# One Phone Call Turned Me Into My Parents' Caregiver

An episode of [The Midlife Squeeze](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/6784006190), 20 Oct 2026, 41 min.

Audio: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/399887eb-744d-4627-b0cb-50ee9775e156.mp3

Episode Summary What happens when a family crisis reveals that your aging parents need more help than anyone realized? In this episode of The Midlife Squeeze, Erica sits down with estate planning and elder law attorney Kolleen Bannon to discuss the caregiving journey that began after her 86-year-old father suffered a serious fall in 2021. While her father recovered, Kolleen discovered that her mother’s dementia had progressed much further than the family knew. Suddenly, she was managing her parents’ healthcare, finances, housing, and long-term care while raising two sons and running her law practice. Kolleen shares the emotional and financial realities of caregiving, including long-term care insurance, assisted living, Medicaid planning, caregiver guilt, and the difficult transition from child to decision-maker. Their conversation highlights why families should have difficult conversations and make plans before a crisis begins. Key Takeaways • A sudden health crisis can expose caregiving needs that families did not recognize. • Power of attorney and healthcare surrogate documents can make crisis decisions easier. • Long-term care insurance can help, but families should understand its limits and eligibility requirements. • Caregiving can affect work, parenting, finances, relationships, and emotional health. • Assisted living and memory care decisions may need to happen sooner than expected. • Families should discuss housing, finances, driving, pets, and long-term care before a crisis. • Medicaid planning can become relevant even for families who never expected to need it. • Caregiver guilt is common when balancing aging parents, children, work, and everyday life. • Planning early gives families more options during difficult transitions. Chapters 00:00 When Everything Changes 00:59 Meet Kolleen Bannon 03:07 Life Before the Crisis 04:23 Warning Signs Before the Fall 05:59 Discovering Her Mother’s Dementia 08:07 Entering Crisis Mode 11:16 Losing Control and Reversing Roles 12:46 The Impact on Work and Family 14:34 Finding Care for Both Parents 15:36 Long-Term Care Insurance 17:44 Qualifying for Care Benefits 18:42 Paying for Long-Term Care 19:21 Selling the Family Home 21:39 What Kolleen Wishes She Had Done Earlier 24:55 The True Cost of Care 28:37 Finding Humor During Caregiving 29:51 Barry’s Role in the Family 32:07 Planning for Aging Parents’ Pets 33:25 Settling Into a New Routine 34:21 The Reality of Caregiver Guilt 36:47 Kolleen’s Advice for Families 38:15 Medicaid and Planning Ahead 38:44 Erica’s Closing Thoughts 40:26 Take the Family Assessment Follow the Show New episodes release twice a month. Follow The Midlife Squeeze on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode. If today’s conversation resonated with you, leaving a rating and review helps more families discover these important discussions. Instagram: @TheMidlifeSqueeze Connect with Erica Instagram: @TheFamilyMoneyPlanner Looking for a place to start? Visit FAMOPlan.com to take the free Family Assessment (the quiz mentioned in this episode) and begin organizing the conversations, decisions, and financial planning that every family will eventually face. Connect with Kolleen Website: bannonlegal.com Kolleen Bannon, Esq. and Bannon Legal, PLLC are not affiliated with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. or Ocean Crest Wealth Management. A Quick Clarification Some coverage details in this episode were shared from memory. Medicare generally covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period, following a qualifying hospital stay, with daily coinsurance after day 20. Many long-term care insurance policies begin benefits when someone needs help with 2 of 6 activities of daily living or has a severe cognitive impairment. Policy terms vary. Disclaimer The information discussed on this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of a product or strategy.…

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