What happens when a loved one's cognitive health starts to decline and you don't know how to help?

When families begin navigating a dementia diagnosis, the challenge isn't just memory loss — it's confusion, personality changes, frustration and the emotional weight of watching someone you love struggle in real time. In this episode, Jill Ladaa, Alzheimer's and dementia care gerontologist at Brookdale Senior Living, joins hosts MB and Roy to break down what's actually happening and how to respond.

Jill shares how dementia often shows up before memory loss, why a diagnosis can bring both fear and relief and how caregivers can shift from reacting emotionally to responding with clarity. Drawing from her years of expertise and her own dementia caregiving experience, she explains how education reduces fear for both the caregiver and the person living with dementia.

If you're caring for an aging parent, spouse or loved one, this episode can help you navigate dementia with more clarity, confidence and control.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 — Dementia & caregiving: what this episode will actually help you understand
• 01:30 — Introducing Jill Ladaa + her role at Brookdale Senior Living
• 03:00 — What a dementia specialist actually does (and why it matters)
• 05:00 — Why Jill chose dementia care
• 08:30 — Why education reduces fear for caregivers and patients
• 10:00 — The emotional reality of diagnosis (fear + relief)
• 12:30 — Dementia doesn't always start with memory loss (personality changes)
• 14:30 — Caregiver frustration vs patient confusion
• 16:00 — Why early diagnosis is critical (and often missed)
• 17:00 — Conditions that can mimic dementia (UTI, dehydration, etc.)
• 19:00 — Why people with dementia resist help (identity + independence)
• 29:00 — What to say when someone says "I want to go home"
• 41:00 — Real example: Moving a loved one into care (without forcing it)
• 45:00 — Why you need to have these conversations early
• 53:00 — Why some patients don't know they have dementia (anosognosia)
• 01:02:00 — Final takeaway: What caregivers need to remember most

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833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living

In this episode, we explore the emotional and practical challenges families face when caregiving shifts the balance between adult children and their parents. Hosts Suzie and MB are joined by therapist Em Mortenson, who specializes in family systems and autonomy, to discuss a common tension: adult children trying to help while parents struggle to maintain independence. Through real-life examples, Em explains that resistance and anger often stem from a perceived loss of control rather than a rejection of help.

This episode highlights simple but powerful communication tools and emphasizes the importance of finding a "grey area" in caregiving — small, practical ways for parents to retain choice and dignity, even when their abilities are changing. Caregiving is a learning process. By making small adjustments, staying curious, and respecting autonomy, families can move from conflict toward collaboration.

CHAPTERS

• 0:00 — Why Caregiving Can Pull Families Apart — Even When Everyone Means Well
• 4:57 — Meet Em Mortenson, The Therapist Who Sees This Every Day
• 9:12 — The Thing Every Caregiver Is Secretly Losing (And No One Talks About)
• 14:47 — The "Bumpers" Method: Help Without Taking Over
• 19:03 — When Anger Isn't Really Anger And What's Actually Underneath
• 23:40 — The Shame Nobody Admits To Feeling As A Caregiver
• 28:18 — Threee Communication Mistakes That Blow Up Every Conversation
• 40:26 — The One Small Phrase That Gives Autonomy Back
• 48:42 — Completely Overwhelmed? Start Here — Just One Thing This Week
• 55:23 — Understanding, Compromise, Creativity: Em's Final Words For Struggling Families

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living
• The Gaia Center
  • Family Therapy

What happens when three siblings in three different states become caregivers for a parent living with dementia? In this episode, MB and Suzie sit down with Libby, Matt and Nathan Avant, who navigated caring for their mother as she lived with dementia. The siblings had to figure out how to share the load from a distance, communicate without conflict and support their mom who was fiercely independent and resistant to help.

They get into the early warning signs, the moment they realized something was different with mom and how they set up systems (a group text, an apartment camera, daily check-ins) to make it work. They also reflect on caring for their father before this, a completely different experience, and what each sibling carried that the others couldn't see.

This one is full of honesty, humor and hard-won lessons about what it can look like when a family pulls together.

CHAPTERS

• 0:00 — Intro - Caregiving Gets Complicated Fast
• 1:10 — Meet Libby, Matt and Nathan Avant
• 2:00 — Early Signs: Repetition On Calls and Forgetfulness at Christmas
• 3:13 — The Turning Point: A Friend in Florida Calls the Family
• 7:15 — How This Experience United Them
• 12:24 — Nathan as a Daily Caregiver - Group Texts, Groceries and a Camera
• 16:10 — Libby On Power of Attorney, Medicaid and Legal Paperwork
• 20:35 — When the Disease Accelerated - And When it Was Time to Step In
• 33:48 — Using Humor as a Coping Tool
• 37:12 — Nathan On Journaling Through Grief and Confusion
• 39:19 — What Each Sibling Learned About the Others
• 43:39 — Closing Advice: Support Your Siblings, Have Honest Conversations and Give Grace

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living
• Alzheimer's Association
  • Helpline: 800-272-3900
  • 24/7 support, caregiver guides and local resources for families navigating dementia.
• Caregiver Action Network
  • Tools and peer support for family caregivers - including help with sibling dynamics and burnout.
• Medicaid Long-Term Care
  • Understanding Medicaid eligibility and coverage for memory care and assisted living.
• Power of Attorney & Advance Directives
  • Guides and templates for legal planning - get these in place early.
• AARP Caregiver Resource Center
  • Long-distance caregiving tools and sibling coordination guides

Hosts Roy and Suzie talk with Dr. Breanna Barney, a physical therapist specializing in balance, mobility and fall prevention for older adults. In this episode, they explore what really happens when a loved one falls and why a fall is often more than just a physical event. Dr. Barney shares practical guidance on identifying early warning signs of fall risk. She outlines simple movements families can start at home immediately, like sit-to-stands and functional strength exercises.

The conversation also dives into environmental hazards inside the home and how small adjustments can help reduce risk. Most importantly, this episode reframes the fall itself: it's not necessarily the beginning of the end. With the right tools, support and approach, older adults can regain strength, confidence and mobility. If you're caring for someone at risk or recovering from a fall, this episode offers practical strategies, product recommendations and reassurance that proactive care makes a measurable difference.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 — Introduction
• 00:55 — Personal Experiences with Loved Ones Falling
• 02:39 — Interview with Dr. Breanna Barney Intro
• 02:55 — Dr. Barney's Background and Approach
• 04:41 — Advice for Families Dealing with a Loved One's Fall
• 15:05 — Importance of Regular Movement
• 16:55 — Involvement of Caregivers in Physical Therapy
• 19:09 — Guidelines for Assisting a Fallen Person
• 21:08 — Contrasting Client Stories: Proactive vs Reactive Approach
• 25:04 — Practical Exercises for Home
• 35:59 — Recommended Products for Home Safety
• 40:30 — Closing Remarks and Contact Information
• 41:33 — Post-Interview Discussion
• 42:25 — Closing Message to Listeners

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living
• VIP Senior Care Specialists
  • Dr. Brianna Barney
• Cubii
  • Under-Desk Elliptical
• byACRE Rollators
  • Lightweight Carbon Fiber Rollators
• Medical Guardian
  • Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection

Hosts MB Roberts and Suzie Lind sit down with Brookdale's Director of Nutrition, Sara Casey, to explore one of the most common and misunderstood concerns families face: appetite changes in older adults. When a loved one starts skipping meals, losing weight or pushing food away, it can feel alarming. But is it a normal part of aging, or a sign of something deeper?

Sara breaks down the physical, emotional and environmental factors that can affect appetite, from medication side effects and depression to loneliness and changes in taste, smell or mobility. The conversation offers practical strategies families can try at home - including creating inviting meal environments, focusing on nutrient-dense foods and supporting dignity and choice at the table.

Brookdale gerontologists Dr. Christy Phillips and Jill Ladaa also weigh in on how emotional and cognitive changes influence eating.

CHAPTERS

• 00:05 — Personal Experiences with Appetite Changes
• 01:04 — Stories and Observations
• 15:43 — Bathroom Habits and Appetite
• 16:43 — Medication and Mental Health Impact on Appetite
• 18:06 — Tips to Encourage Eating
• 25:00 — Advice for Families and Caregivers
• 26:42 — Strategies for Unintentional Weight Loss
• 27:04 — Nutrient-Dense Foods and Balanced Diet
• 31:33 — Path of Empowerment and Choices
• 33:56 — Support and Resources for Eating
• 38:20 — Conclusion and Reflections

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living
• Magic Kitchen
  • Senior Meal Delivery Service
• Meals on Wheels
  • Nationwide Senior Meal Program
• Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)
  • Local Resource Network

Hosts MB Roberts and Roy Clary Jr. sit down with Dating While Gray podcast host Laura Stassi to explore romance and relationships in later life. The conversation challenges common stereotypes about older adults and intimacy while offering practical insights for those re-entering the dating world after divorce or widowhood.

Laura shares stories from her podcast about people opening their parameters, finding love in unexpected places and custom-building relationships that fit their needs. The hosts and Laura discuss the complications that arise when adult children struggle with their parents' new romantic interests, the importance of expanding definitions of intimacy and sexual connection and why companionship becomes richer as we age.

Brookdale gerontologists Dr. Christy Phillips and Jill Ladaa join to discuss the stigma around romance for older adults and why social connections remain vital throughout our lives.

CHAPTERS

• 01:10 — Love Doesn't Have An Age Limit
• 04:33 — Dating Looks Different After 60
• 09:05 — Opening Your Parameters
• 11:50 — The Problem With Online Dating
• 14:35 — When Adult Children Complicate Romance
• 21:05 — Intimacy And Physical Changes
• 26:06 — Expert Insight From Brookdale Gerontologists
• 29:36 — The Loneliness Of Caregiving
• 24:07 — Getting Back In The Game
• 33:51 — One Piece Of Advice For Daters

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living
• Dating While Gray Podcast
• Pew Research Center - Dating at 50 and Up
  • Study on dating patterns among older single adults (17% of Americans 50+ have used dating sites or apps)
• Helen Fisher
  • Biological anthropologist who studied the brain and love (died August 2024). Known for MRI research on romantic love and her work on personality and mate choice
• Sizzling Sex for Life by Michael Castleman
  • Book about maintaining sexual intimacy throughout life by sex journalist Michael Castleman
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
  • Military medical center referenced in discussion about sexuality counseling and adaptive intimacy for wounded war veterans
• Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)
  • Resource about FTD (frontotemporal dementia), the condition discussed in relation to caregiving and loneliness. Bruce Willis was diagnosed with FTD in 2023

Caregiving works best when families support each other. Virginia Harper and her sister Maritza Raznick join hosts MB Roberts and Roy Clary to discuss their collaborative approach to caring for their mother who is living with dementia.

The sisters explain how they strategically moved to live closer together and divided responsibilities based on each family member's strengths. Maritza brings her professional experience from working in senior living communities while Virginia coordinates daily care and medical appointments. They share practical strategies for organizing family caregiving including accepting imperfection, communicating clearly about needs and bringing in paid caregivers when necessary.

The conversation explores how different family members contribute in their own way and why asking for help from both family and friends can make caregiving sustainable. Roy reflects on his own solo caregiving experience and emphasizes the importance of building a team rather than trying to handle everything alone.

The Grey Take Voicemail Line

833-473-9898 — Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics.

CHAPTERS

• 02:30 — Meeting the Harper Family
• 04:24 — Moving Closer Together for Care
• 08:16 — Dividing Family Responsibilities
• 12:05 — Working With Paid Caregiver
• 17:40 — Accepting Imperfection in Caregiving
• 21:18 — Cultural Differences in Family Care
• 26:12 — Managing Medical Appointments
• 29:33 — Financial Coordination Strategies
• 32:45 — Building Friend Support Networks
• 36:36 — Asking for Help When Needed

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living

Guilt is one of the most common emotions caregivers experience, whether it's guilt for not doing enough, guilt for wanting a break or guilt about decisions that need to be made. In this episode, MB Roberts and Suzie Lind are joined by Tiffany Cloud Mann, Elder Care Coach and Community Partnerships Manager at Age Well Middle Tennessee, to explore why guilt is so prevalent in caregiving and how to work through it.

They discuss the difference between guilt and shame, the importance of releasing control, how to set healthy boundaries and why joining a support community can make all the difference. Tiffany shares stories from her years supporting caregivers and offers practical advice for giving yourself grace during one of life's most challenging journeys.

Whether you're a primary caregiver, providing support from afar or helping a loved one in a senior living community, this conversation offers validation and helpful strategies for navigating caregiver guilt.

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics.

CHAPTERS

• 05:15 — Understanding Different Types of Caregivers
• 07:45 — Why Guilt Is So Common in Caregiving
• 11:30 — The Difference Between Guilt and Shame
• 19:40 — Dealing with Complicated Relationships
• 22:15 — Setting Boundaries as a Caregiver
• 28:30 — The Importance of Releasing Control
• 32:45 — Recognizing Signs of Caregiver Burnout
• 35:20 — The Value of Support Communities
• 40:15 — Resources from Age Well Middle Tennessee
• 43:30 — Giving Yourself Grace

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living
• AgeWell TN
• Alzheimer's Association

In this episode, MB and Suzie sit down with Dr. Christy Phillips, a Brookdale gerontologist, to unpack one of the most challenging aspects of caring for aging parents: understanding whether changes in behavior stem from cognitive decline, depression or both. Dr. Phillips explains how these conditions share similar symptoms yet require different approaches, making early diagnosis crucial.

The conversation covers normal age-related changes versus possible red flags, the impact of loneliness and depression on dementia risk and how spouses often compensate for cognitive decline until a major life event reveals the extent of changes. Dr. Phillips provides guidance on navigating doctor visits, the importance of having a reliable informant present and screening tools like the PHQ-9 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The hosts draw on personal experiences with their parents, showing how denial often accompanies early symptoms and the delicate balance between offering support and preserving autonomy.

This episode offers hope through recent research developments while emphasizing that early intervention can significantly improve quality of life for aging adults experiencing either condition.

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Leave us a message, ask us a question!

CHAPTERS

• 00:20 — When Memory Lapses Become Concerning
• 08:20 — The Connection Between Depression and Dementia
• 06:06 — How Spouses Compensate for Cognitive Decline
• 11:51 — The Power of Community in Combating Loneliness
• 17:12 — Understanding Normal Aging Versus Cognitive Decline
• 24:14 — When to See a Doctor and What to Expect
• 25:39 — Starting Difficult Conversations with Compassion
• 34:31 — Navigating Denial and Getting Professional Help
• 36:06 — Treatment Options and the Importance of Second Opinions
• 37:24 — Hope on the Horizon: New Research and Interventions

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living
• PHQ-9 Depression Screening Tool
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) information

The holidays can feel heavy when you're caring for aging parents or dealing with loss. In this episode, hosts Suzie Lind and Roy Clary sit down with Dianne, a caregiver navigating her husband's dementia while carrying decades of holiday grief after losing her son at Christmas.

Dianne shares how she learned to seek contentment instead of happiness, why she dyed her hair purple for her granddaughter's cancer battle and how her family's simple tradition of drawing names during the season of giving lifted an enormous burden. From throwing poinsettias off the porch to finding support groups at the local library, this conversation offers permission to grieve what was while creating space for what can be.

Whether you're in the thick of caregiving or facing your first holiday without a loved one, you'll find practical wisdom and unexpected hope for making the season meaningful again.

The Grey Take Listener Line

833-473-9898 — Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics

CHAPTERS

• 01:28 — When Traditions Feel Intrusive
• 05:50 — Meeting Dianne: Purple Hair and Spunk
• 09:55 — The Day He Retired Without Warning
• 13:08 — Finding Support Groups
• 14:35 — Losing Andy at Christmas
• 19:52 — Drawing Names: A Game-Changing Tradition
• 23:17 — The Purple Hair Promise
• 26:06 — Staying Present in Depressing Circumstances
• 31:18 — Art as Distraction and Healing
• 33:14 — From Host to Queen

RESOURCES

• Brookdale Senior Living