Steady Light, Shifting Path: A Story of Two Parents, One Purpose

In this heartfelt episode of Seniors Home Zone, host Rebecca Finegan shares a deeply personal story of how two very different parents shaped her calling to help others through life’s transitions. From the steady, guiding presence of her father to the unpredictable journey of caregiving for her mother, Rebecca explores how both experiences lit the way toward her life’s purpose.

You’ll hear reflections on legacy, resilience, and the emotional turning points that led her to become a Senior Home Coach™, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and advocate for families navigating aging and change.

Whether you’re a caregiver, adult child, or professional in the senior care space, this episode offers relatable moments, emotional insight, and a powerful reminder: our paths may shift, but our purpose can stay steady.

If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and share with someone who needs encouragement today.
Connect with Rebecca Finegan at seniorshomezone.com
📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [e-mail]
#SeniorsHomeZone #AgingInPlace #SeniorCareSupport

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome.
You are listening to Real Talk,Real Stories, brought to you by
Seniors Home Zone, where wereflect on life's transitions.
Episode one is about a steadylight and a shifting path.
It's a story about two parentsand one purpose.
Sometimes there's no big event,no crash, no emergency, just a

(00:24):
quiet knowing that something isdifferent.
A hallway that suddenly feelstoo tight.
A misstep that makes you pause.
And you find yourself asking, sonow what?
That's where this podcastbegins.

(00:46):
I'm Rebecca Finnegan, a seniorhome coach and certified Aging
in Place specialist.
I've seen what happens in themoment.
when a loved one loses theirbalance, seems confused, or just
feels a little off.
Seniors Home Zone is both mycompany and this podcast.

(01:09):
I created it for people like ustrying to do the right thing for
someone we care about while alsoholding everything down.
This space is for the adultchild juggling responsibilities,
for the caregiver doing theirbest without clear direction,
for the person who hopes to stayin their home, and for the one

(01:31):
who's worried it may no longerbe safe.
Every episode, you'll hearstories, insights, and tools to
help you take the next stepforward with confidence and
support.
Let me take you back to achapter I'll never forget.
I was a caregiver for my mom for12 years.

(01:51):
When winters in Connecticutbecame too harsh on her health,
we moved to South Carolina,thinking the warmth would help.
In some ways, it did.
The new location made somethings easier.
Still, the overwhelm ofcaregiving only grew more
challenging.
I was trying to run a business,manage our household, stay on

(02:15):
top of work, and in between allthat, make sure she was safe
cared for and not slippingthrough the cracks.
One night I was cooking dinner.
I was also adjusting a lamp soshe could see better and trying
to track her medications.
Well, I burned the rice.
I looked down at the throw rug Ikept meaning to remove.

(02:39):
She looked at me and said,you're doing too much.
I walked away out offrustration.
I just wanted to cry.
She was right.
and I didn't know what to donext.
I didn't know who to call, whatquestions to ask, or even how to
explain what I was feeling.

(03:01):
When someone depends on you,that weight can feel very heavy.
That experience shaped me.
It's where this journey began.
Not with a title or a plan, justone exhausted daughter doing her
best and wondering if it wasenough.
As I reflect on those years ofcaregiving, I think about

(03:23):
something that helped steady me,even when the day-to-day felt
overwhelming.
There was someone I could alwayscall, someone who didn't offer
solutions.
He offered presence.
His name was Reverend RobertDobson.
He was my dad.
Today, August 11th, marks eightyears since he's passed.

(03:48):
He was the steady heart of ourfamily.
His laugh filled the room.
His voice had both weight andwarmth.
He didn't speak to be heard.
He spoke to connect.
He loved lighthouses,photographed them, collected
them, visited them whenever hecould.
To me, they weren't just apassion.

(04:09):
They mirrored who he was.
Steady, grounded, a calm lightin the storm.
During those caregiving years,I'd call him.
He wouldn't rush to solveanything.
He just listened.
Then he'd say something like,You're doing better than you
think.
Or, Just take one step at atime.

(04:31):
That was all I needed.
His steady voice to keep going.
After he passed, dragonfliesstarted showing up everywhere.
In unexpected places atunexpected times.
They became our reminder.
He was still with us.
Still steady.
still shining.

(04:52):
That's why the lighthouse anddragonfly are part of Senior's
Home Zone logo.
They represent his legacy, notas a fixer, as a steady guide.
He gave me the strength andspace to find my own way.
Whether I'm helping a familydownsize, walking someone
through how to stay safely intheir home they love, or

(05:13):
exploring financial tools, italways comes back to being a
light that offers direction, anda rock that quietly supports.
I know what it means to havethat kind of steady presence
because I had it in him.
A year after he passed, mysister Deborah and I wanted to
honor him, something that wouldlet us feel close to him again.

(05:37):
So we hit the road.
No itinerary, no schedule, justa mission to visit as many
lighthouses as we could.
They called us the LighthouseGypsies.
We laughed, we cried, we ategreat food.
At every lighthouse, it feltlike we were visiting him.

(05:58):
That trip reminded me, you don'thave to be perfect to shine for
someone.
You just have to stand strong,reflect light, and offer steady
guidance when it's needed most.
Dad did that for us.
My goal is to do that for thepeople I help every day.
Maybe the lighthouse reminds usthat we can be a beacon for our

(06:21):
families, our neighbors, ourcommunities.
My dad's presence lives on inevery moment I show up for
someone, in every call where Ilisten before advising, in every
family who feels less alonebecause I've walked that road
myself.
Where in your life can you shinea little light?

(06:44):
Where can you help someone feelsteady?
The beacon remains lit.
Even though my dad's voice isgone, his presence stays.
And so does his light in me andmaybe in you too.
You don't have to do this alone.
In our next episode on August20th, we're talking about how

(07:08):
your home can do more than justgive you a place to live.
It can actually help support thelife you want.
to bring help at home, makesafety updates, or even take
that long overdue vacation.
Whether you're figuring thingsout for yourself or someone you
love, this one's packed withideas to help you move forward.

(07:31):
Thank you for being here today.
Thank you for honoring the storywith me.
Let's take the next steptogether.
I'm Rebecca Finnegan, and thisis Senior's Home Zone.
where we reflect on life'stransitions one conversation at
a time.
If you found this episodehelpful, please follow and share

(07:52):
with someone who would enjoy.
A brand new episode arrivesAugust 20, 2025.
Join me for more insights youwon't want to miss.