Who Gets the China?

This week, Kirsten talks with physical therapist Kristin Zeid about how physical therapy supports older adults in staying mobile, recovering from injuries, and aging well. They explore the physical and social benefits of therapy, how families can stay attentive to their parents’ health, and the importance of working with providers who truly understand the needs of older adults.

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Leaving this world—and the belongings we accumulate—is inevitable, and those we love are left to navigate the memories, the closets, and the goodbyes. In this heartfelt episode, Jennifer David and Kirsten share both tears and laughter as we reflect on a loved one’s passing and the small steps that can make the process a little easier. They explore the practical and sentimental challenges of letting go, talk about when to call in re...

This week, we are joined by Danielle Schulz, Associate Director of Lifelong Learning and Accessibility at the Denver Art Museum, to explore how art can make the aging process a more enjoyable experience. Danielle and Kirsten discuss the benefits of creative aging--a fun way to create new neural pathways, promote healthy aging, and combat social isolation. Get useful and specific tips on how you and your aging parent or loved one ca...

This mini episode features a very special guest: my mom! 

Together, we share the funny, at times frustrating, and surprisingly emotional journey of trying to downsize the family dollhouse. Join us as we take a stroll or two down memory lane and explore why it’s so hard to let go of items that you have such an emotional connection to.  

To read this essay, and see photos(!), visit www.whogetsthechina.substack.com

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I often find that every visit to my parents seems to become more of a mission to tackle an endless checklist than an opportunity to spend time with family and build memories in the time we're lucky to have. It's so easy to focus on the to-do list that you lose sight of creating quality time.

I've worked with a range of experts to create my list of Top Ten Strategies to Maximize Quality Time - without sacrificing getting things done...

In this episode, Julie Butscher, LCSW and Kirsten dive into the often-tough conversations around whether aging parents should stay at home or move into a community, offering practical strategies, compassionate insights, and a positive outlook to help families find the right solutions. From using the “Spoons Theory” to maximize quality of life, to having the “car key conversation,” planning ahead to avoid crisis, and finding ways to...

What are the most important parts of organizing an estate? What forms need to be in place, even as soon as we turn 18? How do we protect our parents (and our own) finances from accidents to fraud? Estate attorney Kami Pomerantz is here to answer our questions and share her expert knowledge for preparing an estate for a smooth transition at any financial level.

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This yellow sticky note greets me on a recent visit to my parents’ house. I know exactly what it means. I wonder what it might conjure for you?

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• Follow and subscribe to Who Gets the China? on Substack for funny and emotional essays about helping one’s parents live better, longer and saving your sanity while you’re at it. @whogetsthechina.substack.com/
• Visit www.whogetsthechina.com to read essays and sign up fo...

Kirsten sits down with palliative care expert Sarah McCarthy, LCSW, to demystify what palliative care really is and how it differs from hospice. Together they explore how palliative care can support patients and families facing serious diagnoses by focusing on quality of life, medical goals, and meaningful conversations about care preferences. From understanding when to start palliative care to navigating end-of-life planning, medi...

Welcome to this episode of Who Gets the China? Where we are navigating the joys and challenges of life with aging parents, one family heirloom at a time. In this case, it's vintage sewing machines.

My mom is a gifted quilter and sewist, as I have mentioned before. She’s made everything from queen-size quilts to pink taffeta and lace prom dresses (of course, we still have that)!

Once we spent a summer slipcovering the heaviest, most...

In this episode, Kirsten is joined by Nancy Nicholson, an expert in estate organization. They explore the emotional and practical journey of helping parents downsize, from sorting cherished belongings and handling heirlooms to creating safer living spaces and planning for the future. Nancy shares her compassionate expertise, offering strategies that make donating feel good, involve the whole family, and turn a difficult transition ...

Today’s podcast guest, Colleen Attoma-Mathews, LCSW, has an expertise helping families cope with cognitive decline and memory loss. Join us as we breakdown some of the psychology behind why decluttering, downsizing and transitions with older parents are so hard. We discuss things we can do to make this process easier with lots of laughs and aha moments along the way.

Follow Who Gets the China? on www.whogetsthechina.substack.com

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My sister and I just returned from a visit to my parents helping them out after our mom had minor surgery. It gave the 4 of us a rare chance to spend time together as the OG “nuclear family.” It also gave me fodder for my writing journey - some funny, some emotional.

I appreciate this time with my parents in a new way now that I have been working hard to better understand this phase of life and how to embrace it rather than drive m...

Oh boy, the invasion of the handmade throw pillows. It’s real.

Do you have any idea how many throw pillows you can acquire over the course of your life? So. Many. Bed pillows, couch pillows, kitchen chair pillows, desk chair pillows! The options are endless. Some are handmade, others accumulate from trips to HomeGoods, or travel adventures.

When I got married one compromise I was forced to make was adapting to my husband’s minimal ...

Most likely you are familiar with Cross pens. They were founded in 1846 by a family of jewelers and have been used by Presidents since Ronald Reagan for signing bills into law and formalizing other important documents. Growing up, personalized Cross pens were a gift at milestones and from business partners. Back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s they were something of a status symbol. They claim to come with a lifetime manufacturer's warran...

One adage about decluttering is to not shop where you donate. The point is to avoid the temptation to come home with something you didn’t really need. I try my best to heed this advice but sometimes I can’t resist!

About 15 minutes away, we have a very lovely, very expansive, retirement community where several of my friends’ parents have downsizes. They have everything from choir to pickleball and multiple restaurants and probably ...

Recently, I shared Top 10 Tips from experts on how to spend more quality time than productive time when visiting your older parents. (Check it out!) I just got back from a visit to my parents and my husband asked, “Well, how did you do? Did you take your own advice?”

Hmmm, I’m going to take a few minutes to reflect on that in this post and share some gems we uncovered.

Well, I did better than before. I am pretty pleased with my pr...

This weekend I was on a girls weekend and saw a friend I don’t get to see very often. For the last year or so she has been overwhelmed caring for aging parents; dealing with their housing challenges; mourning the loss of a parent; and moving another parent into assisted living.

One of the first things my friend lamented was the complete overwhelm of trying to sift through family memories - namely, old photos and videos. You want to...

Growing up in the 70’s we were part of a “glass animal craze.” Or maybe it was just us. I have no idea, but we amassed quite a collection.

We had these cute gift stores in town like D.W. Curry’s and you could peruse the hundreds of “porcelain” animals - swans on a lake, kittens with a spilled milk bucket, dolphins, horses, you name it. I suppose these were affordable ways to spend a 10 year-old’s allowance or maybe we just liked t...