End-of-life care options can feel overwhelming, but understanding your choices empowers you to make compassionate, informed decisions for your loved ones. At Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, our board-certified RN patient advocates are here to guide you every step of the way. What Is End-of-Life Care? Facing end-of-life care decisions is never easy, but learning about the different types of end-of-life care can bring comfort, clarity, and empowerment for you and your loved ones. End-of-life care refers to the support and medical attention provided during the final phase of life, focusing on quality of life, symptom management, and honoring individual wishes. Many families have fears and concerns regarding hospice and end of life care. This is not a topic that people openly wish to discuss.  This is hard. It is emotional. No one wants to lose a loved one. However, planning and choosing the right type of help during this time can offer your loved one a chance at passing with dignity, compassion, and on their own terms.  Types of End-of-Life Care When it comes to end-of-life care, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Here are some of the most common options: Hospice Care Hospice Care: Focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality...

Host Pam Dunwald explores what listeners need to prepare for the Medicare annual enrollment period in this episode. Pam is joined by guest Wendi Schoonover, the owner and founder of Integrity Insurance Group. Wendi has 16 years of experience in the industry, and started her own agency in 2018 to take a more educational and advocacy-based approach with clients. Pam asks Wendi key questions about Medicare: everything we need to know about insurance options, cost, and how to get ready for annual enrollment. Wendi explains the differences between the Medicare annual enrollment period, which starts in October, and the subsequent open enrollment period, and clarifies what requirements, if any, are needed for initially starting out with Medicare. Pam asks Wendi a host of vital questions, including the differences between a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap plan, what is covered by each part of a plan, the differences in cost, and how to prepare for meeting an advisor. Wendi contains a wealth of knowledge about all things Medicare and health insurance, which she gladly shares to demystify some of the confusion and misinformation about Medicare Advantage, premiums, and supplements.   About Wendi Schoonover: Wendi founded Integrity Insurance Group in 2018....

In this episode, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos define exactly how nurse patient advocates are able to help patients and their families navigate healthcare. Through their independent company, Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, they are able to provide assistance that is truly independent and not tied to or bound by a particular hospital, clinic, or insurance company’s rules. The care they offer untangles complex medications, assists with daunting decisions, ensures doctors and hospitals thoroughly address patient needs, and keeps families in the loop on everything to do with healthcare. Pam and Linda each share a personal story of how their individual advocacy for a past client assisted in their long-term recovery and care. Families who live out of state or overseas have entrusted the care of their loved one to Pam or Linda, and through regular calls and conversations, have been kept up-to-date on every doctor consultation, medication change, hospitalization, and have had necessary assistance in arranging hospice or at-home care. They emphasize how official reports – from the Patient Advocate Foundation Annual Impact Report to the President’s Cancer Panel from 2024 – have stated that nurse advocates improve quality of care, reduce readmission rates, improve medication safety, and increase...

Hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos welcome listeners to the first episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families. Pam and Linda unpack the reason they created Your Nurse Advocate Consulting and, by extension, this podcast: to help fill the gaps healthcare can leave in people’s lives. How the people-centred focus sometimes slips through the cracks and leaves patients, especially aging adults, with confusion, missing medication, unclear instructions, or just a lack of support. Pam and Linda are here to change that. Their stated goal is simple: to be your trusted guide through the confusing, often overwhelming world of healthcare, especially when the system doesn’t work the way it should. And because healthcare is complicated, it’s not always intentional when hospitals or clinics miss things. Sometimes it’s system overwhelm or a lack of time. But either way, communication breakdowns, missing test results, playing phone tag with insurance, and many more of these little gaps in care negatively impact the people being cared for. Pam and Linda are here to fill the gaps the system leaves behind. Through Your Nurse Advocate Consulting and Healthcare Redefined, they’re offering insight, advice, guidance, and support in navigating the complex and sometimes...

Family caregiving meetings are essential for anyone caring for aging parents or loved ones with complex health needs. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, over 53 million Americans provide unpaid care. With so many voices and emotions, misunderstandings and caregiver burnout are common. Structured family meetings can dramatically improve communication for caregivers, reduce stress, and strengthen support systems (Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 2017). The 45-Minute Family Caregiving Meeting: Why This Agenda Works A focused, time-limited family meeting agenda helps with Scripts, Agenda, and Boundaries for Caregivers : A clear family meeting script and strong caregiver boundaries make these meetings productive—not painful. Pro Tip: Select ONE means of communication with your family. This makes sure that all participating family members are kept in the loop.  Long-distance family members feel that they are a part of the team. This goes a long way to reduce tensions and bitterness when some people feel left out.   I am a long-distance family member sharing in the care of our mom.  I am the oldest of 5 siblings and live about 4 hours away from home.  The other 4 siblings are local to our mother. The family text group has been great as even...

The holidays are a time for family, travel, and celebration—but for caregivers and aging adults, they can also bring extra stress around managing medications. Running out of medication while away from home, missing doses, or facing a medical emergency in an unfamiliar place can quickly turn a joyful trip into a crisis. Read on for this short and practical blog post this week from Pam and Linda, Your Nurse Advocates. With a little planning, you can avoid these pitfalls and keep your loved one safe and healthy during holiday travel. Here’s how. Here are some of the questions to consider:  Questions to Ask Yourself Before Holiday Travel: Managing Medications Edition Let’s address all of these questions for you. We want you to be prepared with reduced stress regarding medications during the holiday. Why Holiday Travel Complicates Managing Medications Special Considerations: Resources: 4 Steps to Avoid Medication Gaps During Holiday Travel Step 1: Review and Refill Early Step 2: Pack Smart and Carry a Medication List Step 3: Prepare an Emergency Folder Step 4: Plan for the Unexpected Managing Medications Checklist for Holiday Traveling Final Tips Sources: Need help preparing for holiday travel?Contact Your Nurse Advocate Consulting for personalized support and...

Navigating Medicare can feel overwhelming—especially when the rules seem to change every year. As caregivers and family advocates, staying informed is key to protecting your loved one’s health and finances. With several important Medicare updates rolling out for 2026, it’s more important than ever to review your options and avoid costly surprises. 1. Plan Availability & Regional Changes 2. Government Updates & Policy Changes Medicare policy is always evolving. For 2026, there are changes in how some prescription drugs are covered and new rules about how plans communicate changes to members. It’s essential to read all plan notices carefully and reach out for help if anything is unclear. The maximum drug payment did increase to 2100.00 for 2026, up 100.00 from last year.   Pro Tip: If you have a high drug cost and you will meet or exceed the $2100 cap, some insurance companies will allow you to spread out that 2100.00 over 12 months. Essentially you are making 12 payments one each month to cover your 2100.00 out of pocket.  This benefit can help those that struggle with paying high dollar co-pays for expensive medications. Please ask your insurance company if they provide this benefit. 3. What Caregivers Should...

Did you know October is Long-Term Care Planning Month? It’s the perfect time to start important conversations with your loved ones about the future. A little planning now can prevent a lot of stress and confusion later—saving your family time, money, and heartache. Why Plan Ahead?Many families wait until a crisis hits to talk about long-term care. But making decisions under pressure is tough for everyone. Planning ahead gives you and your loved ones the chance to: What Should You Discuss?Here are some key topics to cover as you begin your long-term care planning: What is Long-Term Care Insurance? Long-term care insurance is a policy designed to help cover the costs of care that aren’t typically paid for by regular health insurance or Medicare. This can include assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating, whether care is provided at home, in an assisted living facility, or a nursing home.Having long-term care insurance can give families more options and flexibility, reduce the financial burden, and help ensure loved ones receive the level of care they need—when and where they need it. It can be a bit expensive, but if you can afford it this insurance can be a big...

By Pam, Your Nurse Advocate Consulting Medicare Open Enrollment Season is Here—Let’s Get Ready It’s that time of year again—Medicare Annual Enrollment! (AEP). Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or reviewing your current plan, the process can feel overwhelming. But with a little preparation (and the right support), you can make confident choices for your health and your wallet. Why Is Medicare Annual Enrollment So Important? The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period is your once-a-year opportunity to make changes that can better support your health and your finances. Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, this window gives you the freedom to shop around for better rates, switch to plans with improved benefits, or adjust your prescription coverage if your medications have changed. It’s also a chance to take advantage of any new offerings, like expanded telehealth or lower out-of-pocket costs for medications. By reviewing your options each year, you can ensure your plan still fits your needs—and avoid any surprises in the year ahead. You can now start looking at new plans beginning October 1 but enrollment cannot begin until October 15.   ***There has been a lot of attention drawn on the company United Health Care or...

When a loved one is living with dementia, misinformation can make an already stressful journey feel overwhelming. As nurse advocates, we hear the same myths repeated in clinic rooms, on social media, and even at family gatherings. Today, we’re debunking common myths with clear, compassionate facts—so you can make confident decisions and support your loved one with dignity. Not all dementias are the same Myth 1: “Memory loss is a normal part of aging—this is just getting older.” What families should know Practical next step Myth 2: “There’s nothing you can do after a dementia diagnosis.” What families should know Practical next step Myth 3: “Personality and behavior changes are willful—if they try harder, they’ll stop.” What families should know For example, one of our clients with Alzheimer’s Disease had a new night shift caregiver. We had 24/7 care set up in the home. We had an agency caregiver start that assured me they were experienced in caring for Alzheimer’s clients. Our client did not recognize her. Alzheimer’s patients can get very paranoid.   We left instructions for the caregivers on how to calm her and de-escalate any disturbing behaviors. Her faith was a big part of her life. She held...