Why Pushing Your Aging Parents Into Estate Planning Doesn’t Work And What To Do Instead

Have you tried talking to your parents about estate planning, only to be met with resistance or emotional shutdown?

If you're a mom juggling caregiving, work, and your own family, these conversations can feel like walking a tightrope. In this episode, host Sara Ecklein is joined by Jill Mastroianni, former practicing estate planning attorney and host of the Death Readiness Podcast, to explore why traditional approaches often backfire and the unseen emotional dynamics at play when aging parents resist planning their future.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• A mindset shift that transforms hard conversations from confrontation into collaboration 
  
  
• The real reason your parents may seem “in denial” and what’s actually happening beneath the surface
   
• The single most important step to take if you’re unsure whether your parents still have legal capacity to plan or what to do if it’s already too late

Press play to learn how to support your aging parents with more empathy, clarity, and collaboration without pushing or power struggles.

Referenced in this episode: 

Episode 17: How Powers of Attorney Work, When to Use Them, and When It’s Too Late to Get One

Episode 28: How to Protect Your Aging Parents and Avoid Probate Court

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Connect with Jill:

DeathReadiness.com

The Death Readiness Podcast

Email: [e-mail] 

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Episodes air weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays.

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Disclaimer

This podcast simplifies estate planning for women in the sandwich generation - those raising children while caring for aging parents. We cover living trusts, wills, power of attorney, supported decision making, and healthcare proxies to help you plan with clarity and peace of mind. Episodes explore inheritance, probate, fiduciary duties, and the role of a trustee, while addressing decision fatigue, overwhelm, and the emotional weight of caregiving. Rooted in mindfulness, values, and preparedness, we offer practical tools and heartfelt conversations about elder care, end-of-life planning, and leaving a legacy that lasts.