In this episode, we sit down with longtime industry expert and caregiver Scott Greenberg for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about what caregiving really looks like—especially while working. Scott brings decades of experience in home care, but more importantly, he shares what changed when he unexpectedly became a family caregiver himself. This is a grounded, real-world discussion about independence, denial, emotional toll, and the realities families face when care needs show up fast.
We talk openly about affordability, long-distance caregiving, sibling dynamics, and why being proactive—not reactive—can make all the difference. Whether you’re a working caregiver, an employer, or someone who knows this journey is coming, this episode is packed with insight, hard truths, and practical guidance you don’t want to miss.

Scott Greenberg is CEO of ComForcare Senior Services, a private-duty, non-medical home healthcare agency serving Miami through Vero Beach. He is Past President of the Florida State Guardianship Association and former Treasurer of the National Guardianship Association, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Area Agency on Aging. Scott is an award-winning author of Oh My God, I’m Getting Older and So Is My Mom, former host of the 95.9FM True Oldies radio show of the same name, and a nationally certified Alzheimer’s educator since 2014.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Why accepting help is not losing independence—but restoring it
[1:15] – Introducing working caregivers as “invisible employees”
[4:30] – Scott shares his personal caregiving journey and unexpected challenges
[6:55] – The emotional toll of caregiving no one prepares you for
[8:00] – Running a business while caregiving: compartmentalizing and perspective
[10:30] – Family dynamics, denial, and hard lessons from past caregiving decisions
[13:50] – How Scott landed in home care—and why the work became personal
[16:00] – Writing a book to help families move from crisis to preparation
[19:30] – Why caregiving youth and childhood trauma deserve more attention
[21:00] – Home care myths, resistance to help, and how attitudes shift over time
[24:15] – The most important questions families should ask home care agencies
[26:45] – Planning ahead: advanced directives, decision-makers, and hard conversations
[31:35] – Long-distance caregiving and why “the village” matters
[34:55] – What employers can do to better support working caregivers
[37:45] – The role (and limits) of AI and technology in caregiving
[40:20] – Affordability, Medicare vs. Medicaid, and planning for long-term care
[44:00] – Final takeaways: proactivity, education, and realistic expectations

Links & Resources:

• Scott runs ComForcare in south florida is an expert in caregiver resources
• Scott has a popular radio show called OMG I'm Getting Older And So Is My Mom! 492 episodes!
• Scott has written a book by the same name. https://www.amazon.com/Oh-God-Getting-Older-Mom/dp/1884886647

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

In this episode of Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees, we’re joined by Erika Jacobson, a VA social worker, lifelong caregiver, and member of the sandwich generation, to unpack what caregiving really looks like inside veteran families. Erika blends professional insight with personal experience to help us understand why so many working caregivers feel isolated—and how support systems can make a real difference.

We talk through the VA’s Caregiver Support Programs, benefits many families don’t know exist, and why employers play a critical role in supporting caregivers at work. This episode is packed with practical information, advocacy, and a reminder that caregivers shouldn’t have to do this alone.

Episode Highlights:

[1:39] – Who working caregivers are and why they’re often invisible
[2:23] – Welcoming Erika and a cross-country weather check
[3:09] – South Dakota fun facts: Mount Rushmore and the Corn Palace
[4:51] – Erika’s family caregiving journey begins
[8:27] – How early caregiving shaped her career path
[11:57] – Overview of the VA Caregiver Support Program
[16:00] – Stipends, respite care, and caregiver benefits
[20:36] – National Family Caregivers Month and caregiver isolation
[23:00] – Zack challenges employers to partner with the VA
[29:33] – Aid & Attendance explained
[32:31] – Advice for working caregivers: ask for help

Links & Resources:

Corn Palace (Mitchell, SD)
A uniquely South Dakota landmark made entirely of corn murals—highlighted during our lighter conversation about Erika’s home state.
https://cornpalace.com/

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
One of the most iconic U.S. landmarks, also located in South Dakota and mentioned during our opening conversation.
https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks/mount-rushmore-national-memorial

National Family Caregivers Month (November)
A time dedicated to recognizing, supporting, and uplifting family caregivers—an important focus of this episode.

VA Caregiver Support Program
Provides education, resources, respite care, and support for caregivers of eligible veterans.
https://www.caregiver.va.gov

Find Your Local VA Caregiver Support Team
Search tool to connect directly with your local VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.
https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/New_CSC_Page.asp

Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
A VA program that may offer a stipend, health coverage, and expanded respite care for caregivers of veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities.

Aid & Attendance Benefit
Additional financial assistance tied to the VA pension for veterans or surviving spouses who need help with daily activities.
https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/

VA Wartime Periods (Pension Eligibility)
Defines qualifying service periods for non-service-connected pensions and Aid & Attendance.
https://www.va.gov/pension/eligibility/

Erika Jacobson’s Documentary
A powerful look into Erika’s caregiving journey and lived experience.
https://youtu.be/Tt6Nfsz5vi0

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.co

In this powerful episode of Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees, we sit down with the remarkable Dr. Feylyn Lewis, whose caregiving journey began at just 11 years old after her mother experienced life-altering complications from a botched spinal surgery. Dr. Lewis brings a deeply personal, heartfelt perspective to the realities faced by youth caregivers—experiences most adults never even imagine children navigating.

Throughout our conversation, Dr. Lewis opens our eyes to the emotional, physical, and invisible labor that young caregivers shoulder and how those early responsibilities shaped the advocate, scholar, and leader she is today. Her story is moving, courageous, and a call to action for all of us—employers, caregivers, and community members—to create a world where no caregiver feels alone. This is an episode you do not want to miss.

Dr. Feylyn Lewis is a Nashville native, Vanderbilt alumna, and former youth caregiver whose lived experience shaped her global career in research and advocacy. With a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Social Work, she studies mental health and resiliency among youth and young adult caregivers across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Australia. Dr. Lewis currently serves as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she leads student wellness, support services, and community engagement. Beyond academia, she is deeply involved in state, national, and international caregiving and equity initiatives, including board service with the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and advisory roles across multiple organizations. A New America Story Fellow, she continues to write about and advocate for youth caregivers—all while caring for her mother in Nashville.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Dr. Lewis begins sharing her caregiving story starting at age 11
[3:27] – Dr. Lewis describes becoming a youth caregiver after her mother’s surgery
[3:51] – Reading her powerful letter to her younger self
[9:39] – Exploring what it meant to “shrink yourself” as a young caregiver
[11:31] – The emotional and traumatic weight carried by youth caregivers
[16:55] – How caregiving support has (and hasn’t) changed for her in adulthood
[23:33] – Discussing the realities of youth caregiving and age-inappropriate tasks
[25:56] – The strengths, empathy, and resilience learned through caregiving
[26:19] – Why children often stay silent—and why naming caregiving matters
[28:14] – Encouraging communities to proactively support caregivers
[29:14] – The fear youth caregivers have of social service involvement
[29:47] – How schools can play a role in recognizing and supporting caregivers
[30:39] – Dr. Lewis’ “PS to her younger self”—a message of faith and endurance
[31:35] – Closing reflections and gratitude for Dr. Lewis’ powerful voice

Links & Resources:

· Tennessee Caregiver Coalition: https://tncaregiver.org/

· Dr. Feylyn Lewis’ TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EPCFyeUElk

· Black Scholars Speak Interview YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pid2wBO8dlc

· National Alliance For Caregiving's Caregiver Summit Dr. Lewis talk (time stamp 1:02:21): youtube.com/watch?v=reWOmR31GJ8&am