The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide

Candace Dellacona, Offit Kurman
  • 4.7 (49)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Semimonthly

Welcome to The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, where we explore the challenges and strategies of navigating life caught between work demands and supporting our loved ones while maintaining our own well-being. Join us in this dynamic podcast series as we uncover the complexities individuals face balancing multiple roles in the modern world. Our host, Candace Dellacona, shares personal experiences and professional insights to guide listeners through this complex journey.

  1. Aug 18 ·  Video

    Senator Andy Kim on Caregiving, Alzheimer's, and the MediKids Act

    What happens when a caregiver brings their personal experience to the halls of Congress? In this powerful episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, host Candace Dellacona sits down with United States Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey for an honest conversation about caregiving, family responsibility, Alzheimer's disease, and healthcare reform. As a father of two young children and the son of a father living with Alzheimer's, Senator Kim understands firsthand the challenges facing the sandwich generation. He shares the emotional story of his father's diagnosis, the unexpected realities of becoming a caregiver, and why those experiences inspired his work in Washington. Senator Kim also discusses two major legislative initiatives aimed at supporting families: The Multigenerational Caregiving Data Act, which seeks to better identify and quantify caregivers across the United States.The newly introduced MediKids Act, history making legislation designed to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for every child at birth through age 26, eliminating the gap affecting millions of uninsured and underinsured children.During their conversation, Senator Kim explains why caregivers often feel invisible, how caregiving transcends political divisions, and why he believes supporting families should be a national priority. Whether you're caring for aging parents, raising children, navigating Alzheimer's disease, or simply interested in the future of healthcare and caregiver support, this episode offers both practical insight and hope. To learn more about MediKids, visit https://www.kim.senate.gov/medikids/ To learn more about Senator Andy Kim, visit https://www.kim.senate.gov/about/ (00:00) - Meet Senator Andy Kim (01:42) - Service and Family Roots (02:57) - Alzheimers Diagnosis Moment (04:20) - Thrown Into Caregiving (07:35) - Caregivers Need Visibility (08:56) - Maiden Speech Breakthrough (13:04) - Why Caregiving Data Matters (18:05) - MediKids Explained (21:01) - How MediKids Would Work (24:51) - Why He Wrote MediKids (28:28) - Bipartisan Path Forward (30:54) - Vision for Research and Care (33:14) - Final Thanks and Call to Action (34:57) - Subscribe and Resources

  2. Aug 4 ·  Video

    Medicare May Already Cover the Care Advocate You Didn’t Know You Had

    What if one of the most valuable resources for family caregivers was already covered by Medicare? Before you assume you can't afford a care manager, listen to this episode.   In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, Candace Dellacona sits down with Connor Sweeney, founder of Baba, a groundbreaking care advocacy platform that's helping family caregivers navigate one of the most overwhelming parts of caregiving—and for many Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, the service is available at little to no cost.   Inspired by his own family's experience after his grandmother suffered a stroke, Connor created Baba to give caregivers something they rarely have: a knowledgeable guide in their corner.   Imagine having an expert who can: Coordinate medical careHelp appeal insurance denialsConnect you with specialists and community resourcesArrange transportationNavigate Medicare and Medicaid benefitsReduce the endless administrative burden that leaves so many caregivers exhaustedIf you've ever thought, "I wish I could afford a geriatric care manager," this episode may completely change what's possible. Whether you're caring for an aging parent, a spouse with a chronic illness, or another loved one, you'll discover that help may be far more accessible than you realized—and that asking for support before a crisis can make all the difference. This conversation is filled with practical advice, hope, and one resource every caregiver should know about. (00:00) - Caregiving Needs Support (00:30) - Meet Connor and Baba (02:15) - Why Baba Was Built (03:46) - Covered by Insurance (06:01) - What Advocates Handle (08:48) - Care Navigation Problems (11:17) - How Onboarding Works (14:28) - Coverage and Eligibility (15:20) - Denials and Big Savings (17:34) - Respite and Benefits Help (24:49) - Family Conflict and Neutrality (26:47) - Hidden VA Aid Benefit (27:54) - Caregiving Culture Shift (29:01) - Wrap Up and Subscribe To learn more about Baba, visit https://www.callbaba.com/   Follow Baba on social media: Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/callbaba/Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/baba.helpsFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577179311253

  3. Jul 21 ·  Video

    Senior Living Best Practices with Liz Pearce

    Finding the right senior living community can feel overwhelming, especially for families already balancing caregiving, careers, and children. In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, Candace Dellacona sits down with LizPearce of U.S. News & World Report to discuss how families can make more informed decisions about senior care. Liz explains the differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, and shares how the trusted U.S. News & World Report ratings use government data and resident and family feedback to help families evaluate quality, safety, and overall resident experience. Together, they explore the growing challenges facing caregivers and offer practical guidance for navigating senior care with greater confidence. (00:00) - Podcast Intro (00:19) - Welcome and Guest Introduction (01:23) - Ratings Origins and Trends (03:11) - Why Lived Experience Matters (07:34) - Feels Like Home Factors (09:14) - Loneliness Versus Independence (13:33) - Avoiding Common Mistakes (16:40) - Solo Agers Planning Ahead (21:46) - Home Care Versus Community (26:58) - Cost Value and Transparency (29:17) - Future of Senior Living (31:12) - Wrap Up and Resources (32:16) - Subscribe and Follow To learn more about U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Senior Living Ratings, visit https://health.usnews.com/best-senior-living.

  4. Jul 7 ·  Video

    Empowering Women in Sports and Caregiving with Marnie Schneider

    Host Candace Dellacona welcomes author and philanthropist Marnie Schneider, Philadelphia Eagles royalty and creator of the Football Freddie children's book series, for a conversation about grief, resilience, caregiving, and legacy. Marnie reflects on growing up with the Philadelphia Eagles, then owned by her grandfather, Leonard Tose, whose community-minded leadership helped launch the first Ronald McDonald House Charities. She also shares the remarkable story of her mother, Susan Tose Spencer, the first woman in NFL history to serve as a vice president, legal counsel, and general manager. Marnie opens up about caring for her mother through nearly a decade of frontotemporal dementia while raising three children as a single parent, discussing the realities of guilt, financial and emotional strain, perspective, and self-care. She also reveals how her family's stories inspired her beloved Football Freddie and Baseball Billie books. (00:00) - Podcast Intro (00:10) - Welcome and Guest Introduction (01:46) - Growing Up Eagles (03:23) - Grandpa Glam vs Mom Normal (06:28) - Giving Back Legacy (10:04) - Trailblazing NFL Mom (14:14) - Dementia Role Reversal (16:59) - Caregiving Survival Tips (21:43) - Kids Lessons and Tradeoffs (24:04) - Football Freddy Origin (27:48) - Self Care and Identity (30:16) - Final Advice and Wrap (33:08) - Subscribe and Resources To learn more about Marnie Schneider and purchase her books, visit https://www.marnieschneider.com/.   Follow Marnie on social media: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnie-schneider-8246a22a/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marnieschneider1/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/marnie.schneider.98 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@marnieschneider/videos

  5. Jun 16 ·  Video

    Gray Monster Takeover: Essential Estate Planning Tips for the Sandwich Generation with Candace Dellacona

    You asked. We answered. Gray Monster’s Kim Elliott takes over The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide to bring real, unfiltered answers to your most pressing questions. She puts host Candace Dellacona in the hot seat, where Candace draws on her experience in elder law to tackle hundreds of reader-submitted topics—nothing off limits. From estate planning and elder law basics to caring for aging parents, family conflict, and how to have difficult conversations, this episode delivers practical guidance for adult children navigating the realities of caregiving. No legal jargon. No sugarcoating. Just clear, actionable advice for the sandwich generation—those balancing their own lives while caring for older loved ones. If you're searching for help with: Aging parent care planningEstate planning tipsFamily caregiving challengesManaging stress as a caregiverNavigating difficult family dynamicsThis episode is built for you. Listen now to get the insight and real-world strategies for surviving—and thriving—in the sandwich generation!   (00:00) - Episode Intro (01:09) - What Is Gray Monster (02:52) - Updating Wills After Loss (05:43) - Probate Basics And Trusts (09:31) - Starting The Hard Talks (11:51) - Sibling Conflict And Will Access (15:18) - Dementia And Signing Documents (16:41) - POA And Healthcare Directives (18:20) - Medicaid Planning And Resources (21:45) - Elder Law Vs Estate Planning (23:07) - Protecting Parents From Scams (26:43) - POA Versus Joint Accounts (27:38) - Estate And Inheritance Tax Basics (29:57) - Estate Income Returns (30:06) - Executor Misconduct Accounting (32:36) - Bonds and Court Remedies (33:29) - Will Contest Deadlines (34:36) - Caregivers and Fiduciaries (36:33) - Second Marriage Inheritance (40:33) - Prenups and Health Proxies (42:51) - Minimal Plans Advance Directives (43:43) - Nursing Home Bills Liability (45:06) - Estate Debts and Creditor Order (46:43) - Medicaid Clawbacks to Children (47:54) - AI and Online Legal Forms (51:54) - Out of State Executors (53:02) - Death Certificates and Digitizing (55:41) - Trust Funding Basics (56:58) - When Parents Need More Care (58:26) - Wrap Up and Subscribe   To subscribe to Gray Monster, the FREE weekly e-newsletter, visit https://www.graymonster.co/.    Follow Gray Monster on social media: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/gray-monster/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heygraymonster   Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for general understanding and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice, nor should it be construed as legal advice. The information provided is based on general legal principles and may not reflect the current state of the law or specific details of your case. Laws vary by jurisdiction, and legal outcomes can be highly dependent on the specific facts and circumstances involved. Listening to or using this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship between the hosts, guests, or participants and any listener. It is your responsibility to seek professional legal advice for your specific situation from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

  6. Jun 2 ·  Video

    Parenting Pitfalls and Practical Solutions with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart

    Season 4 of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide continues with an extraordinary conversation with nationally recognized pediatric psychologist, parent coach, and bestselling author Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart. Known for her appearances on CBS Mornings and the Today Show and her groundbreaking work with families, Dr. Lockhart joins Candace Dellacona to discuss her acclaimed book, “Love the Teen You Have: A Practical Guide to Transforming Conflict Into Connection.”   Together, they explore the realities facing today’s Sandwich Generation — balancing the emotional demands of raising teens while caring for aging parents, all amid burnout, overparenting, perfectionism, and nonstop digital pressures. Dr. Lockhart shares powerful insights on boundaries, re-parenting yourself, and building stronger, healthier family connections in the middle of life’s most overwhelming season. (00:00) - Parenting Pitfalls and Practical Solutions with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart (00:12) - Welcome and Guest Intro (02:09) - Meet Dr Lockhart (04:34) - Why Development Matters (06:50) - Individuation and Identity (08:46) - Grieving Expectations (10:06) - Lead Yourself First (13:20) - Modern Parenting Overload (16:17) - Co Parenting Differences (19:00) - Culture and Family Norms (22:07) - Teens and Social Media (27:12) - Ditch Perfectionism (31:02) - Re Parenting Yourself (34:23) - Closing and Book Plug (35:08) - Podcast Outro   To learn more about Dr. Lockhart, visit https://www.anewdaysa.com/   Follow Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart on social media: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlockhart/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart/

  7. May 19 ·  Video

    Managing Complex Parent-Child Relationships with Karen Shepard

    Season 4 of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide opens with an extraordinary conversation as host Candace Dellacona welcomes celebrated novelist and essayist Karen Shepard. Widely recognized for her powerful storytelling and contributions to some of the country’s most respected literary publications, Shepard joins the podcast to discuss her deeply personal and widely discussed essay, “The World Is an Easier Place Without You In It.”   In this unforgettable episode, Shepard shares the complicated realities of her relationship with her mother, the emotional journey of accompanying her to Switzerland for an assisted death, and the difficult questions surrounding autonomy, dignity, caregiving, and regret. Together, Candace and Karen explore what it means to love a difficult parent, set boundaries without losing compassion, and redefine what being a “good daughter” truly looks like.   Raw, intelligent, and profoundly moving — this is a powerful season premiere you won’t want to miss.   (00:00) - Season Four Kickoff (01:05) - Meet Karen Shepard (02:45) - Why Tell It This Way (03:26) - Primary Documents Approach (07:15) - End of Life Shift (10:24) - Little Karen Big Karen (11:59) - Planning Switzerland (15:01) - Breaking Parenting Patterns (17:21) - Defining Good Daughter (20:14) - Relief Grief And Hope (26:35) - Legacy After Death (28:51) - Aid In Dying Options (36:02) - Holding Two Truths (40:02) - Regret Prevention (43:59) - Community And Thanks (44:59) - Subscribe And Resources   To learn more about Karen Shepard, visit https://www.karen-shepard.com/   To read “The World Is an Easier Place Without You In It,” visit https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2026/03/16/the-world-is-an-easier-place-without-you-in-it/ Connect with Karen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-shepard-877982168/   Follow The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide on social media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandwichgenerationpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSandwichGenerationSurvivalGuide TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sandwichgenpodcast

  8. May 5

    Discovering Strength Through Caregiving with Lisa McCarty

    Host Candace Dellacona welcomes acclaimed writer Lisa McCarty for a powerful conversation on caregiving, resilience, and the courage to tell deeply personal stories. McCarty reflects on her essays that resonated with thousands—from losing her father just as she welcomed her second child to stepping into the role of caregiver for her mother at just 13—and how those experiences shaped her voice and perspective. Now developing a reported nonfiction book, she shares hard-earned insights on identity, boundaries, and advocacy, offering thoughtful guidance for young caregivers navigating similar paths.    00:00 Discovering Strength Through Caregiving with Lisa McCarty  00:07 Welcome and Guest Intro  01:31 Why Write Personal Stories  02:08 Sharing the Caregiving Essay  05:26 Story Timing  08:53 How Young Caregiving Shaped Lisa  13:17 Realizing She Was a Caregiver  16:41 Systemic Failures and Isolation  24:03 Advice for Young Caregivers  27:09 Writing the Book and Self Care  32:10 Privacy and Telling the Truth  35:08 Defining Thriving, Not Surviving  38:27 Closing Remarks    For a collection of Lisa’s essays and articles, visit https://linktr.ee/lbmccarty      Follow Lisa McCarty on social media: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mccarty-8905513/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lbmccarty717/  (00:00) - v2 Discovering Strength Through Caregiving with Lisa McCarty (00:07) - Welcome and Guest Intro (01:31) - Why Write Personal Stories (02:08) - Sharing the Caregiving Essay (05:26) - Story Timing (08:53) - How Young Caregiving Shaped Lisa (13:17) - Realizing She Was a Caregiver (15:31) - Systemic Failures and Isolation (22:54) - Advice for Young Caregivers (26:00) - Writing the Book and Self Care (30:09) - Defining Thriving, Not Surviving (33:27) - Closing Remarks

    Discovering Strength Through Caregiving with Lisa McCarty
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4.7
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, where we explore the challenges and strategies of navigating life caught between work demands and supporting our loved ones while maintaining our own well-being. Join us in this dynamic podcast series as we uncover the complexities individuals face balancing multiple roles in the modern world. Our host, Candace Dellacona, shares personal experiences and professional insights to guide listeners through this complex journey.

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