Lessons on Planning, Support, and Survival from Life in the Sandwich Generation with John Fela

About John Fela: John Fela (Felageller) serves as the Ministry Relations Manager at Joni and Friends Chicago, where he partners with churches to equip and train them to better support individuals and families impacted by disability. Before stepping into ministry work, John spent nearly two decades in education, teaching and leading in roles ranging from classroom teacher to school director. He lives in Lyons, IL, with his wife, Faith, and is the proud father of his son Christopher, who is autistic and nonverbal. In addition to his advocacy, John is a sought-after public speaker, podcast guest, and contributor to special needs platforms including Key Ministry’s Special Needs Family blog, Hope Anew, and The Mighty.

In this episode, Brian and John Fela discuss: 

• Caregiving responsibilities across different generations
• Financial and legal preparation for future care needs
• Parenting a child with disabilities
• Building support systems through community and faith

Key Takeaways:

• The overwhelming monthly expenses of long-term elder care—ranging from $5,000 to $8,000—often force families to liquidate assets such as homes, leaving children without inheritance and creating financial strain that lasts for years.
• Establishing a special needs trust and working with a qualified special needs attorney ensures that children with disabilities can maintain eligibility for Medicaid and other state programs while protecting family savings for supplemental needs throughout their lifetime.
• Many families postpone critical legal steps such as creating wills, assigning power of attorney, or establishing guardianship, which results in court intervention, delays in care, and significant stress when a parent’s health suddenly declines.
• Beyond financial and legal preparation, caregivers must lean on both personal grounding—whether through faith or other belief systems—and trusted community connections to survive the emotional isolation, fatigue, and unpredictability that caregiving inevitably brings. 

"There is no such thing as too much [planning]… if you don’t have protections for your child, the system can very easily take advantage of them." — John Fela

Connect with John Fela: 

Website: http://johnfela.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/jfelageller74

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnsspecialneedsblog

Host contact information: 

• Email: [e-mail]



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