Episode 50

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Published on:

4th Jan 2023

Disability and Caregiving

What happens when you’re both a caregiver and, at the same, disabled yourself?    In this episode my guest Daniel Hodges, JD, who is blind, was a caregiver for his parents and children while needing special care himself from the medical community.  We discuss how he was able to succeed at this, by being a non-stop advocate for himself and those around him to overcome surprising biases and other obstacles put in his way.  Our conversation includes:

  • How to get doctors to treat you with respect
  • How to get more time when needed.
  • What happens when a doctor wants to “Fix” you or your loved one – and it goes wrong
  • When the doctor goes outside the box to be a savior/hero
  • How quality of care can decline if you’re perceived to have a disability.
  • Bias and ignorance in the medical community and how to make things work in your favor

In addition, we dive into how best to sharpen your own self-advocacy skills and get more from your doctor and healthcare providers, than the average person. Learn how to work the system before it works you over! 

Special Note: I am fortunate to have Daniel as a friend and guest here on the Eldercare Success podcast. I am confident that his words and experiences will be lessons that you, the listener will learn from too. Nancy

The TRANSCRIPT for this show is available by clicking here.

Guest: Daniel Hodges, JD Social entrepreneur, connector, and servant leader. My unique approach to access, inclusion, and health equity facilitates real solutions. When each of us has a chance to succeed, all of us benefit. He is the cofounder of Pure Access and the President and Founder of The Peaces of Me Foundation.

Daniel was born blind, and with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos syndrome. His constellation of symptoms is so rare that they have never appeared together in any medical text that I have been able to find. He says "Sometimes I struggle to lead with this part of my story because my health struggles do not define me. EDS has taken a lot of things, but it will not take my identity. Nevertheless, my experiences provide me with a valuable lens through which I view the world. It inspires me to question the status quo on several levels, and it causes me to dream of what we can yet achieve."

Host:  Nancy May, Author of How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After!  is an expert in managing the path of step-by-step caring for aging parents, even from over 1200 miles away. For a free, fillable File-of-Life go to www.howtosurvive911.com. Nancy is also the Co-Founder of CareManity LLC, and the private FaceBook group, Eldercare Success.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show guests and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of the host or the producer CareManity, LLC. The information discussed should not be considered or used as medical, legal, or financial advice. Please seek the advice of your own personal medical, legal or financial advisors as each person’s situation is different. (c) Copyright 2022 CareManity, LLC all rights reserved.

CareManity is a trademark of CareManity, LLC.



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About the Podcast

Eldercare Success
Doing It Best with Eldercare Success
Join us in Doing it Best with Eldercare Success where we explore ways to relieve the stress, exhaustion and overwhelm that we all face in caring for an aging parent, frail spouse, or partner. Fear, frustration, emotional and financial strain do not have to be your MO! In this show, we dive into unraveling the tricks, traps, and gotchas that create more questions than answers while caring for those we love.
Join Nancy May, and her guests as she helps relieve the pressures and delivers solid ways to find more joy and freedom as we care for those with those we love. Here you’ll learn how to find the ground under your feet again. Hang tight there’s a better road ahead.
keeping our feet on solid ground. Hang tight there’s a better road ahead.

About your host

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Nancy May

Nancy May is a corporate leader, business advisor, author, speaker, and nationally recognized podcast host. She has spent her career working with CEOs, Boards of Directors, and senior leaders in the public and private corporate sectors. These experiences gave her the strength and foundation to step in and provide her parents with guidance and support, both as their POA and Trustee, and diehard advocate as they aged. Nancy credits her father an entrepreneur, innovator of innovative eyewear design, and her mom for encouraging and preparing her to acquire the many skills needed to start, build, and lead several successful businesses. She has transitioned these competencies and life lessons to into her new business, CareManity, LLC, which focuses on providing family caregivers structured ways to obtain practical knowledge, resources, and access much-needed support.