For a while now, Dr. Huntley has been looking for a way to share her story with you of when she took care of her ailing mother, but the subject has just been too daunting for her to confront alone. So in this episode, we welcome Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman back to the show as Dr. Huntley’s companion, and the pair walk us through their personal journeys of being caregivers for loved ones in need. Dr. Hickman is a registered nurse by trade and she’s added author, educator, speaker, and consultant to her impressive list of professional capabilities. When Dr. Hickman saw the undeniable correlation between public health and community health, she knew that she had to get involved in public health in order to address the health crises of her community. She shares about the health conditions and community demographics that are closest to her heart. We discuss the value of aging in place, why caregiving requires preemption and proactivity, how to find the balance between allowing independence and providing care, the stories behind Dr. Hickman’s two books, and why now is the perfect time to read them.  To end, Dr. Hickman shares some advice that resonates heavily with Dr. Huntley, and we discuss the business side of caregiving before learning how to connect with today’s guest. http://PHECpodcast.com