Ever found yourself caught in the parental paradox of changing your kid's and your parent's diapers at the same time? If that sounds like your Tuesday, then this episode is for you.

Join me, your host Jenni Frase, as I sit down with my longtime friend, Ellie Odenheimer-Brin. PhD, Yoga Instructor, and Professional Plate-Spinner, Ellie takes us through the bittersweet journey of caring for aging parents. We delve into the realities of role reversal, navigate the rough seas of eldercare, and confront the stark reality of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

We also get real about the emotional and physical toll of caregiving. Ah, the delicate dance of trying to support while also knowing when to step back. Plus, we dive into the ultimate independence test: convincing your parents it’s time to hand over the car keys. We also head down memory lane, talking about channeling our inner chameleons, shifting roles and personas.

And finally, we address the elephant in the room: end-of-life choices. We tackle this oft-avoided topic head-on, sharing our perspectives on life-prolonging treatments versus quality of life. Ellie and I discuss how our experiences with our parents have made us think about our own aging and end-of-life wishes.

We wrap up the episode by bringing in a dash of dark humor (because, let's be real, we all need to laugh when talking about stuff like this), sharing a hilarious anecdote about a messy attempt at scattering ashes in the ocean. 😬

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