How to Make the Right Choices for Elder Care Without Regret with Amy Friesen

About Amy Friesen: Amy Friesen is a senior living expert, business coach, and the Founder and CEO of Tea & Toast Inc. She leads a team that helps families navigate eldercare decisions and supports professionals in building thriving senior care businesses. A best-selling author and speaker, Amy is known for her clear guidance and compassionate approach. She is also a Forty Under 40 honoree and the 2019 Emerging Entrepreneur Businesswoman of the Year.

In this episode, Brian and Amy Friesen discuss: 

• Navigating the challenges of eldercare and making decisions for aging parents
• Financial, legal, and logistical planning required for long-term senior care
• The emotional and relational strain of being in the “sandwich generation”
• The role of advocacy and proactive communication in caregiving transitions 

Key Takeaways:

• Proactively initiating conversations around aging, care needs, and future plans—long before a medical or safety crisis arises—can help families avoid panic decision-making and allow for thoughtful, step-by-step preparation.
• Because assisted living and retirement communities offer widely varying levels of care and amenities, asking detailed questions (like whether they support two-person transfers or palliative care) is essential to ensure the facility can accommodate future health decline.
• Visiting senior care facilities at unpredictable times—not just scheduled visits—can reveal the true quality of care and hold staff accountable, as consistent, unscheduled check-ins often lead to noticeable improvements in attentiveness and service.
• Without early access to critical legal and financial documents like powers of attorney, wills, and long-term care directives, caregivers risk making uninformed or delayed decisions during emergencies, potentially compromising their loved ones’ safety and wishes.

"What you want to make sure is that you don't run out of money, that you've budgeted properly, and that you don't run out of care." — Amy Friesen

Connect with Amy Friesen: 

Website: https://www.amyfriesen.com/ & https://www.teaandtoast.ca/

Book: Breadcrumbs by Amy Friesen: https://www.amazon.com/Breadcrumbs-Familys-through-Elderc