Aging in Style with Lori Williams

“A cruise ship on land” is how some people describe independent living, and this week’s guest is like the cruise ship director. As a resident experience coordinator, Rhonda Bedrick manages all activities at Pinewood Hills retirement community. She helps seniors live their best lives by coming up with experiences ranging from exercise classes to field trips. Rhonda shares what activities to expect...

“We are what we think we are.” These words especially ring true for Joyce Brown, the reigning champion of the Ms. Texas Senior America pageant. When she was 59 years old, she found herself in a negative headspace and knew she had to make some life changes. She was determined to not let her age negatively influence her - and to make her sixties her best decade yet. Joyce shares her story about shif...

Is it safe to move into senior living right now? Are people still moving in? What precautions are being taken? These are common questions that arise when it comes to senior living communities and COVID-19.  While the pandemic has changed the industry a lot, safety is still a top priority, and many residences have creatively adapted to the circumstances. In this episode Lori shares her observa...

The holidays look a little different this year as Covid-19 continues to limit visits to seniors. You may not be able to spend time with your loved ones in the same physical space, but you can send them meaningful gifts that help lift their spirits. And this week, senior living specialist Anne Marie Barker has ideas for senior gifts to share that are sure to bring smiles. As you plan your holiday s...

It’s common for people to go home for the holidays, reconnect with parents or older relatives, and notice some worrying changes in their lifestyle or behavior. Maybe your mother is falling more often - or maybe she’s forgetting important information.  Some of your concerns may have an easy fix (like a walker), while others need a larger conversation (rethinking their living situation). ...

One in 3 adults aged 65 and older fall each year, and less than half speak to their doctor about it.  It’s a distressing situation that can cause broken bones and a hospital trip, so it’s worth taking seriously. Unfortunately, many worry about losing their independence if they mention this mishap. There are many reasons falls can happen - and, thankfully, there are countless ways to help prev...

How often have you thought, “I’m too old to start something new?” Age shouldn’t define you, especially when it comes to the prospect of starting a new career. More and more seniors are starting new businesses, and some studies even show that as your age increases, so do the odds of your business succeeding. One example of this success comes from Lori’s friend Tricia Spurrier, who has been serving...

Hospice is a word that can bring up many emotions - and misconceptions as well. This week Lori invites Donna French to dispel the myths, who serves as a community liaison with Archway Hospice. With 20 years of senior living experience, she has a wealth of knowledge and a passion for hospice education. Donna explains how hospice isn’t necessarily a last-minute service when death is only days away,...

People don’t typically look forward to estate planning or discussions about death in general, but it’s a critical conversation to have with loved ones. If there’s a high-stress, emergency situation, families are not in the right mindset to make important financial decisions in that moment. That’s why knowing someone’s wishes for when it's time can make it easier down the road. This week Lori welco...

Essential oils seem to be everywhere. They’ve been described as helpful, therapeutic and even miraculous by those who have used them to help with their ailments. Studies in the U.K. have also shown they could be helpful for those suffering from dementia. This week Lori welcomes essential oil guru, Joie Bailey - a certified clinical aromatherapist with experience in the senior services industry. Wh...

This week’s episode features a very special guest: Lori’s 17-year-old daughter, Abby. She’s a snack cart girl for a senior independent living community (which Lori calls a “cruise ship on land”) and is a great example of the multi-generational connections that can happen between teens and seniors.  Though Abby was initially nervous to work with seniors, she has bonded with the people she’s me...

There’s been a common theme throughout this podcast: the importance of finding your purpose. Everyone needs a purpose in life regardless of age. Studies show that having a purpose boosts happiness, alleviates loneliness, and even increases longevity. This week Lori discusses how being old or retired doesn’t mean life is over, it just means your purpose may need to change, as it often does in life....

There are 2 common reasons seniors move to senior living: not eating properly and the need for companionship. Chefs for Seniors addresses both.   Dr. Shaneka Baylor is a franchise owner with Chefs for Seniors in Arlington / Grand Prairie. She’s a board-certified geriatric and ambulatory care clinical pharmacist and certified diabetes educator with the motto “Healthy eating can be tasty.”   Th...

Medicare is a topic that’s often discussed – and often misunderstood. June Kim is a community relations specialist with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas that specializes in Medicare, and she’s here this week to separate the fact from fiction.  Though it can be confusing at times, she’s passionate about making healthcare a more approachable, understandable topic for seniors. This week Lori and...

“A place we would have had our loved ones attend if it had been available when we needed it” is how Laura Lester, owner of Encore Memory Care Day Center, describes her business. Her adult “day stay” is a cause dear to her heart from caring for her own family members with dementia. After she learned what not to do, she now provides plenty of research-backed tips and tricks to share with her guests...

What's the difference between Independent Living and Active Adult Living? What can an active adult community provide to its residents – and what are the benefits? These are common questions that this week’s guest, Beth McGee, is here to answer. Beth is a sales consultant for an age 55+ Active Adult Community called Overture Flower Mound.  With a background in helping seniors move into new com...

Is it possible to make your midlife your happiest life?  Professional speaker and positivity expert Christy Largent helps women achieve just that as the founder of the “mid-life, happy life” community. The secret is the power of your mindset. In other words, “you’re as happy as you think you are.”   Drawing from stories about her father’s confidence and energy, Christy discusses how...

In this raw and touching episode of Aging in Style with Lori Williams, Kelli Sattler takes the guest's seat to reveal her mother's journey with Alzheimer's disease, and open up about how she navigated this sensitive time as daughter, wife and mother to three boys.  Some of the most insightful tips from this conversation include  -The warning signs of dementia and Alzheimer's disease -How...

What are Residential Senior Care homes, what type of care do they provide, and who would be a good fit as a resident? In this episode of Aging in Style with Lori Williams, Lori sits down with Jennifer Davis, founder of Davis Family Elder Care to discuss all aspect of this type of senior housing, and what inspired her to open her own residential care home. The passion to work with seniors runs deep...

Lori explores Home Care and Home Health with Kevin Jones, Owner of BrightStar Care Flower Mound. Kevin and his wife Terry bought the Flower Mound franchise five years ago as they were looking to transition careers and do meaningful work for the community.   Kevin is a certified Senior Advisor with expertise on health care and other needs for seniors and in this week's episode, he shares...

In this episode of Aging in Style, Lori explains the ins and outs of senior housing, how to pay for each one, and gives real life examples of seniors who have made the transition to each type of senior housing.  After 13 years of working with hundreds of Texans who looked to transition, Lori has become an expert in Active Living, Independent living, Memory Care, Assisted Living, Residential C...

What is a day like in a senior center?  Lori Williams sits down with Jaime Jaco Cooper from Flower Mound's Senior Center for a behind the scenes look at what Senior Centers look like in a normal day (pre-COVID-19), who joins it (you'll be surprised!), and how they put together their active programming (it's more than just bingo!). In this episode, Lori and Jaime explain the role and impact th...

Aging is a unique journey for every single one of us: we all have different needs and experience different levels of independence. In this episode, Lori Williams discusses the ins and outs of Independent Living, with Kristin Woods from Holiday Retirement. Kristin has worked with some of the biggest names in the senior living industry including Brookdale, where she received training in Dementia Car...

What's the biggest difference between a senior and a young person selling their home? Lori Williams sat down with Tricia Spurrier, a Real Estate Agent specialized in senior transition to discuss the facts, fears and processes that seniors face when it's time to "move on". Tricia, who has been working in the senior world for over 20 years, reveals the bigger obstacles that seniors face when a home...

Lori Williams is an optimist by nature who truly believes that you can follow your dreams no matter your age. In the first episode of Aging in Style, Lori shares her personal journey and how she followed her passion, ultimately creating her dream job in her mid 50s.  In this episode, she is providing invaluable support to her community (even during pandemic times)!Having spent the past 13 yea...