No one talks about this part. While you’re managing medications, appointments, sleepless nights, and impossible decisions… your own body is absorbing the stress. 📉 Caregivers have a 23% higher risk of mortality than non-caregivers the same age. 🧠 Up to 70% report clinically significant depressive symptoms. 😴 Sleep disruption, chronic stress, weight gain, burnout — it adds up. And when the doctor asks, “How are you doing?” You say, “I’m fine.” But you’re not fine. In this episode, we unpack the hidden physical and mental toll of caregiving — from stress hormones and sleep dysfunction to muscle loss, chronic disease risk, and the quiet guilt caregivers carry every day. We talk about: • Why caregiver burnout is more dangerous than you think • The science behind stress, cortisol, and chronic illness • How sleep, exercise, and nutrition change long-term outcomes • Why the healthcare system often overlooks caregivers • Simple ways to start protecting your own health today If you are caring for a spouse, parent, or loved one — this conversation is for you. You deserve care too. 🎧 Listen now. Share with someone who needs this reminder. #CaregiverLife #CaregiverBurnout #CaregiverSupport #AgingParents #FamilyCaregiver #CaregiverHealth #MentalHealthMatters #ChronicStress #BurnoutRecovery #SelfCareForCaregivers #HealthyAging #PreventativeHealth #WellnessJourney #SleepHealth #ExerciseIsMedicine #ChronicDiseasePrevention #Longevity #HealthcareSystem #CaregivingJourney #InGoodCompanyPodcast

What does dying really look and sound like — and why are families so often unprepared for it? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Debra Parker Oliver — a nationally recognized hospice researcher, former hospice founder, and author — shares what she learned not just through decades of research, but through living hospice care three times: as a wife, a daughter, and a caregiver. Dr. Oliver pulls back the curtain on the parts of dying families are rarely warned about — from the sounds and sights of the final days, to the emotional toll of caregiving, to the hidden suffering caused by a fragmented healthcare system. She explains why even medical professionals can feel like novices when it’s their own loved one, and why caregivers so often become exhausted, invisible, and overwhelmed. This episode is an honest, compassionate look at end-of-life care — what we get wrong, what we avoid talking about, and how families can be better supported before a crisis hits. If you are a caregiver, love someone who is seriously ill, or want a deeper understanding of hospice and palliative care, this conversation will stay with you. You are not alone — and this is a conversation we all need to have. #HospiceCare #EndOfLifeCare #PalliativeCare #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #CaregiverLife #FamilyCaregivers #CaregiverBurnout #InvisibleCaregivers #CaregiverHealth #SupportCaregivers #YouAreNotAlone #Grief #DyingWell #DeathAndDying #EndOfLife #HospiceAwareness #HospicePodcast #HealthcareConversations #RealTalk #PatientCenteredCare #PalliativeMedicine #HospiceProfessionals #HealthcareLeadership #CompassionateCare #LifeAndLoss #CaregivingJourney #HardConversations

Dr. Amanda Altobell is the Director of Ethics at Mercy Springfield, where she helps patients, families, and care teams navigate some of the most emotionally complex moments in health care. Trained as both a clinician and ethicist, her work is deeply shaped by hands-on hospice experience, a death and dying fellowship, and her own personal journey supporting loved ones through the end of life. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Altobell challenges the way we think about death—especially the belief that dying means failure. She explains why modern medicine often confuses “doing everything” with “doing what’s right,” why hospice is so often misunderstood, and how a simple advance directive can prevent devastating family conflict. She also breaks down hard truths most people never hear: why CPR is rarely successful, what medical TV shows get wrong, how Missouri’s unique laws leave families legally powerless, and why waiting “until later” to plan is often too late. This episode is honest, compassionate, and deeply human—an essential listen for anyone who has aging parents, works in health care, or simply wants to live (and die) with dignity.

What does hospice really look like — and why do so many families misunderstand it?

In this episode of In Good Company, we sit down with Kim Therriault, Director of Hospice at Haven Home Health and Hospice, whose decades-long career has been shaped by one defining belief: people deserve choice, dignity, and a voice at the end of life.

Kim shares the pivotal moment that changed how she practices hospice care forever — a conversation with a patient who chose the freedom to drive his restored car over stronger pain medication. That moment became the foundation of her approach to care: honoring what matters most to the patient, not just the diagnosis.

Throughout the conversation, Kim breaks down:

• Why hospice is often misunderstood — and why families wait too long

• How hospice can actually extend life and improve quality of living

• The power of self-referral and starting the conversation sooner

• Why control, autonomy, and honest conversations matter more than aggressive treatment

• How hospice supports not just patients, but entire families

This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, adult children, healthcare professionals, and anyone navigating serious illness — or who simply wants to understand what compassionate, patient-centered care truly means.

Because hospice isn’t about giving up. It’s about choosing how you live — right to the very end. #InGoodCompanyPodcast #HospiceCare #HospiceAwareness #EndOfLifeCare #PatientChoice #DignityInCare #QualityOfLife #Caregivers #ElderCare #HealthcareWithHeart #MeaningfulConversations #MustListen

In this episode of In Good Company, we’re joined by Dr. Will Vincel, a general dentist at Ozarks Preferred Dental Group in Springfield, Missouri, and an adjunct assistant professor at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine. With much of his practice focused on older adults, Dr. Vincel shares a patient-first approach centered on listening, conservative care, and clear communication.

We discuss why slowing down matters in healthcare, how involving family improves outcomes, and what it truly means to deliver dignified care as we age.

Learn more about Dr. Vincel and his practice at my417dentist.com.

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of families—but many people don’t realize how much progress depends on advocacy, education, and public policy.

In this episode of In Good Company, we’re joined by Marcia Rauwerdink, a longtime volunteer advocate and board member with the Alzheimer’s Association, to discuss:

• The real impact of Alzheimer’s on families and caregivers

• Why advocacy and legislation matter in the fight against the disease

• Breakthroughs, challenges, and what still needs to change

• How everyday people can get involved and make a difference

Marcia’s journey began after losing her mother to Alzheimer’s, and for over 17 years she has worked at the local, state, and federal levels to raise awareness, push for research funding, and fight for better care and treatment options.

The Alzheimer’s Association® is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. They are dedicated to accelerating global research, driving risk reduction, and advancing early detection and quality care.

🔗 Website: https://www.alz.org

📞 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900 Free, confidential support for people living with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, families, and professionals.

💜 Services include:

• Caregiver support and education

• Local community programs

• Research funding and advocacy

• Guidance for navigating diagnosis and care

If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia, help is available, you are not alone.

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Camelia Jacob, founder and CEO of Jacob’s Ladder, Jacob’s Houses, and Jacob’s Care Center—alongside Luchiia Lebed, manager and integral part of the mission. Together, they share the incredible story behind a network of intimate, faith-led end-of-life homes where compassion isn’t just a value… it’s the culture. What began as a leap of faith—sparked by prayer, purpose, and a $5,000 sign—grew into one of Missouri’s most unique care models: small, home-like environments where dignity is protected, families are supported, and no one has to die alone. Camelia and Luchiia reveal: How a calling became a community resource for those facing the hardest moments of life Why traditional facilities struggle to deliver truly personal care What families need (but aren’t told) when navigating end-of-life decisions Common hospice misconceptions and what comfort care actually looks like How Jacob’s Ladder gives peace—not just to patients, but to entire families The extraordinary stories of healing, reconciliation, and faith they witness daily This episode will open your heart, challenge your assumptions, and leave you hopeful about what end-of-life care can be. Contact Jacob’s Ladder If you or someone you love needs guidance, support, or care—reach out. Jacob’s Ladder is here to help. 📞 Phone: 417-425-4409 🌐 Website: https://jacobsladdercare.org 📧 Email: Jacobsladdercare@gmail.com 🏠 Jacob’s Houses Email: Jacobshousesllc@gmail.com 📱 Follow on Social Media: Instagram & Facebook — Jacob’s Ladder and Jacob’s Houses #JacobsLadder #JacobsHouses #EndOfLifeCare #HospiceCare #NoOneDiesAlone #CompassionateCare #FaithBasedCare #CaregiverSupport #DignityInDeath #ComfortCare #HospiceAwareness #HealingJourneys #FaithInAction #HopeAndHealing #SpringfieldMO #OzarksCommunity #FamilyCaregivers #CommunitySupport #InspiringStories #PodcastEpisode #HumanStories #ReconciliationStories #PurposeDrivenLife

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with the Development Director of the Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) to uncover the powerful work happening behind the scenes of one of the region’s most impactful nonprofits. For nearly 60 years, OACAC has been quietly transforming lives—helping individuals and families break cycles of poverty, access essential resources, and move toward long-term self-sufficiency. OACAC is part of a nationwide network of Community Action Agencies founded to combat poverty at the local level. Today, the organization serves ten Southwest Missouri counties through a wide range of programs designed to meet people where they are. From education and employment opportunities to housing assistance, crisis support, early childhood programs, energy assistance, community partnerships, and more, OACAC works every day to create real, lasting change. In this conversation, you’ll learn: ✨ What Community Action Agencies are—and why they matter ✨ The story behind OACAC’s mission and decades of service ✨ How local families are supported through wraparound programs ✨ Why collaboration, compassion, and community leadership are essential in addressing poverty ✨ How YOU can get involved, support the mission, or connect someone in need Whether you’re familiar with OACAC or discovering this organization for the first time, this episode will leave you with a deeper understanding of poverty in the Ozarks—and the hopeful, hands-on work being done to fight it. 🔗 Learn more about OACAC: https://oac.ac (Replace with your actual link if different) If you enjoy conversations that highlight meaningful local impact and the people creating real change, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.