Season 2, Episode 3 – Show Notes and Resource Links

February 13, 2022

By Sherri Snelling

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Caregiving Love Stories & Sanctuary Spaces at Home

We’re launching this episode on February 14 – Valentine’s Day – so it’s a perfect time to look at the special caregiving role of spouses and partners. This episode also celebrates National Caregiver Day on February 18 and the ways we can practice more self-care at any time but especially when caregiving and in our home living environments.

In this episode we talk to Dr. Jessica Zitter, a hospice and critical care doctor who is also a documentary filmmaker. She talks to Sherri about her new film, “Caregiver: A Love Story” which is a poignant picture of what spouses go through when their partner is diagnosed with a terminal illness. We learn about what palliative care is and how to prepare for loss of a loved one.

Dr. Jessica Zitter screens the movie for oganizations and also offers educational workshops

Caregiver Wellness News

Sherri also provides Caregiver Wellness information specifically for spouses and partners who tend to take on more physical caregiving tasks themselves that can impact their health over time. Resources to various spousal caregiving support groups and resources can be found below under RESOURCES.

Sherri also shares some of the celebrity caregiving love stories of people she has interviewed on TV and for articles including: lifestyle guru B. Smith and her husband Dan Gasby, Kim Campbell wife of country music star Glen Campbell, and Sylvia Mackey, wife of NFL Super Bowl star of the 60s and 70s “No. 88” former Baltimore Colt, John Mackey. See links to these stories below in ARTICLES.

Pop Culture

Since this episode is dedicated to “love” and highlights caregivers as heroes for National Caregiver Day on February 18, Sherri highlights her favorite spousal caregiving love story movies including: Love Story, Ordinary Love, Amour, Away From Her, Still Alice, What They Had, The Notebook, The Theory of Everything and A Beautiful Mind.

The 1970 iconic original spousal caregiving movie “Love Story” starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw

Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville star in a movie about breast cancer and spousal caregiving

A family story of Alzheimer’s with a touching spousal caregiving message “What They Had”

Sherri’s Top 10 films of all time this Alzheimer’s love story will touch your heart “The Notebook”

A very real look at early onset Alzheimer’s and how it affects both the person with the disease and their spouse “Sill Alice” – Julianne Moore won her Best Actress Academy Award for her role

“Amour” (“Love” in English) is a French film with subtitles that is a wrenching film of a spousal caregiver’s challenges to care for a wife with Alzheimer’s in older age

“Away From Her” is a heartbreakingly tough story as a husband watches his wife with Alzheimer’s forget who he is and fall in love with another resident at the memory care community where she now lives

The Theory of Everything” is the love story of Stephen Hawking who has ALS and the wife who supported his “big bang theory” – Hawking’s famous line, “Where there is life, there is hope” is a theme for all spoual caregivers

“A Beautiful Mind” tells the true story of brilliant John Nash who struggled with mental illness and his wife who believed in him

Wellness Home Design News

For Well Home Design that helps caregivers find more self-care at home and to celebrate National Caregiver Day on February 18, Sherri talks color trends in home design including rosy pink to create calm and optimism, and how to create sanctuary spaces for much-needed escapes for caregivers. These retreats, such as spa bathrooms and nooks for relaxation, use universal design and biophilic design principles to bring nature into the home for wellness and longevity.

1. Noir Square green and soft pink roses that last 12 months or more from Glam Fleur ($200 – $300); 2. Safavieh’s Ollie Faux Alligator Table Lamps in dark green (Riverbend Home, 2-lamp set $218); 3. Matcha: A Lifestyle Guide coffee table book from Amazon ($39.99); 4. Nirupa Wide Swivel Club Chair in olive from Wayfair ($500); 5. Pink metal rolling cart from Target ($35); 6. Rose Quartz Bonsai Tree of Life from Kalifano.com ($91); 7. Lily Pulitzer “Chimply Chic” pattern for the Jane Goodall Foundation from Lily Pulitzer (price upon request); 8. Botanical removable peel and stick wallpaper from Home Depot ($30 a roll); 9. Waypoint green and pink globe from Amazon ($54); 10. Cassella 20-inch tall tray top pedestal table from Wayfair ($625); 11. Rose gold faucet from Kohler ($782); 12. Pink palm tree feather floor lamp from Kwoking.com ($261); 13. Pink and green checker velvet throw pillow from 2Modern ($155); 14. Moss green velvet throw pillow from Crate and Barrel ($30)

Me Time Monday Wellness Hack

Sherri ends each podcast episode with a special wellness hack from her upcoming book, Me Time Monday – The Weekly Wellness Edit for a Wonderful Life. In this episode we continue our 2022 theme of “Live Colorfully” explaining the color psychology and scientific studies behind pink colors, pink clouds, living with rose-colored glasses and looking for silver linings.

RESOURCE LINKS

Dr. Jessica Zitter – filmmaker, “Caregiver: A Love Story”

Well Spouse Association – national network of local and online support groups, resource directory, mentoring program and other helpful information and social connections

Caregivers Connect – a private Facebook community with about 5,000 members

ALS – support groups

Alzheimer’s Association – support groups

American Cancer Society – support groups

MS Society – support groups

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research – support groups

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) – support groups

Military Spouses support:

Elizabeth Dole Foundation – Hidden Heroes Program

Project Sanctuary

Military One Source – support groups for spousal caregivers

Operation Homefront