In this short episode, Juli closes out Season 2 of Home After 50™ with reflection, gratitude, and a look ahead to Season 3.

After two seasons and 24 conversations about multi-generational living, the Open Nest, caring for aging parents, reinventing life and business after 50, and reimagining what “home” really means, it feels important to pause intentionally before moving into the next season of the podcast.

This podcast is structured in seasons to allow space to breathe, recalibrate, and thoughtfully curate what comes next.

And this pause is part of that rhythm.

Because after 50, home isn’t just where we live.
It’s who we’re becoming.

• Why Season 2 is coming to a close
• What this intentional break allows space for
• Topics that will continue shaping future seasons
• An invitation to suggest future guests
• A heartfelt thank you to this growing community

If you know someone who would be a meaningful guest on Home After 50™, Juli would love to hear from you.

Email: [email protected]

✨ Follow Juli on Instagram
@itsjuliford

That’s where she shares behind-the-scenes ideas about multi-generational living, real estate, business after 50, and designing a next chapter you truly love.

✨ Download the Free Multi-Generational Living Guide
https://juliford.com/multi-gen

If this show has resonated with you, leaving a five-star review on Apple or Spotify or commenting on YouTube helps more women find these conversations.

Thank you for being here.
Season 3 is coming soon.

In this episode of Home After 50, Juli talks with Chris Lee, CEO and Founder of Backyard ADUs, about how Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are becoming one of the most practical solutions for multi-generational living, aging in place, and starter homes for adult children.

Chris shares what families should understand before building a backyard home, including realistic costs, financing options, timelines, design considerations, and why family conversations need to happen early in the process.

Whether you’re considering building an ADU for a parent, yourself, or a grown child, this episode offers a grounded look at what’s actually involved.

• What an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) is
• Typical ADU costs in New England and what affects pricing
• Financing options, including second-lien and post-build value loans
• Using home sale proceeds to fund an ADU
• Why family alignment matters before design begins
• Accessibility and aging-in-place design features
• What the ADU process looks like from idea to move-in
• What to expect during backyard construction

Chris Lee is the CEO and Founder of Backyard ADUs, a company designing and building custom backyard homes across Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. His philosophy:
“If I wouldn’t have my own family live in it, no one should.”

Backyard ADUs website: https://backyardadus.com/
Find upcoming Backyard ADUs free webinars on their site, including one on March 18th where Juli will be a guest.

Resources from Juli

Free Multi-Gen Living Guide and The Multi-Gen Family Toolkit → juliford.com/multi-gen

Follow Juli on Instagram: @itsjuliford

Connect with Juli: https://juliford.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend or family member exploring multi-generational living or aging in place, and subscribe to Home After 50 for more conversations about home and life after 50.

Thinking about a multi-generational home or adding an ADU but not sure where to start?

In this episode, Juli shares why the most important first step isn’t design, permits, or construction - it’s having the right family conversations.

Inspired by an email from a 73-year-old listener asking for help getting started with her family’s Multi-Gen Home, Juli walks through how to begin talking about multi-generational living with clarity and care, and shares practical conversation prompts around money, privacy, and boundaries.

You’ll learn:

• Why uncertainty is a normal starting point
  
• How to begin multi-generational living conversations
  
• How to talk about money and shared expenses
  
• How to discuss privacy, independence, and boundaries
  
• What’s inside Juli’s Multi-Gen Family Toolkit
  

Resources:
Visit:  juliford.com/multi-gen
To access:
The Free Multi-Generational Living Guide:
The  Multi-Gen Family Toolkit (PDF version)
Monthly Multi-Gen Coffee Chat (included with toolkit)

For the Print Edition of the Toolkit, visit:
https://stan.store/juliford/p/the-multigen-toolkit-print-edition

Next week: Juli talks with a backyard ADU builder about the physical side of creating a multi-generational home.

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions most people will ever make - and yet many buyers are never taught how to assess risk beyond what’s visible in a listing or walkthrough.

In this episode of Home After 50, host Juli Ford speaks with documentary filmmaker and former TV journalist George Siegal, creator of the film Built to Last: Buyer Beware. George has spent decades covering natural disasters and their aftermath, witnessing firsthand how housing decisions made years earlier can dramatically impact safety, financial stability, and recovery.

While George’s film focuses heavily on hurricanes and homes in Florida, this conversation makes clear that the lessons apply anywhere. Flooding, wildfires, infrastructure failures, construction shortcuts, and insurance gaps affect homeowners across the country - often in ways buyers never anticipated.

Rather than approaching the topic through fear, this episode centers on practical awareness and smarter decision-making. George shares how buyers can take a more investigative approach to home purchasing and why asking better questions before buying can significantly reduce long-term risk.

• Why “built to code” doesn’t always mean built to last
• How buyers can research a home and neighborhood beyond online listings
• What to look for related to drainage, elevation, nearby development, and historical risk
• Why walking a neighborhood and talking with residents can reveal critical information
• What homeowners should understand about insurance coverage before a claim ever arises
• The role of public insurance adjusters and how they can support homeowners after loss
• Why disaster recovery often takes years - financially, emotionally, and logistically
• Simple preparedness steps that can improve recovery outcomes if the unexpected happens
  

Throughout the conversation, George emphasizes that being an informed buyer doesn’t mean being alarmist - it means being curious, prepared, and proactive. A smarter home purchase begins with understanding not just what a home looks like today, but how it may perform under stress tomorrow.

This episode is especially relevant for anyone considering a move, building a new home, or navigating a multi-generational housing decision. It offers grounded insights to help buyers reduce risk, make informed choices, and protect what matters most.

Resources from George
Download George’s Free PDF: Questions Every Buyer Must Ask Their Builder or Seller
https://pro.speakerhub.com/speaker-feedback/?qr=0a8ee703-4eae-4879-9ad6-78f8c9a34f67

Rent the full length version of the Built to Last: Buyer Beware film:
movetheworldfilms.gumroad.com/l/kaywco

Resources from Juli
Free Multi-Gen Living Guide and The Multi-Gen Family Toolkit → juliford.com/multi-gen

Follow Juli on Instagram: @itsjuliford
Connect with Juli: https://juliford.com/

In this episode, Juli Ford sits down with her dear friend and longtime collaborator Anjali Budreski for an honest, spacious conversation about grief, caregiving, and life transitions with aging parents.

Anjali is a Certified Yoga Teacher and Life Coach specializing in grief, loss, and major life transitions. Since the unexpected death of her father in June 2024, followed closely by her mother’s Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, Anjali has been living inside grief - allowing it to teach her, shape her work, and deepen her capacity to hold others.

Together, Juli and Anjali explore what grief actually looks like in real life - not just after a loss, but while caring for aging parents, navigating uncertainty, and continuing to live and work in the midst of it all.

This conversation covers:

• The difference between sudden grief, anticipatory grief, cascading grief, and compound loss
• Why grief often shows up months (or years) after a loss
• How caregiving and self-care must coexist
• Letting go of control and learning to live inside the “I don’t know”
• Simple, grounding practices for meeting grief gently
• Why continuing bonds and legacy matter in the grieving process
• Rethinking multigenerational living and caregiving in midlife
  

This episode is for anyone navigating grief and loss, caring for aging parents, or feeling called to move more slowly and tenderly through a season of change.

Anjali’s favorite grief books:

• Can Anyone Tell Me? by Meghan Riordan Jarvis
• Conscious Grieving by Claire Bidwell Smith
• The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller

Connect with Anjali

Website: https://anjalibudreski.com

Upcoming In Person Offering:

Holding Space for Grief on Cape Cod
📍 Yoga of Yarmouth Port
🗓️ Sunday, January 25
⏰ 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

More information:
https://www.yogaofyarmouthport.com/

Resources from Juli

Free Multi-Gen Living Guide and The Multi-Gen Family Toolkit → juliford.com/multi-gen

Follow Juli on Instagram: @itsjuliford

Connect with Juli: https://juliford.com/

Is this really an empty nest - or are more of us living in an open nest?

In this solo episode of Home After 50, Juli Ford reflects on life as Gen X in the sandwich generation, where adult children move in and out, aging parents need support, and the meaning of home is constantly evolving.

With two adult children stepping into independence and an aging parent living at home, Juli shares honest reflections on multi-generational living, caregiving, shifting family roles, and the emotional complexity of midlife.

This episode offers a grounded reframe of the traditional empty nest narrative and explores what home looks like for Gen X families today.

If you’re navigating an open nest, supporting aging parents, or redefining home after 50, this conversation will resonate deeply.

In This Episode, Juli Discusses:

• Open nest vs empty nest and why the old narrative no longer fits Gen X
• Life in the sandwich generation
• Adult children leaving, returning, and everything in between
• Supporting aging parents while building your own next chapter
• How multi-generational living supports real life after 50
• Why this season is about expansion, not loss
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Multi-Generational Living Guide: juliford.com/multi-gen
• The Complete Multi-Gen Family Toolkit: juliford.com/multi-gen
• Instagram: @itsjuliford
• Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Juli shares why the final weeks of December are a natural time to slow down, make space for family, and listen more deeply. She talks about what she’s been hearing from families exploring multi-generational living, how holiday gatherings often surface important conversations, and why families don’t need all the answers, just a calm and supportive way to begin.

Juli also shares how her work is evolving in 2026 to better support multi-generational families through trusted agent connections and deeper mentorship for experienced real estate agents who want to serve this growing space with care, professionalism, and clarity.

This episode is both a pause and a clear vision for what’s ahead.

• Why slowing down during the holidays supports clarity and sustainability
  
• How family gatherings often open the door to multi-generational living conversations
  
• A real story of how the Multi-Gen Family Toolkit helped a family navigate boundaries, privacy, and finances
  
• Why families don’t need to solve everything, just start the conversation
  
• How Juli supports multi-gen families through tools, clarity calls, and agent referrals
  
• Why multi-generational living is accelerating nationwide
  
• How Juli plans to elevate the conversation and support both families and professionals in 2026
  

• Free Multi-Generational Living Guide: https://juliford.com/multi-gen
  
• Complete Multi-Gen Family Toolkit (PDF Bundle): https://juliford.com/multi-gen
  
• Clarity Calls with Juli: https://juliford.com/consult
  
• Agent Connector Hub (for families seeking trusted local agents): https://asstcrm.ai/f/284bc587-36e2-4894-80fd-b0102fcf6bac
  
• Agent Newsletter (for agents interested in multi-gen mentorship): https://juliford.myflodesk.com/uf7wetr81k
  
• Juli’s Home After 50™ Newsletter (year-end reflection and 2026 updates): https://juliford.com/
  

This episode marks a short holiday pause. Home After 50™  will return in the first full week of January with new conversations focused on helping families and professionals navigate multi-generational living and life and home after 50 with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a reverse mortgage is a smart option - or you’ve heard conflicting opinions from friends and neighbors - today’s episode is a must-listen.

Juli is joined by Michael Pankow, Certified Senior Advisor, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and national expert on reverse mortgages. He’s also a Board Member with the National Aging in Place Council, licensed in all 50 states, and served 12 years in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Michael and Juli dig into what a reverse mortgage actually is, who it’s best for, and the surprising ways families are leveraging home equity to age in place, plan for retirement, or create multi-generational homes that truly support their needs.

They also address the biggest misconceptions and share the consumer protections that now make this one of the most secure loan products available.

Whether you’re thinking ahead for yourself or helping aging parents navigate increasing costs and care needs, this episode will help you expand your options - and reduce the financial pressure so many seniors feel late in life.

What they cover:
• The simple explanation of what a reverse mortgage really is
• Need, lifestyle, and financial planning benefits of accessing equity
• Why today’s reverse mortgage protections are so different from decades ago
• How to use a reverse mortgage to stay in your home longer
• Solutions for multi-generational living + ADUs
• Divorce scenarios and caregiver support options you may not know exist
• How Social Security + Medicare eligibility factor in
• When a reverse mortgage isn’t a good idea - and how to know
• Michael’s personal story on why he cares so much about this work

Listen now - and feel empowered to ask better questions in your own planning.

Join Michael’s next FREE Reverse Mortgage Seminar on Wed. Dec 10, 2025 at 2 PM Pacific | 5 PM EST (Michael Pankow NMLS ID #220611  and Juli Ford Alhadeff NMLS ID #2728620)
Register here: https://reversemortgageseminar.net/juli

Stay connected:
Get more info on Reverse Mortgages: juliford.com/reverse
Follow Juli on Instagram @itsjuliford
Download Juli's Multi-Gen Living Guide: juliford.com/multi-gen
Join the “Home After 50” newsletter for weekly inspiration + resources: juliford.com

This week’s solo episode of Home After 50 is a deep exhale.
If you’re tired of the “end the year strong!” push from every corner of social media - you’re not alone.

Juli invites you to reimagine the end of the year through a more cyclical lens - one grounded in nature, seasons, and the real energetic rhythms of midlife.

Inside the episode:
✨ Why January 1st may not be your New Year
✨ How cyclical living has helped Juli accomplish more with less force
✨ The real emotional work of reflecting on the year
✨ A better way to enter 2026 - with gentleness, courage + intention
✨ Why the dark days of winter are meant for rest, not reinvention

Take this as your permission slip to slow down. To breathe. To choose your own pace.

Mentioned in this episode:
▪️ The Aligned Life Edit - Instagram Subscription
→ Free 14-day trial: join the December Aligned Life Audit
Follow Juli on Instagram: @itsjuliford
▪️ Free Multi-Gen Living Guide → juliford.com/multi-gen

This week on Home After 50, Juli welcomes Erin DiCarlo, founder of Dovetail Companies and a nationally recognized Age-Well Expert with more than 22 years of experience supporting older adults and their families.

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, we explore why the holiday season tends to magnify family dynamics, caregiving stress, grief, and the emotional load so many women - especially adult daughters - carry at this time of year.

Erin brings both professional expertise and an extraordinary personal toolkit to this episode. As a Certified Neuro-Somatic Practitioner and Certified Essential Emotions Coach, she blends nervous-system–based healing modalities with decades of practical wisdom to help people find more calm, connection, and capacity in stressful moments.

Together, Juli and Erin dive into:
• What really causes holiday overwhelm for women, caregivers, and aging parents
• How to navigate sensitive caregiving moments with less urgency and more presence
• Why older adults sometimes resist help - and how to support them without triggering fear or defensiveness
• Simple nervous system tools (including the “Lip Gloss Drill”) to interrupt stress in real-time
• How anticipatory grief, loss, and life transitions show up during the holidays
• Ways to create meaningful connection with aging parents, even when circumstances are complicated
• How to set boundaries without guilt and redefine what “showing up” can look like

This episode is emotional, relatable, and full of practical steps you can use during the holidays and beyond. Whether you’re caring for an aging parent, supporting a loved one, or simply trying to stay grounded this season, you’ll walk away with tools that genuinely help.

Resources Mentioned:
• Neuro-Somatic Intelligence (NSI)
• Essential Emotions Coaching
• Simple nervous system tools for caregivers

Connect with Erin:
[email protected]

Erin’s Caregiver Guide and Neuro-Somatic Resource (the Lip Gloss exercise)

Connect with Juli:
Instagram: @itsjuliford
Email: [email protected]
If you’re beginning conversations about multi-generational living or caring for aging parents, download my free guide and get my comprehensive toolkit:
https://juliford.com/multi-gen