41 - Dignity, Dementia, and the Sandwich Generation with Dr. Surah Grumet

In this episode of the Mental Wealth Podcast, geriatrician and hospice/palliative medicine specialist Dr. Surah Grumet — author of “Mindful Aging” — joins Dr. Ethan Levine to talk about what it really means to grow older in America. Dr. Grumet draws on 20+ years of family medicine and geriatric care to cover: • Why dignity, not age-reversal, is the real goal of mindful aging • How to start a conversation with a parent about memory loss or cognitive decline — without triggering defensiveness • Navigating driving safety concerns and other tough independence conversations • The critical difference between a power of attorney and a durable power of attorney (and why every adult needs one) • Supporting the “sandwich generation” — those caring for kids and aging parents at once • Understanding dementia-related behavior changes like paranoia and anger, and where they come from • Polypharmacy: why older adults often end up on medications they no longer need • Cultural differences in how families care for aging loved ones A candid, practical conversation for anyone navigating aging — their own or a loved one’s — with real tools, not platitudes. Dr. Surah Grumet's Instagram: @age.mindfully YouTube: Surah Grumet MD Consultation Service:  https://www.mindfulagingllc.org/ Episode Transcript: https://mentalwealthpod.com/41-mindful-aging-dignity-dementia-and-the-sandwich-generation-with-dr-surah-grumett The Mental Wealth Podcast is co-hosted by Dr. Ethan Levine and Rob, with Dr. Ethan Levine serving as clinical advisor, and delivers evidence-based conversations on mental wellness, anxiety, resilience, burnout, and emotional intelligence. www.mentalwealthpod.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MentalWealthPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mental_wealth_pod/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mental_wealth_pod DISCLAIMER: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not constitute legal, medical, or other forms of professional advice. The material and information presented here is for general information and entertainment purposes only. The "Mental Wealth Podcast" and names and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.