Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to today’s podcast, Betsy Wurzel. Betsy is a retired LPN and Teacher's Aide. She has extensive experience in advocating and caring for others. Betsy took care of her mother-in-law who had Alzheimer's. Betsy’s Dad had Alzheimer’s. Betsy’s husband, at the age of 56, came down with early onset Alzheimer’s. (Her husband passed away 10 years later at the age of 66.)
Betsy had never heard the word, Alzheimer's! (Alzheimer’s is the #6 disease that kills too many in the world today.) She found herself thrown into a world where no one would listen; no one would hear her voice. She had to not only be the voice for her husband and her son (her son Josh has a cognitive disability) but went from wife / mother to caregiver and fierce advocate!
As with many caregivers, Betsy found herself frustrated and alone. There was only so much information about the early onset of Alzheimer’s and she didn’t know where to turn. (Whatever information she received at the time was through the Alzheimer’s Association.) The medical professionals she was working with were not “listening”; they didn’t get it. Betsy got it! Although she found herself in unfamiliar territory, this new chapter began a crusade; a way for her to share her concerns/frustrations (and so much more) as a caregiver and her experiences through her husband’s journey.
Betsy began recording videos (in her car) to raise awareness on Early Onset Alzheimer's and she spoke extensively about caregiving. She approached it as such a way to reach out to those caregivers and others who thought they had no voice and perhaps nowhere else to turn. It was that important for her to reach as many people as possible.
In June, 2018, Jeanne M White, Station Manager of Passionate World Talk Radio, viewed one of her videos and asked Betsy to be on her radio talk show. Jeanne was starting a weekly caregiver series and asked Betsy to participate.
After 14 months on Jeanne’s show, Betsy was given her own talk radio show where she interviews other caregivers and a variety of guests ranging in all sorts of different topics.
In November of 2021, Betsy was nominated and received the Caregiving Visionary Advocate Award from Caregiving.com - quite an achievement!
To connect with Betsy, please check out her radio show and social media platforms:
https://passionateworldtalkradio.com/?post_types=&s=ChattingwithBetsy+
https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-wurzel-90a7b61a8
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005271496390
Her Facebook Group - #KickAlzheimersAssMovement
https://www.facebook.com/groups/545809349256035/
Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. How are you living your life and educating yourself? Please leave me a voice message through my website. Also, If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”.
https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/
Thank you Betsy - Stories That Inspires Us!!
