What happens when life suddenly shifts, and you find yourself caring for your parents while your own kids are just leaving the nest? In this episode of Girls Gone Gritty, Farley, Darian, and Jennifer open up about the realities of the “sandwich generation”, those caught between raising kids and supporting aging parents.
Through personal stories, they highlight the importance of planning ahead: from organizing finances and legal documents, to tough conversations about driving, healthcare, and end-of-life wishes. The hosts also share practical strategies, like using creative ways to introduce in-home care, leveraging resources like Care.com, and preparing for the often-shocking costs of assisted living.
Listeners will hear honest insights on preserving dignity, maintaining independence, and protecting family bonds during some of life’s hardest transitions. The episode closes with a reminder that love, respect, and preparation can turn a season of stress into a legacy of honor.
If you’re navigating aging parents, or know you will one day, this episode will help you face it with strength and clarity.
Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:40) Adventures, travel, and staying active
(5:29) Prime memberships and consumer traps
(7:08) Food industry changes and health impacts
(9:03) Honoring parents and planning ahead
(10:50) Power of attorney and family conflicts
(13:22) Hospice care and the broken system
(16:03) Assessing independence and tough transitions
(19:32) Legal documents, wills, and healthcare proxies
(22:03) Housing, mobility, and over-55 communities
(23:55) Cost of care, resources, and financial planning
(27:28) Legacy planning and organizing belongings
(30:03) Celebrating life and protecting family unity
(31:09) Got Grit winner: Lauren Choi’s plastic solution
(32:38) Music, remembrance, and living with intention
(34:59) Outro
Follow us:
Web: https://girlsgonegritty.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/
More ways to find us: https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.