A Caregiver’s Toolbox with Carol Bradley Bursack: Respect, Resilience & Real Talk

Are you completely burned out from caregiving? Do you feel like nobody quite understands what you’re going through?

In this heartfelt, wisdom-packed episode, caregiving advocate and author Carol Bradley Bursack joins Cathleen Toomey to talk candidly about the emotional tightrope that family caregivers walk every day. From navigating resistance to preserving dignity, Carol offers gentle, actionable strategies to help you support your loved one without losing yourself in the process.

You’ll learn how to:

• Start difficult conversations without triggering defensiveness
• Avoid the “parenting your parent” trap
• Create a caregiving plan that actually honors autonomy
• Flip the script when someone resists help
• Say “yes” when friends offer support and how to ask for what you really need

Plus, we explore how small self-care rituals can make a huge difference in managing stress and finding your footing as a caregiver.

🔗 Links

• Minding Our Elders by Carol Bradley Bursack
• Caregiver Action Network
• Alzheimer’s Association Support Groups
• Better Health While Aging – Dr. Leslie Kernisan
• When Your Aging Parent Needs Help by Dr. Leslie Kernisan

⏰ Timestamps

• 00:00 - Intro and caregiver statistics
• 01:11 - Meet Carol Bradley Bursack and her caregiving background
• 02:00 - Why caregiving for aging adults is uniquely challenging
• 03:01 - Opening respectful conversations with aging parents
• 05:26 - Understanding their wishes and planning ahead
• 09:00 - Why “parenting your parent” is the wrong approach
• 12:33 - The emotional toll of isolation for caregivers
• 14:50 - Online support groups and where to find them
• 17:37 - Reframing resistance to help from aging parents
• 20:45 - Daily self-care practices that actually work
• 24:53 - How to accept and direct help from friends
• 27:30 - Final reflections and caregiver encouragement

👉 What’s Next?

Feeling the caregiving crunch? Visit seniorityauthority.org for more episodes, expert advice, and resources to help you navigate aging with grace and confidence.

💌 Stay Connected

Have a question about aging you’d love us to tackle in a future episode? Email us at [e-mail].