We all have regrets about many things in our lives at any given moment, but should we always say, “I’m sorry?” We were going to do a podcast apologizing for not having done a podcast since January, but why are we sorry? Whose expectations did

Something’s Gotta Give

Jan 30th, 2024 30m 56s

Are we all just hurdling ourselves through each day, again and again? When will things slow down and get a little easier? “Stop and smell the roses,” they say but, as sandwiched caregivers, we are moving so fast we don’t even notice any roses.

Holidays with Toxic Relatives | Ep #47

Dec 19th, 2023 23m 6s

Being a sandwiched adult child during the holidays is extra hard because expectations are so high. This is the happiest time of the year, right? Who makes everything magical for everyone? (Hint: it’s not Santa). It’s us and it’s a lot of press

Getting Along with the People We Depend On

Nov 28th, 2023 18m 57s

How do we make everything work as sisters, as parents, as adult children, as friends, and as business partners? In this episode we offer our best tips for getting along with the people you most depend on. We choose not to have unnecessary con

How to Make Death Harder

Oct 31st, 2023 19m 52s

Grieving the loss of a loved one feels heavy and overwhelming in the best of circumstances. Many people have not considered beyond grieving how much work needs to be done by others after they pass away. It’s more than just not being willing to

Getting Buy-in

Oct 3rd, 2023 26m 2s

How do we get our parents buy-in to move or accept care at home? As we have discussed in previous episodes, we are firm believers that the way something is said affects the way it is perceived. You have been trying for months or even years to

Tools for Your Toolbox

Sep 12th, 2023 27m 16s

Everyone’s situation is unique. As senior care consultants, we find ourselves offering the same resources repeatedly. Listen to today’s episode to learn our topmost frequently recommended senior care planning resources. RESOURCES: National Ac

What Should You Say? | Ep #42

Aug 18th, 2023 21m 52s

Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." We pay attention to how the words we use make others feel. We can’t control how

Letting Go of Independence

Jul 18th, 2023 24m 27s

Does being independent mean that you can do everything for yourself? By the traditional standards, independence equals self-sufficiency. Many of our clients are stubbornly committed to not accepting help. Accepting help means they are failing

We’re Dying… (Part 2)

Jun 20th, 2023 33m 22s

In this episode, Michelle and Alyson discuss some of the resources available to help us have important conversations about end of life with our loved ones. Death is inevitable. We all know this. Let’s explore the options we have to honor our l

We’re Dying… (Part 1)

Jun 6th, 2023 22m 15s

Death is inevitable, it happens to ALL of us. Ignoring this, and refusing to talk about it, only makes things harder for the loved ones we leave behind. So many people are in denial that they will experience death at some point. Things are abs

Improvisation in Dementia Care

May 9th, 2023 34m 5s

Validating, redirecting, using therapeutic fibs, and empathic listening are some of the most common techniques used to successfully communicate with someone who has dementia. Each of these techniques requires us to think on our feet, and go wit

Blind Spots

Apr 25th, 2023 27m 32s

Blind spots refer to things that we are not fully conscious of that affect our lives. This is sometimes due to a lack of knowledge or awareness, but it is often because we are in denial. The definition of a blind spot, according to the APA Dic

Grieving for the Living

Apr 11th, 2023 19m 52s

We miss our parents, but they’re still here. It’s not easy wanting support from our parents -- but now they need our support instead. Being an adult child or family caregiver means having less support but more responsibility. We want to look t

Budget for Your Goals

Mar 28th, 2023 21m 52s

How would your loved one prefer to live if they can’t manage alone independently? What is their goal? Do you have the resources and support system to achieve the goal? We’re going on a trip, but we have no map or GPS and not quite enough gas t

What to Expect from Assisted Living

Mar 14th, 2023 23m 55s

Michelle and Alyson tap into their lifetime of experiences to discuss what can be expected from an assisted living residence. What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home? What is included at an assisted living? How much c

It’s Different with Our Own Mom

Feb 28th, 2023 16m 54s

Why are we able to support people in working with their families, and yet, have so little patience with our own family? In today’s episode, we commiserate with a listener who sent us an email. This email in particular struck a chord with us be

Respite!

Feb 14th, 2023 19m 26s

What is a respite stay? When is a respite stay appropriate? What should you expect when your loved one does a respite stay? There are a few types of respite stays. Some are short-term stays because a caregiver is going away or needs a break.

Talking with Someone Who Has Dementia

Jan 31st, 2023 22m 41s

Communicating with someone who has dementia can be especially challenging because relating to them becomes increasingly hard as their memory declines. Drawing upon our years of experience, we have seen what is most successful for families. Thi

Touring Tips

Jan 17th, 2023 26m 42s

What should you ask during a tour of an assisted living or a nursing home? What should you prepare for and expect? In this episode, we offer our advice for a productive initial tour. Michelle Woodbrey, Alyson Powers and Emily Rogue come togeth

The Anti-Self-Care Episode

Jan 3rd, 2023 11m 44s

Happy New Year! What is your New Years’ resolution? You don’t have one? We don’t either! Join us as we embrace our inner-Goblins for 2023. Goblin Mode is defined as a "type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly,

Communication for a Successful Outcome

Nov 8th, 2022 26m 48s

Why do I want an air-fryer so badly? And why won’t my aging loved one ask for help when they need it? How can these things possibly be connected? And maybe most importantly, why are we talking about this on a podcast? At least once or twice a

How to Choose a Rehab Facility with Emily Rogue

Oct 25th, 2022 29m 45s

In this episode, Michelle interviews Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and Nursing Home Specialist with 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors, Emily Rogue, about how to choose a short-term skilled nursing rehabilitation facility. Choosing a short

The Neighbors We Need with Jan Latorre-Stiller

Oct 11th, 2022 20m 41s

In this episode, Michelle interviews expert guest Jan Latorre-Stiller, the Executive Director of Cambridge Neighbors, a member of the Village to Village Network. Cambridge Neighbors (CN) is a membership-driven organization helping adults livin

Adult Family Mediation with Halee Burg

Sep 27th, 2022 26m 31s

What is adult family mediation? Join us on this episode where we welcome guest Halee Burg, an Affiliate Mediator with Elder Decisions®, a division of Agreement Resources, LLC. Sometimes families get stuck. We can’t agree and we don’t know how