A doctor is a doctor is a doctor, right? Not when it comes to a Geriatrician. Dr. Bill Rhoades, Geriatrician at Advocate Health Care, sits down to explain the benefits of having your parent see a Geriatrician rather than a General Practitioner (Internist).

Have a pad and paper handy because Dr. Rhoades lists 3 reasons to change, what mistakes the middle generation are making AND what are the 2 things your parents can do to stay healthy. And, do you know how much time a Geriatrician allots for appointments with patients (vs. other drs)? You'll be shocked.

Listen and then you'll appreciate why the title Geriatrician and Orchestra Leader are interchangeable.

Dottie is a full fledged member of the Sandwich Generation going 100 mph - working full time, taking care of her mother, involved in her 4 kid's lives and babysits her 2 adorable grandsons. How does she do it all and manage to keep her sanity? And, what technology does she use with her mom that is a life saver and gives her peace of mind (at all hours of the night!)? Take a listen - you'll learn a thing or 2, be inspired and share a laugh.

Boy, the tables have surely turned. Your parents used to nag you to make sure you're eating (and well). Now you're noticing your aging parents don't have a lot of food in the kitchen and the food they do have is not that healthy. Time to call in the Calvary. Listen to my guest, Lisa, owner of Chefs for Seniors talk about all the benefits of hiring a chef for your parent. The professionally trained chefs customize menus, shop for the food, bring in their own equipment, cook, socialize AND clean up. Wonder if they'll do this for "non seniors"? Asking for a friend.

https://chefsforseniors.com/

We're all familiar with, "I've fallen and I can't get up". But, how about "I've fallen and I CAN get up". My guest, Jim, is a personal trainer who specializes in exercising with senior citizens (even into their 90's). This was an eye opening conversation. Jim arms us with all the physiological and emotional benefits to help get our parents up and moving – at ANY age. And, yes, he even works with seniors on how to properly get up off the ground if they've fallen. Listen, then call your parents and encourage them to start exercising.

When you're in the Sandwich Generation, you dream about having a clone of yourself to help your parents out. You've said it over and over - if only there was another me to do everything that needs to be done for my parents. Your dream has come true. Listen to Kathy, a daily household and money manager, your new BFF, where we talk about how they keep your parent's day-to-day lives on track and under control. She will explain how companies like hers can help with everything from bill paying to coordinating health insurance to troubleshooting vendors. Finally, you're not in this alone.

http://sprauag.com/

We're born planners. We just are. We plan our parent's dr. visits, medicine refills, and caregiver schedules. But, what about all those happy occasions coming up like graduations, weddings and parties? Are we prepared for those?

If you're lucky enough to have all 3 generations together to celebrate these milestones, you will need to put your "planner" hat on and make sure you think every detail through so that everyone enjoys the great moments.

• Handicap parking
• Hotel reservations
• Air travel
• Walking apparatuses
• Meal scheduling

Listen to my latest podcast about how make the most out of celebrating the good times with all 3 generations. Then, count your blessings and don't forget to take A LOT of pictures.

Nevenka is back with more colorful stories of living the high life in the Sandwich Generation. This time Nevenka talks about discharging her mom from the hospital and tips for making it a smoother process. As if having a parent in the hospital isn't stressful enough, springing them has its own challenges. As hard as we tried to stay on course with just this one subject, we did find ourselves veering off the preverbal highway (confessing our ER shenanigans, being a rock star advocate, etc.).

Remember when I said that taking away your parent's driver's license was a big one? How about cleaning out their house? That's a big one.

Well, this episode just might win the award for one of the bigger moments in the Sandwich Generation - hiring a caregiver for your parent. In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Sam Cross, founder and owner of Broad Street Home Care http://broadstreethomecare.com/.

Sam has such practical, sound advice and really makes you think:

• Start from a place of "wanting help" before it becomes "needing help".
• Caregiving actually allows you to preserve your relationship with your parent.
• Instead of throwing in the towel if things go south, think about it a different way.
• And much, much more!!

Listen all the way to the end when Sam gives the "Top 5 Secrets to Success When Embarking On This Journey". The payoff is great!!!

Part I ("Estate Planning Isn't A Dirty Word") just scratched the surface of this important subject. Now, in Part II, Alan Press, Estate Planning/Elder Law Attorney, continues to simplify this topic so we can all understand and take action. Here are just a few areas Alan discusses:

1) The 2 different Powers of Attorney.

2) How to avoid going to Probate.

3) What happens if a Guardian isn't selected.

4) And so much more!

Listen to Alan's very practical advice on making sure we are helping our parents plan in the best possible way.

Check out Alan Press' website at: http://shirelawgroup.com/

This episode is a subject NOT near and dear to all our hearts - but one that can be addressed in a painless way! No, not talking about going to the dentist, rather setting up your parent's Estate Plan. This topic is not just for the rich anymore, this is for everyone.

My guest, Alan Press, Estate Planning/Elder Law Attorney discusses why it's so important to make sure your parents have all their bases covered with their wishes. I've broken down my interview with Alan into 2 parts. In Part I, Alan talks about:

• How to start the process with your parents (which is 99% of the battle).
• What to expect in the first meeting with your attorney.
• What do all these terms/acronyms mean so laymen can understand (POA, Wills, Guardian, Executor).
• Listen to Alan's very practical advice on making sure we are helping our parents plan in the best possible way.

Check out Alan Press' website at:

http://shirelawgroup.com/