All Home Care Matters

Who handles the appointments, medical records, phone calls, transportation, and constant changes when an aging parent wants to remain at home? For millions of family caregivers, coordinating care can become a second full-time job. In this episode of All Home Care Matters, host Lance A. Slatton welcomes Dan Dzina, Founder of Averyn Care, for an important conversation about long-distance caregiving, aging in place, healthcare coordination, and the often-overlooked administrative burden families shoulder while supporting aging loved ones. Dan spent more than a decade building and operating Medicare care management programs, helping develop a technology-enabled clinical services organization with a team of roughly 400. Yet when his own mother's health declined in 2025, he discovered that the systems he knew so well could not handle the everyday coordination his family needed. Appointments changed. Information lived in different offices. Callbacks arrived unpredictably. Every adjustment created more work, all while Dan was running a business and raising a family of his own. His solution began with hiring a personal assistant to manage the family's administrative follow-through. That experience became Averyn Care, a non-clinical service designed to help families manage the logistics of aging in place without losing control of important decisions. In this episode, discover: Why even families familiar with the healthcare system can struggle to coordinate care The challenges of supporting an aging parent from a distance Why planning for the years of gradual decline matters alongside financial and end-of-life planning How medical records, appointments, transportation, pharmacy coordination, and communication can overwhelm family caregivers What a dedicated Care Continuity Partner does to support families and their care professionals How technology can organize information without becoming another responsibility for caregivers The importance of reducing caregiver stress while helping older adults maintain independence at home About Dan Dzina Dan Dzina is the Founder of Averyn Care, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. With a background in software engineering and more than a decade in healthcare operations, he has worked across Medicare care management, physician practices, clinical teams, and care coordination. His personal experience navigating his mother's declining health inspired him to create a service focused on the administrative work families often have to carry alone. About Averyn Care Averyn Care provides families nationwide with a dedicated Care Continuity Partner who manages non-clinical administrative follow-through. Its one-time Averyn Record Vault organizes medical records, authorizations, and healthcare portal access into a portable resource owned by the family. Ongoing Continuity Plans provide a dedicated concierge phone number and email, coordination of appointments and transportation, records and pharmacy follow-up, and weekly family updates. Averyn works alongside, not in place of, geriatric care managers, Aging Life Care professionals, home care agencies, and other trusted providers. The company also works with employers seeking caregiving benefits for their teams. As Averyn puts it: "We wait on hold, you stay in control." If this conversation resonates with you, please like this episode, subscribe to All Home Care Matters, and share it with someone navigating the challenges of family caregiving.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton, were honored to welcome author and caregiver advocate Rikki Jo Neyer and her mother, Elena Bindas, for an extraordinary conversation about their nearly nine-year journey through a devastating medical mystery, the realities of family caregiving, and a daughter's determination to find answers. When a steel truss struck Elena at work, the resulting traumatic head injury changed her family's life forever. Over the next eight years, Elena experienced debilitating symptoms as medical professionals searched for answers. Diagnoses included depression, a movement disorder, and chronic pain, but none fully explained her condition. Throughout those years, Rikki served as her mother's primary caregiver and advocate. She navigated medical appointments, unanswered questions, and the emotional toll of watching someone she loved struggle with an illness no one could fully explain. Refusing to give up, Rikki continued researching her mother's symptoms and eventually identified information about catatonia following brain injury. After eight years, five months, and eight days, one dose of an appropriate medication brought about a remarkable change in Elena's condition. During this deeply personal conversation, Rikki and Elena share the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, the toll of prolonged medical uncertainty, and the importance of listening to family caregivers whose observations may hold vital clues. Their story highlights the power of persistence, advocacy, and hope. The episode also explores Rikki's memoir, "Do You Believe in Miracles? Our Journey Out of Darkness and Into the Light," which chronicles their experience and shares resources for families, including information about the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale and questions to raise with healthcare professionals. 📖 Do You Believe in Miracles? Our Journey Out of Darkness and Into the Light Author: Rikki Jo Neyer Publisher: Lucid Books | 2026 Discover the Book: https://a.co/d/0h62qf8a More than a memoir, the book tells a story of love, faith, perseverance, and the bond between a mother and daughter. It explores the emotional exhaustion of caregiving, the strain on family relationships, and the struggle to be heard when medical answers remain elusive. Written with Elena's blessing, Rikki's book aims to raise awareness of catatonia and help other families access information that might prompt earlier conversations with qualified medical professionals. For caregivers who feel unheard and families searching for answers, Rikki and Elena's experience offers encouragement and a reminder that their voices matter. About Rikki Jo Neyer Rikki Jo Neyer is a first-time author, classically trained singer, and caregiver advocate from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For nearly nine years, she served as the primary caregiver and advocate for her mother, Elena Bindas, following a traumatic head injury that caused years of debilitating, unexplained symptoms. Despite numerous medical evaluations, Rikki continued searching for answers. Her research led her to recognize the possibility of catatonia following brain injury, helping change the direction of her mother's care. Their journey inspired Rikki to advocate for catatonia awareness, better recognition of complex conditions, and greater support for family caregivers. Through her writing, she hopes others will feel empowered to ask questions, share observations, and seek appropriate medical evaluations. About Do You Believe in Miracles? "Do You Believe in Miracles? Our Journey Out of Darkness and Into the Light" is Rikki Jo Neyer's memoir about her mother's workplace injury, years of medical uncertainty, and their family's determination to find answers. Published by Lucid Books in 2026, it recounts the sacrifices of caregiving and the impact of a condition that went unrecognized for years. The book also introduces readers to catatonia and the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, a clinical assessment tool families may discuss with healthcare professionals. Through honesty and compassion, Rikki offers a resource for caregivers and families confronting difficult, unexplained medical circumstances.

All Home Care Matters and host Lance A. Slatton welcome back Dr. Vicki Wright-Hamilton, founder of VWH Technology, LLC and creator of PeacefulCare.ai, for an important conversation about family caregiving, caregiver burnout, the emotional responsibilities of caring for loved ones, and how technology can help families find greater clarity, connection, and peace of mind. Family caregivers often juggle medications, appointments, daily routines, changing health needs, and family communication while managing careers, raising children, and protecting their own well-being. Too often, one person becomes the center of the entire care system, carrying responsibilities others may never fully see. With more than four decades of executive leadership and a lifetime of personal caregiving experience, Dr. Wright-Hamilton understands those pressures firsthand. Her work with PeacefulCare.ai is focused on helping families move from scattered information to shared understanding. Rather than simply tracking tasks, PeacefulCare.ai helps families recognize patterns, coordinate responsibilities, communicate more effectively, and support caregiver wellness. A special focus of this episode is Dr. Wright-Hamilton's upcoming FREE live webinar, THE CAREGIVER RELIEF ROOM, created to offer encouragement, practical insights, and resources for caregivers feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure what comes next. 🧡 THE CAREGIVER RELIEF ROOM — FREE LIVE WEBINAR 📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026 🕐 1:00 PM Eastern Time 💻 Live on Zoom | Free to Attend REGISTER HERE: https://reliefroom.vwhtechnologyllc.ai/ "Less Chaos. More Care. More You." Hosted by Dr. Vicki Wright-Hamilton, this webinar brings together four voices committed to helping caregivers navigate the emotional, practical, and personal challenges of supporting a loved one: • Dr. Vicki Wright-Hamilton — Founder of PeacefulCare.ai, exploring how connected care information and caregiver intelligence can create a calmer, more informed experience. • Lance A. Slatton — Founder and Host of All Home Care Matters, President of AlzAuthors, and caregiver advocate, sharing why he supports the mission behind PeacefulCare.ai. • Gwendolyn Arrington — AltheonIQ, introducing a mindset-focused app designed to support people working through emotional and mental challenges. • Kellye Davis — Family Care Advisor, discussing how to recognize when additional in-home care and support may be needed. Whether caring for an aging parent, a spouse living with dementia, or another loved one, caregivers deserve care, understanding, and support, too. ✅ Register for this free webinar: https://reliefroom.vwhtechnologyllc.ai/ ABOUT DR. VICKI WRIGHT-HAMILTON Dr. Vicki Wright-Hamilton is the founder of VWH Technology, LLC and creator of PeacefulCare.ai. Her more than 40 years of leadership experience include roles as Chief Operating Officer, Interim CIO, transformation strategist, consultant, speaker, and advisor. Through VWH Consulting, she helps executives navigate disruptive technology and artificial intelligence with a people-first approach to leadership and change. Her mission is deeply personal. As a child, she helped her mother care for her grandmother and great aunt; her great aunt ultimately passed away holding her hand. As an adult, she and her husband cared for his brother for 26 years. During a seven-year period, she was also the simultaneous primary caregiver for four additional loved ones while raising her family and continuing her career. These experiences revealed what happens when one individual becomes the center of an entire family's caregiving responsibilities. ABOUT PEACEFULCARE.AI PeacefulCare.ai is an AI-powered caregiver intelligence platform designed to help families coordinate care, understand patterns, support caregiver wellness, and stay connected. Most caregiving apps help families manage care. PeacefulCare.ai helps families understand care. By bringing together information on medications, appointments, mood, sleep, appetite, routines, care notes, tasks, family updates, and caregiver wellness, the platform can help families notice changes that might otherwise be overlooked and gain a fuller picture of their loved one's needs. CONNECT WITH PEACEFULCARE.AI 🌐 Official Website: https://peacefulcare.ai/ 🧡 Free Webinar Registration: https://reliefroom.vwhtechnologyllc.ai/

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton, were honored to welcome back Mike Weinberger and Denice Kennedy, co-founders of CARA For Workplace and CaregiverCompanion.ai, for an important conversation about working family caregivers, the hidden impact of caregiving on America's workforce, and the introduction of CARA Family. Across the country, millions of employees are balancing their careers with the responsibility of caring for an aging parent, spouse, family member, or loved one. Behind the workday are medical appointments, medication schedules, difficult family conversations, unexpected emergencies, financial pressures, and decisions that often cannot wait until business hours. According to the 2025 Caregiving in the U.S. report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, approximately 63 million American adults provide ongoing care, and 70% of working-age caregivers of adults are employed. Yet many of these responsibilities remain invisible to supervisors, coworkers, and even the caregivers themselves. In this conversation, Mike and Denice join Lance to discuss how their own caregiving experiences inspired CARA, the Caregiver Advisory & Resource Assistant, and why meaningful caregiver support should be part of the workplace benefits conversation. Mike reflects on caring for his wife, Nora, who has Alzheimer's disease, and the overwhelming questions that led him to write My Wife Has Alzheimer's—Now What? Denice shares the lessons she learned caring for her father, who had dementia, and why caregivers need both compassion and practical guidance when navigating difficult decisions. Together, they explain how CARA For Workplace provides private, 24/7 caregiving support by text in more than 25 languages. CARA helps employees organize concerns, prepare questions for healthcare professionals, navigate difficult conversations, and identify practical next steps. A major focus of the episode is CARA Family, an extension of the workplace benefit that allows each employee to invite up to six family members, friends, caregivers, or other trusted supporters to access CARA's caregiving assistance at no additional cost through the benefit. Lance, Mike, and Denice discuss why caregiving rarely falls on one person, how a stronger support circle can share responsibilities, and what that means for employee well-being. The discussion also addresses caregiver burnout, workplace stress, employee retention, absenteeism, the challenges facing the sandwich generation, and why traditional employee assistance programs and flexible schedules may not fully address the everyday questions caregivers face. For employers, human resources leaders, benefits brokers, and workplace decision-makers, this episode explores how dedicated caregiver benefits can complement existing programs. At its heart, this conversation is a reminder that supporting family caregivers means recognizing the enormous responsibilities they carry, both at home and at work. About Mike Weinberger: Mike Weinberger is a co-founder of CARA For Workplace, CaregiverCompanion.ai, and Now What? Publishing LLC. His experience caring for his wife, Nora, following her Alzheimer's diagnosis inspired his book, My Wife Has Alzheimer's—Now What?, and his mission to help caregivers find compassionate guidance when they need it most. About Denice Kennedy: Denice Kennedy is a co-founder of CARA For Workplace, CaregiverCompanion.ai, and Now What? Publishing LLC. An entrepreneur, author, coach, and caregiver advocate, Denice draws on her experience caring for her father with dementia and years of leadership to help families move from overwhelm toward greater clarity and confidence. About CARA For Workplace: CARA For Workplace is an employee caregiving benefit designed to provide accessible, around-the-clock informational support for people navigating family caregiving. Through CARA, the Caregiver Advisory & Resource Assistant, employees can seek practical guidance, prepare for important conversations, and better understand their next steps. CARA is a support resource and does not replace medical, legal, financial, or emergency professionals.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton, were honored to welcome Dr. Stephen Steller, chiropractor and creator of the BareFoot Sandal, as a guest to the show. In this conversation, Dr. Steller joins Lance to discuss the story behind BareFoot Sandal, how more than 25 years as a chiropractor influenced its development, and why rethinking traditional footwear may help people feel more stable, connected, and confident. The idea for BareFoot Sandal began with a personal problem. After years of spending long days on his feet caring for patients while staying active with his wife and four children, Dr. Steller developed persistent foot pain and plantar fasciitis. As a chiropractor, he understood the importance of support and alignment, but he also preferred the freedom of walking barefoot. When he could not find footwear that combined those experiences, he began developing his own solution. Unlike a traditional sandal, slide, or flip-flop, the patented BareFoot Sandal supports the midfoot while leaving the toes and heel in contact with the ground. Dr. Steller explains how three specialized arches beneath the midfoot are designed to provide support while allowing the toes and heel to move naturally and maintain contact with the walking surface. Lance and Dr. Steller also explore why the sandal's heel-less design is different from conventional footwear. Because there is no traditional sole extending beyond the front of the toes, the design eliminates the projecting front edge that can catch against flooring, thresholds, rugs, or changes in surface height. The conversation also examines traction. BareFoot Sandal is made from flexible, non-toxic thermoplastic rubber designed to flex under pressure and increase contact with the surface beneath the wearer. It is intended to provide traction on both wet and dry surfaces, including bathrooms, showers, pool areas, spas, docks, gyms, smooth indoor flooring, and other everyday settings. For older adults, caregivers, and families focused on aging in place, mobility is about more than getting from one room to another. Confidence while walking, ground awareness, traction, ease of use, and natural movement can all influence how comfortable someone feels remaining active and independent. Lance and Dr. Steller discuss how BareFoot Sandal approaches support differently by concentrating it beneath the midfoot rather than placing the entire foot on a conventional sole. The goal is to support the foot while preserving a barefoot-like sense of ground awareness and natural movement. Dr. Steller also shares how users can select the appropriate size, become accustomed to the unique design, and his long-term vision for BareFoot Sandal. At its heart, the BareFoot Sandal story is about turning a personal challenge into a new approach to support, traction, movement, and everyday confidence. Step Secure. Live Endless. About Dr. Stephen Steller: Dr. Stephen Steller is a chiropractor with more than 25 years of experience working with the human body, movement, alignment, and musculoskeletal health. After years of long days caring for patients and maintaining an active lifestyle with his family, Dr. Steller began experiencing foot pain and plantar fasciitis. His search for a way to combine support with the natural feel of walking barefoot led him to develop an orthotic design featuring three specialized arches beneath the midfoot while keeping the toes and heel connected to the ground. After incorporating the design into his own routine and experiencing significant improvement in his discomfort, he continued developing the concept, eventually creating the patented BareFoot Sandal and a version designed to provide added traction for wet environments. About BareFoot Sandal: BareFoot Sandal is a patented, slip-resistant orthotic sandal designed to support the midfoot while keeping the toes and heel in contact with the ground. Its three-arch design is intended to support foot and ankle alignment while allowing natural movement and ground awareness. Its heel-less, toe-exposed design eliminates the traditional sole projecting beyond the toes, while its flexible thermoplastic rubber construction is designed to provide traction on wet and dry surfaces. BareFoot Sandal was created for people seeking a unique combination of support, natural movement, traction, ground awareness, and ease of use at home, near water, at the gym, during recovery, and in everyday life.