#214 The Right Place at the Right Time: Finding Senior Living With Robin Elbertson
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
Release Date: 02/26/2026
#223 Home Alone
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
On this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don take on an important and emotional topic: When is staying home alone no longer the safest choice for an aging parent or spouse? Many families dream of “aging in place,” but the reality can include hidden risks that build quietly over time—falls, medication mistakes, dehydration, isolation, wandering, and missed medical warning signs. We follow insights from a recent article highlighting how comfort and familiarity can sometimes mask growing danger. Adding a practical touch, Gina shares videos she created demonstrating...
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#222 You might be in the sandwich generation if…
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
Ever feel like you’re juggling everything—kids, parents, work, and somehow still trying to remember where you left your coffee? ☕ In this lighthearted episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don take a fun (and very real) look at life in the sandwich generation with a playful twist: “You might be in the sandwich generation if…” Get ready to laugh, nod your head, and maybe even say, “Okay, that one hit a little too close to home.” From managing doctor appointments for your parents while coordinating soccer practice for your kids… to having both a college fund and a...
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#221 - 1 Down On The Farm
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don explore fresh perspectives on senior living after visiting a local farm. Inspired by insights from SAGE, they discuss inclusive communities, farm-based living, and how aging can be more connected, purposeful, and authentic. It’s a conversation about rethinking where—and how—we grow older. https://www.sageusa.org/news/local-senior-living-communities-celebrate-inclusive-living/ #FocusedHealthyFamily #SeniorLiving #AgingWell #InclusiveLiving #FarmLife #CommunityMatters
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#221 Down on the Farm
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don explore fresh perspectives on senior living after visiting a local farm. Inspired by insights from SAGE, they discuss inclusive communities, farm-based living, and how aging can be more connected, purposeful, and authentic. It’s a conversation about rethinking where—and how—we grow older. https://www.sageusa.org/news/local-senior-living-communities-celebrate-inclusive-living/ #FocusedHealthyFamily #SeniorLiving #AgingWell #InclusiveLiving #FarmLife #CommunityMatters
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#220 Last Episode...April Fools
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
As the days grow longer and the air begins to warm, Gina and Don explore what spring really means—not just for nature, but for our emotional and mental well-being. In this uplifting episode of Focused Healthy Family, they dive into the idea of “reawakening” after the heaviness of winter. They reflect on how the colder months can leave many of us feeling stuck, isolated, or weighed down, especially for caregivers and families supporting aging loved ones. With the arrival of spring, there’s an opportunity to reset, reconnect, and gently step back into life with renewed energy....
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#219 Will I be a burden to my kids?
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
What happens when life gets quieter… but heavier at the same time? In this powerful episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don dive into two thought-provoking articles exploring why so many people feel empty as they age and why aging parents often carry a deep fear of being a burden to the very people they love most. Drawing from insights in these articles, they unpack the emotional reality behind statements many families never say out loud: “I don’t want to bother you.” “I’m fine… really.” “What’s the point anymore?” As discussed, feelings of emptiness in later...
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#218 Sandwich Generation in the Movies: Reviewing "As They Made Us" by Mayim Bialik
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode of Focused Healthy Family, Gina and Don take a deep, honest look at As They Made Us, written and directed by Mayim Bialik. This powerful film dives into the emotional weight of caring for aging parents while still navigating your own life—right in the heart of the sandwich generation. Through the lens of the film’s characters, Gina and Don unpack the chaos behind the scenes: How family roles are formed (and sometimes forced) The long shadow of unresolved trauma Sibling dynamics that complicate caregiving The emotional toll of being “the responsible one” And how love...
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#217 The Silent Killer: Loneliness in Aging
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
Loneliness is becoming one of the most serious — and least talked about — health risks facing older adults today. In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don explore how isolation can quietly affect the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of aging parents. Many families focus on safety, medications, and doctor visits, but often miss the deeper issue: an aging loved one whose world has slowly become smaller and quieter. Gina and Don discuss why loneliness can accelerate decline, why families often underestimate just how isolated their parents may feel,...
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#216 Episode Replay #121: Aging with Pride – Generations, Beliefs, and the LGBTQ+ Conversation
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
Welcome to Generational Pride, a time when conversations about identity, acceptance, and belonging take center stage. But how people respond to the LGBTQ+ community is often shaped by something deeper—the generation they grew up in, the beliefs they were taught, and the cultural messages they absorbed along the way. For some, Pride represents progress and inclusion. For others, it raises questions shaped by long-held traditions, religious teachings, or social norms. These generational differences can create both meaningful dialogue and uncomfortable tension, especially within families...
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#215 Planning for the “What If”: Long-Term Care Insurance Explained with Scott Cramblitt
Focused Healthy Family Podcast
In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Scott Cramblitt, Financial Services Professional Agent with New York Life Insurance, to unpack one of the most important — and often avoided — conversations families need to have: long-term care planning. As our population ages and longevity increases, more families are facing the emotional, physical, and financial realities of long-term care. Scott helps us understand: What long-term care insurance actually covers The financial risks families face without a plan The rising costs of extended care ...
info_outlineChoosing where an aging loved one should live can feel overwhelming, emotional, and sometimes filled with guilt. Should they stay at home? Move to assisted living? Is memory care needed yet — or not quite?
In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don sit down with Robin Elbertson, Senior Living Care Advisor with Assisted Living Locators, to break down how families can actually make the right decision — not just the urgent decision.
We talk about the real challenges families face such as waiting too long to talk or the lack of connections, but we also talk about the GOOD stuff — what life can actually improve once the right environment is found. Many seniors regain social connection, better nutrition, safety, and even joy when they land in the right place at the right time.
Robin shares what families often misunderstand about senior living, how to recognize the signs that it’s time, and how working with an advisor removes pressure and guesswork from the process.
This episode is both practical and reassuring — whether you are planning ahead or already in crisis mode.
If you’re asking: “How do we know it’s time?” — this episode is for you.
https://assistedlivinglocators.com/
980-446-9065
Robin's Bio
Robin is a Charlotte, North Carolina native who has spent most of her life in the area, with time away for college in Asheville and Alabama, and five meaningful years serving in Africa with a mission organization.
After returning home, Robin began working with a senior caregiving agency, where she formed a deep bond with a senior client that helped shape her calling. She later joined a local hospital’s Faith and Health department, connecting patients who lacked resources with volunteers and practical support throughout the community.
As her own parents entered their mid-80s, Mary founded We Care For Seniors, a personal assistant and concierge service designed to help older adults thrive with dignity and independence. In January 2025, she expanded her work by joining Assisted Living Locators as an Independent Contractor, guiding seniors and their loved ones through the process of finding the right fit for Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.
Robin finds great joy serving and advocating for seniors—bringing compassion, clarity, and a steady presence to families during seasons of transition.
#FocusedHealthyFamily #AgingParents #SeniorLiving #AssistedLiving #MemoryCare #CaregiverSupport #ElderCare #SeniorCare #FamilyCaregiving #DementiaCare #CaregiverStress #SeniorLivingAdvisor #HealthyAging #CareDecisions #GeriatricCare #CarePlanning #CaregiverHelp #SandwichGeneration #AgingWell #CaregiverLife