PODCAST · education
The Aging Parent Playbook
by Barbara Sparacino MD
Welcome to The Aging Parent Playbook, the ultimate resource for adult children navigating the complex journey of caring for aging parents. Hosted by Dr. Barbara Sparacino, a triple board-certified psychiatrist, this podcast offers expert insights, practical tips, and compassionate guidance on essential topics like legal issues, caregiver burnout, memory loss, and home safety modifications.Each episode dives deep into the challenges of caregiving, equipping you with the tools to support your aging loved ones while managing your own well-being. Whether you're facing difficult conversations about health and finances or seeking strategies for managing family dynamics, The Aging Parent Playbook is here to help you every step of the way.Join our community of listeners and gain access to invaluable advice and support tailored specifically for adult children of aging parents. Subscribe now and empower yourself to create a positive caregiving experience for you and your family!
Episodes
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Episode 71: The Free Senior Living Advisor Who Actually Pays
Have you ever searched for senior living for your parent and felt relieved when someone offered to help you for free? It sounds great, especially when you're already overwhelmed and don't know where to start. But have you ever wondered who actually pays that advisor—and how it might affect the...
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Episode 70: Who Does What Building Your Parent S Professional Bench
When your aging parent needs care, you may suddenly find yourself surrounded by doctors, social workers, attorneys, care agencies, and senior living professionals—without knowing who does what or who is actually working for you. In Episode 70, Dr. Barbara breaks down who belongs on your parent’s...
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EPISODE 69 The Fall Before The Fall
In this episode, I take you room by room through one of the most common and preventable crises families face with aging parents: falls. We’ll look beyond the obvious trip hazards and explore the five systems that can come together to create a fall, including medications, vision, balance…
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EPISODE 68: I'm Her Best Shot
In this episode, I talk about what it means to become your aging parent’s advocate when you are the person who knows them best. I share my own experience of showing up for my mother during a medical crisis and why understanding her language, habits, and unique way of communicating became so...
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Episode 67: The Sibling Divide Why Your Brother Thinks Mom Is Fine
In this episode, I unpack one of the most painful realities of family caregiving: why siblings can look at the same parent and see completely different realities. I explain the psychology behind the sibling divide, why both perspectives can be true, and how misunderstanding—not lack of love—often...
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Episode 66: Guardianship Avoidance Guide
In this episode, I explain why guardianship is one of the most expensive, stressful, and avoidable legal situations families can face. Through the story of one family, I break down the difference between a durable power of attorney and guardianship, what capacity really means, and why the window...
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EPISODE 65: The Ten Minute Pity Party And Why You re Not Allowed More
In this episode, I challenge the belief that constant exhaustion is a sign of being a good caregiver. I introduce my "10-Minute Pity Party" framework, a simple but powerful way to process grief, frustration, and overwhelm without letting those emotions take over your entire day. You'll learn why...
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Episode 64: The Six- to-Eighteen-Month Window You're Missing
In this episode, I reveal the quiet six to eighteen month window that often comes before a caregiving crisis, and why so many families miss it. I walk you through the subtle warning signs that signal something is changing, how to tell the difference between normal aging and meaningful decline…
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Episode 63: Three Questions to Ask Before You Believe Any Doctor
In this episode, I share the three most important questions every adult child should ask during a parent’s medical appointment. Too often, families leave the doctor’s office with more confusion than clarity, unsure of what was decided, what to watch for, or what happens next. I’ll show you how to...
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Episode 62: What Happens When Your Parent Won't Sign the Documents
In this episode, I tackle one of the hardest situations families face: what happens when your parent still refuses to sign important legal documents. I explain why resistance does not always mean refusal, how to keep the conversation moving without creating conflict, and the critical difference...
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Episode 61: The Power of Attorney Conversation Nobody Knows How to Have
In this episode, I explain why so many aging parents resist signing a power of attorney and why it’s usually not about trust. I walk you through what is actually happening emotionally beneath the resistance, including fears around loss of control, decline, and mortality. You’ll learn how to…
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Episode 60: Why Your Sister Won't Help (And It's Not Because She's a Narcissist)
In this episode, I unpack one of the most common phrases I hear from overwhelmed caregivers: “My sister is a narcissist.” I explain why most difficult sibling behavior is not actually narcissism, how pop psychology is reshaping family conflict, and why mislabeling people keeps families stuck....
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Episode 59: The Five Roles Every Caregiving Family Falls Into.
In this episode, I break down the five family roles that show up in almost every caregiving situation and why the same arguments keep happening over and over again. From the responsible one to the disappearing sibling, the critic, the peacemaker, and the dependent child, I explain how these...
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Episode 58: Why You're Not Parenting Your Parent
In this episode, I challenge one of the most common phrases caregivers use: “I feel like I’m parenting my parent.” I explain why that mindset creates guilt, resentment, and emotional exhaustion, and what’s actually happening instead. You’ll learn how to shift from feeling responsible for…
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Episode 57: Grief Before Loss: What Anticipatory Grief Actually Looks Like
In this episode, I talk about one of the most painful and unspoken parts of caregiving: grieving a parent who is still alive. I walk you through what anticipatory grief really is, why it feels so isolating, and the thoughts and emotions many caregivers are too afraid to say out loud. You’ll hear...
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Episode 56: How to Know If Your Parent's Doctor is Actually Listening
In this episode, I talk about a concern I hear all the time from adult children who feel like their parent’s doctor isn’t really listening. I walk you through why this happens, especially in short, high-pressure medical appointments, and why aging adults are more vulnerable to being overlooked....
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Episode 56: The Conversation Most Families Wait Too Long to Have
In this episode, I walk you through a reality many families face but few are prepared for. When a crisis hits, love and good intentions are not enough, and many adult children realize too late they do not have the legal authority to step in. I talk about why this happens, the common...
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Episode 55: The One Binder That Could Save Your Family in a Crisis
Imagine getting a call in the middle of the night and realizing you don’t have the information you need to help your parent. In this episode, I walk you through why preparation matters more than we think and how a simple care plan binder can change everything in a crisis. I’ll show you what to...
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Episode 54: Before the Crisis Hits: What Every Family Needs to Know + My 1:1 Strategy Call
In this episode, I walk you through what really happens when a crisis hits and families realize they are not prepared to make medical, legal, or financial decisions. I share why love and good intentions are not enough, and how lack of clarity creates stress, conflict, and delays when it matters...
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Episode 53: Legal Safety Net Plan: Why Legal Authority Matters Before Crisis
In this episode, I talk about one of the biggest mistakes families make when caring for aging parents: assuming things will work out when the time comes. I walk you through why love and responsibility are not the same as legal authority, and how this gap creates chaos during emergencies. You’ll…
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Episode 51: Caregiver Strategy Course: How to Assess, Plan, and Stay Ahead of the Caregiving Curve
You don’t become a caregiver overnight. It starts with small shifts you begin to notice. In this episode, I walk you through how to recognize that transition early and why strategy matters before things become overwhelming. I’ll show you how to assess your parent’s current situation and start...
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Episode 52: Health Optimization Course: The Hidden Burnout of High-Functioning Caregivers
In this episode, I’m talking about the part of caregiving no one says out loud. The people who seem to have it all together are often the ones closest to burnout. I walk you through the early warning signs, the hidden guilt, and why high-functioning caregivers are the most at risk. More...
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Episode 50: Conflict Resolution Course: Turning Family Conflict Into Clear Caregiving Strategy
In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, I talk about one of the most difficult parts of caring for aging parents: family conflict. When a parent’s health starts to decline, old childhood roles resurface, stress increases, and communication often breaks down. Suddenly caregiving isn’t just...
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Episode 49: Legal Protection Course: What Every Adult Child Must Put in Place Before a Crisis
In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, I introduce the Legal Protection Course, the first pillar of my Aging Parent framework. I walk through a difficult but critical question many families avoid: if your parent had a stroke or medical emergency tonight, would you actually have the legal...
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Episode 48: If Your Parent Had a Stroke Tonight… Could You Legally Help?
In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, I talk about one of the most overlooked—but critical—parts of caregiving: legal authority. Many adult children assume they’ll be able to step in and help if a parent has a medical emergency, but the reality is that love and good intentions aren’t...
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Episode 47: The Aging Parent Safety Net Workshop
If your aging parent had a stroke tonight, would you know what to do? More importantly — would you legally be allowed to make decisions? In this episode, physician and aging parent strategist [Your Name] breaks down: * Why love is not legal authority * The hidden dangers of sibling conflict in...
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Episode 46: The Aging Parent Safety Net
In this short but important episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, I’m inviting you to a free live training I’m hosting called The Aging Parent Safety Net, designed to help you prepare before a crisis hits. I start with a question I hear families ask only after something goes wrong: if your parent...
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Episode 45: The Caregiver Strategy
In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, I dive into Pillar 4: The Caregiver Strategy—how to avoid burnout while balancing caregiving with your own life. I share practical tools to set boundaries, create non-negotiables for your health, delegate tasks effectively, and plan for crises before...
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Episode 44: The Health Optimization Plan
In this week’s Aging Parent Playbook, I introduce Pillar 3: Health Optimization, how to clearly understand what your parent actually needs so you can stop guessing and start planning. We move beyond diagnoses and look at the full picture: physical health, mobility, cognition, emotional…
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Episode 43: Conflict Resolution Course
In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, I walk you through Pillar #2 of my caregiving framework: Conflict Resolution. I talk about why caring for aging parents so often brings up old family dynamics, sibling tension, and guilt, and why trying to “keep everyone happy” usually leads to…
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Episode 42: Your Parent's Legal Safety Net: The 3 Documents Every Family Must Have
In this episode, I’m formally launching a powerful four-part series by breaking down the first pillar of my framework: the legal protection guide. If the words “power of attorney” or “advance directive” make you want to run the other way, you’re not alone, and I’m here to make this feel simple,...
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Episode 41 – Recognizing the Signs Your Parent Needs More Help
How do you know when it’s really time to step in with your parent? In this episode, I share the subtle and sometimes not so subtle signs that your mom or dad may need extra support. We’ll talk about how to notice these changes early, how to bring them up without creating conflict, and small steps...
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Episode 40: When Your Parent Insists "I'm Fine" Understanding Denial and Resistance
Ever hear your aging parent say, ‘I’m fine’—even when the signs clearly show otherwise? In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, Dr. Barbara Sparacino breaks down why denial is so common, what those little red flags really mean, and how to approach the conversation without creating conflict....
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Episode 39: Handling Emergency Situations with Aging Parents: How to Stay Calm and Prepared
Emergencies happen without warning—and when it’s your aging parent, the stress can be overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Barbara Sparacino shares exactly what to do in a medical crisis, which documents you must have ready, and how to build an emergency plan that works under pressure.What You’ll...
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Episode 38: The Power of Self-Care for Caregivers: Why It's Not Selfish, It's Survival
If you’re caring for an aging parent, chances are you’ve put your own needs on the back burner. Between doctor appointments, medication schedules, and the constant emotional load, it’s easy to think, “I’ll take care of myself later.” But later often never comes.In this episode of The Aging Parent...
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Episode 37: End-of-Life Conversations – How to Approach Them
Talking to your parent about end-of-life wishes is one of the hardest conversations you’ll ever have — but also one of the most important. Avoiding it doesn’t make the reality go away… it just increases the risk of confusion, conflict, and heartbreak when the time comes.In this episode of The…
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Episode 36: Finding the Right In-Home Caregiver for Your Parent
Finding the right in-home caregiver can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I walk you through how to determine what level of care your parent truly needs, what questions to ask when hiring (whether through an agency or independently), and the most common mistakes…
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Episode 35: How to Set Up a Financial Safety Net for Your Aging Parent
If your parent is starting to struggle with money management—or you’re worried about scams, rising care costs, or future crises—this episode is for you. I’m Dr. Barbara Sparacino, and today I’m walking you through how to build a strong financial safety net that protects both your parent’s...
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Episode 34: The Truth About Caregiver Burnout & How to Prevent It
Caregiver burnout is real—and it doesn’t have to be your reality. In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, learn how to recognize burnout, prevent it, and what to do if you’re already burned out. Listen now for practical, compassionate guidance from Dr. Barbara Sparacino, The Aging Parent...
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Episode 33: What to Do If Your Aging Parent Refuses Help
What do you do when your parent won’t accept the support they clearly need? In this episode, Dr. Barbara Sparacino unpacks the real reasons behind resistance—from fear of losing independence to family dynamics—and offers practical ways to respond with empathy, not frustration. You’ll learn how to...
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Episode 32: Estate Planning Basics for Caregivers
Welcome back to The Aging Parent Playbook. I’m Dr. Barbara Sparacino—and if you're caring for an aging parent, you already know that the practical side of caregiving can be just as emotional and overwhelming as the rest. In this episode, I’m talking about something many families avoid—but...
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Episode 31: How to Balance Work, Family, and Caregiving
Welcome back to The Aging Parent Playbook! I’m Dr. Barbara Sparacino—psychiatrist, coach, and sandwich generation survivor. If you’ve ever missed a work meeting for a parent’s doctor’s appointment or felt torn between your kids and your caregiving duties—you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re...
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Episode 30: How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt
Caregiving without limits? That’s the fastest path to burnout—and no one benefits from that. In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, Dr. Barbara Sparacino helps you rewrite the guilt-laced script around boundaries and shows you how to say “no” with confidence, kindness, and clarity. You’ll...
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Episode 29: Dementia vs. Normal Aging – What You Need to Know
As our parents age, it’s natural to notice changes in their memory or behavior—but how do we distinguish between what’s typical and what may be cause for concern? In this episode, I explore one of the most common—and emotionally charged—questions I hear from adult children: “Is this dementia, or...
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Episode 29: How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt
Caregiving without limits? That’s the fastest path to burnout—and no one benefits from that. In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, Dr. Barbara Sparacino helps you rewrite the guilt-laced script around boundaries and shows you how to say “no” with confidence, kindness, and clarity. You’ll...
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Episode 28: Creating a Care Plan That Works for Your Family
Are you caregiving in crisis mode? You're not alone—and you don't have to keep doing it that way. In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, Dr. Barbara Sparacino—psychiatrist, aging parent coach, and fellow sandwich generation member—walks you through how to create a care plan that actually...
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Episode 27: Coping with the Slow Loss: How to Grieve a Parent Who's Still Here
In today’s episode, I’m opening up about one of the hardest parts of caregiving—watching a parent decline. No one prepares you for the slow heartbreak of losing pieces of someone you love while they’re still physically here.I’ll share: Why anticipatory grief is real (and why you’re not "doing it...
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Episode 26: The Financial Checklist Every Caregiver Needs
As caregivers, we often focus on the emotional weight of the role—but the financial responsibilities can be just as demanding. In this episode, I’m sharing a comprehensive, practical checklist to help you get your parent’s finances in order before a crisis hits. We’ll cover everything from legal...
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Episode 25: Managing Sibling Conflicts Over Aging Parent Care
Sibling conflicts over caregiving can turn an already stressful situation into a full-blown family feud. Maybe you’re doing everything while your siblings vanish. Maybe you’re locked in a power struggle with a controlling sibling. Or maybe it’s the dreaded money fight—who’s paying, who’s not, and...
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Episode 24: How to Talk to Your Parent About Assisted Living
In this episode of The Aging Parent Playbook, Dr. Barbara Sparacino tackles one of the hardest conversations adult children face—talking to a parent about assisted living. She shares how to recognize when it’s time, how to approach the topic without triggering resistance, and what to do if your...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to The Aging Parent Playbook, the ultimate resource for adult children navigating the complex journey of caring for aging parents. Hosted by Dr. Barbara Sparacino, a triple board-certified psychiatrist, this podcast offers expert insights, practical tips, and compassionate guidance on essential topics like legal issues, caregiver burnout, memory loss, and home safety modifications.Each episode dives deep into the challenges of caregiving, equipping you with the tools to support your aging loved ones while managing your own well-being. Whether you're facing difficult conversations about health and finances or seeking strategies for managing family dynamics, The Aging Parent Playbook is here to help you every step of the way.Join our community of listeners and gain access to invaluable advice and support tailored specifically for adult children of aging parents. Subscribe now and empower yourself to create a positive caregiving experience for you and your family!
HOSTED BY
Barbara Sparacino MD
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Aging Parent Playbook have?
The Aging Parent Playbook currently has 72 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Aging Parent Playbook about?
Welcome to The Aging Parent Playbook, the ultimate resource for adult children navigating the complex journey of caring for aging parents. Hosted by Dr. Barbara Sparacino, a triple board-certified psychiatrist, this podcast offers expert insights, practical tips, and compassionate guidance on...
How often does The Aging Parent Playbook release new episodes?
The Aging Parent Playbook has 72 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Aging Parent Playbook?
You can listen to The Aging Parent Playbook on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Aging Parent Playbook?
The Aging Parent Playbook is created and hosted by Barbara Sparacino MD.
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