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2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationMental LoadHow often do you find yourself thinking, "After this week, I’m sure things will slow down"? The two of us must say some version of this to each other every day. It helps make getting through this week easier. When we say we hope things will slow down, what we really mean is that we want a reprieve from the mental load of managing everyday life for almost everyone all the time. Mental load refers to the cognitive effort required to manage and remember everything in our daily lives wh...2024-10-2408 min
Focused Healthy Family Podcast#132 Raised in a Nursing Home - Interview with Michelle Woodbrey - 2Sisters Speak PodcastBrought up in a nursing home these 2Sisters gained more wisdom than any child could gain in their lifetime. Michelle and Alyson used the wisdom to build a life and career help the senior population. That’s the best way to start their story. Their father was a nursing home administrator, and their mother worked for him as a physical therapist. Michelle and Alyson spent their childhoods going to the nursing home and doing activities with the seniors who lived there. Michelle and her sister did not go to daycare as kids. Michelle Woodbrey and her sister Alyson Power...2024-09-0552 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationOh, the Irony"Isn't it ironic? - Don't you think?" – Alanis Morrisette, 1996 Irony is helping our kids learn how to drive while at the same time, trying to get our parents to give up driving. Irony is trying to help our parents manage life with the internet and at the same time, trying to help our kids manage their lives with the internet. Irony is helping our parents find a contact on their phone (again) and then having to ask our kids how to use a new app (again). Three ta...2024-06-0722 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationSorry!We all have regrets about many things in our lives at any given moment, but should we always say, “I’m sorry?” We were going to do a podcast apologizing for not having done a podcast since January, but why are we sorry? Whose expectations did we fall short of? Yours? Are you upset with us? And, if you feel we did fall short somehow, how much of an impact should we allow that to have on ourselves? What benefit could constantly feeling apologetic possibly have to help us do better? ...2024-05-0312 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationSomething’s Gotta GiveAre we all just hurdling ourselves through each day, again and again? When will things slow down and get a little easier? “Stop and smell the roses,” they say but, as sandwiched caregivers, we are moving so fast we don’t even notice any roses. Being busy is almost a status symbol nowadays. We tend to measure our value based on how productive we can be. We are feeling like we can never relax because there is always more to do. We tell ourselves that things will be easier ‘next week’ because it is too hard to acknowl...2024-01-3030 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationHolidays with Toxic Relatives | Ep #47Being a sandwiched adult child during the holidays is extra hard because expectations are so high. This is the happiest time of the year, right? Who makes everything magical for everyone? (Hint: it’s not Santa). It’s us and it’s a lot of pressure right now especially around our toxic family members. Here are a few quick tips for surviving the holiday sandwich season. It is not required that you participate in every argument you are invited to. A family member not involved in the regular care of a loved one does not have t...2023-12-1923 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationGetting Along with the People We Depend OnHow do we make everything work as sisters, as parents, as adult children, as friends, and as business partners? In this episode we offer our best tips for getting along with the people you most depend on. We choose not to have unnecessary conflicts. It is humbling but also empowering to look at how much energy we spend either towards our goals or away from them. We purposefully let a lot slide in order to protect our complex relationship. We constantly reassess how much we each must deal with. Keeping our to-do lists fluid and checking...2023-11-2818 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationHow to Make Death HarderGrieving the loss of a loved one feels heavy and overwhelming in the best of circumstances. Many people have not considered beyond grieving how much work needs to be done by others after they pass away. It’s more than just not being willing to discuss death. Some people will never agree to proactive planning about their death and what comes afterwards. Of those that do, the catalyst is often when they realize how much worse their death will be on those who love them. It has nothing to do with age, we sh...2023-10-3119 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationGetting Buy-inHow do we get our parents buy-in to move or accept care at home? As we have discussed in previous episodes, we are firm believers that the way something is said affects the way it is perceived. You have been trying for months or even years to get your dad to agree to accept help at home let alone move into assisted living, so what can you do? Listen in while we talk about what worked with our parents and experiences with our clients over the years. Three take-ways from this episode:...2023-10-0326 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationTools for Your ToolboxEveryone’s situation is unique. As senior care consultants, we find ourselves offering the same resources repeatedly. Listen to today’s episode to learn our topmost frequently recommended senior care planning resources. RESOURCES: National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) https://www.naela.org/ Aging Life Care Association (ALCA) https://www.aginglifecare.org/ National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) https://www.nasmm.org/ The National Council on Aging (NCOA) https://www.ncoa.org/ The Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org/ For more information on any of these resources, connect with us! www.2Sisters-sla.com2023-09-1227 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWhat Should You Say? | Ep #42Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." We pay attention to how the words we use make others feel. We can’t control how what we say is perceived, but we can choose different words to help us towards the outcome we are hoping for. The word "facility" connotes a medical establishment, not a place where I would want to live. Are assisted livings facilities? Technically, yes, but doesn’t residence or c...2023-08-1821 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationLetting Go of IndependenceDoes being independent mean that you can do everything for yourself? By the traditional standards, independence equals self-sufficiency. Many of our clients are stubbornly committed to not accepting help. Accepting help means they are failing at taking care of themselves. We perceive independence as having agency over our lives and choices, control over how we want to live, but we don’t believe for a minute that we should do it all on our own. We are embracing a shift in perspective. Not that many people are truly independent in th...2023-07-1824 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWe’re Dying… (Part 2)In this episode, Michelle and Alyson discuss some of the resources available to help us have important conversations about end of life with our loved ones. Death is inevitable. We all know this. Let’s explore the options we have to honor our loved ones in the way they want to be honored. What measures can we take, at any age, to alleviate the burden of our inevitable death for our loved ones who are mourning? What are the current trends surrounding the passing of a loved one? Listen in to find out! Th...2023-06-2033 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWe’re Dying… (Part 1)Death is inevitable, it happens to ALL of us. Ignoring this, and refusing to talk about it, only makes things harder for the loved ones we leave behind. So many people are in denial that they will experience death at some point. Things are absolutely different when someone’s passing is unexpected or their life has been cut short. But for an elderly person, perhaps we can change our perspective from mourning to gratitude, or even celebration. We can be overwhelmingly sad but choose to honor a full, well-lived life. Find out what your loved ones wa...2023-06-0622 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationImprovisation in Dementia CareValidating, redirecting, using therapeutic fibs, and empathic listening are some of the most common techniques used to successfully communicate with someone who has dementia. Each of these techniques requires us to think on our feet, and go with the flow. Communication with someone who has dementia is outcome-based. What is the objective of what we are communicating? Are we trying to get them to perform a particular task? Are we trying to minimize their agitation? Improve the quality of their day? There are many ways to accomplish each of these things, but it is almost never...2023-05-0934 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationBlind SpotsBlind spots refer to things that we are not fully conscious of that affect our lives. This is sometimes due to a lack of knowledge or awareness, but it is often because we are in denial. The definition of a blind spot, according to the APA Dictionary of Psychology is, “a lack of insight or awareness—often persistent—about a specific area of one's behavior or personality, typically because recognition of one's true feelings and motives would be painful.” Blind spots occur in many areas of our lives, but especially so with our aging pa...2023-04-2527 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationGrieving for the LivingWe miss our parents, but they’re still here. It’s not easy wanting support from our parents -- but now they need our support instead. Being an adult child or family caregiver means having less support but more responsibility. We want to look to our parents for guidance, as they may have always provided, but instead they are looking upon us for support. Especially when there is cognitive decline, we experience mourning over the loss of someone who is still alive. Three takeaways from this episode: It is especially isolating to lose...2023-04-1119 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationBudget for Your GoalsHow would your loved one prefer to live if they can’t manage alone independently? What is their goal? Do you have the resources and support system to achieve the goal? We’re going on a trip, but we have no map or GPS and not quite enough gas to get there. Will we get to our destination? Maybe eventually, but not without some struggles and costly detours. You can figure out how far your gas will get you and map out a route in advance. So many people just start heading in the direction of what...2023-03-2821 min2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWhat to Expect from Assisted LivingMichelle and Alyson tap into their lifetime of experiences to discuss what can be expected from an assisted living residence. What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home? What is included at an assisted living? How much care is available in an assisted living? What happens if you run out of money? What if your loved one is not happy? Three takeaways from this episode: Assisted living residences offer more dignified, home-like environments than nursing homes because they are a social model of care versus a medical one. Restaurant-style...2023-03-1423 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationIt’s Different with Our Own MomWhy are we able to support people in working with their families, and yet, have so little patience with our own family? In today’s episode, we commiserate with a listener who sent us an email. This email in particular struck a chord with us because we struggle with the same issue! If nurses make the worst patients, then senior care professionals make the worst adult children. Right? This is at least true for us, and we are willing to bet that it is for many of you, too. Three ta...2023-02-2816 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationRespite!What is a respite stay? When is a respite stay appropriate? What should you expect when your loved one does a respite stay? There are a few types of respite stays. Some are short-term stays because a caregiver is going away or needs a break. Other types are more of a trial stay in an assisted living. Respite stays can have great outcomes and, in this episode, Michelle, Alyson and Emily explore why. Three takeaways from this episode: A respite stay can be used as a short-term break for a f...2023-02-1419 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationTalking with Someone Who Has DementiaCommunicating with someone who has dementia can be especially challenging because relating to them becomes increasingly hard as their memory declines. Drawing upon our years of experience, we have seen what is most successful for families. This, along with our Certified Dementia Practitioner certifications, sets the stage for this episode about communication approaches. Three take-ways from this episode: What is truth? Truth is a matter of perspective, especially for people with dementia. People who have dementia process information very differently than we can relate to. We cannot control their thoughts...2023-01-3122 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationTouring TipsWhat should you ask during a tour of an assisted living or a nursing home? What should you prepare for and expect? In this episode, we offer our advice for a productive initial tour. Michelle Woodbrey, Alyson Powers and Emily Rogue come together to share their tips for touring an assisted living community or nursing facility. One of the most common questions we are asked is if we have a checklist for touring. In fact, we don’t. Listen to find out why and what we recommend instead! Three key takeaways from this ep...2023-01-1726 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationThe Anti-Self-Care EpisodeHappy New Year! What is your New Years’ resolution? You don’t have one? We don’t either! Join us as we embrace our inner-Goblins for 2023. Goblin Mode is defined as a "type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations." This was Oxford’s word of the year for 2022 and we feel seen. After 2+ years of enduring through a global pandemic with heightened political tension and a climate in crisis , we’re tired. And we’re tired of being women...2023-01-0311 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationCommunication for a Successful OutcomeWhy do I want an air-fryer so badly? And why won’t my aging loved one ask for help when they need it? How can these things possibly be connected? And maybe most importantly, why are we talking about this on a podcast? At least once or twice a week we talk to someone who made a promise to a loved one that they can’t keep. “I promised my dad I would never put him in a home,” for example. They had the best of intentions to keep their promise, but they didn’t have all of the...2022-11-0826 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationHow to Choose a Rehab Facility with Emily RogueIn this episode, Michelle interviews Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and Nursing Home Specialist with 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors, Emily Rogue, about how to choose a short-term skilled nursing rehabilitation facility. Choosing a short-term skilled nursing rehabilitation facility can be daunting. Most people don’t know how to find the right facility for their needs. It is important to choose a good rehab because your outcome is absolutely affected based on the quality of the therapy and care. How can we choose a facility that is going to help us achieve the best results? Emily offers us an...2022-10-2529 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationThe Neighbors We Need with Jan Latorre-StillerIn this episode, Michelle interviews expert guest Jan Latorre-Stiller, the Executive Director of Cambridge Neighbors, a member of the Village to Village Network. Cambridge Neighbors (CN) is a membership-driven organization helping adults living in Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Somerville, and Watertown Massachusetts stay in the homes and neighborhoods they love. Three key takeaways from this episode: Joining a Village in your area can offer you the support you need to stay in your home longer. Services can include grocery shopping volunteers, volunteer tech support services, small household repairs, opportunities for connection and social...2022-10-1120 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationAdult Family Mediation with Halee BurgWhat is adult family mediation? Join us on this episode where we welcome guest Halee Burg, an Affiliate Mediator with Elder Decisions®, a division of Agreement Resources, LLC. Sometimes families get stuck. We can’t agree and we don’t know how to move forward. Adult family or elder mediation is an effective method of making difficult family decisions. Mediators are highly skilled, neutral, conflict resolution experts who do not provide advice or "take sides" but, instead, facilitate purposeful and directed conversations in which family members are encouraged to express their interests and concerns. ...2022-09-2726 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWhen Only You Will DoAre you caring for a loved one at home and need some support but your loved one won’t let anyone else provide their care? What can you do when only you will do? Join us this episode as we discuss some strategies for getting a loved one to accept outside support. Three key takeaways from this episode: First, get to the bottom of why only you will do. There may be many reasons why your loved one is resistant to outside care providers, some of which may be a tribute to how well yo...2022-09-1318 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationHow to Keep A Loved One at HomeHave you promised your loved one you will never put them in a nursing home? People make promises like this all the time, that they have every intention to keep but may not be able to deliver upon. Keeping a loved one at home with in-home care is much more possible when you have a plan in place for if/when it may not work. Aging in place at home requires some strategy and a plan for if it fails. You can promise you will do your best to keep your loved one at home as...2022-08-3020 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationChoosing a Nursing Home | Ep #22Choosing a nursing home is not something people want to do. It is a need-driven decision and a daunting one at that. Join Nursing Home Specialist, Emily Rogue, LNHA, and Senior Care Consultant, Michelle Woodbrey on this episode where they discuss what to do and what not to do when choosing a nursing home. Avoiding nursing home care is among the most commonly expressed wishes of older Americans. After all, nursing homes are clinical settings, just a step below a hospital. How should you go about choosing a nursing home for long-term care...2022-08-1645 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationJust Say NoDo you have a hard time saying, “no”? Many, many people do - especially women. We may be afraid to disappoint people, but the problem usually lies in our expectations of ourselves. When is good enough, good enough? Keeping our sanity when feeling squeezed involves learning to accept less from ourselves and this means saying, “no.” Michelle Woodbrey, Alyson Powers and Kristine Callahan discuss learning to discern between our own expectations and those of other people. Spoiler alert: saying “no,” and putting in boundaries, is critical to living in a way that can support our...2022-08-0227 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationShould We Share Mom?Creative solutions are often necessary when creating a plan of care for a parent, especially when someone can no longer live alone. Many families look to share the responsibilities, but is moving your loved one between the homes of siblings a good idea? A listener wrote to us and asked us to talk about whether it is a good idea to move her mom between the homes of her and her siblings every few months. Her mom is no longer safe and needs someone to live with her. They feel guilty putting the responsibility on only...2022-07-1916 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationNeeding a Village with Cathie Briggette| Ep #19Cathie Briggette is the Co-Founder of Herself360, an online women’s magazine designed to create a platform for women to feel more connected. Herself360 started out of a need for women to have a stronger village to be able to support one another. Cathie has been a client of 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors as well. She and her siblings have forged their own little village in support of their mother, who has late-stage Alzheimer’s. She is kind enough to share some of her story with us and how her family functions together by focusing on supp...2022-07-0521 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationStarting the Talk About Getting Older?Planning documents are for everyone and this is a good place to start the conversation. We should all have these few critical documents in place in the event something happens and we can’t make decisions for ourselves. These include: Health Care Proxy Power of attorney Living Will Regardless of age, unfortunate circumstances can happen to anyone and being prepared only serves to lessen the impact should those planning tools be needed. Here are some additional resources to help you through these conversations: Honoring Choices (Massachusetts) https://www.honoringchoicesmass.com/ Five Wishes https://www.fivewishes.or...2022-06-2121 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWorking and Caregiving with Meghan SteinbergWhat can people do to advocate for themselves at work? Meghan Steinberg emphasizes the importance of prioritizing ourselves. She became a caregiver when her husband had an accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury a few years ago. She was just 2 years into starting her business, SteinbergHR, and her son was only 3 years old at the time. SteinbergHR is a boutique HR firm providing full-service human resource consulting, outsourcing and solutions. Their capabilities are utilized on an as-needed, part time or project basis. Meghan gives us some advice from her professional, as well as her...2022-06-0720 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationBad AdviceIt is not a great idea to ask directions of someone who has never been where you are going. This is a mistake many people make soliciting recommendations for senior care options. When we ask friends and neighbors or crowdsource on social media, we get a bunch of well-intentioned advice that may, or may not, be helpful based on our unique situation. So how do we know which advice to listen to? Michelle, Alyson, and Kristine discuss advice. Isn’t it awesome (seriously, not awesome) when someone tells you that you look tired and should find ti...2022-05-2413 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich Generation[Special Announcement] Changing Up the ScheduleThis podcast, like almost everything else for us, is an experiential learning process. We are learning by doing. One thing we have learned so far is that releasing a podcast episode every other week is a better fit for our schedules. As adult children raising our own children and running a business, we practice two things that are relevant to this decision. One is to constantly be evaluating our priorities. While we are loving getting the podcast going, it is not our first priority when put into perspective with our families and our business. We never...2022-05-1701 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationTaking The Keys Away - Denial is Driving | Ep #14At some point everybody stops driving, but how it happens is different in every story. Michelle and Alyson reveal their currently evolving story of getting their father, who has Parkinson’s disease, to stop driving. Kristine also tells us about what it took to get her mom to stop driving. We discuss some practical approaches and offer resources which may (or may not) be helpful in getting your loved one to give up the keys. Here are some links to what we reference in this episode: https://www.parkinson.org/sites/default/files/at...2022-05-1025 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWhen Do We Need Memory Care?Emily is contemplating daycare for Penny, but she is struggling with the idea of giving care for her daughter over to strangers. There are parallels between the design of a daycare and the benefits of that environment for the development of a growing child and the design of a memory care environment for the support and independence of someone with dementia. Here’s a link to an article we wrote, "The Four Benefits to Memory Care." Their world becomes more manageable Increased social interaction can slow cognitive decline Regained sense of purpose Relationships are renewed ...2022-05-0323 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationHospital Go Bag: What’s in Yours?Having your ducks in a row in the event a loved one needs to go to the hospital unexpectedly can make a huge difference in everyone’s stress level. What are the things they may need? What are the things you may need? Some things are naturally personal preference, but other things are necessities. Here are our suggestions for what to have ready if your loved one needs to go to the hospital unexpectedly. Be prepared to be able to provide at least the basic information medical professionals will need to evaluate and treat your loved on...2022-04-2624 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWhat is a Helicopter Child? | Ep #11A helicopter parent is a parent who pays extremely close attention to a child's or children's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. Helicopter parents are so named because, like helicopters, they "hover overhead," overseeing every aspect of their child's life constantly. Michelle, Alyson, Emily and Kristine discuss the concept of acceptable or negotiated risk. The balance between trying to keep our loved ones safe from their own poor choices and keeping our sanity is precarious. The author, Roald Dahl said, “The more risk you allow children to take, the better they learn to take ca...2022-04-1920 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationInsurance, What Do You Mean This Isn’t Covered?People in search of care options for an aging loved one need to become familiar with things they probably never wanted to. We have callers who are commonly confused and need clarification. For example, what does insurance cover regarding senior care? Panel of experts: Michelle Woodbrey Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® Certified Placement & Referral Specialist (CPRS) Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)® REALTOR® Alyson Powers Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® Certified Placement & Referral Specialist (CPRs) Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)® Emily Rogue Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® Certif...2022-04-1228 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWhen is Giving Up Actually a Leap of Faith?During this episode, Alyson is away travelling with family so Michelle and Emily have a discussion reminiscing about how Emily started working for 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors. When is it time to give up on something that you’ve spent so much time working toward? Emily worked hard for many years to actualize her dream of becoming a Nursing Home Administrator only to realize it was not her dream anymore. She also currently has a client who is resistant to giving up caring for her father because she has spent so long trying to be his be...2022-04-0518 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWhy Won’t My Mom Tell Me She Fell?How do we help our parents when they fear intervention? How bad does it have to get? Joined by Alyson, Emily and Kristine in this episode, Michelle tells us about her daughter waiting to tell her about a cavity until it was a crevASSe the size of the Grand Canyon. Similarly, we see this with our aging loved ones who can minimize situations or withhold information out of fear of change. Join us as we talk through strategy in having these types hard conversations with our aging loved ones. Kristine shar...2022-03-2922 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWandering. Are You Wondering About Wandering?We take on a case study about wandering and dementia. Michelle and Alyson, joined by Emily and Kristine, present options for someone whose mother had a scary wandering event. Resources mentioned in the episode: Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org/ Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! More information at https://2sisters-sla.com/ © 2022 Michelle Woodbrey and Alyson Powers2022-03-2224 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationKarate and Guilt“Unspoken Expectations are premeditated resentments.” – Neil Strauss In this episode, Michelle and Alyson are joined by Emily and Kristine. Who feels guilty? Do you? We do, and we even listen to Kristine when she tells us that guilt is a useless emotion. How do we set the right expectations with our loved ones so that we don’t live in a world of guilt? Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! More inf...2022-03-1521 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationBurdens and BurnoutHow in the world do you find time for yourself? Baby weight, the freshmen 15, and pandemic pounds are “socially acceptable” reasons for carrying extra weight, but what about caregivers like us? What about aging parent pounds? Kristine shares techniques on how to take some time for ourselves. She had us drooling over her description of her morning rituals. While many of us can’t fathom having a self-care morning ritual, we can begin to incorporate being kinder to ourselves in small ways. Resources mentioned in the episode: Brene Brown's Family Gap Plan2022-03-0821 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationSnowplows and Home CareWhen your plans fall through what are you going to do? Our plow company didn’t show up after the recent 29 inches of snow. We were unprepared. This isn’t unlike the calls we get when a home care agency can’t fill a shift. In this episode, Michelle, Alyson, Kristine and Emily discuss levels of planning and why, when you have 29 inches of snow, is not the time you want to be looking for a shovel. Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes and leave a review if you...2022-03-0125 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationOur WhyWhat is revenge procrastination insomnia and how did it lead to this podcast? We stay up way too late spending time procrastinating on going to bed, sucked in by social media and binge-watching TV. We noticed groups all over social media platforms offering support for adults who are struggling to care for their aging loved ones. But people are still searching for more. Alyson and I felt called to start this podcast. Today we discuss how we grew up going to work with our parents in nursing homes and how that led us...2022-02-2217 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationChoosing Your BattlesSomething’s got to give, but how do we know what? And when? The line between our personal lives and our professional lives is blurrier than ever with so many of us working from home these days. It’s a new level of multitasking and, sometimes, when we hit a groove, it can feel like we’re managing it all ok. But… “The hunter that chases two rabbits, catches neither.” – Confucius Are we actually effective when we are multitasking or are we fooling ourselves? How do we know when it is time to qui...2022-02-2217 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationDignity and Dementia CareThe 2Sisters, Michelle and Alyson, discuss which battles are worth the fight. Emily’s daughter is starting to eat solid food and won’t eat peas or any vegetables, naturally she is concerned. Our client’s father lives in a memory care neighborhood, and she keeps finding him wearing other people’s pants. What is the connection? Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! More information at https://2sisters-sla.com/ © 2022 Michelle Woodbrey...2022-02-2219 min
2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich GenerationWelcome to 2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich Generation2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich Generation is a podcast for anyone who feels sandwiched caring for an aging loved one and is in search of community that understands the unique challenges of being squeezed. Hosted by sisters, Michelle Woodbrey and Alyson Powers, co-owners of 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors, a senior care consulting firm. Michelle and Alyson have been supporting seniors and their families for decades and are now also caring for their own aging parents and raising young families. Join them as they set the space for sharing their collective insights and stories about the ups and downs of...2021-12-3001 min
Help Choose HomeHow Proactive Planning Is Essential to Successfully Aging In PlaceIn today’s episode of Help Choose Home, we welcome Michelle Woodbrey, CDP, CSA, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors. Founded in 2011, 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors offers referral and coaching services to older adults and their families who are exploring aging care options. Michelle, and her co-founder sister, Alyson Powers, have deep career experience in the senior care industry, both in administrative roles and in hands-on care. Michelle and Allyson grew up in the senior care industry, following in their father’s, Mark Tobin’s, footsteps. Mark had a distinguished career in long-term care a...2021-01-2018 min