355. How Christian Caregivers Keep Important Care Information From Getting Lost With Andrew Karesa

You may know your loved one better than almost anyone.

You know their history, preferences, routines, personality, and the things that help them feel safe and understood.

But what happens when more people become involved in their care?

A family member may be coordinating care. A companion caregiver may visit. A home-care provider may come into the home. Different organizations may become involved. Each person may see something different, notice something different, or communicate only part of what they know.

And when that information doesn't stay connected, something important about the person—and about what is actually happening—can be missed.

That is what Andrew Karesa experienced while his family cared for his grandmother through Alzheimer's. As her needs changed, more people became involved in her care, creating a need to keep important information connected across the caregiving situation.

In this episode, Andrew shares how that experience eventually inspired him to take action and create blueBell Village, with a focus on restoring the personhood and independence of people living with dementia.

When Important Care Information Gets Lost

In this episode, we will explore:

How Andrew's engineering background shaped the way he initially understood problems and caregiving

What his grandmother's Alzheimer's journey taught him about the realities of caregiving

How one family caregiver gradually became a larger network of people providing care