Aging in Style with Lori Williams

There are 2 common types of assisted living. First there’s the traditional large buildings with activity directors, transportation, and 100+ residents. It’s large but scalable with more amenities and services to offer residents. Then there’s the smaller residential home model - ‘mom and pop’ style with more individual attention. Loe Hornbuckle is the CEO and founder of Sage Oak Assisted Living and...

Do you wish you could hear a story from Grandpa one more time? Or wish you knew how to make Grandma’s famous pie recipe? Or maybe you just wish you had more videos to revisit and watch a loved one speak and hear their voice. Family Features helps families capture stories, interviews, and special messages from their loved ones. Founder David Olshansky was inspired by his grandparents who escaped fr...

A survey by the Coalition for Aging LGBT found that 95% of the LGBT senior community said their number one concern was housing. It’s a challenge for the LGBT community to find senior living largely due to fear of discrimination. In turn, many will go back into the closet at a time in their lives they should be able to be themselves. The Coalition for Aging LGBT works to Improve and protect the qua...

Probate, power of attorney, advanced directives…there are seemingly countless legal terms that pop up when you’re caring for aging loved ones. Being unable to make sense of it all can also be a barrier to getting your own legal plans in place. In this episode, attorney Kelly Caperton Walling brings her knowledge of probate court, estate planning, guardianship, and business law to the table. She ex...

It’s always good to stay hydrated in the heat of summer, but it’s especially important for seniors. A UCLA study found that 40% of seniors may be chronically under-hydrated, with adults age 65 and above having the highest hospital admission rates for dehydration. There are a few reasons seniors tend to struggle with hydration. Some seniors may have a decreased sense of thirst as they age, and othe...

One out of every 3 seniors over the age of 65 falls in their home, with most falls occurring in the bathroom. If your family member is falling or having trouble getting around at home, but wishes to remain independent, it's critical to make the home safe for them. However, it’s hard to know which products they’ll need, who can install them and how to install them. Inspired by her experience with h...

Driving is a symbol of independence, which is one reason why it’s tough for seniors to accept when it’s time to hand in the keys.  It’s also not a fun conversation for loved ones to initiate. For that discussion to be effective, it’s important to recognize when and why it's time for your loved one to stop driving. Senior Services Expert Lori Williams outlines the 7 signs to look out for, so y...

Dana Mantilia realized how critical it is for people to learn about cybercriminals, identity thieves and scammers while creating her identity protection company.  Criminals often prey upon seniors in particular by playing on their emotions and loneliness, creating a sense of urgency to get them to act fast. That’s why it’s important to have conversations with seniors who aren’t as knowledgeab...

Music is popular for people of all ages, even seniors.  For those with dementia, music has the power to stimulate memories of the past and ease their troubled minds. Some may even be able to play the piano though they’ve lost the ability to speak. Dr. Nicki Cohen is an expert music therapist who began her career in 1978, when the specialty was still relatively new. She explains how music ther...

Though many people have loved ones with dementia, they don’t always know the best way to communicate with them. Senior Services Expert Lori Williams often relays tips to people whose parents have dementia – and they often realize they’re not putting them into practice. Lori’s 5 tips can help you and your loved one with dementia live more peacefully and stress-free. It can be difficult tending to f...

What does a senior placement service and matchmaker have in common?  According to Senior Living Expert Lori Williams, both take into account your needs and preferences to find the right result for you. When it comes to senior living, there are many considerations, like budget, health, mobility, geography, and more. There are also 2 types of placement services: national or local. Lori defines...

In a study of seniors age 50 to 80, the benefits of pet ownership are obvious: 79% said that having a pet reduced stress.  73% said having a pet provides a sense of purpose. 65% said it allowed them to connect with others, and 64% said that having a pet help them to be more physically active. So instead of thinking you’re “too old” for a pet, consider how it keeps you young. This week Senior...

When Lynne Von Villas' father passed away and her mother was suffering dementia, she was inspired to get organized.  She had plenty of paperwork to deal with while carrying out her father’s will and moving her mother to a memory care facility. Eventually she realized she’d benefit from making all the information she needed portable and easy to reference. Having a 3-ring binder containing impo...

What’s involved in assisted living - and how is it different from other senior communities? Senior Living Expert Lori Williams has the answers to common assisted living questions and explains who would benefit from it. A senior would move to assisted living when they have some care needs - maybe vision impairments, or maybe they need help with getting in and out of their wheelchair. Still, assiste...

There comes a time for many of us when we have a talk with our loved ones about their living situation.  Whether you need to find them assisted living or a nursing home, initiating the conversation isn’t always easy - and it’s common to feel guilt. Unfortunately, guilt can increase stress, drain your energy, and cloud your judgment, which can worsen the situation. Senior Living Expert Lori Wi...

If you’re a senior or family of a senior with questions or concerns about your nursing home or assisted living facility, a great resource to use is an ombudsman.  This is a mediator position that help residents free of charge in nursing homes and assisted living throughout the U.S. They protect residents’ safety, welfare, and health and make sure facilities are following regulations and held...

Fifteen years ago, there were plenty of medical books about Alzheimer’s and dementia, but few guides from a caregiver’s perspective.  Author and Speaker Charlotte Canion decided to write a book called You Have to Laugh to Keep from Crying: How to Parent Your Parents with this in mind. She knew a conversational how-to guide would’ve helped others like herself who had to care for loved ones in...

e all know by now that COVID-19 has changed the way we approach senior living and care. One example of a business confronting these changes is Joe & Bella, Inc., a platform launched to help you find “everything you need to make life a little better for older adults.” It offers adaptive clothing, toiletries, and gift boxes for seniors - items that are either necessary or helpful to have, especi...

When you think of senior women living life to the fullest, you might not imagine 107 women between the ages of 50 and 80 jumping out of a plane and skydiving. For Jean Ketcham, this fits perfectly into her international movement Aging but Dangerous® – and this event actually helped kick it off! Aging but Dangerous aims to inspire women 50 and older to control their destinies and make their dreams...

There’s a common perception that Senior Living Expert Lori Williams sees. When she or loved ones recommend seniors get assistive devices or home help, they often worry their independence is threatened. However, many of these tools and practices can help seniors live independently for longer - and give them a better quality of life too. Today Lori explains the top 5 barriers that threaten a senior’...

What does the journey look like to find your perfect senior living community? Senior living expert Lori Williams has a conversation with realtor Trisha Spurrier about one client’s eye-opening experience from top to bottom.“Bob” is an example of a senior who went from surviving to thriving. After his wife passed, Bob found himself lonely in a home that was too big with no family nearby. As the foun...

If you’re moving out of your house of 30 years, where do you even begin?  Donna Rae lifts the veil of the professional packing, moving and liquidation service as the franchise owner of Caring Transitions in North Dallas. With 200 offices across the U.S., the business partners with seniors and their families to declutter, pack, move, and settle into their new home. Many seniors benefit from su...

Mental health is just as important as physical health (if not more)! Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health, particularly in the senior community. Add the “winter blues” and it becomes more necessary than ever for seniors to prioritize their mental well-being. That’s why senior services expert Lori Williams has invited Heidi McBain, a marriage and family therapi...

Finding purpose is vital at any age - especially for seniors.  So setting a New Year’s resolution is just as much for them as anyone. While there’s no age limit on setting goals, there are certain ones that may come in handy for those in their older age. Plus, as the pandemic continues, resolutions for staying happy and healthy are as important as ever. In the first episode of 2021, Lori shar...

Have you visited a parent over the holidays and realized they would benefit from senior living? Maybe they need more socialization and prepared meals, so independent living would be a good option - or maybe they need assisted living for even more help. No matter which senior community you’re leaning toward, Senior Living Expert Lori Williams has 8 tips for you to keep in mind when it comes to tour...