What to Know Before and After a Death, with Bri Helton

Death is something most of us only navigate once or twice in a lifetime, which makes it one of the hardest things to prepare for. In this episode, Jamie sits down with Bri Helton, a funeral director and embalmer in Medford, to walk through what actually happens before and after someone passes away, and what families can do ahead of time to make the process easier.

Bri covers everything from who to call first when a death occurs at home, to what the removal process looks like, to common misconceptions about embalming and death certificates. She also shares a personal story about caring for someone from her own community, and why having a few simple conversations in advance can take a huge weight off a grieving family.

• Who to call when a death happens, whether expected or not
• What to prepare in advance: account information, passwords, and vital statistics
• How the death certificate process works in Oregon, and why it can take over a week
• What embalming actually involves, and the common misconception that it’s required
• Lesser-known options for after-death care, including natural burial and other emerging methods
• Where to find educational resources like the Death Cafe and trusted books on the subject

Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or supporting a loved one through this process, this episode offers clear, compassionate guidance for a topic most of us avoid until we have to face it.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

Adult Day Programs: A Place to Belong, with Tamara Fielding of Northridge Senior Living

Not every caregiving solution means moving someone out of their home. In this episode, Jamie talks with Tamara Fielding of Northridge Senior Living about their adult day program, which gives people with memory impairment, Parkinson’s, or stroke recovery a place to go during the day, and gives their caregivers a much-needed break.

Tamara shares how the program started back in 2013 through a VA partnership, how it’s grown to serve both Medford and Grants Pass, and the small, personal touches that make it work, from a former banker rolling coins to a retired builder sorting bolts. She also talks about Northridge’s new sky bridge in Medford, built as an extra emergency exit after the Almeda Fire.

• How the adult day program works, who it serves, and what a typical day looks like
• Why the program gives both participants and their caregivers a meaningful break
• How staff tailor activities to each person’s background and interests
• The story behind Northridge’s new sky bridge and added fire safety measures
• How to get connected with the program through Northridge or Team Senior

If you’re caring for a loved one at home and need some breathing room, this episode shows what a day program can look like, and why it might be worth exploring.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

Episode 59: Eat Simple, Protect Your Kidneys and Blood Sugar-Functional Nutrition with Bernadette Anderson

What you eat has a direct effect on blood sugar, inflammation, and how hard your kidneys have to work. In this episode, Jamie welcomes back Bernadette Anderson, owner of Wholesome Warrior Health Coach and a functional medicine practitioner with more than 20 years of experience, to talk about why food is such a big piece of managing diabetes and renal care.

Bernadette explains why cutting out whole food groups isn't the answer, why there's no one-size-fits-all plan, and how to start with a few small changes instead of a complete overhaul. Jamie also shares her own story of going from a pre-diabetic A1C and cholesterol over 300 to normal A1C and much lower cholesterol.

• Why food choices matter for blood sugar, inflammation, and kidney workload
• The five-ingredient rule for grocery shopping, and what to watch for with "natural flavors" and "natural ingredients"
• What glycation and methylation mean, and how leafy greens and colorful vegetables fit in
• Why counting fiber can be a simpler starting point than counting calories
• How focusing on protein and fiber helps build muscle and keeps things simple
• Why 48 to 72 hours of better choices can start to make a difference

If you feel overwhelmed by all the nutrition advice out there, this conversation is a good place to start. Bernadette also teaches chair yoga at Club 60, and you can connect with her at wholesomewarrior.com or on Facebook and Instagram at Wholesome Warrior.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

Assisted living isn't the only option — and for many seniors, it isn't even the best one. In this episode, Jamie sits down with Paula Johnson, who ran a beloved adult foster home in Southern Oregon for ten years, to talk about what makes these small, residential care homes so different from larger facilities.

Paula shares what it's really like to care for up to five residents at a time, why higher-acuity needs like tube feeding, Hoyer lifts, and hospice care are often better handled in a home setting than in assisted living, and how something as simple as a weekly poker game can change someone's life. It's a candid look at an option many families don't even know exists.

• Why adult foster homes can accept residents with complex medical needs that assisted living communities often turn away
• How all-inclusive pricing in foster homes compares to the hidden add-on costs common in larger facilities
• Why smaller, home-like settings allow for truly individualized care, right down to special diets and personal routines
• The story behind "Holiday House" and why celebrating the little things mattered so much to Paula's residents
• Why Southern Oregon needs more adult foster homes, and how to get involved if you're considering opening one

Whether you're exploring care options for a loved one or curious about what a career in this space could look like, this conversation offers a rare inside look at one of the most personal forms of senior care available today.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Lori Camacho, Executive Director of Club 60, to talk about what is quietly becoming one of the most beloved senior resources in Southern Oregon. Club 60 is completely free, completely welcoming, and completely changing the lives of seniors in Grants Pass who are looking for connection, community, and a reason to get out of the house.

Here's what you'll hear in this episode:

• What Club 60 is, where it is, and why it costs absolutely nothing to participate
• How Lori personally greets every new visitor and makes sure nobody sits alone
• The story of a 94-year-old who got a surprise birthday celebration on just her third visit
• How a member called Lori for a ride to eye surgery — and she showed up
• Why every class, every activity, and every cup of coffee is paid for by Team Senior
• How chair yoga went from 6 people to over 35 — and keeps growing

If you or someone you love is new to the area, feeling isolated, or just looking for a place to belong, Club 60 is the answer. Come for the coffee and donuts. Stay for the people.

📍 1150 Northeast 9th Street, Grants Pass (near the corner of 9th and Savage)
🌐 club60.org
📞 Lori's direct line: 541-441-1426

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Veronica Noble, Team Senior's Relationship Manager and the driving force behind "We Know a Guy" — a monthly networking event that started at Brookdale Senior Living and has grown into one of the most welcoming and well-regarded gatherings in the Southern Oregon senior care community. Veronica shares how it started, why it works, and what makes it so different from every other networking event out there.

Here's what you'll hear in this episode:

• How "I Know a Guy" became "We Know a Guy" and what that evolution means
• Why informal, relationship-first networking is more valuable than structured groups
• Who shows up — and why everyone who touches senior life is welcome
• How Team Senior supports the event and what to expect your first time
• A real-life story of Veronica pivoting on a dime to help a woman in crisis discharge from a skilled nursing facility
• Why knowing the right people at the right time can change everything for a senior in need

Whether you work in the senior care space or you're just someone who believes in the power of community, this episode is a reminder that the best resource you can have is knowing who to call. And if you don't know — somebody at that table will.

📍 We Know a Guy meets the third Wednesday of every month at Common Block Brewery in Grants Pass — 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Appetizers are on Team Senior. Come as you are. Everyone is welcome.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

Every week, seniors across Southern Oregon are being targeted by scammers pretending to be the IRS, their bank, Amazon, Social Security, and even people they know. In this solo episode, Jamie Callahan shares real stories from people she has personally helped — including a call she took just the day before recording — and breaks down exactly what to watch for and what to do when something feels off. Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the IRS will never call, text, or email you — and what to do if someone claims they are
• Why you should never share a verification code sent to your phone with anyone, ever
• How scammers use urgency and pressure to get you to act before you think
• Why gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, and prepaid debit cards are guaranteed signs of fraud
• How scammers spoof phone numbers and email addresses to look like people you trust
• Why even smart, savvy people fall for these scams — and why that matters

If you have a senior in your life, share this episode with them. And if you ever find yourself in a situation where something doesn't feel right, call Team Senior. We will get on the phone with you and help you figure out what's really going on.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Bob Sheehan, a martial artist with 50 years of experience and a tai chi instructor who has been teaching in the Grants Pass community for over 15 years. Bob brings a grounded, no-pressure approach to tai chi that makes it accessible to anyone — regardless of age, fitness level, or health history. And if you think tai chi is just slow movement, this conversation will change your mind.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• Why slowing down your movement is actually what builds real balance and strength
• How tai chi targets the quadriceps and stabilizes the joints to reduce fall risk
• Why "becoming tai chi" — not just learning it — is the real goal
• How tai chi has helped students with back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, and vertigo
• Why the 70% rule keeps students safe and progressing without injury
• How Bob personally used tai chi to recover faster from a quadruple bypass and a stage four cancer diagnosis

Whether you're brand new to movement or looking for something sustainable and healing, Bob's classes are free, welcoming, and open to all levels.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/