The Next Bit Podcast

In this episode of The Next Bit Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Braden Clark from Grandparents Raising Grandchildren to discuss the evolving role of grandparents in raising their grandchildren, especially during retirement. We explore the unexpected challenges that arise when grandparents must step in due to family crises, such as addiction or health issues, often leading to a complete shift in their retirement plans. Dr. Clark shares insights into the emotional toll, financial strain, and the importance of community support. We also highlight practical steps for grandparents navigating this path, including accessing benefits and resources. Join us as we shed light on this vital topic, ensuring that those in similar situations feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Why can one rest home nurse be left looking after 42 residents overnight? Aged care nurse Rabikah Begum explains NZ staffing, NASC assessments and what families can do. 👉 Book your Age Brightly Baseline Assessment: https://www.agebrightly.co.nz/book-assessment Last episode, Tracy Martin kept coming back to two words: staffing and funding. This time we’re talking to the person who plans the staffing. Rabikah Begum is the Aged Care Association’s clinical lead and principal workforce lead. She’s a gerontologist and registered nurse, and she has worked those night shifts herself. Have you ever wondered why mum seemed fine at her assessment but struggled once she moved into care? Or why nobody came when she pressed the call bell? Hannah McQueen asks Rabikah the questions you’ve been asking: + What minimum staffing levels in rest homes actually require + Why NASC assessments and reassessments can take months, and who covers the cost while you wait + Why training for overseas nurses dropped from 12 weeks to a few days + Why nurses leave aged care for hospital jobs that pay 10–12% more, and caregivers are still on minimum wage + What realistic “good care” looks like, and the conversations to have before you sign 💬 If your family has been through an aged care move, what do you wish someone had told you? Tell us in the comments. 📺 Watch part 1, our interview with Tracy Martin: https://youtu.be/FosROggSqfw 🔔 Subscribe so you don’t miss next episode — The Next Bit is Age Brightly’s podcast, hosted by Hannah McQueen, about ageing well in Aotearoa New Zealand. Age Brightly is a new pathway for ageing, built on prevention and proactive care to help you stay independent for longer. Live well and stay independent for longer. Get your whole-of-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Rabikah Begum Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen 🌐 https://www.agebrightly.co.nz/ #AgedCare #NewZealand #TheNextBit

If you’re over 60 and have tried everything to sleep better, are you supposed to just accept it? Kirsten Taylor, a nutritionist, naturopath and sleep practitioner, and founder of SleepDrops, has spent 23 years helping people of all ages, including people in their 90s, get back to sleep. She tells Hannah McQueen why poor sleep is rarely one unfixable thing. They cover how your body clock works, simple changes that cost next to nothing, building a wind-down routine, magnesium, and why women and men switch off so differently. Kirsten also shares three things you can start this week. Free sleep resources from SleepDrops, including 23 sleep hygiene tips: https://sleepdrops.co.nz/resources/?srsltid=AU7gw4UNuypyJHozSQSTbd7Ppyon1_yjIxo7NAAXcky-fo9RrpabTd6P Book your whole-of-person Brightly Baseline+ assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz General information only. Talk to your doctor before changing any medication. Live well and stay independent for longer. Get your whole-of-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Kirsten Taylor Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

“His body was here, but his mind wasn’t.” Dave Parish’s dad Graham was a Wellington plumber who loved his job. When he was made redundant in 2001, something shifted. Over the next two decades the warning signs built up: withdrawal, grumpiness, hearing loss, weight and diabetes, and odd behaviour that was easy to explain away. Then came the crisis that finally led to a dementia diagnosis. Dave talks openly with Hannah McQueen about the toll on his mum as Graham’s carer, the frustration of waiting for things to get worse in a health system built for emergencies, and the surprising closeness he found with his dad in his final years. His message to families noticing changes in a parent is simple: don’t wait for help to be offered. Ask early, because time is precious. Live well and stay independent for longer. Get your whole-of-person assessment at www.agebrightly.co.nz The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Dave Parish Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen

When my gran died without warning, my grandad became lonely almost overnight. Within days, a woman from across the road started turning up with cake. As his eldest granddaughter and self-appointed gatekeeper, I was suspicious. In this episode of The Next Bit, I sit down with Steve Taylor, a relationship counsellor and mediator with 25 years of experience helping couples and families through exactly this territory. We talk about the untidy reality of grief, why guilt shows up even when you’ve done everything right, and why 70-year-olds are suddenly learning what “swipe right” means. Steve also explains why he tells clients that no orgasm is worth the estate. We also look at the other side: what it’s like to be the adult child watching a parent fall for someone new. If you’ve ever side-eyed your parent’s new “friend”, or wondered whether you’re allowed to want more from your own life, this one’s for you. The big takeaway: loving again isn’t disloyal. It doesn’t replace the person who died or shrink the life you built with them. If this episode gave you something to think about, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and tell us what you want to see in future episodes. Want to get practical about starting a new relationship later in life? Go back and listen to our earlier episodes on wills, enduring power of attorney and prenups. Learn more about how Age Brightly can support you and your family at agebrightly.co.nz. The Next Bit Host is: Hannah McQueen - Founder of Brightly Guest: Steve Taylor, relationship counsellor and mediator Join our community! We love to hear your feedback and questions. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextbitpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584248556816 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenextbitpodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNextBitPodcast Credits Director, Executive Producer & Editor: Arama Murray from Mention Direction Podcast Creator, Executive Producer & Host: Hannah McQueen Research & Production: Shelley Smith Additional Support: Billy McQueen