Building Your Team -- This Week's Mezzo

Jan 27, 2026

Hey Reader,

Welcome to your weekly Mezzo moment!

This Week's Theme: You Weren't Meant to Do This Alone

Here's a lie we've collectively agreed to believe: that good caregivers and parents handle everything themselves.

That asking for help means you're failing. That hiring someone means you don't love them enough to do it yourself. That needing support is a sign of weakness rather than wisdom.

Let's call that what it is: NONSENSE that leads to burnout.

The truth is, caregiving was never designed to be a solo act. Historically, families lived in multi-generational homes with built-in support networks. Villages raised children together. Elders were cared for by communities, not one exhausted adult child squeezing in doctor's appointments between work calls.

You're not struggling because you're bad at this. You're struggling because you're trying to do the work of several people with the resources of one.

This week, we're talking about building your caregiving team — not the fantasy version where money is unlimited and everyone's helpful, but the realistic version where you start with what you have and build from there.

Because the strongest thing you can do isn't push through alone. It's ask: who else can help carry this?

Here’s what we’re diving into this week:

In the News
Quick Win
Deep Dive Topic of the Week
Meal Plan (for you or your loved one)
Support

Let’s get into it. 💛

IN THE NEWS: Worth Your Limited Reading Time

Millennial Parent Warned About Amazon Echo by Gen Z Kid—and She’s Right — Newsweek — If you didn't already know, you're being recorded.
A millennial's money rules for the new year — Reuters — We love the idea of being less stressed about money in 2026.
Millennials are giving up on the thought of ever buying a house and experts estimate fewer will become homeowners — The Independent — Answer the poll below for us!

Would you use ai for therapy?

Yes

It's hard to say.

🔥 QUICK WIN OF THE WEEK

Action: Map Your Current Team

Before you can build your team, you need to see what you're already working with.

Grab a piece of paper and make three columns:

People ⎸ What They Help With ⎸ What They Could Do
(Name) ⎸ (Current role) ⎸ (Untapped potential)

Include everyone: family members, friends, neighbors, paid help, doctors, even the helpful person at the pharmacy.

Be honest:

Who actually shows up vs. who offers but never follows through?
Who's willing but hasn't been asked?
Where are the biggest gaps?

Most people discover two things: their team is smaller than they thought, AND there are people who'd help if they knew how.

This map is your starting point. No judgment — just clarity.

Next step: pick one gap and one person who might fill it and ask them! (Closed mouths don't get fed.)

Deep Dive: The Roles You Might Not Know You Need

When we think "caregiving team," we usually picture family members dividing tasks. But there's a whole world of professionals and resources that can lighten your load — many of which you've probably never heard of. (Also, FYA - caregivers include parents. If you are a parent, you are a caregiver because you are caring for someone else.)

For Your Aging Parent:

Geriatric Care Manager (also called Aging Life Care Professionals) These are specialists (usually nurses or social workers) who assess your parent's needs, coordinate care, navigate medical systems, and help with crisis management. They're especially valuable for long-distance caregivers or complex medical situations. They're not cheap ($100-200/hour), but even a one-time consultation can save you months of guesswork.

Patient Advocate When medical situations get complicated, patient advocates help navigate hospital systems, understand treatment options, review medical bills, and ensure your parent's wishes are respected. Some hospitals have them on staff; independent advocates can be hired privately.

Home Health Aides vs. Companions Know the difference: home health aides can assist with medical tasks (medications, wound care) and are often covered by insurance. Companions provide non-medical help — meal prep, transportation, company — and are typically private pay but more affordable.

Adult Day Programs These provide structured activities, socialization, and supervision during the day while you work or take a break. Many are sliding-scale or covered by Medicaid. This is an underutilized and often excellent option.

For Your Kids:

Your babysitter bench You need more than one. Build a roster of 3-4 reliable options so you're not scrambling when you need emergency coverage for a parent crisis.

School counselors and teachers Let them know what's happening at home. Kids process stress at school too, and teachers who understand the context can offer grace and flag concerns.

For You:

Therapist or counselor Specifically, one who understands caregiver stress. This isn't a luxury — it's maintenance for the engine that keeps everything running.

Caregiver support groups Both in-person and online. Sometimes you need people who get it without explanation. The Caregiver Action Network, local Area Agencies on Aging, and disease-specific organizations (Alzheimer's Association, etc.) all offer free options. We also are building our own community in Skool to help develop a space that just makes sense for where we are in our lives.

Community Resources You Might Be Missing:

Area Agency on Aging: Free resource navigation for seniors (find yours at eldercare.acl.gov)
Meals on Wheels: Not just for the homebound — can provide respite for you
Faith communities: Many offer visitor programs, meal trains, transportation
Pharmacy delivery: One less errand
Grocery pickup: Time is currency right now

CLICK HERE for a printable list of resources that can help with your parents.

The Mindset Shift:

Building a team isn't admitting defeat. It's acknowledging that sustainable caregiving requires support — for them AND for you.

Start small. Add one resource this month. Ask one person for one specific thing. Your team doesn't need to be complete tomorrow. It just needs to start growing today.

The Waitlist Is Finally Open!!
Built by caregivers for caregivers, Villy is the best solution to help you manage and share care for your loved ones, without sacrificing your career, relationships, or sanity.

Join the Waitlist

🥗 WEEKLY MEAL PLAN (for you or your parents)

30-Minute Meals on a Budget: Freezer-Friendly Edition

(Make ahead. Thank yourself later.)

These meals freeze beautifully — double the batch on a calmer day and stock your freezer for the chaotic ones.

MONDAY: Chicken Burrito Bowls (Freezer-Friendly Filling)
TUESDAY: Baked Ziti (Freezes Perfectly)
WEDNESDAY: Turkey Taco Meat + Fixings
THURSDAY: Vegetable Beef Soup
FRIDAY: Black Bean Quesadillas
SATURDAY: Sausage & Peppers (Slow Cooker or Skillet)
SUNDAY: Chicken Pot Pie Filling (Freezer Stash)

For more details on these meals, click here.

WEEKLY GROCERY ESTIMATE: ~$85-90 for a family of 4-6

Batch Cooking Strategy:

Spend 2 hours on a Sunday making: burrito bowl filling, taco meat, and soup
Freeze half of each immediately
Future you will be very grateful

🌐 Need to talk?

Most families wait until there's an emergency to start planning, which often leads to rushed decisions and unnecessary stress. Nayberly helps you get ahead of the curve with a personalized care plan that addresses what matters most to your family. Book a consultation and walk away with concrete next steps—not just more worry.

Connect with A Consultant