Who will take care of you when you’re older? For many, this question sparks discomfort, or gets brushed aside entirely. But caregiving is a reality most of us will face, whether we’re the ones providing care or receiving it. The real question is: how prepared are we for it?

In this episode, Emily Paulsen speaks with Pamela D. Wilson, an international caregiving expert, advocate, and speaker with over 25 years of experience supporting older adults, individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and professionals. Their conversation explores the complexities of modern caregiving, from navigating healthcare systems to the emotional realities families face when plans aren’t in place.

Pamela offers a clear-eyed but optimistic perspective on how to approach caregiving with foresight and intention. She shares why proactive planning can prevent emotional and financial crises, the legal and logistical tools everyone should have in place, and how to find trusted help, whether through loved ones, community networks, or professional fiduciaries.

Whether you’re years away from needing care, actively caring for someone, or simply want to understand your options, this episode offers practical strategies, valuable resources, and a reminder that we all have more control than we might think.

Key Takeaways

• Proactive planning prevents crisis: Early conversations and documented wishes reduce stress, confusion, and last-minute scrambling.

• Advocacy is non-negotiable: In today’s healthcare landscape, speaking up and requesting what you need is essential for quality care.

• Legal tools protect your wishes: Powers of attorney, living wills, and care plans ensure decisions align with your values.

• Know your financial path: Identify where and how you want care, then plan, through savings, insurance, or both, to fund it.

• Support networks matter: Build trusted relationships, whether with family, friends, or professionals, to avoid isolation in critical moments.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way.

Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com

Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman

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The guest on this episode, Pamela D. Wilson, MS, BS/BA, CG, CSA, is an international caregiving expert, advocate, and speaker based in Denver, Colorado. Twenty-five years of experience supporting older adults, persons with disabilities, caregivers, and professionals as an expert witness, care manager, and professional fiduciary serve as Wilson’s platform to educate and increase awareness of caregiving as an essential role in life.

Connect with Pamela:

Website: www.pameladwilson.com

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