Why Ageing is Not for Sissies: Dr. Stephanie Ward | Club Sandwich
You were dancing in mosh pits five minutes ago; now you’re being squashed by the layers of responsibility. If you're juggling kids, a career, and aging parents who are "rumbling" rather than aging gracefully, this episode is your squishy hug.
Ageing parents? You’ve got them. We’ve got you.
One minute you’re living your life, and the next, you look at your parents and realise everything has changed. Whether it’s a sudden health event or a slow "crumble," navigating the aged care system while holding down everything else - work, kids, grandkids, or just your own sanity - is the hardest job you’ll ever do.
In this debut episode, host Sarah Macdonald is joined by geriatrician Dr. Stephanie Ward (Old People’s Home for 4-Year-Olds). They dive into the visceral reality of being "squashed" in the middle, the physiological changes our parents face, and why the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers present unique challenges for the Gen X carers looking after them.
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In this episode, we discuss:
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The "Squishy" Middle: Transitioning from the mosh pit to the layers of responsibility.
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Why Geriatrics? Dr. Stephanie explains the holistic "safe port" for older Australians.
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The Rumble: Understanding biological ageing and why it feels like it happens overnight.
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Ageism as Prejudice: Why we need to stop being patronising to our elders.
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Parenting in Reverse: Navigating the grief of shifting roles.
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Self-Care Corner: Sarah’s "funnel web" hospital trip and Dr. Stephanie’s double bass.
Meet the regular Clubbers:
- Melissa Reader - CEO of Vera and expert on Australia's ageing crisis.
- Dr. Jo Lamble - Clinical psychologist specializing in guilt and family dynamics.
- Dr. Ginni Mansberg - GP and women's health advocate who tells it straight.
- Dr. Stephanie Ward - Geriatrician helping you understand when "old" becomes a crisis.
- Kerry Milligan - Gogglebox star bringing humor and honesty to the sandwich generation.
Credits
Club Sandwich is brought to you by Vera, helping families caring for ageing parents navigate this stage of life — so you don't have to do it alone.
Sarah Macdonald - Host + Executive Producer
Melissa Reader - Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer + Clubber
Rachel Fountain - Executive Producer
Audio + video edits by Fountain Media Group
Thanks and kudos to Sean Wayland for our awesome theme music Club Sandwich - hear more from Sean at seanwayland.com
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