Aging Matters

Conversation w/ DeShaundra Jones, Senior Director, Customer Experience & Stakeholder Engagement, Washington Gas, about ways to increase safety and energy efficiency at home and winter driving tips

Conversation withChris Clough, Certified Personal Trainer, about exercise and physical activity benefits for older adults and how a personal trainer can promote and maintain wellness

Conversation with Jenny Inker MBA PhD LALFA, Assistant Professor & Co-Director, Assisted Living Administration Specialty Area, Virginia Commonwealth University, about definitions of aging and elderhood, ageism, and navigating the aging process

Conversation with Maestro Thomas Colohan, Artistic Director, Washington Master Chorale and Conductor, Fairfax Choral Society Symphonic Chorus, about history and origins of traditional and modern Christmas carols and favorite holiday songs sung most often

Conversation with Jelena Kecmanovic, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and Founding Director, Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute, about prevalence of holiday blues among older adults and ways families can keep loved ones’ spirits up during the holidays 

Conversation with Jay White, EdD, MSG, Gerontologist and Director of Advocacy and Education, The Longevity Project for a greater Richmond, about athazagoraphobia, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis/treatment, and living with phobias

Conversation with Eric Anderson, MD, Director, Interventional Pulmonology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Professor, Clinical Medicine, Georgetown University, about lung cancer including risk factors, diagnosis, treatment and prevention

Conversation with Albert Rizzo, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Lung Association, about respiratory diseases, and Gelareh Bassiry, Outreach Specialist, Arlington Agency on Aging (AAA) about AAA resources for family caregivers and their families

Conversation with Neeraj Mendiratta, MD, Assistant Physician-in-Chief, Kaiser Permanente/Volunteer Medical Expert, American Heart Association (AHA), and Donna Gayles, Washington, D.C. Senior Client Relations Executive, Capital Caring Health/family caregiver, about AHA study findings supporting palliative care for heart failure patients

Conversation with Michelle Thomas, Coordinator, Virginia Insurance Counseling & Assistance Program (VICAP) about the Medicare program, Medicare open enrollment, and VICAP services

Conversation with Robin Edwards, Certified Senior Advisor, CarePatrol, about alternative living arrangements for older adults and how senior placement agencies help families navigate best options

Conversation with Drew Martin, Nurse Practitioner, Cardiology Physician Group, Virginia Hospital Center, about the aging heart and cardiovascular diseases among older adults, including risk factors, signs/symptoms, treatment, and prevention

Conversation with Claudia Fine, Chief Professional Officer, eFamilyCare, about digital technology for the family caregiver

Conversation with w/ Kristin Zimmerman, PharmD, and Emily Peron, PharmD, Associate Professors, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, about polypharmacy, causes/risks of multiple prescriptions and over the counter medications, deprescribing medications, and medication management 

Conversation with Ali Walker, Chair, and Keith Tate, Treasurer, Board of Directors, National Capital Area Chapter, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, about risk factors, intervention, and prevention strategies for older adults at risk of suicide, and resources for family members affected by suicide

Conversation with Kendra Farrow, Interim Project Director, Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center, about age-related eye diseases causing low vision, rehabilitation services, vision technologies, and educational resources. 

Conversation with Rohit Satoskar, MD, Director, Medical Services, MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, and Medical Director, Liver Transplantation, about liver diseases - risk factors, signs/symptoms, diagnosis/treatment, and liver transplant process

Conversation with Jamie Beversdorf MD, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Hospital and Palliative Care, UnityPoint Health, about end-of-life care in the ICU, treatment choices, and role of patient, care partners, family, and health provider team in care-related decisions

Conversation with Teri Deal, Physical Therapist, Board Certified Geriatric Specialist, and Vestibular Therapist, The Balance Center, about the relationship between balance problems and falls in older adults, causes and risk factors, and exercises/activities to prevent them.

Conversation with Margaret Gloria, MD, Medical Director, Palliative Care, and Hospice, Goodwin House, and Rene Laje, Ph. D., Program Coordinator,  Mental Health Services, Jewish Social Service Agency, about why post-pandemic re-entry may be more troubling for older adults, emotions they may experience, and strategies to reduce anxiety.

Conversation with Shira Lotzar, Chief Engagement Officer, Purposeful Hire, and Co-Founder, Boomerworks.org, about the current status of the 50+ community in the workplace, exploring alternative employment, and how to effectively achieve employment goals.

Conversation with Chris Clough, Certified Personal Trainer, about exercise and physical activity benefits for older adults and how a personal trainer can promote and maintain wellness

Conversation with Beth Anton, Leader, GriefShare, and Cindi Uncles, widow, and GriefShare participant, about grief and loss of a family member, impact on survivors, and assistance and support provided by a grief recovery support program.

Conversation with Linda Kelleher, Chair, Arlington VA Commission on Aging, and Cynthia Davis, Chair, Age-Friendly Arlington Task Force, about needs of aging Arlington residents and what domains of livability are required to create an age-friendly community  

Conversation with Rachael Sussman, MD, Assistant Professor, Urology & OB-GYN, Medstar Medical Group, about kidney and bladder problems including types, risk factors, causes, and symptoms; also, treatment options and lifestyle changes to prevent these conditions