Home Instead

01/12/2026

If you’re a caregiver looking for healthier meal prep recipes or simply trying to eat better for your own brain health. Try this easy combo: Mediterranean Salmon Bowls + Dark Chocolate Berry Bites — full of omega-3s, antioxidants.

01/12/2026

😴✨ Struggling to get a good night’s sleep?
Sleep experts share these simple habits that can make a big difference:

🌞 Get some sunlight during the day to reset your body clock
🏃‍♀️ Move your body—but avoid exercise right before bed
☕ Skip caffeine and alcohol in the late afternoon/evening
😌 Keep naps short (20 minutes max)
🕰️ Stick to a routine: same bedtime, same wake-up time
🛏️ Make your bedroom a cozy haven—dark, quiet, and cool at night
📵 Use your bedroom only for sleep (no TV!)
🍵 Sip a warm, calming drink before bed
🧘 Try meditation, prayer, or relaxation exercises to unwind

💤 Prioritizing sleep isn’t just about rest—it’s about your health, mood, and energy for tomorrow.

01/09/2026

Do your caregiving plans actually match what your children are able and willing to do? 💭 On Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn is joined by caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson to talk about why transparency, consent, and realistic boundaries matter when planning for future care and legal decision-making. This episode offers practical guidance for families trying to plan without assumptions.

🎧 Watch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts: https://apple.co/3LlixYm

01/08/2026

Wonderful opportunity coming.

January 21, 2026, 2:30 p.m.
Alexis Eastman, MD, will discuss the physiology of aging and help identify what is “normal” and what to watch out for in the aging process.

We value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for this event. Please call 608-263-7793 or email badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu to make a disability-related accommodation request. Requests should be made by Wednesday, January 7, 2026, though reaso...

01/07/2026

Reality check: Caregiving is rarely a one-person job. In this episode of Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn sits down with sisters Natalie and JJ Elliott to talk about what it really looks like when siblings come together to support their mom through Parkinson’s. Tune in to this episode wherever you get your podcasts.

🎧: https://apple.co/3NgLEfX

01/07/2026

01/06/2026

🌿 Caregiving: The Hidden Crisis 🌿

Most Americans will become informal caregivers at some point—and most won’t see it coming.

6 in 10 say their eating and exercise habits worsen.

40–70% experience significant symptoms of depression.

60–70% of caregivers are women, who report higher anxiety, lower well-being, and even double the risk of heart disease when caring for a spouse 9+ hours a week.

Caregivers face weakened immune systems, slower healing, and higher stress hormones.

Loneliness increases their risk of stroke or heart disease by 30%.

Shockingly, 30% of caregivers die before the person they care for—rising to 70% if over 70.

Rural caregivers are at the greatest disadvantage in meeting their own medical needs.

💔 Caregiving is an act of love, but it comes at a heavy cost. Let’s raise awareness, support caregivers, and remind them: your health matters too.

01/05/2026

With a new year in front of us, let’s all take a moment to ask ourselves: What would I do if age were not a consideration?

We’d love to hear. ⤵

01/04/2026

As we step into the new year, our mission remains the same—to provide compassionate, personalized care that helps older adults live safely and independently at home. Here’s to another year of meaningful connections, trusted support, and making a difference where it matters most.

💚 Happy New Year from Home Instead.

www.homeinstead.com/609
920-219-9832

01/04/2026

In-home senior care you can trust.

Holiday time with family may reveal signs that they need help. Start the care convo now to support them comfortably at home.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/48NCIpG

01/02/2026

Many family caregivers make promises with the best intentions—pledging never to move a loved one into a care community or assuring them they can always move in.

But as caregiving expert Jennifer FitzPatrick shares in this episode of Caregiver Chats, those promises are often made without a full understanding of what advanced conditions like Alzheimer’s or mobility loss will truly require.

Jennifer encourages families to revisit those commitments with clarity and compassion. A more realistic and supportive promise might be:
“I will make sure you receive the best care possible.”

While moving in together can be the right choice for some, it is not universally the “most loving” option—and reframing the decision can help reduce guilt, improve family dynamics, and lead to better care outcomes.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://apple.co/4iTAWaX

01/02/2026

Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, explores the importance of building community for care partners and offers strategies to empower them as they facilitate connection, communication and support for those living with dementia.

https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/taking-positive-approach-dementia-care-strategies-teepa-snow

01/01/2026

Great care is built by great people.
So thankful for everyone who made this year what it was. Cheers to a new year of care. 🎉

01/01/2026

As we head into 2026, we extend our heartfelt wishes to our fellow Home Instead offices, valued network contacts, and trusted partners. May the year ahead be filled with compassion and collaboration for the older adults and families we are honored to serve.

Thank you for the meaningful work you do every day. Here’s to another year of making a difference together.

12/31/2025

Home Alone was filled with holiday magic, pranks, and a kid accidentally left to fend for himself. But underneath the laughs, the movie reminds us of something real.

That being alone at home can feel scary, even when it’s the place you love most.

At Home Instead, we believe in-home care should mean more independence and peace of mind. Our trusted Care Pros support families by helping older adults remain safe and connected at home.

Whether it’s help with meals and errands, specialized memory care, or around-the-clock support, our care adapts as your needs change.

The right care can lead to stronger connections, more confidence, and a life that feels truly your own. Learn more at homeinstead.com/home-
but-not-alone.

12/27/2025

We plan for so many of life’s milestones—weddings, babies, school, and careers. But as aging advocate and podcast host Nicole Will points out, we rarely give the same thoughtful planning to aging, even though it’s the one thing every single one of us is doing every day.

In this fan-favorite episode of Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn and Nicole explore why planning ahead for aging and care needs is essential. From aging in place to assisted living and hospice, they walk through the full continuum of care and share how preparing early can reduce stress and help families avoid crisis-driven decisions.

Whether you’re noticing changes in an aging loved one or simply beginning to explore care options, this episode offers practical tools, compassionate guidance, and resources to help you feel more prepared for the road ahead.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://apple.co/4iTAWaX

12/22/2025

Many families are surprised by how quickly old roles and patterns resurface when they begin living together again.

In this clip from Caregiver Chats, Jennifer FitzPatrick shares the lighthearted “48-hour rule” she and her sister follow — because after two days under the same roof, they slip right back into older-sister/younger-sister dynamics.

For caregivers, this isn’t unusual. After decades apart, moving back in with siblings or aging parents can stir up emotions, expectations, and long-standing family dynamics that are challenging to manage.

In this episode, Dr. Lakelyn and Jennifer explore why this happens and how families can navigate the psychological and emotional side of multigenerational living.

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode: https://apple.co/4iTAWaX

12/18/2025

Ready for help at home?
Aging well at home begins with a conversation. Get the guidance and resources to explore in-home care with Home Instead.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/47xh8oq

12/18/2025

When a loved one moves into your home, it’s easy to assume everyone else in the family will step in to help. But as today’s guest Jennifer FitzPatrick reminds us, caregiving isn’t one-size-fits-all — and not every sibling or relative is prepared for hands-on support.

In this episode of Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn and Jennifer unpack the emotional, logistical, and relational realities of bringing an aging parent into your home.

Whether you’re exploring multigenerational living or supporting a loved one from afar, this conversation offers tools to plan with intention.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://apple.co/4iTAWaX