The Grey Take

Brookdale
  • 4.8 (16)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED 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. 3D AGO

    When A Fall Is More Than A Fall

    Hosts Roy and Suzie talk with Dr. Breanna Barney, a physical therapist specializing in balance, mobility and fall prevention for older adults. In this episode, they explore what really happens when a loved one falls and why a fall is often more than just a physical event. Dr. Barney shares practical guidance on identifying early warning signs of fall risk. She outlines simple movements families can start at home immediately, like sit-to-stands and functional strength exercises. The conversation also dives into environmental hazards inside the home and how small adjustments can help reduce risk. Most importantly, this episode reframes the fall itself: it's not necessarily the beginning of the end. With the right tools, support and approach, older adults can regain strength, confidence and mobility. If you're caring for someone at risk or recovering from a fall, this episode offers practical strategies, product recommendations and reassurance that proactive care makes a measurable difference.   CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Personal Experiences with Loved Ones Falling 02:39 - Interview with Dr. Breanna Barney Intro 02:55 - Dr. Barney's Background and Approach 04:41 - Advice for Families Dealing with a Loved One's Fall 15:05 - Importance of Regular Movement 16:55 - Involvement of Caregivers in Physical Therapy 19:09 - Guidelines for Assisting a Fallen Person 21:08 - Contrasting Client Stories: Proactive vs Reactive Approach 25:04 - Practical Exercises for Home 35:59 - Recommended Products for Home Safety 40:30 - Closing Remarks and Contact Information 41:33 - Post-Interview Discussion 42:25 - Closing Message to Listeners   The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living brookdale.com VIP Senior Care Specialists vipseniorcarespec.com - Dr. Brianna Barney Cubii cubii.com - Under-Desk Elliptical byACRE Rollators byacre.com - Lightweight Carbon Fiber Rollators Medical Guardian medicalguardian.com - Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection

    44 min

  2. FEB 24

    They're Not Eating. Should I Worry?

    Hosts MB Roberts and Suzie Lind sit down with Brookdale's Director of Nutrition, Sara Casey, to explore one of the most common and misunderstood concerns families face: appetite changes in older adults. When a loved one starts skipping meals, losing weight or pushing food away, it can feel alarming. But is it a normal part of aging, or a sign of something deeper? Sara breaks down the physical, emotional and environmental factors that can affect appetite, from medication side effects and depression to loneliness and changes in taste, smell or mobility. The conversation offers practical strategies families can try at home - including creating inviting meal environments, focusing on nutrient-dense foods and supporting dignity and choice at the table. Brookdale gerontologists Dr. Christy Phillips and Jill Ladaa also weigh in on how emotional and cognitive changes influence eating.   CHAPTERS Personal Experiences with Appetite Changes - 00:05 Stories and Observations 01:04 Bathroom Habits and Appetite - 15:43 Medication and Mental Health Impact on Appetite - 16:43 Tips to Encourage Eating - 18:06 Advice for Families and Caregivers - 25:00 Strategies for Unintentional Weight Loss - 26:42 Nutrient-Dense Foods and Balanced Diet - 27:04 Path of Empowerment and Choices - 31:33 Support and Resources for Eating - 33:56 Conclusion and Reflections - 38:20   The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com/ Magic Kitchen https://www.magickitchen.com/menu/senior-meals.html - Senior Meal Delivery Service Meals on Wheels https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ - Nationwide Senior Meal Program Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/area-agencies-aging - Local Resource Network

    42 min

  3. FEB 10

    Our Take on Senior Romance & Dating

    Hosts MB Roberts and Roy Clary Jr. sit down with Dating While Gray podcast host Laura Stassi to explore romance and relationships in later life. The conversation challenges common stereotypes about older adults and intimacy while offering practical insights for those re-entering the dating world after divorce or widowhood. Laura shares stories from her podcast about people opening their parameters, finding love in unexpected places and custom-building relationships that fit their needs. The hosts and Laura discuss the complications that arise when adult children struggle with their parents' new romantic interests, the importance of expanding definitions of intimacy and sexual connection and why companionship becomes richer as we age. Brookdale gerontologists Dr. Christy Phillips and Jill Ladaa join to discuss the stigma around romance for older adults and why social connections remain vital throughout our lives.   CHAPTERS Love Doesn't Have An Age Limit - 01:10 Dating Looks Different After 60 - 04:33 Opening Your Parameters - 09:05 The Problem With Online Dating - 11:50 When Adult Children Complicate Romance - 14:35 Intimacy And Physical Changes - 21:05 Expert Insight From Brookdale Gerontologists - 26:06 The Loneliness Of Caregiving - 29:36 Getting Back In The Game - 24:07 One Piece Of Advice For Daters - 33:51   The Grey Take Listener Line 833-473-9898 Text or Voice: Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics   RESOURCES Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com/ Dating While Gray Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dating-while-gray/id1497374383 Pew Research Center - Dating at 50 and Up https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/17/dating-at-50-and-up-older-americans-experiences-with-online-dating/ - Study on dating patterns among older single adults (17% of Americans 50+ have used dating sites or apps) Helen Fisher https://helenfisher.com/ - Biological anthropologist who studied the brain and love (died August 2024). Known for MRI research on romantic love and her work on personality and mate choice Sizzling Sex for Life by Michael Castleman https://www.amazon.com/Sizzling-Sex-Life-Everything-Maximize/dp/1510762558 - Book about maintaining sexual intimacy throughout life by sex journalist Michael Castleman Walter Reed National Military Medical Center https://walterreed.tricare.mil/ - Military medical center referenced in discussion about sexuality counseling and adaptive intimacy for wounded war veterans Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) https://www.theaftd.org/ - Resource about FTD (frontotemporal dementia), the condition discussed in relation to caregiving and loneliness. Bruce Willis was diagnosed with FTD in 2023

    37 min

  4. JAN 27

    Balancing Family Dynamics

    Caregiving works best when families support each other. Virginia Harper and her sister Maritza Raznick join hosts MB Roberts and Roy Clary to discuss their collaborative approach to caring for their mother who is living with dementia. The sisters explain how they strategically moved to live closer together and divided responsibilities based on each family member's strengths. Maritza brings her professional experience from working in senior living communities while Virginia coordinates daily care and medical appointments. They share practical strategies for organizing family caregiving including accepting imperfection, communicating clearly about needs and bringing in paid caregivers when necessary. The conversation explores how different family members contribute in their own way and why asking for help from both family and friends can make caregiving sustainable. Roy reflects on his own solo caregiving experience and emphasizes the importance of building a team rather than trying to handle everything alone.   CHAPTERS: Meeting the Harper Family - 02:30 Moving Closer Together for Care - 04:24 Dividing Family Responsibilities - 08:16 Working With Paid Caregivers - 12:05 Accepting Imperfection in Caregiving - 17:40 Cultural Differences in Family Care - 21:18 Managing Medical Appointments - 26:12 Financial Coordination Strategies - 29:33 Building Friend Support Networks - 32:45 Asking for Help When Needed - 36:36   Brookdale Senior Living: https://www.brookdale.com The Grey Take Voicemail Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics.

    38 min

  5. JAN 13

    Lightening the Load: Our Take on Dealing with Guilt

    Guilt is one of the most common emotions caregivers experience, whether it's guilt for not doing enough, guilt for wanting a break or guilt about decisions that need to be made. In this episode, MB Roberts and Suzie Lind are joined by Tiffany Cloud Mann, Elder Care Coach and Community Partnerships Manager at Age Well Middle Tennessee, to explore why guilt is so prevalent in caregiving and how to work through it. They discuss the difference between guilt and shame, the importance of releasing control, how to set healthy boundaries and why joining a support community can make all the difference. Tiffany shares stories from her years supporting caregivers and offers practical advice for giving yourself grace during one of life's most challenging journeys. Whether you're a primary caregiver, providing support from afar or helping a loved one in a senior living community, this conversation offers validation and helpful strategies for navigating caregiver guilt.   Understanding Different Types of Caregivers - 05:15 Why Guilt Is So Common in Caregiving - 07:45 The Difference Between Guilt and Shame - 11:30 Dealing with Complicated Relationships - 19:40 Setting Boundaries as a Caregiver - 22:15 The Importance of Releasing Control - 28:30 Recognizing Signs of Caregiver Burnout - 32:45 The Value of Support Communities - 35:20 Resources from Age Well Middle Tennessee - 40:15 Giving Yourself Grace - 43:30   Resources: Brookdale Senior Living: https://www.brookdale.com AgeWell TN: https://agewelltn.org/ Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org The Grey Take Voicemail Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions or share a story about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics.

    43 min

  6. 12/23/2025

    Our Take on Cognitive Decline and Depression

    In this episode, MB and Suzie sit down with Dr. Christy Phillips, a Brookdale gerontologist, to unpack one of the most challenging aspects of caring for aging parents: understanding whether changes in behavior stem from cognitive decline, depression or both. Dr. Phillips explains how these conditions share similar symptoms yet require different approaches, making early diagnosis crucial. The conversation covers normal age-related changes versus possible red flags, the impact of loneliness and depression on dementia risk and how spouses often compensate for cognitive decline until a major life event reveals the extent of changes. Dr. Phillips provides guidance on navigating doctor visits, the importance of having a reliable informant present and screening tools like the PHQ-9 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The hosts draw on personal experiences with their parents, showing how denial often accompanies early symptoms and the delicate balance between offering support and preserving autonomy. This episode offers hope through recent research developments while emphasizing that early intervention can significantly improve quality of life for aging adults experiencing either condition.   When Memory Lapses Become Concerning - 00:20 The Connection Between Depression and Dementia - 08:20 How Spouses Compensate for Cognitive Decline - 06:06 The Power of Community in Combating Loneliness - 11:51 Understanding Normal Aging Versus Cognitive Decline - 17:12 When to See a Doctor and What to Expect - 24:14 Starting Difficult Conversations with Compassion - 25:39 Navigating Denial and Getting Professional Help - 34:31 Treatment Options and the Importance of Second Opinions - 36:06 Hope on the Horizon: New Research and Interventions - 37:24   Resources: Brookdale Senior Living: https://www.brookdale.com PHQ-9 Depression Screening Tool https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/1725/phq-9-patient-health-questionnaire-9 physicians Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) information https://www.mocatest.org The Grey Take Listener Line: 833-473-9898 Leave us a message, ask us a question! Don't forget to rate and review us and share with anyone you think could benefit from this information! Thanks for listening!

    42 min

  7. 12/09/2025

    Finding Joy in Hard Holiday Seasons

    The holidays can feel heavy when you're caring for aging parents or dealing with loss. In this episode, hosts Suzie Lind and Roy Clary sit down with Dianne, a caregiver navigating her husband's dementia while carrying decades of holiday grief after losing her son at Christmas. Dianne shares how she learned to seek contentment instead of happiness, why she dyed her hair purple for her granddaughter's cancer battle and how her family's simple tradition of drawing names during the season of giving lifted an enormous burden. From throwing poinsettias off the porch to finding support groups at the local library, this conversation offers permission to grieve what was while creating space for what can be. Whether you're in the thick of caregiving or facing your first holiday without a loved one, you'll find practical wisdom and unexpected hope for making the season meaningful again.   When Traditions Feel Intrusive - 01:28 Meeting Dianne: Purple Hair and Spunk - 05:50 The Day He Retired Without Warning - 09:55 Finding Support Groups - 13:08 Losing Andy at Christmas - 14:35 Drawing Names: A Game-Changing Tradition - 19:52 The Purple Hair Promise - 23:17 Staying Present in Depressing Circumstances - 26:06 Art as Distraction and Healing - 31:18 From Host to Queen - 33:14   Resources: The Grey Take Voicemail/Text Line - 833-473-9898 Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com

    38 min

  8. 11/25/2025

    What Our Aging Parents Really Need

    In this episode Roy Clary and Suzie Lind sit down with Sally, an 87-year-old living in a senior living community who shares honest insight into loneliness, changing family roles and the need for real empathy from caregivers. She talks through how her relationship with her daughter has evolved, why asking before acting matters and what support feels like from her side of the caregiving equation. Roy and Suzie also reflect on their own holiday experiences, the pressure adult children place on themselves and the importance of connection over tasks. This episode helps listeners understand the emotional needs of aging parents and how to care with patience and respect.   What do aging parents want in caregiving - 02:45 Holiday pressure and expectations - 04:10 Suzie on tasks vs connection - 05:15 Introducing Sally - 07:05 Sally's move to Chicago - 08:20 Finding independence with support - 12:40 Loneliness and isolation - 17:05 How to help without taking over - 24:55 Advice for caregivers and receivers - 30:20 Roy's holiday shift after his mom's stroke - 40:15   Resources: The Grey Take Text/Voicemail Line: 833-473-9898 Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics Brookdale Senior Living https://www.brookdale.com

    39 min
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
16 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
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Grey Take

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