The Grey Take

Why do we avoid the conversations that matter most? In this episode of The Grey Take, we sit down with hospice grief counselor and thanatology fellow Ali Drescher to break down the psychology, science and human reality of death, dying and bereavement. Ali explains what thanatology is (the study of death and grief) and how her work in hospice care helps families navigate end-of-life decisions, emotional pain and the conversations most people avoid. We unpack why denial is not weakness and how the brain literally prevents us from processing our own mortality. This episode also explores why families often avoid talking about death, how grief is shaped by family experiences and how to approach end-of-life conversations with clarity and peace. If you're navigating loss, supporting someone through illness or trying to understand grief at a deeper level, this episode gives you a practical and psychological framework to approach it differently.   CHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction 00:41 - What Is Thanatology? Understanding End of Life and Bereavement 02:13 - Why Ali Drescher Chose Hospice and Grief Work 05:25 - Growing Up Around Caregiving 07:45 - Planning Ahead and Becoming Familiar with Loss 09:54 - Why Talking About Death Feels So Impossible 11:22 - Denial as Protection, Not Failure 14:36 - Why Families Avoid End-of-Life Conversations 18:09 - Everyone Grieves on a Different Timeline 19:26 - What Happens When Families Wait Too Long 21:33 - What Families Need to Talk About Before a Crisis 25:34 - Why Pre-Planning Is a Gift to the People You Love 36:56 - How to Start the Conversation Without Forcing It 37:39 - Hospice Misconceptions: Does Calling Hospice Mean Giving Up? 40:58 - What to Do When Someone Refuses the Conversation 48:24 - How Hospice Workers Carry the Emotional Weight 51:55 - Hospice vs. Death Doula: What's the Difference? 1:00:08 - The One Question You Should Ask Before It's Too Late 1:06:08 - How to Know When It's Time to Call Hospice   The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living Alive Hospice

What happens when a loved one's cognitive health starts to decline and you don't know how to help? When families begin navigating a dementia diagnosis, the challenge isn't just memory loss - it's confusion, personality changes, frustration and the emotional weight of watching someone you love struggle in real time. In this episode, Jill Ladaa, Alzheimer's and dementia care gerontologist at Brookdale Senior Living, joins hosts MB and Roy to break down what's actually happening and how to respond. Jill shares how dementia often shows up before memory loss, why a diagnosis can bring both fear and relief and how caregivers can shift from reacting emotionally to responding with clarity. Drawing from her years of expertise and her own dementia caregiving experience, she explains how education reduces fear for both the caregiver and the person living with dementia. If you're caring for an aging parent, spouse or loved one, this episode can help you navigate dementia with more clarity, confidence and control.   CHAPTERS 00:00 - Dementia & caregiving: what this episode will actually help you understand 01:30 - Introducing Jill Ladaa + her role at Brookdale Senior Living 03:00 - What a dementia specialist actually does (and why it matters) 05:00 - Why Jill chose dementia care 08:30 - Why education reduces fear for caregivers and patients 10:00 - The emotional reality of diagnosis (fear + relief) 12:30 - Dementia doesn't always start with memory loss (personality changes) 14:30 - Caregiver frustration vs patient confusion 16:00 - Why early diagnosis is critical (and often missed) 17:00 - Conditions that can mimic dementia (UTI, dehydration, etc.) 19:00 - Why people with dementia resist help (identity + independence) 29:00 - What to say when someone says "I want to go home" 41:00 - Real example: Moving a loved one into care (without forcing it) 45:00 - Why you need to have these conversations early 53:00 - Why some patients don't know they have dementia (anosognosia) 01:02:00 - Final takeaway: What caregivers need to remember most   The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com

In this episode, we explore the emotional and practical challenges families face when caregiving shifts the balance between adult children and their parents. Hosts Suzie and MB are joined by therapist Em Mortenson, who specializes in family systems and autonomy, to discuss a common tension: adult children trying to help while parents struggle to maintain independence. Through real-life examples, Em explains that resistance and anger often stem from a perceived loss of control rather than a rejection of help. This episode highlights simple but powerful communication tools and emphasizes the importance of finding a "grey area" in caregiving – small, practical ways for parents to retain choice and dignity, even when their abilities are changing. Caregiving is a learning process. By making small adjustments, staying curious, and respecting autonomy, families can move from conflict toward collaboration.   CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why Caregiving Can Pull Families Apart - Even When Everyone Means Well 4:57 - Meet Em Mortenson, The Therapist Who Sees This Every Day 9:12 - The Thing Every Caregiver Is Secretly Losing (And No One Talks About) 14:47 - The "Bumpers" Method: Help Without Taking Over 19:03 - When Anger Isn't Really Anger And What's Actually Underneath 23:40 - The Shame Nobody Admits To Feeling As A Caregiver 28:18 - Threee Communication Mistakes That Blow Up Every Conversation 40:26 - The One Small Phrase That Gives Autonomy Back 48:42 - Completely Overwhelmed? Start Here - Just One Thing This Week 55:23 - Understanding, Compromise, Creativity: Em's Final Words For Struggling Families The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com The Gaia Centerhttps://gaiacenter.co/ - Family Therapy

What happens when three siblings in three different states become caregivers for a parent living with dementia? In this episode, MB and Suzie sit down with Libby, Matt and Nathan Avant, who navigated caring for their mother as she lived with dementia. The siblings had to figure out how to share the load from a distance, communicate without conflict and support their mom who was fiercely independent and resistant to help. They get into the early warning signs, the moment they realized something was different with mom and how they set up systems (a group text, an apartment camera, daily check-ins) to make it work. They also reflect on caring for their father before this, a completely different experience, and what each sibling carried that the others couldn't see. This one is full of honesty, humor and hard-won lessons about what it can look like when a family pulls together.   CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro - Caregiving Gets Complicated Fast 1:10 Meet Libby, Matt and Nathan Avant 2:00 Early Signs: Repetition On Calls and Forgetfulness at Christmas 3:13 The Turning Point: A Friend in Florida Calls the Family 7:15 How This Experience United Them 12:24 Nathan as a Daily Caregiver - Group Texts, Groceries and a Camera 16:10 Libby On Power of Attorney, Medicaid and Legal Paperwork 20:35 When the Disease Accelerated - And When it Was Time to Step In 33:48 Using Humor as a Coping Tool 37:12 Nathan On Journaling Through Grief and Confusion 39:19 What Each Sibling Learned About the Others 43:39 Closing Advice: Support Your Siblings, Have Honest Conversations and Give Grace   The Grey Take Listener Line833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living brookdale.com Alzheimer's Association alz.org | Helpline: 800-272-3900 - 24/7 support, caregiver guides and local resources for families navigating dementia. Caregiver Action Network caregiveraction.org - Tools and peer support for family caregivers - including help with sibling dynamics and burnout. Medicaid Long-Term Care medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports - Understanding Medicaid eligibility and coverage for memory care and assisted living. Power of Attorney & Advance Directives nhpco.org - Guides and templates for legal planning - get these in place early. AARP Caregiver Resource Center aarp.org/caregiving - Long-distance caregiving tools and sibling coordination guides

Hosts Roy and Suzie talk with Dr. Breanna Barney, a physical therapist specializing in balance, mobility and fall prevention for older adults. In this episode, they explore what really happens when a loved one falls and why a fall is often more than just a physical event. Dr. Barney shares practical guidance on identifying early warning signs of fall risk. She outlines simple movements families can start at home immediately, like sit-to-stands and functional strength exercises. The conversation also dives into environmental hazards inside the home and how small adjustments can help reduce risk. Most importantly, this episode reframes the fall itself: it's not necessarily the beginning of the end. With the right tools, support and approach, older adults can regain strength, confidence and mobility. If you're caring for someone at risk or recovering from a fall, this episode offers practical strategies, product recommendations and reassurance that proactive care makes a measurable difference.   CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Personal Experiences with Loved Ones Falling 02:39 - Interview with Dr. Breanna Barney Intro 02:55 - Dr. Barney's Background and Approach 04:41 - Advice for Families Dealing with a Loved One's Fall 15:05 - Importance of Regular Movement 16:55 - Involvement of Caregivers in Physical Therapy 19:09 - Guidelines for Assisting a Fallen Person 21:08 - Contrasting Client Stories: Proactive vs Reactive Approach 25:04 - Practical Exercises for Home 35:59 - Recommended Products for Home Safety 40:30 - Closing Remarks and Contact Information 41:33 - Post-Interview Discussion 42:25 - Closing Message to Listeners   The Grey Take Listener Line833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living brookdale.com VIP Senior Care Specialistsvipseniorcarespec.com- Dr. Brianna Barney Cubii cubii.com- Under-Desk Elliptical byACRE Rollators byacre.com- Lightweight Carbon Fiber Rollators Medical Guardian medicalguardian.com- Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection

Hosts MB Roberts and Suzie Lind sit down with Brookdale's Director of Nutrition, Sara Casey, to explore one of the most common and misunderstood concerns families face: appetite changes in older adults. When a loved one starts skipping meals, losing weight or pushing food away, it can feel alarming. But is it a normal part of aging, or a sign of something deeper? Sara breaks down the physical, emotional and environmental factors that can affect appetite, from medication side effects and depression to loneliness and changes in taste, smell or mobility. The conversation offers practical strategies families can try at home - including creating inviting meal environments, focusing on nutrient-dense foods and supporting dignity and choice at the table. Brookdale gerontologists Dr. Christy Phillips and Jill Ladaa also weigh in on how emotional and cognitive changes influence eating.   CHAPTERS Personal Experiences with Appetite Changes - 00:05 Stories and Observations 01:04 Bathroom Habits and Appetite - 15:43 Medication and Mental Health Impact on Appetite - 16:43 Tips to Encourage Eating - 18:06 Advice for Families and Caregivers - 25:00 Strategies for Unintentional Weight Loss - 26:42 Nutrient-Dense Foods and Balanced Diet - 27:04 Path of Empowerment and Choices - 31:33 Support and Resources for Eating - 33:56 Conclusion and Reflections - 38:20   The Grey Take Listener Line833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCESBrookdale Senior Livinghttps://www.brookdale.com/ Magic Kitchen https://www.magickitchen.com/menu/senior-meals.html - Senior Meal Delivery Service Meals on Wheels https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ - Nationwide Senior Meal Program Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/area-agencies-aging - Local Resource Network

Hosts MB Roberts and Roy Clary Jr. sit down with Dating While Gray podcast host Laura Stassi to explore romance and relationships in later life. The conversation challenges common stereotypes about older adults and intimacy while offering practical insights for those re-entering the dating world after divorce or widowhood. Laura shares stories from her podcast about people opening their parameters, finding love in unexpected places and custom-building relationships that fit their needs. The hosts and Laura discuss the complications that arise when adult children struggle with their parents' new romantic interests, the importance of expanding definitions of intimacy and sexual connection and why companionship becomes richer as we age. Brookdale gerontologists Dr. Christy Phillips and Jill Ladaa join to discuss the stigma around romance for older adults and why social connections remain vital throughout our lives.   CHAPTERSLove Doesn't Have An Age Limit - 01:10 Dating Looks Different After 60 - 04:33 Opening Your Parameters - 09:05 The Problem With Online Dating - 11:50 When Adult Children Complicate Romance - 14:35 Intimacy And Physical Changes - 21:05 Expert Insight From Brookdale Gerontologists - 26:06 The Loneliness Of Caregiving - 29:36 Getting Back In The Game - 24:07 One Piece Of Advice For Daters - 33:51   The Grey Take Listener Line833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCESBrookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com/ Dating While Gray Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dating-while-gray/id1497374383 Pew Research Center - Dating at 50 and Uphttps://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/17/dating-at-50-and-up-older-americans-experiences-with-online-dating/ - Study on dating patterns among older single adults (17% of Americans 50+ have used dating sites or apps) Helen Fisher https://helenfisher.com/ - Biological anthropologist who studied the brain and love (died August 2024). Known for MRI research on romantic love and her work on personality and mate choice Sizzling Sex for Life by Michael Castleman https://www.amazon.com/Sizzling-Sex-Life-Everything-Maximize/dp/1510762558 - Book about maintaining sexual intimacy throughout life by sex journalist Michael Castleman Walter Reed National Military Medical Center https://walterreed.tricare.mil/ - Military medical center referenced in discussion about sexuality counseling and adaptive intimacy for wounded war veterans Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) https://www.theaftd.org/ - Resource about FTD (frontotemporal dementia), the condition discussed in relation to caregiving and loneliness. Bruce Willis was diagnosed with FTD in 2023

Caregiving works best when families support each other. Virginia Harper and her sister Maritza Raznick join hosts MB Roberts and Roy Clary to discuss their collaborative approach to caring for their mother who is living with dementia. The sisters explain how they strategically moved to live closer together and divided responsibilities based on each family member's strengths. Maritza brings her professional experience from working in senior living communities while Virginia coordinates daily care and medical appointments. They share practical strategies for organizing family caregiving including accepting imperfection, communicating clearly about needs and bringing in paid caregivers when necessary. The conversation explores how different family members contribute in their own way and why asking for help from both family and friends can make caregiving sustainable. Roy reflects on his own solo caregiving experience and emphasizes the importance of building a team rather than trying to handle everything alone.   CHAPTERS: Meeting the Harper Family - 02:30 Moving Closer Together for Care - 04:24 Dividing Family Responsibilities - 08:16 Working With Paid Caregivers - 12:05 Accepting Imperfection in Caregiving - 17:40 Cultural Differences in Family Care - 21:18 Managing Medical Appointments - 26:12 Financial Coordination Strategies - 29:33 Building Friend Support Networks - 32:45 Asking for Help When Needed - 36:36   Brookdale Senior Living:https://www.brookdale.com The Grey Take Voicemail Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics.

Guilt is one of the most common emotions caregivers experience, whether it's guilt for not doing enough, guilt for wanting a break or guilt about decisions that need to be made. In this episode, MB Roberts and Suzie Lind are joined by Tiffany Cloud Mann, Elder Care Coach and Community Partnerships Manager at Age Well Middle Tennessee, to explore why guilt is so prevalent in caregiving and how to work through it. They discuss the difference between guilt and shame, the importance of releasing control, how to set healthy boundaries and why joining a support community can make all the difference. Tiffany shares stories from her years supporting caregivers and offers practical advice for giving yourself grace during one of life's most challenging journeys. Whether you're a primary caregiver, providing support from afar or helping a loved one in a senior living community, this conversation offers validation and helpful strategies for navigating caregiver guilt.   Understanding Different Types of Caregivers - 05:15 Why Guilt Is So Common in Caregiving - 07:45 The Difference Between Guilt and Shame - 11:30 Dealing with Complicated Relationships - 19:40 Setting Boundaries as a Caregiver - 22:15 The Importance of Releasing Control - 28:30 Recognizing Signs of Caregiver Burnout - 32:45 The Value of Support Communities - 35:20 Resources from Age Well Middle Tennessee - 40:15 Giving Yourself Grace - 43:30   Resources: Brookdale Senior Living: https://www.brookdale.com AgeWell TN: https://agewelltn.org/ Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org The Grey Take Voicemail Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics.

In this episode, MB and Suzie sit down with Dr. Christy Phillips, a Brookdale gerontologist, to unpack one of the most challenging aspects of caring for aging parents: understanding whether changes in behavior stem from cognitive decline, depression or both. Dr. Phillips explains how these conditions share similar symptoms yet require different approaches, making early diagnosis crucial. The conversation covers normal age-related changes versus possible red flags, the impact of loneliness and depression on dementia risk and how spouses often compensate for cognitive decline until a major life event reveals the extent of changes. Dr. Phillips provides guidance on navigating doctor visits, the importance of having a reliable informant present and screening tools like the PHQ-9 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The hosts draw on personal experiences with their parents, showing how denial often accompanies early symptoms and the delicate balance between offering support and preserving autonomy. This episode offers hope through recent research developments while emphasizing that early intervention can significantly improve quality of life for aging adults experiencing either condition.   When Memory Lapses Become Concerning - 00:20 The Connection Between Depression and Dementia - 08:20 How Spouses Compensate for Cognitive Decline - 06:06 The Power of Community in Combating Loneliness - 11:51 Understanding Normal Aging Versus Cognitive Decline - 17:12 When to See a Doctor and What to Expect - 24:14 Starting Difficult Conversations with Compassion - 25:39 Navigating Denial and Getting Professional Help - 34:31 Treatment Options and the Importance of Second Opinions - 36:06 Hope on the Horizon: New Research and Interventions - 37:24   Resources: Brookdale Senior Living: https://www.brookdale.com PHQ-9 Depression Screening Toolhttps://www.mdcalc.com/calc/1725/phq-9-patient-health-questionnaire-9 physicians Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) information https://www.mocatest.org The Grey Take Listener Line: 833-473-9898 Leave us a message, ask us a question! Don't forget to rate and review us and share with anyone you think could benefit from this information! Thanks for listening!

The holidays can feel heavy when you're caring for aging parents or dealing with loss. In this episode, hosts Suzie Lind and Roy Clary sit down with Dianne, a caregiver navigating her husband's dementia while carrying decades of holiday grief after losing her son at Christmas. Dianne shares how she learned to seek contentment instead of happiness, why she dyed her hair purple for her granddaughter's cancer battle and how her family's simple tradition of drawing names during the season of giving lifted an enormous burden. From throwing poinsettias off the porch to finding support groups at the local library, this conversation offers permission to grieve what was while creating space for what can be. Whether you're in the thick of caregiving or facing your first holiday without a loved one, you'll find practical wisdom and unexpected hope for making the season meaningful again.   When Traditions Feel Intrusive - 01:28 Meeting Dianne: Purple Hair and Spunk - 05:50 The Day He Retired Without Warning - 09:55 Finding Support Groups - 13:08 Losing Andy at Christmas - 14:35 Drawing Names: A Game-Changing Tradition - 19:52 The Purple Hair Promise - 23:17 Staying Present in Depressing Circumstances - 26:06 Art as Distraction and Healing - 31:18 From Host to Queen - 33:14   Resources: The Grey Take Voicemail/Text Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com

In this episode Roy Clary and Suzie Lind sit down with Sally, an 87-year-old living in a senior living community who shares honest insight into loneliness, changing family roles and the need for real empathy from caregivers. She talks through how her relationship with her daughter has evolved, why asking before acting matters and what support feels like from her side of the caregiving equation. Roy and Suzie also reflect on their own holiday experiences, the pressure adult children place on themselves and the importance of connection over tasks. This episode helps listeners understand the emotional needs of aging parents and how to care with patience and respect.   What do aging parents want in caregiving - 02:45 Holiday pressure and expectations - 04:10 Suzie on tasks vs connection - 05:15 Introducing Sally - 07:05 Sally's move to Chicago - 08:20 Finding independence with support - 12:40 Loneliness and isolation - 17:05 How to help without taking over - 24:55 Advice for caregivers and receivers - 30:20 Roy's holiday shift after his mom's stroke - 40:15   Resources: The Grey Take Text/Voicemail Line:833-473-9898 Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com

In honor of Veterans Day, hosts Roy Clary and MB Roberts welcome Dr. Matthew Bruhin to discuss the ongoing struggles veterans and their families face long after service ends. Dr. Bruhin, who has 15 years of experience treating veterans and their families, explains how trauma isn't just something that happens to you - it's something that happens inside of you, physically changing your brain structure. The conversation covers the differences between how older and younger veterans process trauma, the shocking connection between PTSD and substance use disorders and the concept of secondary trauma that affects caregivers. Roy shares his personal experience with EMDR therapy, while MB opens up about her husband's Vietnam experience and the treatment he faced returning home. Dr. Bruhin breaks down the four types of trauma, explains why families need their own treatment plans and offers practical advice for supporting loved ones without burning out. This episode is a must-listen for anyone caring for a veteran or dealing with the ripple effects of trauma in their family.   Chapters: Meet Dr. Matthew Bruhin & His Military Background - 02:33 What Trauma Really Is & How It Affects Veterans - 07:10 Vietnam Veterans & Secondary Trauma - 10:05 Epigenetics: How Trauma Changes Your DNA - 13:11 Mistakes Caregivers Make & When NOT to Work on Trauma - 14:46 Roy's Caregiver Experience & EMDR Therapy Journey - 19:03 Should Caregivers Get Therapy Too? - 25:35 Brain Development, Types of Trauma & Creating a Care Plan - 29:12 Older vs. Younger Vets: Care Differences - 41:33 PTSD & Substance Use Disorder Connection - 43:06   Resource Links: Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com Apex Recovery apex.rehab VA.gov: www.va.gov American Legion: www.legion.org VFW: www.vfw.org EMDR International Association: www.emdria.org   The Grey Take Voicemail Line:833-473-9898 Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

Hosts Roy Clary and MB Roberts tackle one of caregiving's hardest challenges, having difficult conversations with family members about an aging parent's care. Drawing from their own experiences as adult children and caregivers, they explore what makes these conversations so difficult and why they often backfire. Roy shares how a decision to let his mom visit family led to criticism and fractured relationships. MB reflects on waiting too long to address financial issues. And together, they discuss practical strategies for approaching sensitive topics like moving to senior living, healthcare decisions and financial matters. The conversation covers timing, listening skills, emotional regulation and the importance of building a support team. They remind listeners that these conversations aren't about being right or taking control - they're about protection and working together across generations.     Roy's Experience with Family Criticism - 00:52 The Guilt of Taking Control - 02:56 Don't Wait for a Crisis - 03:51 Setting the Right Time and Place - 06:18 Listening More Than Talking - 08:30 Managing Your Own Emotions - 12:45 Having a Third Party Present - 15:20 Young Caregivers Face Extra Challenges - 18:30 Building Your Support Army - 21:46 It's Not About Being Right - 23:13     Resources: Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com Family Caregiver Alliance https://www.caregiver.org AARP Caregiving Resource Center https://www.aarp.org/caregiving Caring.com https://www.caring.com American Association of Caregiving Youth https://www.aacy.org The Grey Take Voicemail Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

When your parent forgets where they put their keys for the third time this week or seems unsteady on their feet, how do you know if it's normal aging or something more? In this episode of The Grey Take, hosts Suzie Lind and MB Roberts sit down with Brookdale Senior Living gerontologists Jill Ladaa and Christy Phillips to tackle one of the most anxiety-provoking questions families face. The experts share personal stories from their own caregiving journeys while revealing why approaching these concerns with curiosity rather than panic can change everything. You'll discover the communication techniques that actually work and learn why a diagnosis doesn't have to mean the end of the world. If you've been wondering whether what you're seeing is cause for concern, this conversation may help give you the clarity and confidence to take the next step.   The Little Changes You Notice First - 00:24 What To Do When Something Feels 'Off' - 16:06 Lead With Curiosity, Not Fear - 21:23 Tell Me More About That - 22:46 Why We Say 'Care Partner' - 29:17 Tech That Actually Helps Caregiving - 32:02 Lifestyle Levers For Brain Health - 34:17 Cognitive Training: What Matters - 37:08 First Steps After Concerns Arise - 39:01 Where To Turn: Resources That Help - 47:56   BrainHQ: https://www.brainhq.com/  Teepa Snow: https://teepasnow.com/  Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org/ General memory care info: https://www.brookdale.com/en/our-services/memory-care.html Alzheimer's Association Tennessee Chapter: https://www.alz.org/tn The National Council on Aging is at https://www.ncoa.org/ The Grey Take Voicemail Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

The true cost of senior living vs. aging at home: What you're paying for, what's included and how to plan ahead.     Please consult your attorney or financial advisor before acting on any content on this website. References to any products, services, third parties, or links to third-party websites do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of such products, services, or third parties by Brookdale or its affiliates. Resources: Call us! Leave questions or stories about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics.833-473-9898 Center for Aging Free resources and information about senior care options. https://resourcecenteronaging.org/ Get to know Leona at mariner.com. Official information about Medicare coverage and limitations Medicare.gov  National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) Find fee-only financial planners in your area Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards: cfp.net Verify advisor credentials and find CFP professionals  

Anyone supporting an aging loved one has a moment when they whisper to themselves, "I wish I knew then what I know now." In this episode of The Grey Take, Roy, Suzie and MB reflect on the turning points, regrets and lessons they've gathered along their caregiving journeys, often the hard way. They speak candidly about caregiver guilt, burnout, identity loss and the myth of the "natural caregiver." Through personal stories and vulnerable insights, they offer practical wisdom and heartfelt encouragement to anyone in the thick of it. If you're wondering whether you're doing it right or questioning whether you're alone, this episode is for you.

What comes to mind when you hear the words senior living? If your imagination immediately jumps to sterile "facilities" and lonely hallways, you're not alone and you're also not seeing the full picture. In this episode of The Grey Take, hosts Roy, Suzie and MB bust three of the most common myths about senior living. From the fear of losing independence to the outdated image of nursing homes as dreary and depressing, they tackle the assumptions that keep families from exploring life-giving options for their loved ones. With candid reflections, hard-earned wisdom and a few laughs along the way, this conversation invites you to take a second look at what's possible.   - Blue Zones:  https://www.bluezones.com/ - The Caregiver Collective (Facebook Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/CaregiverCollective/

When caregiving becomes too much—how to recognize burnout, what to do, and how to care for yourself while caring for someone else LINKS About EMDR Therapy from Cleveland Clinic Leeza's Care Connection YMCA

Introductions to hosts Roy, Suzie, and MaryBeth (MB) —their caregiving backgrounds, why this show matters, and what listeners can expect. LINKS CaringBridge