Aging Together

Send us a text

Summary

In this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel speaks with Carol L. Stokes, JD, a caregiver coach and advocate. They discuss the challenges faced by caregivers, particularly women, and the importance of self-care, communication, and planning in caregiving. Carol shares her personal journey and insights on how caregivers can reclaim their sense of self and find support. The conversation emphasizes the need for systemic changes to support caregivers and the importance of education and resources in navigating caregiving responsibilities.

Takeaways<...

Send us a text

Summary

In this conversation, Pooja & Annie explore the Montessori approach & its application in dementia care, particularly in intergenerational settings. Annie shares her extensive experience in working with both children & elders, emphasizing the importance of purposeful engagement & creating supportive environments. They discuss various activities that can benefit both age groups, the challenges faced in intergenerational care, & the significance of respite care for caregivers. The conversation also touches on the role of technology & resources available for families, as well as navigating regulations in intergenerational care settings. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the...

Send us a text

Summary: 

In this conversation, Dr. Pooja A. Patel speaks with Kerry Flickner, vice president at Hartmobility, about the innovative SafetyGrip grab bar designed for individuals with compromised grip strength. They discuss the evolution of grab bars, the inspiration behind SafetyGrip, and the collaboration with KITE Rehab Research Institute. The conversation highlights the importance of aesthetics in product design, early adoption feedback, partnerships for community engagement, and future research on the product's effectiveness. Flickner emphasizes the need for better solutions for aging populations and the importance of educating caregivers and u...

Send us a text

Welcome to Season 4! 

If you're new here, thank you for joining us! 

If you're returning, thank you for your support! 

We've got our first-ever LIVE streams this season, along with our very first sponsor.

I can't wait to see and hear what you think! Leave some comments :) 

Send us a text

Guest: Dr. Judith "Judy" Smith, Ph.D., LCSW

Judith R. Smith, Ph.D., LCSW, is a NYC based psychotherapist, professor, and researcher on women’s issues as they age.  She is a professor, Emerita, at Fordham University.  She offers support groups on-line for mothers with difficult adult children. Her book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children through Conflict and Change, is based on a three-year research project, and brings to life the stories of fifty women, each over sixty years old, whose lives were drastically altered by becoming the default safe...

Send us a text

Guest: Phyllis Anderson, Retired RN, CEN; RCFE-RCA

Phyllis is a retired nurse with nearly three decades of experience, including 22 years in the emergency room and time as an administrator for a memory care facility for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She is the founder and author of Carefolio, a medical healthcare journal designed to empower individuals and caregivers to take charge of their health and effectively track caregiving details.

Phyllis’s passion for health advocacy stems from her extensive nursing background and personal expe...

Send us a text

Guest: Emily Clark, M.A., CCC-SLP, RYT 500 Hour Yoga Instructor, Meditation Instructor, Life Coach

Emily Clark is a Life Coach, RYT-500 Yoga Instructor, Meditation Instructor and founder of Abundant Wellness with Emily. Being a former Speech-Language Pathologist in the healthcare industry it was from her own struggles with pouring her heart and soul into her career, being a mom and wife and feeling the pressure of always having to deliver results that she started her journey to radiant living. Through studying Yoga Philosophy, Meditation, Western healing modalities and the...

Send us a text

In this episode: 

Our guest, Kristin Luckie, shares her lived experience and journey of caregiving for her mother with Alzheimer's disease while she was in her 20s, an age group not often associated with caregiving for an older adult, although with an incredibly high prevalence. 

About the Guest: Kristin Luckie has crafted compelling stories for some of the most ambitious organizations today, including AT&T, Movember and the James Beard Foundation. A Jill of all trades with 15 years of communications experience, she works diligently to ad...

Send us a text

Lani, a native of the Windward side of Oahu in Hawai’i, is a wife, mother, grandmother, and seasoned professional with a rich background in education, business, and nonprofit sectors. With a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, she dedicated 15 years to the American Cancer Society in leadership roles focused on health communication and community engagement. Following her retirement, Lani founded Alaka’i Associates, a wellness business guiding individuals toward healthier, more fulfilling lives. She also contributes as an editor for Givers Guides, supports the nonprofit Gimme A Break...

Send us a text

Lisa Dare, BSc. Pharm, CCC, PCC is principal and CEO of Lisa Dare and Associates. She is an executive coach, leadership practitioner, consultant and speaker with close to 20 years of experience. Her background includes practising as a clinical hospital pharmacist, a medical sales representative for several major pharmaceutical companies and a certified fitness instructor. As a dedicated life long learner she is continually adding new and innovative tools to her coaching and consulting tool kit. This enables her to support clients in becoming the best version of themselves in the pursuit...

Send us a text

Janice Russell, the Overwhelm Slayer, deals with the aftermath of a health diagnosis. Clients hire her when they want to optimize their life after a medical diagnosis (brain-based disorders, autoimmune diseases, and/or body-based conditions). With virtual coaching and accountability, they become successful with crossing off their to-dos, managing their paperwork, and optimizing their time. You can find blog posts and other resources on her website: www.JaniceRussell.com.

Send us a text

Sarah Boss is a Healer who combines Astrology with different Holistic Healing modalities to help people successfully navigate and transform through major life transitions, activate their inner power and manifest the life of their dreams. Her passion for spirituality, combined with travel, has led her to study diverse types of energy modalities around the world. Sarah’s background includes certifications and trainings in Western and Medical Astrology, Akashic Records Healing, Reiki, ICF Life Coaching, NLP, Intuitive Cards and Crystal Healing. Sarah has lived in China, France and Argentina and offers sessions in English, Fr...

Send us a text

In this episode, Dana Kaplan shares her journey through an unexpected caregiving journey and how she navigated family trauma.

About the Guest:
As a retired classroom educator, certified trauma specialist, and coach for neurodiverse learners, Dana Kaplan has become an internationally recognized specialist focused on accessibility, inclusivity, and rich belonging in the world. With over two decades researching, educating, and implementing the power within and on Holistic Brain Health, Dana founded DEED®, Developing Empathetic Education with Dana just before the pandemic. With a later in life diagnosis, Dana w...

Send us a text

In this episode, Courtney Moore shares her journey through hospice in caring for her father with pancreatic cancer.

This episode is the first of ten episodes in the 2025 Caregiver Stories vertical. 

About the Guest:
Courtney Moore is an intuitive healer trained in Classical Chinese Medicine. She has a clinic in San Francisco where she offers acupuncture, bodywork, and Reiki, and also offers remote intuitive readings to clients around the world. She recently launched The Liberated Body, a 12-week course on excavating and releasing the energetic and e...

Send us a text

This trailer reflects on Season 2 and provides a sneak peek into Season 3. 

Support the show

Send us a text

Before we move into today’s episode, I want to express my sincere gratitude as I wrap up Season 2. This podcast show has come a long way since I first started it in January of 2023. All thanks to YOU all, the audience, this podcast grew from an average of 30 listens/month to 30 listens/week, and further to 100+ listens/week. This is the last episode of Season 2 as I take a little winter break. If you’re interested in what you can look forward to with Season 3, listen through to the end of this epis...

Send us a text

If you are or will be a family caregiver, this episode is for you! Did you know that over 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to a family member, often neglecting their own health and well-being? Many report high levels of stress and burnout. It's time we address the often-overlooked need for caregiver self-care. Today, we're exploring a trauma-sensitive approach to incorporating movement into your daily routine. Our guest will share practical strategies to help caregivers prioritize their own physical and mental well-being, even in the midst of their demanding roles.

This...

Send us a text

Did you know that 70% of Americans over 65 will need some form of long-term care? Yet, only 16% of adults have discussed long-term care with their loved ones. Money talks, but when it comes to long-term care, many families stay silent. Did you know that 53 million Americans are unpaid caregivers, with 61% of them juggling caregiving with employment? The financial strain is real, yet discussions about money and care often remain taboo. Today, we're breaking that silence with our guest who will share her unique perspective on how to open these crucial conversations about personal finance...

Send us a text

Are you a planner or a procrastinator when it comes to preparing your home for aging in place? Did you know that nearly 90% of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age, but only a third actually plan for it? With 77% of adults 50 and older wanting to remain in their homes for the long term, it's a question we all need to consider. Yet, many of us put off these crucial modifications until it's too late. Today, our guest will guide us through the when, why, and how of adapting...

Send us a text

Did you know that only 60% of seniors aged 65 and older use the internet, with many struggling to navigate the complexities of social media and online care platforms? In today's hyper-connected world, where 89% of American adults use the internet and 58% of WHO Member States have implemented digital health strategies, the ability to navigate online platforms is crucial, especially in healthcare. With the surge in telemedicine and health apps, patients and providers alike are facing new challenges in digital literacy. Our guest today will shed light on how we can bridge the digital divide and...

Send us a text

In this episode, Dr. Regina Asihene & I talk about assisted and skilled nursing facilities.

Dr. Asihene, MD is a highly accomplished specialist in internal medicine with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. She completed her medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine and her residency at The Cambridge Hospital of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Asihene has extensive experience in primary care, hospice care, and medical education, having served in various roles including Medical Director at Mystic Health Center (now Mass Gen), as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and...

Send us a text

In this episode, Rachel & I talk about navigating health challenges and hospitalizations with persons living with dementia.

Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP is an occupational therapist and the founder and owner of Dementia Consulting and the Dementia Collaborative LLC.

Rachel is certified in Skills2Care® for caregivers of individuals living with dementia, and she is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Rachel is also a certified master trainer of Skills2Care® through Jefferson Elder Care and trains occupational therapists in the Skills2Care® program. She is also currently a volunteer adv...

Send us a text

Steve Powell is the founder of IndeeLift, the leading manufacturer of human floor lifts that are designed to safely and comfortably lift seniors or others with mobility issues off the floor after falling.

Like millions of Americans, Steve was a caregiver for his aging parents as their health deteriorated. Both of Steve’s parents were determined to age at home, but they each struggled with routine falls, which would leave them stuck on the floor for hours with no way to get back up. Eager to help, Steve invented a device ca...

Send us a text

This month we’re hearing from Dr. Monique Nugent, a practicing hospitalist and an associate director for the Division of Hospital Medicine at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She is also the author of Prescription for Admission: A Doctor’s Guide for Navigating the Hospital, Advocating for Yourself, and Having a Better Hospitalization, a complete guide providing the critical information you need to navigate the hospital. With her advice, readers can stay calm, feel confident, and focus on healing after a health crisis. Dr. Nugent is passionate about advocating for every patient by w...