Explore every episode of the podcast The Midlife Squeeze

What happens when a family crisis reveals that your aging parents need more help than anyone realized?

In this episode of The Midlife Squeeze, Erica sits down with estate planning and elder law attorney Kolleen Bannon to discuss the caregiving journey that began after her 86-year-old father suffered a serious fall in 2021.

While her father recovered, Kolleen discovered that her mother’s dementia had progressed much further than the family knew. Suddenly, she was managing her parents’ healthcare, finances, housing, and long-term care while raising two sons and running her law practice.

Kolleen shares the emotional and financial realities of caregiving, including long-term care insurance, assisted living, Medicaid planning, caregiver guilt, and the difficult transition from child to decision-maker.

Their conversation highlights why families should have difficult conversations and make plans before a crisis begins.

• A sudden health crisis can expose caregiving needs that families did not recognize.
• Power of attorney and healthcare surrogate documents can make crisis decisions easier.
• Long-term care insurance can help, but families should understand its limits and eligibility requirements.
• Caregiving can affect work, parenting, finances, relationships, and emotional health.
• Assisted living and memory care decisions may need to happen sooner than expected.
• Families should discuss housing, finances, driving, pets, and long-term care before a crisis.
• Medicaid planning can become relevant even for families who never expected to need it.
• Caregiver guilt is common when balancing aging parents, children, work, and everyday life.
• Planning early gives families more options during difficult transitions.

00:00 When Everything Changes

00:59 Meet Kolleen Bannon

03:07 Life Before the Crisis

04:23 Warning Signs Before the Fall

05:59 Discovering Her Mother’s Dementia

08:07 Entering Crisis Mode

11:16 Losing Control and Reversing Roles

12:46 The Impact on Work and Family

14:34 Finding Care for Both Parents

15:36 Long-Term Care Insurance

17:44 Qualifying for Care Benefits

18:42 Paying for Long-Term Care

19:21 Selling the Family Home

21:39 What Kolleen Wishes She Had Done Earlier

24:55 The True Cost of Care

28:37 Finding Humor During Caregiving

29:51 Barry’s Role in the Family

32:07 Planning for Aging Parents’ Pets

33:25 Settling Into a New Routine

34:21 The Reality of Caregiver Guilt

36:47 Kolleen’s Advice for Families

38:15 Medicaid and Planning Ahead

38:44 Erica’s Closing Thoughts

40:26 Take the Family Assessment

New episodes release twice a month.

Follow The Midlife Squeeze on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode. If today’s conversation resonated with you, leaving a rating and review helps more families discover these important discussions.

Instagram: @TheMidlifeSqueeze

Instagram: @TheFamilyMoneyPlanner

Looking for a place to start? Visit FAMOPlan.com to take the free Family Assessment (the quiz mentioned in this episode) and begin organizing the conversations, decisions, and financial planning that every family will eventually face.

Connect with Kolleen

Website: bannonlegal.com

Kolleen Bannon, Esq. and Bannon Legal, PLLC are not affiliated with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. or Ocean Crest Wealth Management.

Some coverage details in this episode were shared from memory. Medicare generally covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period, following a qualifying hospital stay, with daily coinsurance after day 20. Many long-term care insurance policies begin benefits when someone needs help with 2 of 6 activities of daily living or has a severe cognitive impairment. Policy terms vary.

The information discussed on this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of a product or strategy. Nothing discussed should be considered investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or investment decisions. The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the views of Ausdal Financial Partners. Securities and advisory services are offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and registered investment adviser. Ocean Crest Wealth Management and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

#Midlife #MidlifeSqueeze #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #AgingParents #Dementia #MemoryCare #AssistedLiving #LongTermCare #MedicaidPlanning #SandwichGeneration #FamilyFinances #ElderCare #CaregiverGuilt #FuturePlanning

What happens when you have a plan for aging parents, but life doesn’t go according to plan?

Erica sits down with Brad Jankowski to share his family’s caregiving journey after his father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Brad shares what it was like becoming the default caregiver, transitioning his father to assisted living, and discovering that the caregiving didn’t stop after the move. He also discusses the financial and emotional realities his family encountered along the way.

• Parkinson’s can change a family’s caregiving responsibilities.

• Transportation, appointments, and everyday needs can shift onto family members.

• Home care can eventually exceed what families can safely manage.

• Assisted living does not necessarily end caregiving responsibilities.

• Long-term care can create significant financial and emotional challenges.

• Planning ahead can give families more options.

00:00 Brad’s Caregiving Story

00:27 His Father’s Parkinson’s Diagnosis

01:05 Realizing the Change Was Permanent

02:04 When Driving Had to Stop

02:30 Becoming the Default Caregiver

03:26 Living With an Aging Parent

03:57 Late-Night Health Emergencies

04:58 The Impact on Marriage

05:45 Family Support and Caregiving

06:21 When Home Care Became Unsustainable

07:28 Choosing Assisted Living

08:09 Caregiving After Assisted Living

08:46 The Financial Impact of Care

09:22 Brad’s Experience With Long-Term Care Insurance

10:25 What Brad Wishes Families Knew

11:58 Longevity and Outliving Your Money

12:47 The Emotional Weight of Caregiving

14:47 Erica’s Closing Thoughts

Brad Jankowski is a shareholder at Nason Yeager in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with experience in estate planning, corporate and real estate matters.

https://nasonyeager.com/attorneys/jankowski/

New episodes release twice a month. Follow The Midlife Squeeze on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

Instagram: @TheMidlifeSqueeze

Instagram: @TheFamilyMoneyPlanner

Take the free Family Assessment at FAMOPlan.com.

Brad’s comments about long-term care insurance reflect his personal views and his family’s experience. They are shared for educational purposes and are not a recommendation of any insurance product.

The information discussed on this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of a product or strategy. Nothing discussed should be considered investment, tax, legal, medical, or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making financial or investment decisions. The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the views of Ausdal Financial Partners. Securities and advisory services are offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and registered investment adviser. Ocean Crest Wealth Management and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

#MidlifeSqueeze #Caregiving #AgingParents #Parkinsons #CaregiverSupport #AssistedLiving #FamilyCaregiving #ElderCare #SandwichGeneration

What happens when caregiving has no finish line?

In this episode of The Midlife Squeeze, Erica sits down with Jodi Coleman, a caregiver and author who has spent 18 years caring for her family.

Jodi shares how premature twins and neurological diagnoses changed motherhood, then how her husband’s brain cancer suddenly made her the caregiver, financial decision-maker, and family anchor. At the same time, her father’s Parkinson’s and her mother’s Alzheimer’s created another layer of responsibility.

Through it all, Jodi explains how humor became her saving grace, why asking for help matters, and why she wishes her family had earlier conversations about finances, care, and long-term planning before a crisis.

• Caregiving can build in layers until it becomes part of everyday life.
• A serious diagnosis can instantly change family roles, finances, and responsibilities.
• An existing long-term disability policy helped cover the family’s expenses when Jodi’s husband could no longer work. This was a detail she didn’t fully realize the value of until she needed it.
• Caring for children, a spouse, and aging parents can create an intense “sandwich generation” squeeze.
• Humor can provide relief and connection during long-term caregiving.
• Caregiving expenses can include treatment, residential care, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
• Jodi wishes her family had discussed finances, power of attorney, care preferences, and future living arrangements earlier, rather than addressing them during a crisis.

00:00 Jodi’s Caregiving Story

02:44 Where It All Began

02:54 Premature Twins and the NICU

07:37 Bringing the Twins Home

10:53 Recognizing Developmental Differences

13:27 Tourette Syndrome, OCD, and ADHD

15:18 Changes in Matt’s Behavior

19:18 The Brain Cancer Diagnosis

23:44 Becoming the Financial Decision-Maker

25:56 Learning to Manage the Family Finances

26:50 Starting Over in Florida

29:02 Her Parents’ Health Begins to Decline

30:33 Caring Across Three Generations

32:35 Balancing Care From Another State

35:10 The “Three-Ring Circus” of Caregiving

36:08 Humor as a Saving Grace

38:03 Turning Hard Moments Into Creativity

40:02 Helping Other Caregivers Feel Less Alone

41:43 The Financial Cost of Unexpected Care

42:43 Why Families Need to Prepare Earlier

44:29 Living Without a Finish Line

46:26 Closing Thoughts

Follow Jodi Coleman and learn more about her work:

Instagram: @jodicoleman_author

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CNDD7ZPD

New episodes release twice a month.

Follow The Midlife Squeeze on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode.

If today’s conversation resonated with you, leaving a rating and review helps more families discover these important discussions.

Instagram: @TheMidlifeSqueeze

CONNECT WITH ERICA

Instagram: @TheFamilyMoneyPlanner

Looking for a place to start? Visit FAMOPlan.com to take the free Family Assessment. It offers a simple starting point for identifying conversations and decisions your family may want to address before a crisis.

The information discussed on this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of a product or strategy. Nothing discussed should be considered investment, tax, legal, medical, or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or investment decisions. The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the views of Ausdal Financial Partners. Securities and advisory services are offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and registered investment adviser. Ocean Crest Wealth Management and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

#TheMidlifeSqueeze #Caregiving #SandwichGeneration #FamilyCaregiver #AgingParents

What happens when caregiving begins overnight?

In this episode of The Midlife Squeeze, Erica sits down with her friend Kiesha to share Kiesha's unexpected journey of caring for her mother.

Kiesha's life changed almost overnight when her mother experienced a brain injury that caused significant cognitive and physical changes. The woman who had once been her anchor suddenly needed around-the-clock care.

Kiesha shares the reality of balancing her business, raising two daughters, supporting her family, and caring for her mother during COVID. She also opens up about caregiver guilt, assisted living costs, role reversal, and the difficult decision to move her mother into an assisted living facility.

This conversation highlights why families should discuss caregiving plans before an emergency forces them to make life-changing decisions.

• Caregiving can begin without warning. A sudden health event changed Kiesha's family overnight.
• Caregiving affects the entire household. This includes children, spouses, careers, and finances.
• Becoming a caregiver can create difficult role reversals. This is especially true when caring for an aging parent.
• Assisted living can create significant costs. In Kiesha's experience, costs ranged from approximately $3,500 to $5,000+ per month, depending on care needs and circumstances.
• Moving a parent into assisted living can bring feelings of guilt. These feelings can remain even when it is the right decision for the family.
• Caregiving continues after assisted living. Responsibilities can include medications, appointments, transportation, and ongoing family support.
• Early conversations can make a major difference. Discussing care, finances, responsibilities, and living arrangements can help families avoid crisis planning.

00:00 Welcome to The Midlife Squeeze

01:48 The Night Everything Changed

03:08 Realizing Life Had Changed

04:45 Adjusting to 24/7 Care

06:14 How Caregiving Changed the Family

07:53 Becoming the Default Caregiver

08:53 Balancing Caregiving and Business

09:40 The Assisted Living Decision

10:30 Finding the Right Facility

11:02 Caregiving After Assisted Living

11:57 The Reality of Role Reversal

13:16 Conversations Kiesha Wishes They Had

14:44 The Financial Impact of Caregiving

16:20 The Cost of Assisted Living

18:54 Caregiver Guilt

20:42 Avoiding Crisis Planning

21:50 Why Families Should Plan Earlier

23:04 Closing Thoughts

New episodes release twice a month.

Follow The Midlife Squeeze on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode. If today's conversation resonated with you, leaving a rating and review helps more families discover these important discussions.

Instagram: @TheMidlifeSqueeze

Instagram: @TheFamilyMoneyPlanner

Looking for a place to start? Visit FAMOPlan.com to take the free Family Assessment and begin organizing the conversations, decisions, and financial planning that every family will eventually face.

The information discussed on this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of a product or strategy. Nothing discussed should be considered investment, tax, legal, medical, or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or investment decisions. The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the views of Ausdal Financial Partners. Securities and advisory services are offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and registered investment adviser. Ocean Crest Wealth Management and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

#Midlife #MidlifeSqueeze #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #AgingParents #ElderCare #Family #AssistedLiving #LongTermCare #SandwichGeneration #FinancialPlanning #FamilySupport #FuturePlanning #AgingWell #FAMO

What happens when you're raising children while caring for aging parents?

In this first guest episode of The Midlife Squeeze, Erica sits down with her husband, Peter, to reflect on nearly 20 years of caregiving. Peter shares his experience balancing a career, raising two daughters, and caring for his mother with multiple sclerosis and his uncle with Parkinson's disease.

They discuss the emotional and financial realities of caregiving, including medical appointments, lost work hours, downsizing, difficult family decisions, and planning for the unexpected.

This episode offers an honest look at the sandwich generation, with practical insights on how early preparation can reduce future stress.

• Caregiving can begin earlier than expected. Peter became a caregiver at 25 after his father’s passing.
• The sandwich generation is growing. More families are raising children while caring for aging parents.
• Caregiving has hidden costs. These include lost work time, transportation, medical needs, home maintenance, missed family moments, and emotional stress.
• Early planning can reduce future stress. Downsizing, automating finances, updating legal documents, arranging transportation, and defining caregiving roles can help.
• Caregiving affects the whole family through emotional and financial ripple effects.
• According to the U.S. Administration for Community Living, someone turning 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing long-term care. Women need care for an average of 3.7 years and men for 2.2 years. Individual needs, duration, and costs vary.

00:00 Cold Open: Losing Independence to Parkinson's

01:21 Welcome to The Midlife Squeeze

01:49 Peter's Caregiving Journey Began at 25

03:36 What Everyday Caregiving Really Looks Like

05:38 The Weight of Being the Primary Caregiver

06:59 Advice for Families Before It's Too Late

07:44 Why Downsizing Changed Everything

09:09 Buying Diapers for Two Generations

10:27 Preparing Aging Parents for Success

12:07 When Parkinson's Took Away Driving

15:36 The Financial Cost Nobody Talks About

18:18 Paying for Extra Help

20:34 How Caregiving Changed Their Family Plans

22:50 Why Most Families Aren't Prepared

25:25 What Peter Wishes They Had Done Sooner

26:02 Final Thoughts: Start the Conversation Before You Need To

New episodes release twice a month.

Follow The Midlife Squeeze on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode. If today's conversation resonated with you, leaving a rating and review helps more families discover these important discussions.

Instagram: @TheMidlifeSqueeze

Instagram: @TheFamilyMoneyPlanner

#Midlife #MidlifeSqueeze #SandwichGeneration #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #AgingParents #ElderCare #Family #FamilyLife #FamilySupport #FamilyFinances #FinancialPlanning #MoneyManagement #RetirementPlanning #WorkLifeBalance #LifeTransitions #HealthyAging #PersonalGrowth #Relationships #FamilyResponsibilities #FuturePlanning #AgingWell #FAMO

Looking for a place to start? Visit FAMOPlan.com to take the free Family Assessment and begin organizing the conversations, decisions, and financial planning that every family will eventually face.

The information discussed on this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of a product or strategy. Nothing discussed should be considered investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or investment decisions. The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the views of Ausdal Financial Partners. Securities and advisory services are offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and registered investment adviser. Ocean Crest Wealth Management and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Financial planner Erica shares the unexpected caregiving experience that changed how she thinks about family, money, and planning. What began as a drive to a medical appointment nearly ended with her being arrested, and became her first real glimpse into the realities of caregiving.

In this introduction to The Midlife Squeeze, Erica explores what it means to be part of the sandwich generation: raising children, supporting aging parents, and navigating the financial and emotional challenges that often come with both.

As a financial planner, and someone now living many of these realities myself, I have seen how quickly caregiving can change a family's finances, relationships, and future. Through honest conversations and real stories, this podcast helps families prepare before they are in the middle of a crisis.

The honest, human conversation about money and caregiving that families don't have, until they have to.

• The squeeze is the norm, not a niche. By 2034, adults 65+ are projected to outnumber children under 18 for the first time in U.S. history (77.0 million vs. 76.5 million). Most families are walking into this.
• Source: U.S. Census Bureau
• https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2018/03/graying-america.html
• Many family challenges stem from a lack of planning, not bad intentions. The problems usually start because the conversations never happened and roles were never clear.
• The real cost is the quiet accumulation. Missed work, reduced hours, and the one family member who slowly becomes the default caregiver. These are costs that never show up on a spreadsheet.
• One person carrying it affects everyone. Even when a single family member does most of the work, it reshapes how the whole family makes decisions and spends time.
• If you haven't had the conversation, you're not behind. That's exactly where planning starts, before you're in the middle of it.

Chapters:

00:00 Cold Open: Almost Arrested in Miami

00:53 A Quick Note (Disclaimer)

01:19 Welcome to The Midlife Squeeze

01:45 Why the Sandwich Generation Is Growing

02:40 Back to Miami: The Drive That Started It All

04:28 The Accident, the Call, and the Fear of Jail

06:00 "That Contrast Is Caregiving"

06:27 The Costs That Don't Show Up on a Spreadsheet

07:32 Why I Built the Family Money Plan

08:25 Real Stories, Real People: Where We Start

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS PODCAST

Real stories from caregivers, practical conversations about money and family decisions, and thoughtful guidance to help you prepare for life's transitions before they become emergencies.

FOLLOW THE SHOW

New episodes drop twice a month. Follow on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss one and if this resonates, leaving a rating or review helps more families discover the show.

CONNECT WITH ERICA

Website: midlifesqueeze.com

Instagram: @themidlifesqueeze — instagram.com/themidlifesqueeze

YouTube: @TheMidlifeSqueeze — youtube.com/@TheMidlifeSqueeze

DISCLAIMER

The information discussed on this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of a product or strategy. Nothing discussed should be considered investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or investment decisions. The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the views of Ausdal Financial Partners. Securities and advisory services are offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and registered investment adviser. Ocean Crest Wealth Management and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

KEYWORDS / HASHTAGS

#SandwichGeneration #Caregiving #AgingParents #CaregiverSupport #DementiaCare #FamilyCaregiver #MidlifeWomen #TheMidlifeSqueeze #MidlifeSqueeze