you can start, because again, you know, when you don't
know what you don't know, you don't even know what
questions to ask, et cetera. And so we've really tailored
everything for the caregiver. We have a digital caregiving assistant
called Ask Andrea, and so she's named after my mom, Andrea.
But you can go in. She's powered by AI, but
(29:29):
we've really really you know, developed her and wrapped her
in empathy for the caregiver. So if you go in,
you can ask any question tailored to your situation. So
you may say, my mom was just diagnosed with the
Linda Views and she's in Los Angeles. What resources are available,
and they'll give you some local organizations or you know,
(29:50):
you know, you may be in TESCALUSA, Alabama, and I'll
give you organizations there or resources. But you can have
a conversation with her and she'll you know, you can
ask you know, maybe my mom is just diagnosed with dementia.
I don't even know where to begin, and she'll say,
you know, have you you know, do you have your
(30:11):
legal documents in order? Have you thought about reaching out
to this organization? You know, here are some things you
can do. And it's by no means replacing you know,
healthcare professionals or anything like that, but it's a great
starting point and gives people an outlet any time of day.
You know, those three am even nights when you wake
(30:33):
up in the middle of the night and you're just
stressed about you know, are there any vitamins or are
there any other things I can be doing? You can
just ask Andrew at that time and she'll always give
you an empathetic answer, just saying you're doing a good job.
This is a challenging time, I understand, ask me any
questions you would like. So I really wanted to mention
(30:53):
that as well, that the resources, of course is it
just was a really big piece for us as well.
In addition, we have community events, So connecting with other
caregivers is so important because you just learn so much
and you feel that you're not so alone in the journey.
So we've got events, virtual events for all across you know,
(31:16):
in different geographies and for different conditions, et cetera, that
people can go and search through on our page just
to join. And so yeah, so at herogen dot Co,
we've got all kinds of things for people who are
going through the caregiving journey to just get started. Just
take a look again. You can start for free. There's
(31:39):
absolutely no payment necessary upfront if you want to continue
with some of the paid features. The subscription is seventeen
ninety nine a month, so we've tried to make it
pretty affordable. But you know, we just welcomed so many
people to get started, join the community. There's just so
much value in connecting with other people who understand what
(32:02):
you're going through as you go through the journey. And
we really hope hero Generation is that place.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Oh I'm getting goose pumps here in New Jersey where
it's so hot. But what you just then attroll you.
It is so true. I'm almost teary eyed because I
didn't have support for years, and I went on Facebook
in twenty fourteen and I found support and I found
(32:30):
I wasn't alone, yes, joining with other caregivers learning, I
learned from other caregivers, no call and absolutely yeah, so
much because when my mother in law was diagnosed in
two thousand, you're talking twenty five years ago, there wasn't
the information there was built and really not much support.
(32:55):
And even you know, I didn't have a smartphone back
then in ten. I didn't know if they had smartphones
in twenty ten, fifteen years ago, not like good to
this today. They had cell phones and not like it
is today, but didn't have the information. You know, the
doctors didn't even know about early on set Ollheimer's. And
(33:19):
just to know that you're are not alone, which is
why I created my support group hashtag kick Golzheimer's S
Movement so that people know they're not alone and don't
let the walk through this journey alone. Excuse me, And
here you and doctor Shrewdy come along with hero generation.
That is a fantastic tool for caregivers. And you don't
(33:45):
even have to be a caregiver, do you, Nicole, Like,
if someone just wants to go on there put their
information on just to have it for emergencies. So that's exact, folks.
This is really what you call a no brainer, especially
if you live alone, if you live alone. You need this,
(34:07):
You need hero generation and to know like you know,
they could go on and resources. Let me tell you something,
people don't know the resources in their own backyard. I
know I didn't. I did not. You don't know it
until you need it. And that's one of the many
(34:28):
blessings of me doing a show is I need so
many wonderful people like you, Nicole, who are helping others
that are experts. Thank you a resource for people. And
that's the purpose of telling with Betsy. I want to
help people. You want to help people, and it's just
(34:51):
you know, folks, let me tell you you need support
and you need to know resources because the first thing
when the doctor gives you a diagnosis, you were like,
what where do I go? What do I do? And
that's what people ask. A matter of fact, my son's
(35:11):
doctor was diagnosed with Parkinson's and she asked me if
Mad had it because he looked like he had Parkinson's,
but he didn't. And I told her about resources. She
didn't know about them, and she was a medical doctor.
She didn't know.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, that's what treaty often says. You know that she
when so her father was diagnosed with Parkinson's and then
like about a week later, her mother fell and broke
her hips. And you know, her mom deals with an
autoimmune disease. And so her mom was being discharged from
the hospital and truthy said, she just wasn't ready. She
(35:50):
didn't know that that was happening. She wasn't prepared, and
she went. She always tells the story of she went
into the bathroom at the hospital and just cried because
she wasn't prepared. And she immediately thought, I am a
healthcare professional, I am a doctor, I am trained for this.
If I'm feeling this overwhelmed and unprepared, I can't imagine
somebody without a medical background, you know, how they must feel.
(36:13):
And it really you know, that was part of the
impetus to be part of the Hero Generation, and so
you know, we really hope it's our mission that here
generation is offered as a resource in every single doctor's
office hospital. You know, especially at the point where you're
coming out of a cute situation where somebody was hospitalized
(36:34):
or just diagnosed that you know, they're saying to the caregiver,
I know this is a lot. Here's a resource, something
to help you. So immediately they feel like they have
an outlet, a place to learn or connect or just
get you know, get organized with all of you know,
(36:56):
the change in life that's about to happen, the transition.
So you know, that's part of our mission with this
as well, because you know, for me going through and
I'm sure you experience this too, Betsy, going through it,
especially with my mom. I was at every single doctor's
appointment with her, every single you know, hospital stay. I
(37:21):
was there every day and not once did anybody ever
turn to me and say, do you need support? Are
you okay? And I know that and I don't expect
I didn't expect it. The healthcare system is so overwhelmed. Ay,
you know, my parents got phenomenal health care. I'm so
grateful for it. But if we can offer this as
(37:42):
one more step, you know, I think it just it.
I hope again it's our mission where I understand the challenges.
It's not all easy, but I really hope that your
generation can be that companion piece to the phenomenal health
care that the patient received, you know, the we are
(38:04):
the phenomenal platform that the caregiver receives as well. So
that that's really our our goal and our mission with.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
All of this well, that is a wonderful and beautiful
a goal and mission, and thank you for creating Hero Generation.
I was at a at a loss. I didn't know
what Alzheimer's was twenty five years ago and I worked
as a nurse. I didn't hear about it in the
(38:32):
seventies that can stom age like call it you know,
you know, I didn't know that you could get Alzheimer's
or any dementia young. Apparently the doctors didn't know either,
And you know, there's information's changing all the time. And
even I got for a physical therapy and I was
(38:54):
talking to the physical therapist and her dad has Alzheimer's
And I said, have you heard of COLP said that
we have here in my area. She said no. I said,
I gave her the number. I said, here's the number.
They have a support group and she said, oh, thanks.
Now she's in the field. She's actually in the same
(39:16):
town that this place is in and didn't know about it.
So it's so important, folks, no matter where you were
in this world, to have a support, to have a
device that provide with resources that you can have information
on it is so important. And I'm really gonna consider
(39:44):
when I have the time to put myself on there
because God forbid something happens to me. Josh doesn't know,
my brother doesn't no anything. Ye. Yeah, so that is
very very important. I just can't thank you enough to
call it. Do you have a question? Excuse me? When
(40:09):
you get the hero generation each time someone has to
go in, so they go in through the hero Generation
dot co says it's not an app.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Okay, yeah, hero Geen dot coy. You just go to
once you signed up, you just hit log in, go
through the process and yeah, it's it's simple, just like that.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
Well that is wonderful. And how can people get in
touch with you? Nicole a back?
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Yes, please just email me. It's just Nicole and I
c O l E at hero Gem dot co. I
love you know, I love feedback for anybody who's using
it or has tried it, positive negative. I'm you know,
we were taking it all in, we're still building, growing
and all feedback is good feedback back for us, So
(41:01):
feel free to email me Nicole at Herogen dot co.
We're also of course on Instagram and LinkedIn and all
the you know social media platforms. You can message us there.
It's Shruthie and I are are very you know, close
to everybody who's who's messaging through that and the team,
and you'll always get one of us to to chat
(41:23):
with and talk to, and we're happy to answer every
and all questions that anybody may have.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Well, I thank you for connecting with me, Nicole, and
thank you.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
You're welcome to the platform too. I mean, I think
it's everybody you know putting their energy into supporting caregivers.
It's just really creating such a groundsweone that we didn't
see even, you know, five years ago. So I'm yeah,
I'm grateful to you for your platform as well.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
Oh, thank you. Appreciate that. I have to tell you, folks,
Nicole is very sweet. And when people are sweet, I
know they're really nice people. Because I tried recording what
was the last month my phone wasn't working, and the
call was nice enough to come back and do the
(42:16):
show again. So appreciate uh your patients to call in
your kindness, and I.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Bet I get all over it.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Thank you, folks. I can't really, I'm so passionate about
resources for caregivers. Yes, I interview people from more walks
of life, the caregivers and caregiving was my heart. That
is why I started chatting with Betty. This is how
chatting with Betsy came about. It's because of my advocacy.
(42:52):
And they went in my car and talked about caregiving,
and of course I had to do with my husband Matt.
So I want to thank you the call, Beckett again
for coming on. Thank doctor Shredy Roy for me for
also creating Hero Generation, and folks, I would jump right
(43:13):
on when you hear the show, I would jump right
on hero Generation dot com to look at it, try
it out, trying it out and you'll see how beneficial
it is. It's very important and I just want to
thank you again a call. Thank you everyone for listening.
(43:37):
Subscribe me to Chining with Betsy. If you don't already subscribe,
please do it for free. I'm on Spotify, Spreaker, Amazon Music.
I heart't know if I really said that. And tell
your friends about the show. This is an important resource,
very very important, and really it should be your children
(44:00):
should be on there. As Nicole said, you know college
age children, adults, they're young adults, not children, young adults.
They could use Hero Generation. And I want to thank
Jenny White as the station manager. She writes the blog,
and all the information about Nicole Beckett and the Hero
(44:22):
Generation will be in the blog, and you know, also
produces the show. And when I think Lillian Coldwell, who's
CEO Patchoral Talk Radio Network, can mix this all possible.
If you want to follow me, I am on Facebook.
That's thee Worthel w or Ze l You need a
support group at hashtag kick Alzheimer's Ask movement. And as
(44:47):
I always say at the end of my show, excuse me,
I got a cough again. In a world where you
could be anything, please be kind and shine your light
right because we need it now more than ever before.
And that's why I have to say, say, folks, this
is Betsy Worzel. You're a host of Chatting with BETSI.
(45:10):
I've patched your Ural Talk Radio Network, a subsidiary of
Global Media Network LLC. Chat with you soon. Bye bye
now
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