The Sandwich Generation

People speak of “Life Balance” between career and personal, some even give a bow to the spiritual by recommending things like Yoga. Such is the state of affairs in the world right now. We know that relationships are the key to our happiness, and it is them that we want to keep in balance – love for God and others. One of the ways to help our elderly get to Church and family gatherings is by helping them restore their physical balance. Our guests, Rob Amico and Amber Paluzzi of Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers give us some helpful advice.

As the Year of St. Joseph draws to a close, Fr. Christopher Lapp, Pastor of St. Joseph Church in Mishawaka, Indiana gives us some advice for keeping this great saint involved with our lives and those our families for years to come.

Megan Rogers is a volunteer supervisor for the Northwest Region of SHIP, a federally-funded service staffed by over 400 volunteers in the State of Indiana who provide unbiased information and assistance on Medicare which is something that affects everyone age 65 and over. Learn how to get the care you and health insurance coverage your loved ones need and maybe even save money in the process.

Why is it so difficult to say the words “I need help?” DK Raymer gives good advice for restoring ourselves and our communities after a crisis.

Caregiver burnout is a very real – and potentially dangerous condition. All families go through transitions where loved ones require extraordinary care. And for their caregivers it can be a heavy cross. If we are attentive, we can help them carry it by following our Blessed Mother’s example.

No mater where they live, their economic condition or family status, these three fears are nearly universal among seniors. Join Patient and Senior Living Consultant DK Raymer as we discuss how we can help them meet these challenges.

God made man male and female, these complementary differences give marriages and families their beauty and strength. During an illness men have needs related to this difference. Our guest DK Raymer will identify some of the these differences and give us the benefit of her long experience as a Patient and Healthcare Advocate as we care for our loved ones.

Doing the right thing requires much thoughtful and prayerful effort. It is especially difficult when we are making decisions for other people, which is something we do all the time in the sandwich generation! In this privileged position we alone are responsible for forming and following our conscience. Parental authority comes from the Creator Himself and cannot be abrogated, and should be supported.

Our own Ang DiCarlo reflects upon life with a Sicilian grandmother while growing up, and the lessons he learned from his parents.  He also shares how this and being a sports journalist has prepared him for his new role as father.

Fathers impact individual lives and families for generations to come. Therein lies their greatest opportunity for accomplishment and remembrance. Fr. Fred Dolan, Secretary Vicar for Opus Dei in Canada shares some thoughts about becoming successful – and ultimately happy fathers.

Travel Agent Donalyn Bratton helps the Sandwich Generation kick off summer with some things to consider for our vacation travel this year.

Does your estate plan protect the hearts of your loved ones? Mick Blunt shares how she and her husband – along with their five children - became the key provision of her dying mother’s estate plan.

We are living longer these days, thereby increasing the chances we will need long-term care. Finding and getting good care is becoming more and more expensive.  Our guest, Phil Stackowicz, General Agent for the Knights of Columbus in the state of Indiana discusses one important way for paying for them.

Asking questions people have about estate planning, Emily Yost discusses with host Chris Godfrey the interplay between property and relationships and how one is meant to serve the other.

The soul is to the body as Christians are to the world. Rev. Dave Bratton has been sharing this life in many different environments, from Communist Poland (with the help of JPII), to the locker rooms of professional sports, he has made environments more human by turning hearts to Christ.

Born the youngest of six to a mother who emigrated from Puerto Rico. Fr. Eric Cruz was born and raised in the Bronx, fulfilling a childhood dream of graduating from the University of Notre Dame and being ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York. He recounts his mother’s nurturing of his vocation, and his later care for her in her old age – amidst the pressures of living in the capital of the world.

Jessica Bamber she is an account manager for Caregiver Homes from Senior Link which provides services, support and technology that engages family caregivers. She discusses a new Program for Medicaid Waiver eligible people that coaches and pays family and friends to move-in and care for them.

The Church relaxes its rules for Lenten fasting with good reason. The problem for many elderly folks is that they don’t eat enough! Bob and Pat Speer have spent their careers in overseeing meals in large institutional settings such as hospitals and long-term care facilities. They are keenly aware of these challenges and share some of their valuable experience to help us get our loved ones to eat more – even when they don’t feel like it. An unlikely mortification for most of us, but valid nonetheless.

Dr. Catherine Godfrey-Howell and her father explore the relationships between Lent, Dante’s experience in the Divine Comedy, and how Canon Law can serve as a guide for us when we feel lost in a dark-wood too. Canon law is a reliable account of reality through both the seen and unseen realms in which we live. We also discuss the reality of marriage, and what the annulment process is and is-not.

Elisabeth Sullivan of the Institute of Catholic Liberal Education, and Prof. Kirk Doran and economics professor at the University of Notre Dame discuss the growing popularity of Classic Catholic Education; a unique opportunity to help our children flourish in the coming years.

Leaving home is always difficult, but when done to improve one’s quality of life it becomes easier to do. Tony Ughetti is the Healthcare Administrator for Greencroft Goshen Healthcare one of the 50 largest senior living communities in America. We talk about the many blessings and challenges moving to a senior living community presents, especially with our recent Covid-19 concern.

"What the heck am I doing?" is a good question to ask as Lent begins. Professor David L. Schindler, Dean Emeritus of the John Paul II Institute for studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and former professor of the University of Notre Dame PLS program, reflects on his life and work and the importance of keeping our life, marriages and families centered on Jesus and his Church.

Dignity Therapy is a new approach to helping those who are suffering from life threatening or life-limiting conditions. Not only does a loss of hope and identity interfere with normal “cure” therapy it also makes a person susceptible to the seductions of euthanasia. St. Alphonsus Liguori reminds us that we will not be saved unless we persevere until the end. Dignity Therapy can be thought of as a bit of self-defense training at a vulnerable stage in life.

Mother Teresa said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” The concept of competition while cooperating while building community is explored with Patrick McCaskey, Vice President and Board Member of the Chicago Bears. An author and speaker, our conversation with Papa George Halas’ grandson spans the early days of the NFL, raising a Catholic family of 11 while running a historic sports franchise, all the way to Pat’s favorite for this year’s Super Bowl. He also shares a poem from his new book on the Gospels.

Young men bet everything on marriage and family life. How can they help each other make good on their commitments? Guest Tony Minopoli is the Chief and Chief Investment Officer of the Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors manages the risks for the Knights of Columbus - who in turn help families manage their own. Tony shares his expectations for the 2021 economy and how he advises his own family to prepare for it.

Honoring your father and mother can take many forms.  Dcn. Fred Everett of St. Matthew’s Cathedral talks about his family’s heartwarming and challenging experience of having his mother move in with him for the final years of her life.

This show is a must if you are taking care of elderly and disabled loved ones. Becky Zaseck, President and CEO, April Pierce, Director of Care Management and Options Counseling for the Area Agency on Aging, and Angel Baginske, Director of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana share with us the many services available to the elderly and disabled, as well as opportunities for volunteering one’s time, talent and treasure in our community.

If we do not create our own plan for disability, someone else’s plan will be used instead. As much as that may be disagreeable for us, it will be worse for those around us. Learn how to control the things you can control, so others don’t have to do it for you. Also learn how our legal system works to provide missing pieces in a person’s life.

What do we do - when everything that needs to get done – is done? Celebrate the season by being more playful with your loved ones! There are few things more important in life. Play can be an effective way to bring the generations closer together.

When our money changes, our life changes too – for better or worse. John and David Niswonger, a father and son financial advisory team at Council Oak Raymond James in South Bend provide helpful advice for giving and receiving inheritances in the most beneficial way.

Historian Fr. Bill share insights into telling histories accurately and winsomely. We discuss two of his recent books “American Priest – Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C.” and “Telling Stories that Matter – Memoirs and Essays of Fr. Marvin O’Connell”.  We also discuss the role of family stories in the development of our identity, as well tips on how to tell them! We also discuss the importance of telling the truth in a community.

Michael Shade, Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Community Foundation of Northeast Indiana, discusses the many opportunities for contributing to the Divine Economy within the diocese through the Catholic Community Foundation. We also discuss the role institutions play in the lives of Catholic families.

Your aging parent might not actually come out and say they need help. But they may be leaving clues, nonethless. Learn what signs to look for and what they may mean.

Prof. Janet Smith put her academic career on hold to help her mother during her declining years. Learn what this great teacher of life and its beginning stages learned about its end.