Elder Law, Medicaid Planning & Caregiver Chaos – with Eric Goldberg & Clelia Pergola

If you're a working caregiver—or if you support them—you need to hear this one. In this episode, we sit down with elder law experts (and longtime friends of the show) Eric Goldberg and Clelia Pergola from the NJ Elder Law Center. Together, they drop some serious knowledge on navigating Medicaid, protecting assets, and creating real systems of support for families in crisis.This conversation gets personal, gets practical, and—most importantly—gets to the heart of what caregivers are up against. We dive into everything from care coordination and legal documentation to family dynamics, generational friction, and what employers really should be doing to help. If you’ve ever wondered what makes elder law so crucial—or if you’ve avoided the paperwork altogether—this episode is the nudge you’ve been waiting for. Episode Highlights:[2:15] - Meet Clelia and Eric, and hear how their caregiving and legal paths became one.[7:27] - How personal chaos led to a systemized, compassionate elder law practice.[8:32] - Eric explains the types of cases they handle and the three phases of long-term care planning.[12:06] - The must-have legal documents every family should prepare before a crisis. [13:36] - What Medicaid actually covers, and why it’s often misunderstood. [16:24] - The real challenge behind Medicaid applications—and why counties can make or break it. [20:11] - Clelia’s powerful case for why employers should bring elder care resources to work. [22:19] - How to have “the talk” with your parents—without a total meltdown. [26:53] - Why geriatric care managers are secret weapons for families navigating uncertainty. [32:59] - Debunking the myth that elder law is just for the wealthy. [36:52] - Toughest questions families ask—and the surprising legal consequences of good intentions. [38:20] - The sibling divide: managing conflict between hands-on caregivers and money managers. [41:35] - Final takeaways: plan ahead, talk early, and don’t try to DIY elder care in a crisis.Links & Resources:About Eric:  https://njelc.com/our-team/eric-goldberg/About Clelia:  https://njelc.com/our-team/clelia-pergola/Goldberg Law Group:  https://njelc.com/ Aging LIfe Care Association (Geriatric Care Managers): https://www.aginglifecare.org/ Interview with Geriatric Manager/Aging Life Care Professional Elyse Weber-Sacks:  https://www.invisibleemployeesbook.com/real-working-caregivers-stories-1-7 Clelia's books:  “The Law Firm Revolution” :  https://www.amazon.com/Law-Firm-Revolution-Clelia-Pergola/dp/1543911595  and “Life, Lessons, & Legacy“:  https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Legacy-Grandmother-Changed/dp/1667803662  If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.