Meet family caregiver and elder law attorney Cathy Sikorski. Cathy has been a significant caregiver for 8 different family members. In this episode we talk about how caregiving inspired her career, what documents every person needs to have, humor as a caregiver coping mechanism, and the importance of sharing our stories.
Listen to the show: Caregiver Spotlight – Cathy Sikorski
Watch the Show
Cathy was gracious enough to be our first podcast guest to not only have audio recorded but also video.
Words of Encouragement
Each episode starts off with a few words of inspiration or motivation that is pulled from the Happy Healthy Caregiver Jar.
Links & Resources Mentioned
- Cathy recognizes she is a ‘smash and grab eater’. Healthy snacks Cathy mentions: nuts, fruit, cheese squares.
- Cathy is currently helping her 91 old mom who lives independently nearby.
- More information about becoming a Certified Caregiving Consultant or how to work with me as your caregiving coach.
- Cathy has written two books – the first is a funny memoir of her life when she was raising her two-year old and caring for her 92-year-old Nana called Showing with Nana: Confessions of a Serial (
killer)…Caregiver. Her second book, Who Moved My Teeth? Preparing for Self, Loved Ones and Caregiving is a practical resource based on her knowledge and experiences.
- Cathy encourages you to investigate your employee benefits that often go unused: aging services, long term care insurance, FMLA, discounted legal services, and acquiring vacation time donated other team members.
- Podcast episode with Lenore Tracey includes much more information on employee benefits including one platform called Torchlight.
- Cathy is sharing a 5 minute caregiving story on resilience in an upcoming contest with SpeakerSlam.ca.
- Podcast episode with Breeda Miller also dives into the topic of slam story sharing.
- A non-fiction book Cathy recommends is called My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor. Jill is Harvard-trained neuroanatomist—a scientist who specializes in how the brain works. In 1996, she suffered a massive stroke when a blood vessel burst in the left hemisphere of her brain. She was rushed to the emergency room and treated, but it took a full eight years for Jill to journey back. This book is her detailed account of the day of her stroke and the subsequent years of recovery.
- All of the prompts from the lightning round segment of the show are borrowed from Elizabeth’s book Just For You: a Daily Self-Care Journal.
- Cathy recommends working with an elder law attorney who is in your state or the state of your loved one. You can search for one that is a fit for you on National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
- To connect with Cathy, read her blog, buy her book, and inquire about her speaking services visit cathysikorski.com. You can also find Cathy on Twitter.
Favorite moments & quotes from the episode
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- Email Elizabeth with questions or comments about the show or to request information about sponsoring the show.
