When Papí Gets a Fatal Diagnosis

Carmen’s dad learned he had pancreatic cancer earlier this year. His reaction took her by surprise, and the family dealt with the possibility of his death in different ways. Then, an occupational therapist who works with the elderly talks to Juleyka about how to care for our aging loved ones.

Featured Expert: 

Mariella Zuñiga is a geriatric occupational therapist and consultant with expertise in Aging in Place, Client Engagement in Successful Aging and Innovation in Longevity. She works at Medstar and with the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living in implementing the Safe at Home Program, which provides assessments and safety adaptations in and around the homes of qualifying seniors and adults with disabilities. She also collaborates with profit and non-profit organizations in promoting global innovation in longevity, elevating initiatives in wellness and driving change perception on the needs of older adults. She is an active contributor in the aging ecosystem, she is passionate about brain health, technology and transformative innovation in the 50+ market. As Ambassador of Aging 2.0 DC Chapter, she motivated and effectively mobilized volunteer groups to promote positive, healthy aging and strengthen the engagement of older adults in communities through collaborative events involving public and private sectors. 
 

If you loved this episode, be sure to listen to When's the Time to Write a Will? and Dad's Mental Illness On His Own Terms.

We’d love to hear your stories of triumph and frustration so send us a detailed voice memo to [email protected]. You might be on a future episode! Let’s connect on Twitter and Instagram at @TalkToMamiPapi and email us at [email protected]. And subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.