Care Taker Talk

Vicki Charles & Mbili Findlay
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  • Kids & Family

Real talk about the hardest job that we're never trained for. Care Taker Talk is the podcast for anyone who's ever Googled "is this normal" at 2am while worrying about an aging parent. Every week, we sit down with the people who actually know this world: hospice teams, elder-law attorneys, geriatric care managers, and home care leaders, alongside the family caregivers living it in real time. Just honest conversations about the stuff nobody prepares you for. New episodes every Friday. Because caregiving doesn't wait for a good time, and neither should good information. Care Taker Talk provides education and reflection, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and consult qualified professionals before making decisions about their own care or the care of a loved one. Guests speak for themselves, not for Atendi.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    A Reflection On Caregiving: The Lessons That Stayed With Us

    Five episodes in, we’re taking a moment to step back. In this special host reflection, Vicki and Mbili sit down just the two of us to talk about what Care Taker Talk has taught us so far, and what’s stayed with us after the recordings ended. We revisit the moments that hit hardest: the honesty of an adult child becoming a parent to their parent, the quiet weight of anticipatory grief, the practical wisdom from the experts who’ve walked families through the hardest decisions of their lives. We talk about the themes that keep coming up, the things we wish more caregivers knew sooner, and why these conversations matter more than we expected when we started. If you’ve been with us since Episode 1, this one is a thank you. If you’re just finding the show, it’s a doorway into everything we’ve covered so far. Learn more about the show and our guests at atendicare.com/care-taker-talk. Care Taker Talk provides education and reflection, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and consult qualified professionals before making decisions about their own care or the care of a loved one.

  2. Oct 23

    Caring for a Parent With Alzheimer's: Eric Garcia and 'Uncle Scotchy'

    Few things prepare you for watching a parent slowly disappear. This week, we sit down with Eric Garcia, who spent eighteen years caring for his parents, including his mother through younger-onset Alzheimer’s. He shares the parts of caregiving most people never talk about: the role reversal, the anticipatory grief, the guilt and resentment, the dark humor that gets you through, and the strange loss of identity that can hit when caregiving finally ends. Eric is someone who lived the reality of careaking for a very long time and turned that experience into music, theater, and a book. This is an honest, deeply human conversation for anyone walking the long road of caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia. About Eric’s book: Eric is the author of Uncle Scotchy & The Time Thief, a memoir built from his eighteen years as a caregiver. It’s a raw, funny, and moving account of loving someone through decline, and finding yourself again afterward. Learn more at unclescotchy.com/uncle-scotchy---the-time-thief

  3. Oct 16

    The S.I.M.P.L.E. Method for Navigating Senior Care with Shari Ross

    Choosing senior living for a parent is one of the most overwhelming decisions a family faces. Independent living, assisted living, memory care, the options blur together right when the stakes feel highest. This week, we sit down with Shari Ross, a Senior Living Professional and creator of the S.I.M.P.L.E.™ Method, to make it clear. Shari is the author of Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.™, creator of the companion workbook, and creator of the Senior Living Companion App. She breaks down her step-by-step framework for navigating senior care, how to know which level of care a parent actually needs, what to ask on a facility tour, and how to move forward without the guilt and second-guessing so many families carry. Find Shari’s book, workbook, and app at: https://www.seniorlivingmadesimple.com/

  4. Oct 11

    What Is Palliative Care? with Dr. George J. Taylor

    Palliative care is one of the most misunderstood words in caregiving. Many families hear it and assume the end is near, so they wait to ask about it, often until the stress is already at its peak. This week, we sit down with Dr. George J. Taylor, a physician with more than 40 years of experience and author of A Caregiver’s Guide to Palliative Medicine, to clear it up. Dr. Taylor explains what palliative care actually is, how it differs from hospice, and when it can begin. He also covers what it can do for comfort, pain, and quality of life, and the questions families should ask the care team. If you’ve ever nodded along in a medical meeting without really understanding, this one is for you. See his website at: https://www.georgejtaylormd.com/ And learn all about palliative care with his book: A Caregiver’s Guide to Palliative Medicine: https://www.amazon.com/Caregivers-Guide-Palliative-Medicine/dp/B0GZHX9G9S

  5. Oct 2

    Preparing to Care for Our Parents & Aging Loved Ones: The Guide with Alyssa Goldberg

    Most of us don't start preparing for a parent's care until a crisis forces the conversation. This week, we sit down with Alyssa Goldberg, MSW, CDP, a social work expert with 35 years of experience and author of When The Botox Fades: A Survival Guide For Adult Children Dealing With Their Aging Parents. Alyssa walks us through what adult children can do now, before the emergency call: how to spot the early signs, start the hard conversations, and build a plan that protects both your parent and yourself. It's practical and honest, and it's exactly the guide she wishes every family had sooner. Learn more about the show and our guests at atendicare.com/care-taker-talk.

  6. Sep 25

    No One Prepared You for Becoming Your Parent’s Parent

    One day you're calling your mom for advice. The next, you're the one taking the calls. In this first episode of Care Taker Talk, we open up the conversation families usually have quietly. What does it actually feel like when the roles flip? How do you know when "checking in more" needs to become something bigger? This one's for the adult child who just realized they're not visiting anymore, they're managing. Welcome to Care Taker Talk.

  • 6 Episodes

About

Real talk about the hardest job that we're never trained for. Care Taker Talk is the podcast for anyone who's ever Googled "is this normal" at 2am while worrying about an aging parent. Every week, we sit down with the people who actually know this world: hospice teams, elder-law attorneys, geriatric care managers, and home care leaders, alongside the family caregivers living it in real time. Just honest conversations about the stuff nobody prepares you for. New episodes every Friday. Because caregiving doesn't wait for a good time, and neither should good information. Care Taker Talk provides education and reflection, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and consult qualified professionals before making decisions about their own care or the care of a loved one. Guests speak for themselves, not for Atendi.

Information

  • Creator
    Vicki Charles & Mbili Findlay
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Vicki Charles & Mbili Findlay
  • Show Website
    Care Taker Talk