Desperately Seeking Senior Living

About Desperately Seeking Senior Living

Desperately Seeking Senior Living is a podcast and caregiver resource created to help families navigate the overwhelming world of senior living, caregiving and aging. Hosted by Certified Senior Advisor Valerie Lynn, the show combines real conversations, practical guidance and emotional support for the moments families often feel unprepared for - from assisted living and memory care to caregiver burnout, guilt, grief and family dynamics. Through expert interviews, family stories and doable tips, our goal is simple: helping families go from desperate to doable 💜 You’ll also find caregiver resources (https://linktr.ee/Desperatelyseekingseniorliving), full show notes, support links and ways to connect through our Doable Downloads and online community @DesperateToDoable Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Publisher

Valerie Lynn Borgman

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jun 2021

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

176 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   The Art of Advocacy: How to Speak Up for Someone You Love

   What happens when the hospital says your loved one is ready to go home, but you know it isn't safe? Or when a doctor says no to a treatment you believe they need? In this personal episode of Desperately Seeking Senior Living, Valerie Lynn shares lessons from advocating for her younger sister following a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, along with real-life stories from families navigating complicated healthcare decisions. From understanding power of attorney to asking better questions, finding overlooked resources, and knowing when to push back, you'll learn how to advocate with confidence without taking away your loved one's independence. Because sometimes the difference between desperate and doable is knowing what question to ask next. ❤️ Subscribe for practical dementia and senior care tips that help families go from desperate to doable. 📌 Download this episode's Doable Download for a printable summary, caregiver resources and bonus tip: https://mailchi.mp/04a607dbf0ea/doable_download 📌 Need help navigating senior living or care options? Clear Path Senior Living Solutions helps families find assisted living, memory care, and other senior care resources. Connect with us here: https://linktr.ee/Desperatelyseekingseniorliving 🎙️ About Desperately Seeking Senior Living Hosted by Valerie Lynn Borgman, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Placement and Referral Specialist (CPRS), and Dementia Capable Care Certified professional, this podcast helps families navigate senior living, assisted living, memory care, dementia care, caregiving and aging-related challenges. Helping families go from Desperate to Doable.

2. 

   10 Sept 2026

   You Think Mom Needs More Help - She Doesn't - Who's Right? EP 173

   In this episode of Desperately Seeking Senior Living, Valerie Lynn explores the “line in the sand” - the point when living independently may need to look a little different. From falls and driving to showering, housekeeping, medications and home safety, you’ll learn why your definition of “needs help” may be very different from your loved one’s. Instead of starting with “You’re not safe at home,” Valerie shares questions that can help families understand what their loved one values, identify the changes that should trigger action, and make a plan before a crisis forces the conversation. Because getting help doesn’t have to mean giving up independence...and planning ahead can make aging decisions feel a lot less desperate and a lot more doable. Subscribe for practical dementia and senior care tips that help families go from desperate to doable. 📌 Download this episode's Doable Download for a printable summary, caregiver resources and bonus tip: https://mailchi.mp/c37e7a696434/doable_download 📌 Need help navigating senior living or care options? Clear Path Senior Living Solutions helps families find assisted living, memory care, and other senior care resources. Connect with us here: https://linktr.ee/Desperatelyseekingseniorliving 🎙️ About Desperately Seeking Senior Living Hosted by Valerie Lynn Borgman, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Placement and Referral Specialist (CPRS), and Dementia Capable Care Certified professional, this podcast helps families navigate senior living, assisted living, memory care, dementia care, caregiving and aging-related challenges. Helping families go from Desperate to Doable.

3. 

   13 Aug 2026

   From Moving Across States to Finding Help in Unexpected Places: Jessica Guthrie's 12 Year + Caregiving Journey - EP 171

   When Jessica Guthrie’s mom, Constance, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at just 65 years old, Jessica was only 26. Nearly 12 years later, Jessica has experienced the caregiving journey through changing routines, wandering, researching memory care, hiring in-home caregivers, moving back into her childhood home, hospice and now providing around-the-clock care for her mom in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. In this deeply personal conversation, Jessica returns to Desperately Seeking Senior Living to share what that journey has really looked like - including the things she wishes she had known earlier. ✓ Why Jessica ultimately left her life in Texas and moved home to Virginia ✓ How routines and a familiar environment helped her mom ✓ Why dementia caregiving requires trying, adjusting and trying again ✓ Her experience researching memory care and in-home care ✓ What families should know when hiring caregivers ✓ Why the energy caregivers bring into the room matters ✓ The reality of caring for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s ✓ How Jessica thinks about hospice and the end of life ✓ The unexpected people who became part of her caregiving support system ✓ Why an Alzheimer’s diagnosis doesn’t mean joy, connection and making memories have to end Jessica also shares a powerful reminder for family and professional caregivers: you are the thermostat. The energy you bring into the room can help set the temperature for the person receiving care. And perhaps her most important message? A diagnosis is not the end. It can be an invitation to get closer, be present, continue making memories and keep finding moments of joy with the person you love. @jessica_c_guthrie Subscribe for practical dementia and senior care tips that help families go from desperate to doable. 📌 Download this episode's Doable Download for a printable summary, caregiver resources and bonus tip: https://mailchi.mp/a2883ee40d91/doable_download 📌 Need help navigating senior living or care options? Clear Path Senior Living Solutions helps families find assisted living, memory care, and other senior care resources. Connect with us here: https://linktr.ee/Desperatelyseekingseniorliving 🎙️ About Desperately Seeking Senior Living Hosted by Valerie Lynn Borgman, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Placement and Referral Specialist (CPRS), and Dementia Capable Care Certified professional, this podcast helps families navigate senior living, assisted living, memory care, dementia care, caregiving and aging-related challenges. Helping families go from Desperate to Doable.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

851

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

48

Social presence

94

YouTube

66

Engagement

68

Contact Desperately Seeking Senior Living

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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