Aging in Style with Lori Williams

How to find happiness as we age? Katharine Esty likes to joke that she has “peaked at 87.” A psychologist and activist for aging, she’s also the author of Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected Happiness. The book contains insights from her interviews with 128 people aged 80+ from all around the country about what it means to age. Katharine explains h...

How can I prepare for a loved one having a medical emergency? Create an easily retrievable binder of important documents, including financial and medical information. When your loved one has a medical emergency, it’s a godsend to have all the information you need in one place. It may not be your first instinct to find the log-in for your loved one’s health insurance portal, for example, but you ma...

How can I best support my loved one in the hospital? Become a patient advocate. As your loved one's age, health incidents happen - and if they become hospitalized, you may find yourself in the position of “patient advocate.” Senior Living Expert Lori Williams lived this experience as her husband was hospitalized for strokes over the holiday season. While undeniably stressful, it was also eye-openi...

What should I do if my loved one is in ICU? Learn Lori Williams’ 5 tips for family members to know when their loved one is in ICU When your loved one is in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital, time stops. It feels surreal, and the environment can be stressful - no windows, a constant coming and going of doctors and nurses, buzzing, beeping and doors slamming. It’s easy to feel like every...

We hear about childproofing a home, but there’s another level of difficulty when you add years of experience of using common household items. That’s why it’s important to make your home safe if you’re caring for a senior with dementia. They’re often able to operate appliances, but their judgment is impaired - leading to home and personal safety issues. Megan Rowe joins Senior Services Expert Lori...

How can I prevent cognitive decline? Try the Alzheimer Association’s 10 ways to love your brain   The new year is underway, and many have begun new goals in physical fitness. Physical health is important, but an often-overlooked part of the body is our brain. Just like a workout regimen, there are everyday activities you can do to help your brain health – which also play a big role in dementi...

What do I need to know about strokes? Strokes are largely preventable, and knowing the signs is critical. Strokes are the number five cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. They occur for 2 reasons: a clot or obstruction of blood flow to the brain (called “Ischemic") and when a blood vessel ruptures ("hemorrhagic"). Both cause death in regions of the brain from lack...

Prevention is key when it comes to health - and the same goes for dementia. Just as you’d exercise to help your physical fitness, you can train your brain to help ward off mental decline. Mental fitness is a passion for Ron Nevelow, licensed clinical social worker and certified dementia practitioner. With his practice, called Enlighten Senior Care, he and a team of mental health practitioners work...

What can we learn from the Golden Girls? The ‘80s sitcom teaches us about aging and life. The Golden Girls is a sitcom that first aired in 1985 and follows 4 older women in their “golden years.” Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia share a home together after various life events brought them together, such as the death of a spouse. Together they navigate life while having laughs along the way. While...

Are all senior living communities nursing homes? No, there are many senior living options beyond just nursing homes. "All senior living communities are nursing homes" is a common myth. Perhaps you’ve spoken to your loved one about senior living, and they shut it down, saying, “I can’t go to a nursing home!” You may have the mental image of depressing facilities from the 1970s with low ceilings and...

What are some tips for the holidays when my loved one has dementia? Be adaptable, flexible and communicate The holidays are a time for togetherness and making memories, but the reality is it can also bring stress and disappointment. Holiday traditions may need to evolve over time as family dynamics and situations change, including when a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia. Megan Rowe is the Sen...

What should I buy my grandparents for Christmas? Listen to Lori Williams’ senior gift guide It’s a busy time of year and you may find yourself scrambling to find gifts for everyone on your list. Maybe you’re wondering what to buy Grandpa this year, or you'd like to find something “out of the box” and unexpected. If you’re looking for gift inspiration, Senior Services Expert Lori Williams has a sho...

So you’ve decided you or your loved one needs senior living - how much is it going to cost? A 2020 study by Genworth determined that the U.S. average for assisted living is $4,429 a month, though it could be less (or even more) depending on where you live! Budget is a huge factor in determining what’s available to you. Unfortunately, there’s also a huge misconception that Medicare will cover the c...

It’s estimated that Parkinson’s disease affects 1 million Americans. Ninety-six percent are diagnosed after age 50, and the incidence of disease increases with age. Since April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Senior Services Expert Lori Williams welcomes the CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation, John Lehr. John discusses: - What Parkinson’s disease is + the symptoms - The potential causes -...

So you’re home for the holidays and see signs of dementia or safety risks that could affect your loved one – what’s next? If you notice any red flags, then it’s important to have a conversation with them and know what resources are available to you. Even if nothing bad has happened yet, the holidays are a great time while everyone’s together to discuss their wishes in case they need additional car...

The holidays will be here before you know it, and soon you may be visiting family members you haven’t seen in a while. When spending time with aging loved ones, it’s important to keep your eye out for changes in behavior since the last time you visited. These could be signs of dementia. When it comes to dementia and Alzheimer’s, the more informed you are, the better support your family will receiv...

Imagine riding a bike from Alaska to Panama. Now imagine performing this grueling feat as an 80-year-old! Such a trek is not for the faint of heart, but adventure cyclist Bob Fletcher proves that it can be done with the right mindset, regardless of age. His goal is to break the existing world record for the longest journey on a motorized bicycle – and break existing stereotypes about seniors. With...

You may believe that you can’t bring pets to senior living – and you wouldn’t be alone in that assumption – but fortunately that’s not always the case! Cats as well as small dogs between 20-25 pounds are often allowed in senior living. If you’re unsure whether the community will allow you to bring your pet, it’s important to first understand the different types of senior living. There’s independen...

“Does Medicare cover assisted living?” is a common question Lori Williams gets as a senior living professional. Since Medicare functions as health insurance and doesn’t cover senior living, she welcomes an expert back to the show to share what it does cover. You’ll get a simple overview of the Medicare puzzle from June Kim, a community relations specialist with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas. With...

What do you imagine when you think about the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s? If you imagine people running in a 5K, guess again! Megan Rowe, Senior Program Manager of the Alzheimer’s Association Dallas and Northeast Texas Chapter, rejoins the podcast to give an idea of this event that comes every fall. These walks happen in over 600 communities across the U.S. every year and serve...

Dementia is not just an individual’s disease. In fact, it’s estimated that it requires two-and-a-half loved ones to care for someone with dementia. And caregiving is a 24/7 job. Unfortunately, caregivers often neglect their own needs to care for a loved one with dementia. They will delay their own appointments and engagements while enduring the mental, emotional and physical toll of caregiving – w...

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 prevent th...

Meals on Wheels has been more important than ever the past couple years as seniors became more isolated during the pandemic. But what is Meals on Wheels, and how does it work? And how do you or your loved ones qualify? Michelle McMahon is the executive director of Meals on Wheels in Denton County, Texas, and she’s joined by Senior Nutrition Program Manager Kristine Herrera to discuss all the ins a...

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...

When Bill Cohen was caring for his mother with Alzheimer’s in the mid-2000s, 1 out of every 5 caregivers were men. Now, it’s closer to 1 in 3, and more and more men are stepping into that role. Bill learned many valuable tips and tricks while caregiving, and today he gives back as a caregiver support leader and owner of Cohen Caregiving Support Consultants. He’s also a speaker and volunteer with t...