May 6, 2026

She thought she had more time. Then her mom got Alzheimer’s

She thought she had more time. Then her mom got Alzheimer’s

She was 35 with three little kids when her mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's — and she had no plan in place.

You're home for the holidays. Your dad's lost weight. Your mom tells the same story three times. You go to help with a bill and realize you have no idea where anything is — no will, no account numbers, no idea who their doctor is. And the conversation you've been meaning to have? It still hasn't happened. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning personal finance journalist and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk, which the Washington Post called an excellent step-by-step guide to one of the hardest conversations families face. But Cameron didn't write this book from a newsroom — she wrote it from the trenches. At 35, while raising three young children, she watched her mother receive an Alzheimer's diagnosis with no financial plan in place. She had to figure out power of attorney, estate documents, long-term care, and caregiving decisions in real time — all while her life was already full.

In this episode, Cameron walks us through exactly what documents your parents need (and you need), how to start the conversation without putting them on the defensive, how to navigate sibling dynamics when not everyone is on the same page, and the real cost of long-term care that most families aren't prepared for. She also shares the one thing she wishes she'd done differently — and the human element most people forget entirely.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • The three essential estate planning documents every parent needs — and why they must be signed while your parent is still mentally competent
  • How to start the conversation without making your parents feel like they're losing independence — including using stories, third parties, and positive framing
  • What happens when you don't have power of attorney in place (hint: it involves court, $10,000, and nine months of waiting)
  • How to navigate sibling dynamics when caregiving responsibilities aren't equally shared — and how to set boundaries when siblings criticize but won't help
  • Why talking about scams can be the perfect low-pressure entry point into bigger financial conversations
  • The real cost of long-term care — Cameron spent over half a million dollars on her mother's memory care over eight years, and says that was cheap
  • When to look into long-term care insurance and why your early 50s is the ideal window
  • Why Cameron's number one piece of advice is to get professional help — and not try to do it all alone
  • The one thing most families forget: getting your parents' stories before it's too late

Resources From This Episode:

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