The Grey Take

Brookdale
  • 4.4 (20)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Biweekly

Welcome to The Grey Take, the podcast that tackles the messy, complicated, and often unexpected realities of growing older—from the perspective of the adult children navigating it all. If you're having the talk with your parents about assisted living, managing their finances, or trying to convince them that Wi-Fi isn't a conspiracy, this podcast is for you. We offer real conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered stories about helping your parents through this next stage of life, while still trying to keep your own life together. Because when it comes to aging, there's no single answer, no black and white, only The Grey Take.

  1. Oct 27 ·  Video

    Moving My Parent Into A Smaller Space: Our Tips On Downsizing

    Sorting a lifetime of belongings into a room and a half: what downsizing for a parent really asks of a family. Interior designer Greg Marinelli, founder of Designwise and a designer on Brookdale's Make It Mine series, joins hosts MB and Suzie to talk about moving a parent into a smaller space. Greg has been through it with his grandmother, his aunt and his own mother, and he makes the case for starting the conversation years before anyone has to, sorting alongside your loved one rather than around them and designing the new place around the life they want next.In this episode: Why crisis mode is the worst time to start the downsizing conversation Asking what matters instead of announcing what will not fit MB's mother, the dining room table and what it really stood for Why the family home is so emotionally loaded Fitting a three-bedroom house into a living area, a bedroom and a bath Whether your parent even wants the old things, or would rather start fresh Reframing the move as a next chapter without dismissing the loss Photographing and filming the house before it goes A sorting system that works: keep, donate, sell — and what actually fits "Greg, just pause": sorting with respect when it is not your stuff Starting at holiday and weekend visits instead of on moving day Passing pieces on to family who genuinely want them and who you can trust to help Bringing in a third party when a parent and an adult child disagree "Tell me more about that": the question that opens everything up Anxiety as a fear of the unknown, and switching to a love-based decision Putting the table on the floor plan so they can see it for themselves A small object that held a fifty-year memory, and a box of 1950s letters How new friends in a community become the new support system Curating the new space around what your parent does now Function first: walkers, wheelchairs and the area rug that had to go Day one: be present, celebrate it, make it a big deal When efficiency takes over being emotionally available The real cost of skipping the plan: work will be there, that time will not If a move like this is coming for your family, this one is about doing it with more care and less regret.   THE GREY TAKE LISTENER LINE Subscribe to The Grey Take and text or call your story to 833-473-9898.   CHAPTERS (00:00) Cold open: most families put off downsizing (00:06) Meet Greg Marinelli of Designwise (00:38) Greg's background and Make It Mine (01:18) The conversation adult children keep putting off (02:48) MB's mom and the dining room table (04:03) Why the family home is so emotionally loaded (04:58) Fitting a three-bedroom house into one room (05:40) Do they even want their old things? (06:14) What went wrong in Helen's apartment (07:05) Reframing the move without being dismissive (08:32) Photograph and film the house before it goes (10:10) The sorting system: keep, donate, sell (11:12) "Greg, just pause": sorting with respect (13:15) Passing things on to family who actually want them (14:18) Who you trust to help you sort (14:54) When the parent and the adult child disagree (16:18) "Tell me more about that" (17:28) Anxiety is a fear of the unknown (18:06) Put the table on the floor plan (19:29) A small object and a fifty-year memory (21:06) The box of letters from the 1950s (24:07) New friends become the new support system (26:12) Curating the new space around what they do now (28:42) Function first: the chef in a kitchenette (29:32) The area rug and why Helen won (32:14) Day one: be present and make it a big deal (33:51) When efficiency takes over being present (34:56) The real cost of skipping the plan (37:52) Where to find Greg and Designwise (38:34) MB and Suzie's takeaways (39:57) Listener line and sign-off   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com Greg Marinelli — Designwise — https://designwise.co Designwise on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/designwise.co/ Designwise on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/designwise.co Email Greg directly — greg@designwise.co Brookdale Make It Mine — https://www.brookdale.com/en/plp/social/make-it-mine.html National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers — https://www.nasmm.org — find a senior move manager near you Eldercare Locator — https://eldercare.acl.gov — find local aging, caregiver and transition support

  2. Oct 13 ·  Video

    My Aging Parents, My Kids, It's Too Much

    Raising kids, caring for a parent living with Alzheimer's and trying to hold it all together: what the sandwich generation carries that nobody sees. Certified dementia practitioner and content creator Ty Lewis joins hosts MB and Suzie to talk about caring for her mother living in the final stages of Alzheimer's while raising two teenage daughters. Ty shares the guilt caregivers carry, the burnout that sent her to the doctor, why the hardest sentence to say is "I need help" — and why she now believes help is holy. In this episode: What the sandwich generation is and why there is no such thing as balance The guilt caregivers carry, even when they're doing everything right Why caregiving is the burden, but your loved one is not "Help is holy": why asking lets other people carry the weight with you Warning signs of caregiver burnout and Ty's own ADHD, PTSD and anxiety diagnosis Protecting your health so you outlive the caregiving season Reframing failure: we're not failing, we're trying and striving Culture, shame and the guilt around memory care and aging in place Releasing the opinions of people who aren't helping you How caregiving reshapes a marriage and what the whole family sacrifices Talking honestly with your kids about what's being asked of them Why dementia is so much more than memory loss What to do when your spouse isn't as engaged as you need Asking for specific help instead of "I'm drowning" Outsourcing meals, laundry and household help Alzheimer's Association, local and state programs, Medicare and Medicaid "Even when a strategy doesn't work, love does" If you're caught in the middle — raising kids, caring for a parent and running out of room for yourself — this episode is for you. Disclaimer: The Grey Take is for education and support, not medical advice. Ty shares her own family's decisions and her own health diagnoses; for guidance about dementia, caregiver burnout or your own mental health, talk with your or your loved one's medical team.   THE GREY TAKE LISTENER LINE Subscribe to The Grey Take and text or call your story to 833-473-9898   CHAPTERS (00:00) Stuck in the middle: the sandwich generation (00:35) Meet Ty Lewis, certified dementia practitioner (01:10) What "sandwich generation" really means (02:35) Why there is no such thing as balance (03:12) The guilt sandwich caregivers carry (04:45) Caregiving is the burden, your loved one is not (05:29) The hardest sentence to say: "I need help" (05:50) Why help is holy (07:29) Asking a sibling for help at the end of your rope (09:23) Burnout and Ty's own diagnosis (10:19) The red flags caregivers miss (11:35) Front-loading care: a therapist and a chiropractor (12:54) The legacy you leave your children (14:28) "We're not failing, we're trying and striving" (16:17) Culture, shame and moving a parent into care (17:32) Guilt around memory care in the Black community (18:58) Letting go of other people's opinions (20:15) Caregiving inside a marriage (22:40) Talking to teenagers about the sacrifice (25:17) What children teach us about caregiving (27:02) Dementia is more than memory loss (27:30) "Even when a strategy doesn't work, love does" (28:27) When your spouse isn't on board (31:22) Asking for specific help (33:32) Hacks for sandwich generation caregivers (35:24) "I cannot resent the work and do the work" (36:47) Outsourcing meals, laundry and household help (38:14) Alzheimer's Association, local programs, Medicare and Medicaid (38:47) "I am losing my mother" (40:12) Walking a loved one home (41:20) Where to find Ty Lewis (42:28) MB and Suzie's takeaways   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com Ty Lewis — In Case I Forget Consulting — https://www.incaseiforgetconsulting.com Ty Lewis on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/iamgertrudejordan Ty Lewis on TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@iamgertrudejordan In Case I Forget on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/incaseiforget Alzheimer's Association — https://www.alz.org — 24/7 Helpline (800) 272-3900 Eldercare Locator — https://eldercare.acl.gov — find local and state caregiver programs, respite and support Medicare — https://www.medicare.gov Medicaid — https://www.medicaid.gov Family Caregiver Alliance — https://www.caregiver.org — caregiver support, respite and burnout resources

  3. Sep 29 ·  Video

    Hearing Loss, Frustration & Staying Connected

    Hearing loss, hearing aids and healthy aging: what families should know before communication starts breaking down. Audiologist Gina Angley joins hosts MB and Roy to explain what hearing loss can actually look like, why speech may sound muffled even when volume seems fine and why people often wait years after noticing a problem before getting help. Gina also breaks down tinnitus, over-the-counter hearing aids, cochlear implants and the importance of a properly verified hearing-aid fitting. In this episode: Early signs of hearing loss, from louder TVs to trouble in restaurants Why age-related hearing loss often affects clarity before volume What tinnitus is and why it can be connected to hearing loss Why hearing aid stigma and unrealistic expectations can delay care What to know about over-the-counter hearing aids Why real-ear measurements matter when hearing aids are fitted How hearing loss can affect relationships, withdrawal and social connection The connection between hearing health and cognitive health Earwax, Q-tips and what good hearing care should include How to protect your hearing at concerts, sporting events and around firearms How to approach a loved one about getting their hearing tested If you or someone you love is struggling to hear conversations, asking for more repetitions or pulling away from social situations, this episode offers a practical place to start.   THE GREY TAKE LISTENER LINE 833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   CHAPTERS (00:00) Hearing loss, frustration and staying connected (00:29) Meet audiologist Gina Angley (00:56) How Gina became an audiologist (02:04) What an audiologist actually does (03:10) Early signs of hearing loss (03:59) Tinnitus and what it can sound like (05:51) Why hearing loss affects clarity before volume (06:42) "Normal aging" vs. hearing loss (07:38) Why people wait years to get help (08:45) Hearing aid stigma and changing technology (10:29) Over-the-counter hearing aids: what to know (12:40) The emotional side of hearing loss (16:38) How hearing loss affects spouses and family (18:29) Withdrawal, embarrassment and social isolation (19:46) Communication tips for families (20:18) Getting used to hearing aids (21:33) Real-ear measurements and a proper fitting (25:09) Hearing loss and cognitive health (28:12) Earwax, Q-tips and ear cleaning (29:46) What good hearing care should include (31:50) Protecting your hearing at concerts and around firearms (33:29) The cost of waiting to address hearing loss (34:47) How to talk to a loved one about getting tested   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com Nashville's Hearing & Communication Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillehcc Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) — https://www.hearingloss.org FDA: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids — https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/hearing-aids/otc-hearing-aids-what-you-should-know

  4. Sep 15 ·  Video

    Hospice & Palliative Care: What Families Need to Know Before A Crisis

    Palliative care and hospice are two of the most misunderstood words in health care and knowing the difference can change everything for a family facing a serious illness. Palliative care physician Dr. Matthew Tyler, the doctor behind How to Train Your Doctor, joins hosts MB and Roy to explain what palliative care and hospice really are, how they differ and why so many families wait far longer than they need to before asking for help. Matt shares why hospice isn't "giving up" but a change in what care focuses on, who qualifies for palliative care (hint: it can start long before the end of life), what Medicare's hospice benefit does and doesn't cover and how to choose a hospice agency you can trust. Along the way, he explains why honest conversations about time tend to elicit not anger, but gratitude. In this episode: The real difference between palliative care and hospice Why hospice means changing how we care for someone, not giving up Who qualifies for palliative care and why it can start years before hospice What Medicare's hospice benefit covers and the big thing it doesn't How to choose a hospice agency and what questions to ask Why supporting the family caregiver matters as much as caring for the patient How to start honest conversations about care wishes before a crisis hits Whether you're caring for an aging parent, navigating a serious diagnosis or simply want to understand your options before you need them, this conversation will help you feel more informed and less alone.   THE GREY TAKE LISTENER LINE Subscribe to The Grey Take and text or call your story to 833-473-9898.   CHAPTERS (00:00) Common hospice and palliative care myths (01:34) Guest intro: Dr. Matthew Tyler, palliative medicine (04:19) Palliative care explained (05:19) Hospice myth: does it mean giving up? (06:43) Hospice eligibility: the 6-month prognosis rule (09:51) Active dying vs. end-of-life care (14:41) Who qualifies for palliative care services (17:16) Signs it's time for a care conversation (20:30) How modern death became institutionalized (23:07) How to start the hospice process (25:45) Medicare coverage for hospice care (26:57) Why an honest prognosis helps families (33:24) Talking about death without euphemisms (37:22) Advice for families facing a diagnosis   RESOURCES Disclaimer: The Grey Take is for education and support, not medical advice. For guidance about palliative care, hospice or a specific diagnosis, talk with your or your loved one's medical team. Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com Dr. Matthew Tyler, How to Train Your Doctor on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@howtotrainyourdoctor Dr. Matthew Tyler, How to Train Your Doctor on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/howtotrainyourdoctor/ Dr. Matthew Tyler, How to Train Your Doctor on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095193314200 Dr. Matthew Tyler, How to Train Your Doctor on TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@howtotrainyourdoctord Get Palliative Care (find a provider) — https://getpalliativecare.org Medicare Care Compare: Hospice — https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare

  5. Sep 1 ·  Video

    Is Your Aging Parent Ready for an Emergency?

    Severe weather and aging in place: what every family should know before the weather emergency hits. Chief Meteorologist Danielle Breezy of WKRN News 2 in Nashville and Brookdale District Director of Operations Bethany Johnson join hosts Suzie and Roy to talk through what families, caregivers and senior living communities can do before, during and after severe weather. Danielle explains the real difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning and how a trusted weather app can save precious minutes. Bethany shares how Brookdale communities prepare residents for natural disasters year-round, including how her team, based in Florida, evacuated more than 1,200 residents during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In this episode: The difference between a watch and a warning (and why it matters) What belongs in an emergency go-bag, including medications, pet supplies and a helmet How to start a severe weather conversation with aging parents without overwhelming them How often to practice an emergency plan What Brookdale does behind the scenes to support residents during a severe weather event If you're caring for an aging parent, living in a senior living community or just trying to get your own household ready for the next natrual disaster, this episode is for you.   THE GREY TAKE LISTENER LINE Subscribe to The Grey Take and text or call your story to 833-473-9898.   CHAPTERS (00:00) Intro & guest introductions (00:25) Danielle's background in weather (01:00) Bethany's role leading senior communities through emergencies (03:04) How Danielle Breezy got her (actual) last name (04:51) The biggest mistake families make before severe weather (04:54) Watch vs. Warning: the difference that matters most (07:34) Why you should download your meteorologist's app (08:19) Bethany's first steps when severe weather is on the way (09:27) Finding a trusted source without getting overwhelmed (11:58) The tornado that changed how Danielle covers storms (15:04) What Brookdale does behind the scenes for residents (17:53) What older adults need beyond the basics, like medication (20:17) What belongs in an emergency prepardness go-bag (22:12) Talking to aging parents about a severe weather plan (23:34) How often families should practice their plan (24:32) Where to shelter without a basement, and why helmets help (27:35) How Brookdale prepares staff to shelter residents in place (29:08) Staying calm and decisive when a warning comes (30:36) When preparedness made the difference: Brookdale's hurricane evacuation (32:15) Three things to do this week to get ready (34:31) Recap: find your source, set alerts, make a plan   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com WKRN News 2 (Nashville) — https://www.wkrn.com Download the FEMA App for alerts — https://www.ready.gov/fema-app Buy a NOAA Weather Radio — https://www.weather.gov/nwr Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts — https://www.ready.gov/alerts Danielle Breezy on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/daniellebreezytv Danielle Breezy on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/daniellebreezytv/ Danielle Breezy on TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellebreezytv WKRN on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@WKRNTV

  6. Aug 18 ·  Video

    How to Stay Active With Confidence

    Aging well is more than just good genetics. Attitude and mindset may play a bigger role than we think. Candace Cima, a businesswoman, artist and former model behind the popular Life in My 70s channel, joins hosts Suzie and Roy to talk about what makes her feel strong, confident and engaged later in life. After running a senior housing community for 32 years, Candace sold it in 2020 and, almost by accident, became an influencer sharing her workouts, her diet and her fashion with a growing audience. She explains why she believes genetics only account for a fraction of how we age, how she cultivated a positive attitude about getting older and why daily movement matters more than a gym membership. Candace also opens up about caregiving for her late husband through years of kidney disease and dialysis, and why she believes protecting a small pocket of time for yourself is not selfish, but essential. In this episode: Why Candace believes attitude, not genetics, drives how we age How a rotating routine of yoga, weights and cardio keeps her strong at 79 What she changed about her exercise routine after an osteoporosis diagnosis Why beginners should learn yoga one pose at a time before walking into a class How caregivers can protect their own health without guilt Why staying curious about fashion, technology and culture keeps you connected as you age If you're rethinking your own approach to movement, nutrition or mindset in midlife or beyond, or supporting an aging parent who could use some encouragement, this episode is for you.   THE GREY TAKE LISTENER LINE Subscribe to The Grey Take and text or call your story to 833-473-9898.   CHAPTERS (00:00) Intro: meet influencer Candace, the voice behind Life in My 70s (01:01) From years in senior housing to accidental influencer (02:24) Becoming fascinated with aging at 14 (05:36) What years of watching residents age taught her (06:58) Attitude: the biggest difference in how people age (08:47) Her favorite everyday hack for health and fitness (09:51) Small daily habits vs. formal exercise (11:17) How to cultivate a better attitude about getting older (14:39) Her approach to nutrition, and why she keeps exercise diaries (18:54) Her three-day rotation of yoga, weights and cardio (19:33) Managing osteoporosis with heavy weight training instead of medication (21:24) The benefits of yoga for balance and flexibility (22:50) Why beginners should learn yoga one pose at a time (26:09) Yoga and meditation as a lifeline through caregiving (28:25) The guilt that keeps caregivers from taking care of themselves (28:56) How to start moving with no gym and no extra space (34:19) Letting go of the fear of losing independence (39:19) How to support an aging parent's journey (42:01) Fashion, confidence and redefining beauty later in life (50:57) Where to find Candace and Life in My 70s (52:11) Suzie & Roy's takeaways   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com Life in My 70s Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lifeinmy70s/ Life in My 70s Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/styleinyour70s Life in My 70s YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@lifeinmy70s Life in My 70s TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeinmy70s

  7. Aug 4 ·  Video

    Why It's Never Too Late to Learn Something New

    Lifelong learning and aging: why it's never too late to grow, learn or start something new. Bestselling author and speaker David McNally joins hosts MB and Roy to challenge the idea that learning and growth slow down as we age. David enrolled as a freshman at the University of Minnesota at 72 and has written five books, including his latest, 'If You're Alive, Your Mission on Earth Isn't Finished. He speaks around the world about staying vital in the later chapters of life. He also shares his experience as a two-time caregiver and what helped him rebuild after loss. In this episode: Why we assume learning slows with age (and why it doesn't have to). The difference between retiring from a career and retiring from life. What a friend's struggle with "relevance" reveals about purpose. Why the Mayo Clinic points to social connection as a key to longevity. How to trade a "bucket list" for a "one day I'm going to" list. What it's really like to go back to school in your 70s. Whether you're thinking about your own next chapter or supporting an aging parent who feels stuck, this conversation is a hopeful, practical place to start. The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   CHAPTERS (00:00) It's never too late to learn something new (01:19) Meet David McNally (02:30) From "Even Eagles Need a Push" to a new mission (03:00) Does learning really slow down with age? (03:45) Retiring from a career vs. retiring from life (05:10) Mindset: "ancient awful" or "isn't that amazing" (06:56) The dissonance many feel after retirement (07:29) The friend who had everything but lost his relevance (10:00) The questions to ask when you feel stuck (12:08) Why social connection is a key to longevity (14:00) David's journey as a two-time caregiver (15:36) "Don't try to find purpose yet - survive" (18:39) A 40-year morning ritual and the "bully thoughts" (20:45) Trade your bucket list for a "one day I'm going to" list (21:52) Going back to college (25:20) Becoming a freshman and meeting Lauren (28:34) "How do you want to feel?" (32:38) Age is not the enemy, stagnation is (37:14) Peer coaching and why you should reach out (38:33) Don't live by the "shoulds" (41:49) Where to find David McNally (44:03) MB and Roy's takeaways   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com David McNally (speaking, books, new online learning program) — https://www.davidmcnally.com If You're Alive, Your Mission on Earth Isn't Finished by David McNally — https://www.amazon.com/dp/163489717X  Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) — noncredit learning for adults 50+ at 120+ universities — https://www.osherfoundation.org Road Scholar — educational travel and learning programs for older adults — https://www.roadscholar.org David McNally on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mcnallyinspires David McNally on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/people/David-McNally-The-Inspired-Elder/61576291708939/ David McNally on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@TheInspiredElder

  8. Jul 21 ·  Video

    Osteoporosis: What Families Should Know

    Bone health, osteoporosis and aging: how to stay strong, steady and independent. Physical therapist Dr. Lisa Moore joins hosts MB and Roy to explain what osteoporosis really means, why bone density matters and how fracture prevention connects to strength, balance, posture, nutrition and confidence. She also shares when to ask about a DEXA scan, why calcium and protein matter and how resistance training and dynamic balance work can help protect mobility as we age. In this episode: What osteoporosis is and why fractures are the real concern When to think about bone density testing How calcium, vitamin D, protein and lifestyle affect bone health Why strength training, balance training, posture and impact exercise matter How to support a loved one without nagging them Why staying mobile helps keep your world from getting smaller The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 — Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving or family dynamics CHAPTERS 00:00 — Why bone health matters as we age 00:37 — Meet Dr. Lisa Moore 02:01 — When to get a bone density test 02:58 — What osteoporosis actually means 04:49 — Why fractures are the real concern 06:04 — How a diagnosis can create fear 07:19 — Moving through the fear bridge 09:21 — Nutrition and lifestyle for stronger bones 12:04 — Why protein matters for aging 15:34 — The Brickhouse Bones approach 18:34 — Why getting off the floor matters 19:26 — When to work with a specialist 21:27 — Managing osteoporosis day to day 25:25 — Supporting a loved one without nagging 30:53 — Bone health exercises that help RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living — https://www.brookdale.com Dr. Lisa Moore — https://drlisamooredpt.com

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4.4
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Grey Take, the podcast that tackles the messy, complicated, and often unexpected realities of growing older—from the perspective of the adult children navigating it all. If you're having the talk with your parents about assisted living, managing their finances, or trying to convince them that Wi-Fi isn't a conspiracy, this podcast is for you. We offer real conversations, expert insights, and unfiltered stories about helping your parents through this next stage of life, while still trying to keep your own life together. Because when it comes to aging, there's no single answer, no black and white, only The Grey Take.

Information

  • Creator
    Brookdale
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Grey Take

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