In this caregiver spotlight episode, meet Bruce McIntyre. For over 14 years, Bruce has helped care for his wife Kathy who has a rare autoimmune disease. Bruce is also the Executive Director of Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma. In this episode, we discuss moving in with extended family to obtain support, the power of resilience, how his wife’s disease has impacted their two children, and the monthly self-care practice that Bruce hasn’t missed in over a dozen years.
Listen to the show: Caregiver Spotlight – Bruce McIntyre
This podcast has two parts. Part 1 of 2:
Part 2 of 2:
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
- Bruce’s wife Kathy has a rare autoimmune disease called dermatomyositis.
- Bruce helped lead the Caregivers Fundamentals Program in Oklahoma City.
- Bruce is the Executive Director of the Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma
- Bruce’s wife nominated him for the Caregiving Visionary Award at the 2018 National Caregiving Conference and he received the award. Nominate someone for the 2019 Caregiving Visionary Award.
- Bruce and Elizabeth met at the National Caregiving Conference. The 2019 conference will take place November 7-10 with single or multi-day registration options. The majority of the speakers are current or former family caregivers. Consider submitting an idea for a presentation, becoming a volunteer, and nominating someone for a Caregiving Visionary Award. Or, if you are a business owner, consider becoming a sponsor or exhibitor.
- Learn more about in-home infusion therapy.
- Bruce’s self-care involves a time devoted to hiking or fishing and prayer at Martin Nature City Park in Oklahoma City.
- Below are the four books Bruce has written:
- Bruce mentions Brene Brown and her writings around the topics of fear and courage.
- Bruce was a minister for 15 years and now offers Spiritual Caregiving Seminars to uplift family caregivers and patients living with chronic health conditions.
- We hinted toward a future Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast guest and how she listens and writes down what she overhears and posts them on her Instagram account Instagram. She calls herself an ‘ear hustler’.
- Elizabeth is delighted to speak at the Oklahoma City Caregiver Appreciation luncheon for the Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma on February 8th.
- The picture below shows Elizabeth with Bruce and Amy Goyer of AARP on a panel at the first National Caregiving Convention sharing with family caregivers on the topic of Coping with Difficult Days.
- Learn more about Bruce and his programs and resources at BruceMcIntyre.com
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Favorite moments & quotes from the episode
“She [Bruce’s daughter] was telling her baby doll the things that my wife had told her. ‘Mandy, mommy loves you very much but she can’t pick you up. You’ll just have to climb up here on the sofa and get in my lap very carefully and mommy will hold you.'” – Bruce McIntyre
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