How do we keep laughing when life feels so unbelievably heavy? Between raising the littles, caregiving for our aging parents, grief and the stress, surviving The Sandwich Generation feels like sometimes humor is the only thing holding it all together!

In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Pod, Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank welcome nationally acclaimed comedian Susan Rice (@funnyoldbag) for a hilarious, honest, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about aging, caregiving, self-worth, reinvention, and why it’s never too late to chase your dreams!

Susan shares how she found her groove as a comedian in her seventies, what humor can teach us about resilience, and why getting older might actually be the moment we finally stop giving a fuck what everyone else thinks.

We talk about finding joy in hard seasons, embracing aging with humor, and learning to laugh (or cry) at the chaos.

If you’re caring for aging parents, feeling burned out in midlife, or just need permission to laugh through the mess, this episode is for you.

Takeaways

• Sometimes the funniest people are carrying the hardest stories.
• It’s never too late to grow into yourself.
• Getting older can bring a surprising sense of freedom.
• Younger generations have so much to learn from older generations, we just need to connect more.
• There’s something powerful about hearing confident women in their 70s speak honestly and loudly.
• Aging doesn’t mean becoming invisible. You still deserve to take up space.
• Humor helps us survive hard things. We always need it.

Links and Resources

Susan Rice Comedy

@ funnyoldbag on Instagram

Susan Rice: Silver Alert - a new special!

Don’t Tell Comedy Shows

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Comedian Susan Rice

01:15 Overcoming Challenges with Humor

12:15 The Resilience of Aging

13:18 Thriving in Your Seventies

15:53 Confidence and Visibility in Aging

21:35 Susan's Caregiving Story

23:43 Women, The World and why we always need Humor

Why does Assisted Living cost so much? Why does every tour somehow end in a “pub”? And are the communities with the fancy brochures and gourmet desserts actually the best fit for your loved one?

In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Pod, Robyn and Eliesa sit down with Melissa Stanton and Molly Mogren Katt of Carefree Cottages of Maplewood for a candid (and surprisingly heated + funny) conversation about the realities of assisted living, from both sides of the tour.

We get into the real stuff: the questions families should be asking, how to make sense of the finances, what actually matters beyond the marketing, and how to figure out who you can trust in an industry that can feel wildly overwhelming.

Whether you’re just starting to explore assisted living or already deep in the process, this episode is packed with honest insights, helpful tips, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Disclaimer: We are not lawyers nor do we offer legal advice on this podcast. All information is based out of Minnesota, so check your state to see what programs, waivers and assistance are offered in your area!

Takeaways

• What are the top 3 questions that families should be asking when touring assisted living communities?
• What is the difference between Private Pay, Elderly and Cadi Waiver programs?
• Think of shopping for assisted living like you’re dating. Are you serious and looking for a long term relationship? What are the qualities you’re looking for?
• Follow your *senses*
• What the hell is an Ombudsman? (This person might be your best friend…)
• What are some misconceptions about Assisted Living?
• Assisted Living Can be:
  • Family Owned
  • Corporate
  • Non-Profit (Like Shalom Home)
  • Adult Foster Homes

Chapters

01:23 Intro to Molly and Melissa of Carefree Cottages

06:39 What is Assisted Living and Who is it for?

12:52 Question #1: Do you accept the Elderly Waiver or Cadi Waiver?

25:57 Question #2: How are the activities?

30:43 Question #3: Medication Management and Independence

35:37 What things should you be looking for when touring Assisted Living?

37:24 Robyn's horrible experience with assisted living

44:19 What is an ombudsman and knowing your rights

48:23 Debunking the misconceptions about Assisted Living

53:07 Why does Assisted Living cost so much?

56:19 Family Owned, Corporate, Non Profit or Adult Foster Care

58:50 What is a 'Navigator' and are they helpful?

01:01:08 Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing

01:06:31 The Future of Assisted Living

Links + Resources:

Carefree Cottages of Maplewood

Cost of Long Term Care Calculator - this is an AMAZING resource where you can estimate the cost of care in your specific area of the United States. Powered by Carescout

State of MN OmbudsmanMinnesota

Bill of Rights for Assisted Living

A Place at the Table - an example of adult foster care.

National Domestic Workers Alliance

Caring Across Generations

Molly Mogren Katt - explore more of Molly’s personal + creative work!

Ever have one of those moments where you just want to scream a little? Caregiving can feel like that, especially when well-meaning people say things that completely miss the mark. Those small comments can add up, and before you know it, you’re carrying a kind of loneliness that’s hard to put into words.

Whether you’re supporting a loved one through a terminal diagnosis, navigating aging, walking alongside someone at the end of life, or grieving after they’re gone, the “in-between” losses can feel overwhelming. Life keeps moving all around you, and somehow you’re expected to keep up.

And if you’re a sandwiched caregiver? You might find yourself craving moments of joy in the middle of it all - only to be met with guilt (or even a little side-eye) when you actually have fun. Simple, right?

In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Pod, Eliesa and Robyn sit down with Jessica Kim, founder of Ianacare (“I Am Not Alone Care”). Jessica has spent most of her adult life as a caregiver while raising three kids, and she’s turned that experience into a mission to support others navigating the same challenges. Together, we talk about the loneliness of caregiving, finding connection, and giving yourself permission to hold both grief and joy at the same time.

Because at the end of the day, you’re not alone—we’re in this together.

Takeaways

• Loneliness creeps in and can be all consuming when you’re a caregiver.
• The fork in the road: Do you need to leave your career to be a caregiver?
• Our Mindset: How we reframe things is huge - we need to balance JOY in caregiving
• The THREE day rule - how have you tended to your priorities over the course of three days?
  • Kids + activities
  • Marriage
  • Friends
  • Wellness / gym
  • Work
  • Faith
• How does full time caregiving effect our children? Do they see our stress as much as we feel it?
• Culture Change: Lets not make others feel guilty while seeking JOY while they are GRIEVING
• Ianacare: How this company supports families and helps them with loneliness. Also: a HUGE Medicare GUIDE program for families with Alzheimer's!

Links + Resources:

Ianacare Website

Follow Ianacare on Instagram

Caring for someone with Dementia? See if you Qualify for the Medicare GUIDE Program - at NO cost to you!

Chapters:

00:00 Intros and our Meet Cute with Jessica Kim

02:29 Jessica's Caregiving Story

22:30 Mindshift: Reframing Priorities in Caregiving

29:04 Impact of Caregiving on Children

38:07 Seeking Joy Amidst Grief

43:47 The Loneliness of Caregiving

47:23 How caregiving changes you

55:05 IANACare and a Medicare funded program for Caregivers

01:02:59 Engagement and Community Building

01:03:35 Outro

Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation is already a full-contact sport. One minute you’re negotiating with a toddler over broccoli, the next your parents are on the phone… also negotiating, but with guilt trips and passive-aggressive commentary. Cool, cool, cool. So what’s the move when everyone needs something and someone’s being downright difficult?

In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Pod, Robyn and Eliesa talk with family mediator Molly Darsow, owner of Still Waters Mediation. (Yes—family mediator. Because sometimes families need a referee.) Molly shares expert advice on setting boundaries with parents, managing emotional triggers, and improving communication in challenging family dynamics.If you’ve ever thought “there has to be a better way to deal with this,” this one’s for you.

If you’re caring for aging parents while raising kids, navigating sibling tension, or just trying not to lose your mind during one more “interesting” phone call—this episode will give you tools, validation, and maybe even a little laugh.

Takeaways

• We are born into family systems and when our parents age or pass away, those roles within the system are wildly disrupted.
• We always hold onto our inner child.
• When we’re family, we all know each other’s triggers - that never leaves us.
• There might be a generational difference in how we talk about our emotions.
• There is A LOT of vulnerability in aging.
• Shutting down bad behaviors is totally legit.
• It sounds annoying but acceptance, compassion and time are three of the best ways to handle a difficult parent.
• Communication takes active practice on everyone’s part and Molly gives tips on doing this effectively.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction with Molly Darsow of Still Waters Mediation

02:55 What is Mediation and why might I need it?

09:40 Managing Triggers and Emotional Responses

11:39 Strategies for Difficult Conversations

30:31 Establishing Boundaries with Parents

33:47 Acknowledging Loss and Change

38:49 The Driving Conversation - is anything more difficult than this?

48:18 What to do when a parent is guilting you?

58:07 Sibling Relationships and Triangulation

01:05:50 Managing Difficult Parents in Front of Children

01:11:11 Outro

Links and Resources:

Still Waters Mediation

Care out Loud Conversation starter Cards

What is it really like for the Spouses in The Sandwich Generation?! We know it’s emotional for us caregivers, but what is it like on the other side of a relationship? In this episode, Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank hand the mic over to their spouses, Nick and EZ, for a refreshingly honest (and occasionally hilarious) take on:

• What actually irritates them (yes, we go there)
• How to keep the spark alive when you're exhausted and emotionally tapped out
• Raising kids while juggling everyone else’s needs
• And what support really looks like—beyond “just tell me what you need”

Spoiler: Love is strong… but so are opinions about buying milk!

If you’re in a relationship in the Sandwich Generation—whether you’re the caregiver or the one wondering how to help—this one’s for you.

Because sometimes, laughter is the only thing keeping everyone sane.

Takeaways

• Everyone is in The Sandwich Generation together when you’re married but in different roles.
• How can a spouse help with the overwhelm of being sandwiched?
• When your spouse takes a back seat - and making them a priority again!
• How are we raising the kids in the middle of it all?
• Keeping the fire alive - intimacy and humor during tough times.
• It takes a village - asking for help!

Chapters

00:00 Reflections on Marriage: Expectations vs. Reality: Getting Married Later in Life and Entering The Sandwich Generation

10:20 When the caregiver is overwhelmed, what's a spouse to do?

18:53 Hormones are a big deal in The Sandwich Generation

30:18 When your spouse takes a back seat and making them a priority again

36:27 Arguments

39:27 So what do you really think of your in laws?

45:36 What about us? What does our aging look like?

48:01 Lets talk about the kids + grief

54:33 Making things easier for the spouse that is overwhelmed by caregiving

59:09 What makes our spouse sexy now in The Sandwich Generation?

01:05:36 Outro

Welcome to Part 2 of our episode on Medical Assistance for Long Term Care in Minnesota. This is a HOT topic and one that deserved some extra time! In this episode, Robyn and Eliesa welcome back Rachel Schromen of Schromen Law, LLC answers more questions and gives practical examples and tips on the strategy and process behind applying for Medical Assistance for Long Term Care. What’s a 5 year look back? What’s a spend down? What are Medical Assistant Divorces and why do they happen? There is so much great information in this episode!

Hot Tip: Spend the money and hire an attorney - it’s worth the investment! We’re not here to sell, we are here to guide you through and hopefully shed some light on a subject that is fraught with financial and emotional loss.

**Please note that we are not offering specific legal advice - Use this advice to ask the questions in your states, with your attorneys.**

Takeaways:

• The benefits of Pre Planning for Long Term Care
• The benefits of hiring an attorney to help - especially to flag for exemptions in MN that get missed a lot.
• Clarifying the terms: 5 year Look Back, Asset Reduction and Spenddown terminology
• The cost of care in America is HIGH right now - we will all need long term planning and the earlier the better because you have options.
• Ongoing MA maintenance
• Some real life examples of a medical assistance spenddown before annual renewals
• Medical Assistance Divorces and why do they happen
• What’s the most frequent question an attorney gets asked by families applying for Medical Assistance for long term care?

Links and Resources:

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys - a national resource to help connect you with Elder Law Attorneys around the country!

Schromen Law, LLC - Learn more about Rachel’s practice and approach to Estate Planning and Elder Law. We know we’ll be making an appointment!

10 Questions to ask your Estate Planning Attorney - A very cool document provided by Schromen Law, LLC that walks you through questions to ask while calling around for Estate Planning and Elder Law.

Minnesota Application for Medical Assistance for Long Term Care - if you’re interested in a DIY approach. A word of caution - these forms can seem deceivingly simple. We might recommend hiring a pro to help guide you.

Low Income Resources:

Mid Minnesota Legal Aid

LawHelpMN.Org

What happens when the money runs out? For many Americans, Medical Assistance for Long Term Care is an option that feels almost inevitable. But these were supposed to be ‘The Golden Years’, right? And now you’re telling me I have to live off of $120/month? WHAT?!? Where do you begin? There seem to be SO many rules and so much fine print - and what is really provided?

In part one of this two-part episode, Eliesa shares her personal story with the hardships of navigating and applying for Medical Assistance for Long Term Care. We also welcome Rachel Schromen of Schromen Law, LLC to be our expert in talking about the legalities of Medical Assistance for Long Term Care in Minnesota with real tips, real examples and real advice.

**Please note that we are not offering specific legal advice - Use this advice to ask the questions in your states, with your attorneys.**

Takeaways:

• Eliesa’s personal story - why is she so passionate about Medical assistance?
• Lets clarify the terms: Medical Assistance for Long Term Care, Elder Waiver and Cadi Waiver
• What is *actually covered in MN when you’re on Medical Assistance for Long Term Care?
• The benefits of hiring an attorney for the pre-planning and application process.
• Setting Expectations for being on Medical Assistance for Long Term Care

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rachel Schromen of Schromen Law

01:06 Eliesa’s Personal Story with Medical Assistance

12:38 Why do people go on Medical Assistance and who is it for?

13:56 Medical Assistance vs The Elderly Care Waiver vs the Cadi Waiver

17:42 What are the first steps in applying for Medical Assistance for Long Term Care?

23:55 Navigating county workers and application challenges

34:16 Financial Realities of Medical Assistance and Elderly Waiver

45:39 The importance of early planning

47:02 Outro

Links and Resources:

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys - a national resource to help connect you with Elder Law Attorneys around the country!

Schromen Law, LLC - Learn more about Rachel’s practice and approach to Estate Planning and Elder Law. We know we’ll be making an appointment!

10 Questions to ask your Estate Planning Attorney - A very cool document provided by Schromen Law, LLC that walks you through questions to ask while calling around for Estate Planning and Elder Law.

Minnesota Application for Medical Assistance for Long Term Care - if you’re interested in a DIY approach. A word of caution - these forms can seem deceivingly simple. We might recommend hiring a pro to help guide you.

Low Income Resources:

Mid Minnesota Legal Aid

LawHelpMN.Org

Description: Alright, who else feels overwhelmed by keeping together the paperwork and passwords alone in The Sandwich Generation? Do we go digital with all of this or keep it analog? Yeah, we are asking ourselves the same questions, too! Season 2 of the podcast premiers with this mini-episode where Robyn Frank and Eliesa Johnson tackle one of our greatest challenges: organization. We discuss a system called ‘The Legacy Binder’ to simplify life admin - the medical, legal, end-of-life-planning, etc. and hopefully this can help us ALL make caregiving a little less stressful and more manageable when all of our shit is in one place. Did we mention how amazing scanner apps are? This episode isn’t deep but it is helpful!

Takeaways:

Creating the “Legacy Binder”: Put together both a physical binder and digital folder with all of these important things! You can create this for both your aging parents and your own family.

Digital Folder: Use a cloud service like Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud. Make sure to keep things password protected for safe keeping!

Get yourself a Scan App: Scan Ace or Scan is what we use!

Folders can include:

• Personal Information
• Financial Information
• Legal Information
• Medical Information
• Digital Information + Password
• Home Information
• End of Life Wishes

Links and Resources:

Care Out Loud - Use their Conversation Cards,

Caregiving Cheat Sheets + Caregiver Resources - all in one place!

Chapters:

00:00 Document Organization Strategies

01:15 There's so much paperwork: How do we get ourselves organized?

02:47 Analog vs Digital Organization - Or make it a combo!

09:54 Category Tips for Organizing ALL the Info

17:44 Category Tips Continued

22:17 Starting the Conversation with Parents

25:23 Care Out Loud Resource for Caregivers

28:59 Outro