WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:07.052 --> 00:00:09.962 Candace Dellacona: Welcome to the Sandwich Generation Survival Guide. 00:00:09.962 --> 00:00:16.082 I am your host, Candace Dellacona, and I have such a treat for our listeners 00:00:16.082 --> 00:00:22.082 today, I have two amazing women, founders of an amazing organization 00:00:22.082 --> 00:00:23.162 that we're gonna talk about. 00:00:23.522 --> 00:00:25.772 Nicole àBeckett and Dr. 00:00:25.802 --> 00:00:27.362 Shruti Roy. 00:00:27.422 --> 00:00:28.562 Welcome ladies. 00:00:29.147 --> 00:00:29.882 Nicole àBeckett: Thank you. 00:00:31.397 --> 00:00:34.647 Candace Dellacona: So for our listeners, we'll give you, time 00:00:34.647 --> 00:00:36.097 to talk about your background. 00:00:36.097 --> 00:00:37.097 But Dr. 00:00:37.097 --> 00:00:39.077 Roy, I'm gonna call you Shruti. 00:00:39.077 --> 00:00:42.037 You've been so kind to allow us the informality. 00:00:42.037 --> 00:00:43.387 And I'll call you Nicole, of course. 00:00:43.667 --> 00:00:48.917 We're gonna talk about your amazing and revolutionary platform 00:00:49.067 --> 00:00:51.167 called the Hero Generation. 00:00:51.167 --> 00:00:54.742 So why don't we start though a little bit about who you 00:00:54.742 --> 00:00:56.872 both are and how you got here. 00:00:57.947 --> 00:00:58.637 Nicole àBeckett: Sure. 00:00:58.637 --> 00:01:01.917 Again, thank you Candace, for having us and allowing us the opportunity 00:01:01.917 --> 00:01:03.837 to share about Hero Generation. 00:01:04.287 --> 00:01:09.567 Really the genesis of it came at the start of my caregiving journey, 00:01:09.567 --> 00:01:11.547 which was about 10 years ago. 00:01:11.577 --> 00:01:15.687 My dad was ending his 15 year battle with cancer. 00:01:15.687 --> 00:01:18.717 He had elected to, forego any further treatment, so we 00:01:18.717 --> 00:01:21.162 kind of knew what was coming. 00:01:21.162 --> 00:01:24.992 I was also six months pregnant at the time, and I wasn't in the 00:01:24.992 --> 00:01:29.132 Sandwich Generation when I started, but I certainly was by the time 00:01:29.132 --> 00:01:31.672 my dad had, finished his battle. 00:01:31.722 --> 00:01:37.302 I have a 20 year background in startups and I was looking for a 00:01:37.302 --> 00:01:42.012 platform at that time to help me with all the information and everything 00:01:42.012 --> 00:01:43.962 that was happening in that moment. 00:01:43.962 --> 00:01:47.322 My mom was my dad's primary caregiver, but I was really supporting her. 00:01:47.922 --> 00:01:51.702 We were trying to figure out what's palliative care versus hospice care. 00:01:51.702 --> 00:01:55.482 I have a very large family who all wanted to help. 00:01:55.812 --> 00:01:57.822 They all wanted, were coming in saying, what can I do? 00:01:57.822 --> 00:01:58.302 What can I do? 00:01:58.302 --> 00:02:00.672 And as you can imagine, even just talking about it it's 00:02:00.672 --> 00:02:02.772 incredibly complex and stressful. 00:02:02.772 --> 00:02:06.132 And I was looking for something to help me manage during that time and 00:02:06.132 --> 00:02:11.592 really bring some organization to the chaos, both, physically and emotionally 00:02:11.592 --> 00:02:13.062 that was happening at that time. 00:02:13.062 --> 00:02:17.562 And again, I didn't find anything that really suited what I was looking 00:02:17.562 --> 00:02:22.842 for and my dad passed in end of 2015 and then, you just go on with life. 00:02:23.442 --> 00:02:27.762 And my mom, who had long suffered from a chronic lung disease, actually, 00:02:27.762 --> 00:02:32.382 just a few years later, really needed a lot more support and I had to 00:02:32.382 --> 00:02:34.422 step in as her primary caregiver. 00:02:34.422 --> 00:02:39.902 I'd had my second child by this time, so, again, I was just looking to bring 00:02:39.902 --> 00:02:45.362 some organization to the chaos that was happening by being a caregiver. 00:02:45.812 --> 00:02:47.912 Stepping in, so many people know this role. 00:02:47.912 --> 00:02:52.322 You step in, you're helping with doctor's appointments, you're administering 00:02:52.322 --> 00:02:57.542 medication, you are picking up groceries, you are fixing stuff at the house. 00:02:57.542 --> 00:02:58.172 All of this. 00:02:58.967 --> 00:03:03.277 Intense work that you now have to do on top of your daily life of 00:03:03.277 --> 00:03:05.227 raising a family, working, et cetera. 00:03:05.737 --> 00:03:08.647 And so again, I was looking for a platform that could really 00:03:08.797 --> 00:03:14.787 bring some normalcy or bring some information and support in that time. 00:03:14.787 --> 00:03:16.227 And I didn't find anything. 00:03:16.277 --> 00:03:20.492 In addition to some community, I was in my thirties and I didn't really 00:03:20.492 --> 00:03:24.422 know how many peers or friends that were going through this, and so I 00:03:24.422 --> 00:03:27.632 knew there had to be other people out there, but it was difficult to connect. 00:03:28.052 --> 00:03:30.032 Wasn't big at connecting on Facebook. 00:03:30.032 --> 00:03:34.772 So anyway, went through and my mom ended up passing in 2021, and so it 00:03:34.772 --> 00:03:39.062 was after that I said we need to do something to support family caregivers. 00:03:39.062 --> 00:03:43.262 I've now been through this situation twice and I just haven't found 00:03:43.262 --> 00:03:45.492 a resource that can support me. 00:03:45.492 --> 00:03:51.732 And so I'm gonna go through and build a platform that really brings collaboration. 00:03:51.782 --> 00:03:54.932 People who say they wanna help, we need to make it easy for them to help. 00:03:55.607 --> 00:03:58.907 Easy way to find resources and a easy way to connect with 00:03:58.907 --> 00:04:00.167 other people going through it. 00:04:00.167 --> 00:04:04.097 And I was actually put in touch with Shruti who was going 00:04:04.097 --> 00:04:05.687 through it in that moment. 00:04:05.747 --> 00:04:08.807 And we just connected and said, we need to build this. 00:04:08.807 --> 00:04:12.797 And Shruti you should tell your story because it's, you're going through it now. 00:04:13.457 --> 00:04:13.747 Candace Dellacona: Yeah. 00:04:13.772 --> 00:04:14.162 Thank you. 00:04:15.092 --> 00:04:15.093 Dr. Shruti Roy: 00:04:15.092 --> 00:04:15.302 Yeah. 00:04:15.302 --> 00:04:18.902 As Nicole said, I am actually currently a caregiver now. 00:04:19.262 --> 00:04:25.262 I became a caregiver last year when my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. 00:04:25.892 --> 00:04:28.982 And they live about three blocks away from me, my mom and my dad. 00:04:28.982 --> 00:04:30.422 And I knew that my mom. 00:04:30.932 --> 00:04:31.592 She was strong. 00:04:31.592 --> 00:04:36.782 She can do most of the daily activities to help him out with whatever he would need. 00:04:37.092 --> 00:04:42.072 But a few weeks after he got diagnosed with Parkinson's, my mom broke her hip 00:04:42.072 --> 00:04:46.062 and was hospitalized and then she had a bunch of complications after that. 00:04:46.632 --> 00:04:50.952 And so I became the primary caregiver for both of my parents and I still am 00:04:50.952 --> 00:04:53.692 today while also raising three kids. 00:04:53.842 --> 00:04:57.922 I am there in the sandwich generation living it every day right now. 00:04:57.972 --> 00:05:01.422 But, I've been practicing medicine for many years. 00:05:01.482 --> 00:05:06.282 And even though I had the background of medicine and having worked in 00:05:06.282 --> 00:05:11.872 hospitals and, worked with discharging patients, when it was time for my 00:05:11.872 --> 00:05:14.992 mom's discharge, I was very lost. 00:05:15.052 --> 00:05:19.432 I was having a hard time navigating the healthcare system. 00:05:19.762 --> 00:05:23.152 I was having trouble managing my emotions around everything 00:05:23.152 --> 00:05:24.592 that was going on as well. 00:05:25.022 --> 00:05:29.612 And I remember when I walked into her hospital room and they told me that 00:05:29.612 --> 00:05:33.662 she was ready to be discharged, going home, I was just in shock and was 00:05:33.662 --> 00:05:35.312 like, I have nothing at home for her. 00:05:35.312 --> 00:05:40.082 I need a wheelchair, a wheelchair ramp, a shower bench, et cetera. 00:05:40.112 --> 00:05:45.902 And it just, it was very, very overwhelming even for me as a physician. 00:05:47.192 --> 00:05:50.347 Candace Dellacona: So you both said so much there, but I think what's so 00:05:50.347 --> 00:05:54.217 interesting in the commonality that the three of us, and probably many 00:05:54.217 --> 00:05:58.817 of our audience members share, is that here we are, three smart women. 00:05:59.187 --> 00:06:02.227 With resources, education, a background. 00:06:02.617 --> 00:06:06.397 Pretty capable individuals as I'm sure all of our audience members 00:06:06.397 --> 00:06:09.427 are, and the feeling of overwhelm. 00:06:10.027 --> 00:06:13.567 And I think one of the things that you just said, Nicole, was like trying to 00:06:13.627 --> 00:06:19.087 organize the chaos and Shruti, here you are as this trained physician feeling the 00:06:19.087 --> 00:06:22.047 same feelings that Nicole and I have felt. 00:06:22.047 --> 00:06:24.247 It sort of makes me feel better, if I'm honest. 00:06:24.547 --> 00:06:30.712 Because no it, it's not just me and it's, not a short fall of our abilities. 00:06:31.152 --> 00:06:40.077 And so the two of you, really spearheading the combination of technology 00:06:40.137 --> 00:06:46.587 and caregiving resources is truly remarkable Hero Generation in general. 00:06:46.587 --> 00:06:49.347 Let's get in to talk about what it is exactly. 00:06:49.347 --> 00:06:54.147 We've talked about that it's a platform, but tell us about the sort 00:06:54.147 --> 00:07:00.327 of three main pillars, if you will, the organization of the platform and 00:07:00.327 --> 00:07:04.707 how it can help maybe our caregivers who are dying to hear more about it. 00:07:05.937 --> 00:07:08.027 Nicole àBeckett: Yeah, we've all been there where somebody 00:07:08.027 --> 00:07:09.917 has said, what can I do to help? 00:07:10.437 --> 00:07:14.277 And in that moment, maybe you're driving and you're talking to them 00:07:14.277 --> 00:07:15.687 and you can't think of anything. 00:07:15.687 --> 00:07:17.597 Or when you do think of something, you're in the shower. 00:07:17.597 --> 00:07:20.867 And it's just, for me and many people that we've talked to, it's 00:07:20.867 --> 00:07:24.527 just there's no easy way or there hasn't been to bring in that help. 00:07:24.917 --> 00:07:27.557 Yet so many people, whether they're family, their friends, 00:07:27.557 --> 00:07:29.267 they wanna share in that journey. 00:07:29.762 --> 00:07:35.142 That's what eases the burden so much is when you can offload just, to-dos. 00:07:35.742 --> 00:07:39.672 And so what we really wanted to do with hero generation was make that easy. 00:07:40.062 --> 00:07:44.112 So what we've created in the three pillars that you mentioned, the first pillar 00:07:44.112 --> 00:07:46.542 is really that collaboration piece. 00:07:46.542 --> 00:07:51.042 And so within hero generation, you can invite team members, whether they're 00:07:51.042 --> 00:07:52.512 family, whether they're friends. 00:07:52.912 --> 00:07:54.742 To be part of the care team. 00:07:55.072 --> 00:07:59.122 And then you can go and create a to-do list and you can either assign things 00:07:59.132 --> 00:08:02.612 to specific people or you can leave them unassigned and you just tell them, 00:08:02.612 --> 00:08:04.442 go in and take things off my list. 00:08:04.442 --> 00:08:06.572 Assign yourself, whatever you can do. 00:08:07.047 --> 00:08:10.167 And so really it just makes it easy when someone says, what can I do to help? 00:08:10.167 --> 00:08:13.467 It's say, just go into hero generation and take something off 00:08:13.467 --> 00:08:16.347 my to-do list, or I'll send you something through hero generation. 00:08:16.677 --> 00:08:20.667 And what we also have in there is what's called the loved one's profile. 00:08:20.667 --> 00:08:25.167 So then it's one thing to say, Hey, to my brother who is really, really 00:08:25.167 --> 00:08:26.997 wanting to be part of it with my mom? 00:08:27.627 --> 00:08:28.467 What can I do to help? 00:08:28.467 --> 00:08:30.177 Can you take mom to her doctor's appointment? 00:08:30.897 --> 00:08:33.537 Well then I know the next question is gonna be, where's the doctor? 00:08:33.537 --> 00:08:34.887 What do I tell him? 00:08:34.937 --> 00:08:35.927 What needs to be done? 00:08:35.977 --> 00:08:39.207 So we created a space called the Loved One's profile, and that's where 00:08:39.207 --> 00:08:42.927 you can store all that information, their insurance, their doctor's name, 00:08:42.927 --> 00:08:46.677 the pharmacy, the medications, all the information that's pertinent 00:08:46.677 --> 00:08:48.177 to supporting the loved one. 00:08:48.667 --> 00:08:50.737 It's all there in one place. 00:08:50.857 --> 00:08:55.147 And we say that that's important for people, even if you're. 00:08:55.477 --> 00:08:57.997 Parent or your loved one doesn't have an acute need. 00:08:58.417 --> 00:09:02.437 It's just a great place to store information for that. 00:09:02.487 --> 00:09:04.647 That time when you do need it and then you're not scrambling 00:09:04.647 --> 00:09:05.967 and it just adds stress. 00:09:05.967 --> 00:09:09.717 I have my kids' profile in there, we're really trying to support the 00:09:10.377 --> 00:09:11.847 sandwich generation caregivers. 00:09:11.847 --> 00:09:15.387 You can have your maybe aging parent who might need more support, and then your 00:09:15.387 --> 00:09:18.657 children where you just wanna keep where their immunization records are, right. 00:09:18.657 --> 00:09:21.267 Without having to, where was the portal again? 00:09:21.267 --> 00:09:23.037 What was my long, uh, I don't remember. 00:09:23.332 --> 00:09:26.692 So that's the collaboration piece to really make it easy to 00:09:26.692 --> 00:09:28.822 bring people into the journey. 00:09:28.822 --> 00:09:33.312 There's also a section where you can keep notes again, so you're not saying 00:09:33.412 --> 00:09:37.792 to my brother, I sent that to you in a text message or it's in shared note. 00:09:37.792 --> 00:09:38.662 Where's the notes now? 00:09:38.662 --> 00:09:38.902 Where. 00:09:39.382 --> 00:09:43.912 It's all in one place In Hero Generation, we just, death caregiving 00:09:43.912 --> 00:09:45.532 is often death by a thousand cuts. 00:09:45.532 --> 00:09:48.722 It's one thing on top of another, and then you, the primary caregiver end 00:09:48.722 --> 00:09:49.922 up just saying, it's okay, forget it. 00:09:49.922 --> 00:09:51.062 I'll just do it myself. 00:09:51.572 --> 00:09:56.882 And that's when we become overwhelmed because we just can't offload things. 00:09:56.882 --> 00:10:00.372 And so we really wanted that piece to be the collaboration 00:10:00.372 --> 00:10:04.182 piece to be, it was really, really important to be able to share. 00:10:04.542 --> 00:10:07.062 Share the journey and share the load in caregiving. 00:10:07.572 --> 00:10:10.602 And then the other two pillars, of course, are, our resources. 00:10:10.602 --> 00:10:15.012 So we have a huge resource guide for tons of different conditions that you can find. 00:10:15.402 --> 00:10:18.462 And then in addition, we have expert led videos. 00:10:18.762 --> 00:10:23.622 So whether they're physicians, healthcare professionals, legal professionals. 00:10:24.002 --> 00:10:28.352 Mental health professionals, you can go through on your own time, find something 00:10:28.352 --> 00:10:31.972 that answers that question that you may have at, 3:00 AM when you're up 00:10:31.972 --> 00:10:34.952 and you can't sleep, or when you're on your lunch break or so, and you 00:10:34.952 --> 00:10:36.392 just, you're not gonna call the doctor. 00:10:36.392 --> 00:10:37.532 You're not gonna call somebody. 00:10:37.532 --> 00:10:38.882 You can look through that on your own. 00:10:39.522 --> 00:10:42.072 And we have a AI digital caregiving assistant. 00:10:42.357 --> 00:10:44.847 So this is somebody, it's called Ask Andrea, somebody 00:10:44.847 --> 00:10:46.377 you can interact with more. 00:10:46.377 --> 00:10:50.817 So you can ask questions really specific to your situation, tailored 00:10:50.817 --> 00:10:54.407 to, maybe your location, your geography, your loved one's condition. 00:10:54.777 --> 00:10:56.607 My mom was just diagnosed with dementia. 00:10:56.607 --> 00:10:57.777 I live in Los Angeles. 00:10:57.777 --> 00:10:58.317 What do I do? 00:10:58.317 --> 00:11:00.147 What resources are available to me? 00:11:00.597 --> 00:11:04.587 And she'll give you those exact, specific answers back. 00:11:04.587 --> 00:11:07.437 And then, what we really love is that we've also wrapped her 00:11:07.767 --> 00:11:10.077 in a very empathetic voice. 00:11:10.077 --> 00:11:12.207 So knowing what caregivers need to hear. 00:11:12.207 --> 00:11:16.117 So she'll always say, I'm sorry, sorry to hear about this diagnosis. 00:11:16.117 --> 00:11:18.247 Or, I know this is a challenging time. 00:11:18.637 --> 00:11:20.677 It's okay, you're doing a good job. 00:11:20.707 --> 00:11:22.867 All these things that caregivers need to hear. 00:11:23.357 --> 00:11:25.187 And then the final piece is community. 00:11:25.187 --> 00:11:29.597 And we wanted to give caregivers an opportunity to connect with other 00:11:29.597 --> 00:11:34.007 caregivers, and so we've aggregated events that are happening all across the country. 00:11:34.257 --> 00:11:37.407 Maybe it's with the Alzheimer's Association, maybe it's with Parkinson's 00:11:37.407 --> 00:11:39.387 Foundation, maybe it's with MS Society. 00:11:39.387 --> 00:11:42.987 Maybe it's with aging caregivers or sandwich generation caregivers. 00:11:43.317 --> 00:11:47.067 Whatever the topic, we've got so many events there that people can find 00:11:47.067 --> 00:11:50.877 something that maybe speaks to them, go on, you can either just listen, 00:11:50.877 --> 00:11:54.867 you can participate, but you just know that there are other people 00:11:54.867 --> 00:11:58.377 out there who are going through this situation and doesn't feel as lonely. 00:11:58.377 --> 00:12:00.387 You get resources from them, et cetera. 00:12:00.387 --> 00:12:03.657 So we wanted to really build something that was comprehensive 00:12:03.737 --> 00:12:08.547 to support the holistic really, health and journey of the caregiver. 00:12:08.992 --> 00:12:12.902 Candace Dellacona: it's such a remarkable package that you've put 00:12:12.902 --> 00:12:18.302 together that has hit every single piece of the caregiving journey and 00:12:18.302 --> 00:12:24.122 experience that it's unbelievable that nobody had thought of it before you, 00:12:24.122 --> 00:12:26.552 because there is nothing else like this. 00:12:26.552 --> 00:12:28.502 And I'm gonna say that to our audience again. 00:12:28.502 --> 00:12:31.172 There is not, I've never, I'm in this space. 00:12:31.172 --> 00:12:36.522 I do a podcast about being a sandwich generation member and 00:12:36.522 --> 00:12:41.232 surviving, and I talk to sandwich generation members all day every day. 00:12:41.712 --> 00:12:45.362 And I'm sort of laughing and Shruti, you probably feel the same. 00:12:45.362 --> 00:12:49.352 I have three kids also, and I'm sure when my husband listens to this podcast, 00:12:49.352 --> 00:12:53.372 he's gonna laugh about the insurance card issue because do you know how many 00:12:53.732 --> 00:12:55.982 with three cards, who has the cards? 00:12:55.982 --> 00:12:57.152 Where is this card? 00:12:57.482 --> 00:13:01.607 So just having that accessibility is phenomenal. 00:13:01.817 --> 00:13:05.857 The other thing, in terms of like resources and maybe I'll have you speak 00:13:05.857 --> 00:13:09.457 to this Shruti, is you brought up the fact that your father has Parkinson's, 00:13:09.457 --> 00:13:15.647 which is the very unique condition, which is different than someone having cancer. 00:13:15.647 --> 00:13:20.987 So can you talk to the resources, Shruti, as it relates to medical 00:13:20.987 --> 00:13:25.917 conditions and what you try to input on the platform for those users? 00:13:26.307 --> 00:13:26.308 Dr. Shruti Roy: 00:13:26.307 --> 00:13:27.177 Yes, of course. 00:13:27.237 --> 00:13:30.607 One of the major things that we do is have content. 00:13:30.607 --> 00:13:33.277 We have articles that are very disease specific. 00:13:34.452 --> 00:13:37.242 What's different from all the other organizations, because of course, 00:13:37.242 --> 00:13:41.532 Parkinson's Foundation has an amazing website, but what we do is really 00:13:41.532 --> 00:13:43.872 tailor our content to caregivers. 00:13:44.322 --> 00:13:48.072 So you can find out all you want about Parkinson's on many different 00:13:48.072 --> 00:13:52.812 websites, but this is really, are you a caregiver to somebody with Parkinson's? 00:13:52.872 --> 00:13:54.492 Here's what you need to know. 00:13:54.852 --> 00:13:59.232 And so it's really tailored with specific goals, a plan. 00:13:59.632 --> 00:14:03.832 Very precise plan for what you're going to face as a caregiver 00:14:03.832 --> 00:14:05.332 for somebody with Parkinson's. 00:14:05.632 --> 00:14:08.822 And then, gives you all the things that you should be thinking about. 00:14:08.822 --> 00:14:12.332 So there's so much that caregivers don't know that they don't know. 00:14:12.812 --> 00:14:18.032 And so these content articles really hone in on things that you're like, oh 00:14:18.032 --> 00:14:19.982 yeah, I didn't think of that at all. 00:14:20.032 --> 00:14:24.362 I love our caregiver specific and disease specific articles. 00:14:24.812 --> 00:14:28.962 And then of course we also are bringing in very high level 00:14:29.062 --> 00:14:34.352 webinars from organizations like Parkinson's Foundation that are more 00:14:34.352 --> 00:14:36.032 geared towards caregivers as well. 00:14:36.032 --> 00:14:39.722 And all of those, like Nicole said, are aggregated into our platform. 00:14:40.052 --> 00:14:45.242 So we're very, very keyed in on the caregiver aspect of all these diseases. 00:14:45.572 --> 00:14:47.702 Candace Dellacona: Which is so unique because you're right. 00:14:47.702 --> 00:14:52.832 I think that if any one of us did a Google search for Parkinson's, it speaks 00:14:52.832 --> 00:14:55.932 to what the condition is and what the patient goes through, which obviously is. 00:14:56.532 --> 00:15:00.732 Of utmost importance, but it is a different role that the caregiver 00:15:00.732 --> 00:15:04.452 is filling because we're trying to help the person with Parkinson's and 00:15:04.452 --> 00:15:07.092 understanding our role is so important. 00:15:07.092 --> 00:15:11.592 So it is amazing that you have been able to find those resources for 00:15:11.592 --> 00:15:15.362 those of us providing the care to make it easier for our loved one 00:15:15.362 --> 00:15:17.072 with that particular condition. 00:15:17.472 --> 00:15:22.582 I think, we are also starved for resources and it can be overwhelming. 00:15:22.582 --> 00:15:26.522 So, to Nicole's point, like in the middle of the night when you're fretting about, 00:15:26.552 --> 00:15:28.112 wait a minute, what does this mean? 00:15:28.112 --> 00:15:31.052 How am I going to deal with discharge tomorrow? 00:15:31.472 --> 00:15:35.312 That piece is there for you when you're ready to receive it. 00:15:35.362 --> 00:15:40.807 The other thing that I thought of when you were talking about the to-do list, for 00:15:40.807 --> 00:15:46.297 example, I think one of the things that a lot of caregivers struggle with is asking 00:15:46.297 --> 00:15:48.037 for the help and accepting the help. 00:15:48.592 --> 00:15:53.542 So you're really creating almost like a buffer, which I love, where, 00:15:53.572 --> 00:15:56.392 you're not, you don't feel like you're putting someone on the spot and 00:15:56.392 --> 00:15:58.582 you're allowing them to choose things. 00:15:58.582 --> 00:16:01.732 Or you can put it on like, Hey guys, who's available? 00:16:01.972 --> 00:16:05.872 So it gets everybody in the position that they're most comfortable in. 00:16:06.112 --> 00:16:08.992 Who thought of that piece, if you don't mind me asking? 00:16:08.992 --> 00:16:10.882 Who was the brainchild behind that? 00:16:13.387 --> 00:16:17.627 Nicole àBeckett: Yeah, I mean I, like I said, I've been in tech for so long and we 00:16:17.627 --> 00:16:22.697 use so many project management softwares that I was like, I just need a project 00:16:22.757 --> 00:16:24.617 management software for caregiving. 00:16:25.067 --> 00:16:30.227 And I think being women, we love organization and I love color coding. 00:16:30.827 --> 00:16:32.297 I love checking things off. 00:16:32.297 --> 00:16:36.377 I mean, I will write a list and I, that brings me so much joy just to like. 00:16:36.752 --> 00:16:38.252 Mark something off the list. 00:16:38.252 --> 00:16:39.272 A written list, right. 00:16:39.272 --> 00:16:43.802 Let alone being able to see it like marking as done. 00:16:43.802 --> 00:16:46.142 That was, I think, really important to me. 00:16:46.202 --> 00:16:52.172 Particularly, with my mom, it was just, I felt like at the end, after 00:16:52.172 --> 00:16:58.532 my mom had passed, I felt like I was in a washing machine for the longest 00:16:58.532 --> 00:17:01.812 time, and then I finally got let out. 00:17:02.197 --> 00:17:04.447 Was out of that tumble, tumble, tumble. 00:17:04.957 --> 00:17:08.617 'cause there's just so much being thrown at you. 00:17:08.707 --> 00:17:11.497 I just wanted one place to organize it. 00:17:11.527 --> 00:17:16.387 And so yeah, the to-do list, and again, like I said, I had a lot of 00:17:16.387 --> 00:17:18.637 family who always wanted to help. 00:17:19.747 --> 00:17:24.417 I just didn't have a way to, to wrangle it, and so, yeah, the to-do list was 00:17:24.417 --> 00:17:28.467 probably like, if we have nothing else, we need to just have a list that we share. 00:17:29.597 --> 00:17:30.797 Candace Dellacona: And also the meds. 00:17:30.797 --> 00:17:34.817 What you think about and Shruti as a physician it's a lot easier for you. 00:17:34.817 --> 00:17:41.427 You are, a trained physician with an idea about the pharmacological impacts. 00:17:41.607 --> 00:17:44.727 So you could read a prescription and be like, this is definitely 00:17:44.727 --> 00:17:46.287 not something you need twice a day. 00:17:46.527 --> 00:17:49.107 But Nicole and I might go, is this twice a day? 00:17:49.107 --> 00:17:53.097 So medication tracking is just a home run. 00:17:54.617 --> 00:17:57.587 Nicole àBeckett: And I would even say, sorry to interject, but in my 00:17:57.587 --> 00:18:01.767 situation with my mom, I started so much healthcare is now being put onto 00:18:02.157 --> 00:18:04.047 the home and the family caregivers. 00:18:04.047 --> 00:18:09.997 And with my mom I was like injecting, doing a subcutaneous pump. 00:18:09.997 --> 00:18:13.057 Which for people who have never don't know what that is, it's it's, 00:18:13.057 --> 00:18:16.027 like an insulin pump or, so this is for some different medication. 00:18:16.027 --> 00:18:17.557 But I was administering that. 00:18:17.557 --> 00:18:20.392 I am not a doctor, I am not a nurse. 00:18:20.392 --> 00:18:20.872 I am nothing. 00:18:20.872 --> 00:18:22.192 I watched a nurse do it. 00:18:22.642 --> 00:18:27.292 I took a video of her doing it and then, so it was really important for us in the 00:18:27.292 --> 00:18:31.952 medication to be able to upload videos, to be able to upload pictures because we 00:18:31.952 --> 00:18:36.062 know that there's so much more complexity in what we're doing at home now. 00:18:36.552 --> 00:18:41.362 It just, whatever we can do to relieve that stress for the caregiver, 00:18:41.662 --> 00:18:44.932 knowing you have a guide, knowing you have a place where it's like, okay. 00:18:45.277 --> 00:18:46.657 I know where I can go to get this. 00:18:46.707 --> 00:18:52.242 It's, just taking one more thing off their plate and that was really important to us. 00:18:54.157 --> 00:18:57.427 Candace Dellacona: When you think of technology and all of the possibilities, 00:18:57.457 --> 00:18:59.197 it, you're right, it does make it easier. 00:18:59.197 --> 00:19:03.697 But to your point, a lot of it is shifting to us, us lay people. 00:19:03.697 --> 00:19:06.337 I would love to live three blocks away from you Shruti so that I can 00:19:06.337 --> 00:19:07.927 call you and ask these questions. 00:19:07.927 --> 00:19:13.407 But having a platform like this and the videos and the expert sort of guidance 00:19:13.437 --> 00:19:15.717 is just such an incredible resource. 00:19:15.717 --> 00:19:19.877 And also, there is a movement for our generation, right? 00:19:19.877 --> 00:19:24.167 Where maybe our grandparents were more likely to go into a nursing home. 00:19:24.167 --> 00:19:29.567 And the movement of aging in place is very real and there are benefits to it, 00:19:29.567 --> 00:19:33.577 which I'm sure, Shruti can talk about and I would love for you to do so in 00:19:33.577 --> 00:19:35.467 terms of having a better quality of life. 00:19:35.497 --> 00:19:38.527 And generally speaking, the quality of life is better when you're home 00:19:38.527 --> 00:19:39.787 and you're with your loved ones. 00:19:40.232 --> 00:19:40.233 Dr. Shruti Roy: 00:19:40.232 --> 00:19:40.592 Yep. 00:19:41.012 --> 00:19:44.107 It shows that you will live longer, you will live happier. 00:19:44.967 --> 00:19:49.487 Especially if you are in the sandwich generation, there are children around. 00:19:49.487 --> 00:19:53.867 We know already the data shows that grandparents who are around their 00:19:53.867 --> 00:19:59.777 grandchildren are also likely to live longer and live happier lives as well. 00:19:59.777 --> 00:20:05.987 So there's a lot of benefits to having a community, having family around 00:20:06.137 --> 00:20:10.487 and also having your own routine that you've lived for so many years. 00:20:10.827 --> 00:20:14.587 Instead of having to change it up and suddenly start over in 00:20:14.587 --> 00:20:16.597 a new place at an older age. 00:20:16.747 --> 00:20:19.147 So for sure there's a push for that. 00:20:19.147 --> 00:20:22.747 There's a push for out of hospital stays, getting discharged 00:20:22.747 --> 00:20:26.657 sooner than you would've 20, 30 years ago for sure as well. 00:20:26.657 --> 00:20:31.127 So a lot more medicine is being done at home instead of in the hospital. 00:20:31.127 --> 00:20:33.827 A lot more rehab is being done at home as well. 00:20:34.462 --> 00:20:37.122 Candace Dellacona: It's absolutely true and I think, when you think about even 00:20:37.122 --> 00:20:41.612 the way the Medicare rules work, which I'm sure you're familiar with, when I started 00:20:41.612 --> 00:20:46.272 practicing as an attorney and I started out really doing primarily just elder law, 00:20:46.662 --> 00:20:52.952 there was a pretty close to a guarantee that if you were in a rehab facility, you 00:20:52.952 --> 00:20:56.402 get your full 20 days and you probably have a pretty good chance of getting the 00:20:56.402 --> 00:21:02.832 80 days to follow up for the copay days to get that rehab and get into a routine. 00:21:02.832 --> 00:21:04.872 And that is not common anymore. 00:21:04.922 --> 00:21:08.732 To your point, Shruti, where they're really looking to make those 00:21:08.732 --> 00:21:10.652 discharges earlier and earlier. 00:21:10.652 --> 00:21:16.262 So having, Hero Generation as this almost like, guide to how to do 00:21:16.262 --> 00:21:18.512 it well and provide the resources. 00:21:18.722 --> 00:21:25.422 I love the Ai Andrea option and the empathy that you've infused in that. 00:21:25.422 --> 00:21:30.432 And to your point about community Shruti, it's so lonely being a caregiver. 00:21:30.462 --> 00:21:33.372 We're supposed to feel, like it's an honor, but it's also, 00:21:33.622 --> 00:21:37.342 and I talk to sandwich generation member caregivers all the time. 00:21:37.342 --> 00:21:40.972 I see it on the message boards that they feel so lonely and they are 00:21:40.972 --> 00:21:44.992 starved for other people to talk about what they're going through. 00:21:44.992 --> 00:21:49.432 Can you talk a little bit about what you are hoping to achieve in creating those 00:21:49.432 --> 00:21:51.262 community events through the platform? 00:21:51.689 --> 00:21:51.690 Dr. Shruti Roy: 00:21:51.689 --> 00:21:57.179 So I think that we really want people to talk about their journeys, be open with 00:21:57.179 --> 00:22:00.189 their journeys and not be kind of ashamed. 00:22:00.189 --> 00:22:05.824 So I recently wrote this article about my mom who was a caregiver to her parents 00:22:05.824 --> 00:22:08.614 and my dad's parents, so her in-laws. 00:22:09.054 --> 00:22:14.454 And not once did I hear a complaint from her or a sigh, or a little 00:22:14.454 --> 00:22:16.104 moment of stress, nothing. 00:22:16.104 --> 00:22:17.574 She hid everything. 00:22:18.144 --> 00:22:21.414 And now that I'm a caregiver, I'm like, how did you do that? 00:22:21.414 --> 00:22:24.504 And I never realized what you were doing and how you were feeling. 00:22:24.984 --> 00:22:27.264 And she'll tell me like, that's how it was. 00:22:27.264 --> 00:22:31.029 You just kind of suck it up and you just do it and you don't complain. 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:35.859 And at first, when I became a caregiver, that's kind of how I was doing it. 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:39.959 I didn't want my husband to know, I didn't want my kids to see me crying or stressed. 00:22:40.509 --> 00:22:44.769 And then something flipped and I'm like, they should see the real story. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:48.539 We all, if we don't do that, then we're covering up a major problem. 00:22:49.199 --> 00:22:51.959 Which is that caregivers need support. 00:22:52.469 --> 00:22:56.319 And so I started being a lot more open about it, in front of my children, 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:59.394 in front of my parents even and definitely in front of my husband. 00:22:59.904 --> 00:23:01.254 And I think that's what we need to do. 00:23:01.254 --> 00:23:04.254 So we need to connect with other caregivers, tell our stories, be 00:23:04.254 --> 00:23:07.644 honest, because that's the only way we can bring about the change 00:23:07.649 --> 00:23:09.594 in support that caregivers need. 00:23:10.514 --> 00:23:14.504 Candace Dellacona: It's so true and there is so much value in sharing the story. 00:23:14.504 --> 00:23:19.244 A, to exchange resources, which is what you're doing for sure, and 00:23:19.244 --> 00:23:21.074 providing the platform for that. 00:23:21.464 --> 00:23:26.994 But there is so much value and not feeling alone and knowing that other people have 00:23:26.994 --> 00:23:29.154 gone through it or are going through it. 00:23:29.154 --> 00:23:34.494 And so I love the fact that you call it Hero Generation. 00:23:34.804 --> 00:23:39.604 Can we talk a little bit about the origin and the name and what you hope 00:23:39.604 --> 00:23:42.774 to convey by naming the platform Hero? 00:23:43.834 --> 00:23:46.114 Nicole àBeckett: I love telling this story, especially, it's so 00:23:46.114 --> 00:23:49.684 appropriate when we're in specifically talking about sandwich generation. 00:23:49.734 --> 00:23:56.034 So my dad is originally from Philadelphia and he, Philly proud. 00:23:56.034 --> 00:23:56.784 I grew up in LA. 00:23:56.814 --> 00:24:00.414 We grew up in Los Angeles, but he would always talk about hoagies. 00:24:00.444 --> 00:24:04.374 And so I wanted to some way honor my dad and I was first thinking 00:24:04.374 --> 00:24:07.824 like Hoagie Generation as I'm like that sounds very hokey. 00:24:07.874 --> 00:24:12.209 And then I was like, wait a minute, in New York, sandwiches are called heroes. 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:16.489 And so it just, everything just made sense immediately. 00:24:16.489 --> 00:24:17.719 Hero Generation. 00:24:17.999 --> 00:24:21.119 A lot of times our loved ones, most of the time they're our heroes. 00:24:21.629 --> 00:24:24.179 At the same time, caregivers are the heroes to them. 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:26.189 It just, everything just came together. 00:24:26.189 --> 00:24:30.359 And it's really originally a play on sandwich generation, but there's 00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:34.739 just so much meaning behind it, and we want caregivers to understand 00:24:34.739 --> 00:24:37.199 that they are doing heroic work. 00:24:37.199 --> 00:24:39.449 It's something that we just, we have to do. 00:24:39.479 --> 00:24:42.869 It's just the thing we have to do, but the work really is heroic and we 00:24:42.869 --> 00:24:47.759 want them to feel that sense of pride and sense of empowerment as well. 00:24:48.534 --> 00:24:49.434 Candace Dellacona: How cool is that? 00:24:49.434 --> 00:24:52.584 And the other thing I'll point out for you, and you probably have thought about 00:24:52.584 --> 00:24:57.784 it, but you know the way in which we're trying to care for the older generation, 00:24:57.784 --> 00:24:59.344 it's just an act of love, right? 00:24:59.394 --> 00:25:04.594 We're showing our love and one of the best ways to raise good humans as sandwich 00:25:04.594 --> 00:25:09.154 generation members, we're raising our kids simultaneously, is to model behavior. 00:25:09.784 --> 00:25:10.984 And so I think. 00:25:11.264 --> 00:25:15.554 You probably have hit the nail on the head that our kids also look at us like heroes 00:25:15.554 --> 00:25:20.704 when we treat their grandparents or their, aunts and uncles with the kindness and 00:25:20.704 --> 00:25:24.844 the love and the support that they need as they become older and vulnerable too. 00:25:24.844 --> 00:25:27.634 So that is like the greatest name ever. 00:25:28.114 --> 00:25:28.594 Nicole àBeckett: I love it. 00:25:28.594 --> 00:25:28.924 Thank you. 00:25:29.434 --> 00:25:31.709 That yes, yes, that is it's very true. 00:25:32.274 --> 00:25:37.344 Candace Dellacona: Let's talk about how people can access Hero Generation. 00:25:37.554 --> 00:25:38.874 What does that look like? 00:25:38.904 --> 00:25:39.924 I know what's gonna happen. 00:25:39.924 --> 00:25:44.634 I'm gonna get a ton of emails and people are gonna say, how do I get this? 00:25:44.634 --> 00:25:45.714 Where do I start? 00:25:46.719 --> 00:25:47.679 Nicole àBeckett: Yeah, I love it. 00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:50.019 Hopefully we make it as easy as possible for them. 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:53.029 You just have to go to our website, herogen.co. 00:25:53.049 --> 00:25:55.359 It is absolutely free to sign up. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:26:00.699 There's no credit card required, so you just click, get started and it'll 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:05.039 ask you a few questions, onboarding questions about your loved one, and 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:07.319 it'll plop you into our dashboard. 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:11.739 And then, we have a video taking you through how to use all the features 00:26:11.739 --> 00:26:13.884 and you get two weeks for free. 00:26:14.364 --> 00:26:18.564 And then you can choose to continue on the free platform or the free 00:26:18.664 --> 00:26:22.684 subscription, which allows you to maintain the loved one's profile. 00:26:22.684 --> 00:26:26.824 So again, like we said, we hope that every family in America 00:26:26.884 --> 00:26:29.554 can use the loved one's profile. 00:26:29.554 --> 00:26:33.704 Just keep, important information stored in one place so that you're not 00:26:34.044 --> 00:26:36.864 scrambling when there's a emergency or so. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:40.899 So we wanted to keep that part free in perpetuity for everybody. 00:26:41.269 --> 00:26:46.189 If you wanna continue with the paid subscription that it's only 17.99 00:26:46.189 --> 00:26:51.569 a month per loved one, so very accessible, and that allows you to access the 00:26:51.569 --> 00:26:57.429 to-do list, the task and calendar management, the Ask Andrea, resources, 00:26:57.429 --> 00:26:59.859 notes, messaging, the full platform. 00:27:00.609 --> 00:27:02.529 So it's pretty straightforward. 00:27:02.529 --> 00:27:04.129 herogen.co. 00:27:04.149 --> 00:27:05.589 You can just go and run through it. 00:27:05.589 --> 00:27:08.799 And then of course, if anybody has questions, we're always 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:12.149 open, hello@herogeneration.co. 00:27:12.149 --> 00:27:17.399 It's all on our website, but we love interacting, and supporting caregivers. 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:19.619 Especially at this stage we're wanting to interact with 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:21.599 caregivers directly to understand. 00:27:21.869 --> 00:27:25.109 We're still pretty early days in the platform, so if there are features, 00:27:25.109 --> 00:27:28.589 if there's something that you know, you think of that caregivers are going 00:27:28.589 --> 00:27:32.609 through now that, we may not think of, we want all of that feedback. 00:27:32.609 --> 00:27:36.679 So we really would love to interact with whomever wants to chat with us. 00:27:37.414 --> 00:27:40.324 Candace Dellacona: I just wanna point out to everyone listening 00:27:40.324 --> 00:27:47.324 that it's incredible gesture and as they say in New York, almost like a 00:27:47.324 --> 00:27:53.354 mitzvah, a good act, that you would provide the basic platform for free. 00:27:53.354 --> 00:27:58.074 That really is a testament to the two of you and your mission driven goal 00:27:58.074 --> 00:28:01.854 with hero gen and for less than a dinner 00:28:02.664 --> 00:28:03.084 Nicole àBeckett: Oh yeah. 00:28:03.354 --> 00:28:05.394 Candace Dellacona: in New York City for a year. 00:28:05.724 --> 00:28:09.474 To have this level of support is really remarkable. 00:28:09.474 --> 00:28:11.124 And I just think that. 00:28:11.784 --> 00:28:16.794 You really have hit a nerve and I'm so excited to have had you on 00:28:16.944 --> 00:28:18.984 and gotten to know the two of you. 00:28:19.414 --> 00:28:23.644 I think from the bottom of my heart, if I can speak for the other SanGen 00:28:24.034 --> 00:28:29.854 members out there and caregivers, thank you for figuring out the need 00:28:29.884 --> 00:28:34.144 and providing the platform with all of these incredible resources. 00:28:34.174 --> 00:28:39.544 I know that you've already helped so many people and you will continue to do so. 00:28:39.544 --> 00:28:43.594 Thank you so much for being here, and thank you for coming up with this idea. 00:28:44.029 --> 00:28:45.889 Nicole àBeckett: Oh, thank you for saying that Candace, and I know 00:28:45.889 --> 00:28:48.319 you're a lawyer, but we're gonna hire you as our PR person because. 00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:50.579 Candace Dellacona: Listen, 00:28:53.404 --> 00:28:54.934 it takes a village, right? 00:28:54.944 --> 00:28:55.934 It really does. 00:28:55.934 --> 00:29:02.594 And I just admire both of you so much for putting your big brains to such good use. 00:29:02.684 --> 00:29:06.779 And your parents were for you, Nicole, and are for you. 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:11.679 So, so lucky to have you Shruti and really you're showing 00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:13.119 your children so much as well. 00:29:14.369 --> 00:29:14.370 Dr. Shruti Roy: 00:29:14.369 --> 00:29:14.844 Thank you. 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.879 Nicole àBeckett: Yeah. 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.804 Amazing, thanks Candace.