HEAR FROM OUR FOUNDER
Living Goldenwell and Its Mission
Meet
Kathleen Korpela
Eldercare isn’t just something we do—it’s a role that reshapes our lives. I know this because I’ve lived it.
Caring for an aging parent while raising children and managing a career is a journey no one prepares you for. Adult kids often feel invisible—juggling endless responsibilities with little support or guidance.
I believe that even in the midst of caring for elderly parents, we can lead meaningful, fulfilling lives. My passion lies in helping women—ambitious, hardworking and accomplished, who find themselves navigating senior care stress, dealing with aging parents, and questioning how to balance it all.
Meet
Kathleen Korpela
Caregiving isn’t just something we do—it’s a role that reshapes our lives. I know this because I’ve lived it.
Caring for an aging parent while raising children and managing a career is a journey no one prepares you for. Sandwich generation caregivers often feel invisible—juggling endless responsibilities with little support or guidance.
I believe that even in the midst of sandwich generation caregiving, we can lead meaningful, fulfilling lives. My passion lies in helping women in the sandwich generation—ambitious, hardworking professionals who suddenly find themselves navigating sandwich generation stress, dealing with aging parents, and questioning how to balance it all.
How do I know? Because I’ve been there. I was you.
Like so many challenges in life, we don’t always get to choose our circumstances—but we can choose how prepared we are to handle them. And I wish I had been more prepared when my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia.
The news came just one week before I was set to return from maternity leave. I had a six-month-old, a four-year-old, and a thriving career—then suddenly, I had a third child to care for: my dad. The weight of sandwich generation issues hit me like a wave. The fear, the uncertainty, the never-ending list of questions.
At 36, I was thrown into a reality I hadn’t expected—I spent seven years juggling competing priorities of caring for my father while managing my children, career, and my own well-being. The psychological and emotional rollercoaster of sandwich generation burden, the identity shift of suddenly becoming my father’s “parent”—it was all-consuming. I was constantly torn between responsibilities, struggling to be everything for everyone while silently drowning in sandwich generation burnout.
I did it. I made it through, giving my father the best possible support, care and quality of life I could manage over those several years. I courageously and compassionately navigated his decline until the conclusion of his life, which came to a peaceful end on a beautiful fall day in October 2024. I faced end-of-life and the death of a parent for the first time in my life, and emerged grateful for the experience and more fearless than ever.
The news came just one week before I was set to return from maternity leave. I had a six-month-old, a four-year-old, and a thriving career—then suddenly, I had a third child to care for: my dad. The weight of sandwich generation issues hit me like a wave. The fear, the uncertainty, the never-ending list of questions.
At 36, I was thrown into a reality I hadn’t expected—I spent seven years juggling competing priorities of caring for my father while managing my children, career, and my own well-being. The psychological and emotional rollercoaster of sandwich generation burden, the identity shift of suddenly becoming my father’s “parent”—it was all-consuming. I was constantly torn between responsibilities, struggling to be everything for everyone while silently drowning in sandwich generation burnout.
I did it. I made it through, giving my father the best possible support, care and quality of life I could manage over those several years. I courageously and compassionately navigated his decline until the conclusion of his life, which came to a peaceful end on a beautiful fall day in October 2024. I faced end-of-life and the death of a parent for the first time in my life, and emerged grateful for the experience and more fearless than ever.
The news came just one week before I was set to return from maternity leave. I had a six-month-old, a four-year-old, and a thriving career—then suddenly, I had a third child to care for: my dad. The weight of sandwich generation issues hit me like a wave. The fear, the uncertainty, the never-ending list of questions.
At 36, I was thrown into a reality I hadn’t expected—I spent seven years juggling competing priorities of caring for my father while managing my children, career, and my own well-being. The psychological and emotional rollercoaster of sandwich generation burden, the identity shift of suddenly becoming my father’s “parent”—it was all-consuming. I was constantly torn between responsibilities, struggling to be everything for everyone while silently drowning in sandwich generation burnout.
I did it. I made it through, giving my father the best possible support, care and quality of life I could manage over those several years. I courageously and compassionately navigated his decline until the conclusion of his life, which came to a peaceful end on a beautiful fall day in October 2024. I faced end-of-life and the death of a parent for the first time in my life, and emerged grateful for the experience and more fearless than ever.
Why I Founded Living Goldenwell
Looking back, I remember the constant juggling act—trying to balance my career, my children, my declining father, and somehow, my own well-being.
Sandwich generation caregiving stretched me in every direction, yet I felt completely alone in my struggle.
If you’re in the thick of it right now, you know exactly how isolating it can be. Despite the endless articles on dealing with aging parents, nothing truly spoke to the reality I was living—managing a demanding career, raising children, and caring for an aging loved one, all while battling sandwich generation stress and the emotional weight of it all.
As a woman in the sandwich generation, with unique circumstances of caring for an aging parent while raising children and managing a career, I didn’t feel seen and understood (or helped) by old outdated articles on caregiving topics floating around the internet, or support groups whose member’s circumstances weren’t the same as mine.
I needed something better. That’s why I created Living Goldenwell.
Why I Founded Living Goldenwell
Looking back, I remember the constant juggling act—trying to balance my career, my children, my declining father, and somehow, my own well-being.
Sandwich generation caregiving stretched me in every direction, yet I felt completely alone in my struggle.
If you’re in the thick of it right now, you know exactly how isolating it can be. Despite the endless articles on dealing with aging parents, nothing truly spoke to the reality I was living—managing a demanding career, raising children, and caring for an aging loved one, all while battling sandwich generation stress and the emotional weight of it all.
As a woman in the sandwich generation, with unique circumstances of caring for an aging parent while raising children and managing a career, I didn’t feel seen and understood (or helped) by old outdated articles on caregiving topics floating around the internet, or support groups whose member’s circumstances weren’t the same as mine.
I needed something better. That’s why I created Living Goldenwell.
This journey is as much about you as it is your aging parents.
You don’t have to do this alone. Navigate your eldercare journey with guidance.
This journey is as much about you as it is your aging parents.
You don’t have to do this alone. Navigate your eldercare journey with guidance.
I Do This Because…
I’m deeply passionate about helping women, especially those in the midst of the eldercare phase. I understand firsthand how hard this phase of life can be, and I’m here because I want to make this journey easier for you.
As someone who has experienced the weight of sandwich generation caregiving, I know how overwhelming it can feel to balance the demands of raising your children while also caring for your aging parents.
I do this because I want to come alongside you, to support you, and help you lead your most empowered, confident life during this unique time. It’s incredibly rewarding for me to help women become more capable in their transition to parenting their parent, without losing themselves.
My goal is for you to feel prepared and equipped to navigate the unchartered terrain of eldercare—to approach the complexities of caring for elderly parents in a way that feels loving, thoughtful, and grounded. My goal is for you to look back on this time without regret, knowing you made the best possible decisions for both your parent and yourself.
Every family caregiver has the potential to be a confident advocate for their aging parent. I believe by educating and empowering you through the signature Caregiving From The Middle program, I help you not only navigate caring for elderly parents and build confidence in your eldercare journey but also help you find peace of mind knowing that you're doing right by your parent.
It brings me so much joy and fulfillment to help women play this meaningful role. Being able to assist you in giving your parent the best possible quality of life during their final stages is something I find incredibly rewarding.
Eldercare doesn’t have to feel isolating or overwhelming. I’m here to help you find balance, avoid burnout, and shift from just surviving to truly thriving. Together, we’ll create a path that brings you more peace, purpose, and connection with your loved ones.
I Do This Because…
I’m deeply passionate about helping women, especially those in the midst of sandwich generation caregiving. I understand firsthand how hard this phase of life can be, and I’m here because I want to make this journey easier for you.
As someone who has experienced the weight of sandwich generation caregiving, I know how overwhelming it can feel to balance the demands of raising your children while also caring for your aging parents.
I do this because I want to come alongside you, to support you, and help you lead your most empowered, confident life during this unique time. It’s incredibly rewarding for me to help sandwich generation caregivers become more capable in both their caregiving and their transition from being an adult child to parenting their own parent.
My goal is for you to feel prepared and equipped to navigate the difficult terrain of caregiving—to approach the complexities of caring for your aging parent in a way that feels loving, thoughtful, and grounded. My goal is for you to look back on this time without regret, knowing you made the best possible decisions for both your parent and yourself.
Every family caregiver has the potential to be a confident advocate for their aging parent. I believe by educating and empowering you through the Caregiving From The Middle program, I help you not only navigate sandwich generation stress and build confidence in your caregiving journey but also help you find peace of mind knowing that you're doing right by your parent.
It brings me so much joy and fulfillment to help women in the sandwich generation play this meaningful role. Being able to assist you in giving your parent the best possible quality of life during their final stages is something I find incredibly rewarding.
This caregiving journey doesn’t have to feel isolating or overwhelming. I’m here to help you find balance, avoid burnout, and shift from just surviving to truly thriving. Together, we’ll create a path that brings you more peace, purpose, and connection with your loved ones.
My Work With Women Impacts Our World…
By transcending traditional elder caregiving support.
My vision is to ignite a profound shift in how we view one of life's most important (and unstoppable) transitions and the narratives and stories we tell ourselves about aging, decline, end of life and caregiving.
I guide women to discover that this chapter isn't about managing decline - it's about embracing a transformative season rich with wisdom, unexpected joy, and deep purpose. Through my work, I shatter the cultural myths that paint caregiving and aging as purely burdensome, revealing instead the precious opportunities for healing, learning, and celebrating life's full spectrum.
By rewriting the narrative of what it means to care for aging parents while navigating our own lives, I help women see that this season isn't a detour from living - it's a vital part of life's rich tapestry.
My impact ripples outward as each woman I guide discovers that this chapter can be both challenging and beautiful, both complex and enriching.
I empower them to reject our society's limited view of aging and caregiving, instead embracing this time as one of profound connection, personal evolution, and unexpected moments of joy.
Through this work, I'm helping create a world where we no longer dread our parents' aging but see it as a precious invitation to deepen bonds, gather wisdom, and find meaning in life's natural transitions.
This isn't just about surviving caregiving - it's about thriving within it and discovering the gifts hidden in one of life's most challenging seasons.
With love and empowerment,
Founder, Living Goldenwell
My Work With Women Impacts Our World…
By transcending traditional caregiving support.
My vision is to ignite a profound shift in how we view one of life's most important (and unstoppable) transitions and the narratives and stories we tell ourselves about aging, decline, end of life and caregiving.
I guide women to discover that this chapter isn't about managing decline - it's about embracing a transformative season rich with wisdom, unexpected joy, and deep purpose. Through my work, I shatter the cultural myths that paint caregiving and aging as purely burdensome, revealing instead the precious opportunities for healing, learning, and celebrating life's full spectrum.
By rewriting the narrative of what it means to care for aging parents while navigating our own lives, I help women see that this season isn't a detour from living - it's a vital part of life's rich tapestry.
My impact ripples outward as each woman I guide discovers that this chapter can be both challenging and beautiful, both complex and enriching.
I empower them to reject our society's limited view of aging and caregiving, instead embracing this time as one of profound connection, personal evolution, and unexpected moments of joy.
Through this work, I'm helping create a world where we no longer dread our parents' aging but see it as a precious invitation to deepen bonds, gather wisdom, and find meaning in life's natural transitions.
This isn't just about surviving caregiving - it's about thriving within it and discovering the gifts hidden in one of life's most challenging seasons.
With love and empowerment,
Founder, Living Goldenwell
Eldercare’s hard. Gain your network, roadmap and support system today so you can live with no regrets:
Eldercare’s hard. Gain your network, roadmap and support system today so you can live with no regrets:
TRANSFORMING THE Eldercare experience
Connecting, educating and empowering women so they can better care for their aging parent and themselves.
Photography Credit:
Danielle Barnum Photography
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