Chris MacLellan Untangles The Whole Care Network

Chris MacLellan is well-known in caregiving circles. You might know him as The Bow Tie Guy – because, he says, “Wearing a bow tie is like wearing two smiles." Or you might know him from his caregiving blog, The Purple Jacket, where he chronicled his and his partner Richard’s journey with esophageal cancer. Or you might know him as the founder of The Whole Care Network, featuring a variety of podcasts, blogs and videos to provide caregivers with much needed resources. In fact, Chris is the reason this podcast exists! A few years back, he approached our management team with the idea of doing a podcast. After much thought we realized how a podcast could further our mission and here we are today, more than 60 episodes in. Thanks for the suggestion, Chris! Chris is the author of "What's The Deal with Caregiving?" a powerful and compelling book written from his own experience that informs caregivers about how to deal with the challenges they will encounter, regardless of sexual orientation, family situation, or age. The book is part memoir/part how-to, as he shares his and Richard’s stories and experiences from their caregiving journey. He and Richard were fortunate to have their story chronicled in a 2015 Pulitzer Prize-nominated 3-part story “In Sickness and In Health: A Couple’s Final Journey” which told their journey of caregiving, the challenges LGBT partners have in dealing with the medical and legal system, and the love and joy his partner Richard's last years had on their relationship. Their story has been read by over 500,000 people world-wide since it was published in April of 2014.  In this episode we discuss the value storytelling podcasts bring to caregiving, walking into caregiving with eyes wide open, and the beauty of the extended family of caregiving. After the Podcast Read "What's The Deal with Caregiving?" on Amazon. Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales. Watch “Our Story - In Sickness and in Health: A Couple's Final Journey” Read In Sickness and in Health: A Couple's Final Journey Read Life After Death: A Couples Story Sparks Change Read Saying Goodbye: Navigating the Change of Moving On Watch When Dad Has Dementia on YouTube Connect with Chris The Whole Care Network LinkedIn *** About the Podcast AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here. Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here. Thanks for listening. We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network Find us on The World Podcast Network and babyboomer.org Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know Shop our Store Join our book club

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Welcome to the AlzAuthors podcast! We’re so glad you found us. We're the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Join us as one of our authors shares their dementia journey, revealing intimate details and painfully obtained knowledge to help others currently on this path. We hope our stories offer comfort and support as we strive to break the silence and stigma surrounding a dementia diagnosis. May one of our authors speak to your experience. For more info please visit https://alzauthors.com. Featuring Marianne Sciucco, RN Podcast producer and host Marianne Sciucco is a co-founder and director at AlzAuthors and a registered nurse who cared for hundreds of dementia patients over a 20-year career. She provided care to her stepfather during his dementia journey and witnessed the painful decline of four beloved aunts to the disease. Her novel, "Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story," is based on a couple she met through her work and is a testament to the power of love in the face of this heart-wrenching disease. Learn more about Marianne at AlzAuthors.com. Purchase "Blue Hydrangeas" Featuring Christy Byrne Yates, M.S., LEP Christy is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), retired school psychologist, author, speaker and coach/consultant. Her book, “Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation” recounts her journey as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. Combining her lived experience with her professional expertise in human development, wellness and a strengths based approach to finding solutions, Christy develops content, workshops and coaching to support Sandwiched families. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work. She’s worked with care communities, financial professionals, estate planners and employers. Christy has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and graduate credentials in both education and school psychology. Learn more about Christy at AlzAuthors.com. AlzAuthors is an Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small commission on book sales at no cost to you.