Aging Today Podcast

This week, Dr. Warren Wolf talks about the challenges of caregivers and the attributes that make the most successful ones. It’s a demanding profession because it’s a life spent in two worlds simultaneously. That may be why only one percent of our population are professional caregivers. As our world ages around us, where are we going to find enough caregivers for our aging population? And who are t...

This week on Aging in Portland, Matt Gannon of ComForCare Home Care of West Linn discussed in-home dementia care and the importance of caregivers. Matt has been a caregiver and advocate for people living with dementia for more than 17 years. He brings his unique perspective about why caregivers hold one of the most important jobs in today's aging world. Combined with his expertise in dementia care...

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, Gastroenterologist with the Plant-Fed Gut, talks to us about the benefits of a fiber-fueled, plant-based diet, together with OSU student Grace Myers, in Part II of a fascinating interview. Dr. Bulsiewicz (MD, MSCI) and Grace Myers continue their lively conversation, picking up where they left off the week before in their discussion about how a turbo-charged healthy gut optimiz...

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, Gastroenterologist with the Plant-Fed Gut, talks to us about the benefits of a fiber-fueled, plant-based diet. Did you know that there are over 39 trillion microbes in your gut? And do you realize that the survival of these microbes depends on the types of foods we introduce to the "gut microbiome" in which they thrive? Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, Gastroenterologist of the Plant-Fed...

Storytellers Nancy McDonald and Laurence Overmire, actors and educators who explore genealogy, joined us to discuss how you can find gold in your family tree. Laurence’s multi-faceted career includes roles as a poet, actor, director, educator, and genealogist. He is the author of 11 books, and Scottish historian Ted Cowan calls him “a true sennachie, genealogist as well as bard.” Laurence is joine...

This week, we’re so pleased to have Pat Dignan join us to share the Dignan story. On Aging in Portland, we believe that “stories matter” because they are the language of the heart. As we get older, our stories come from a series of scenes over time that reveal our purpose, our meaning, and occasionally, our secrets. It has been said if you want to get to know someone, get to know their story. Let’...

At the ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter, Stephanie Rudeen is the Director of Donor Engagement, and Amanda Mason is the Assistive Technology Services Coordinator. As our guests this week, Stephanie and Amanda talk about how important it is for humans to communicate with each other, and how difficult it can be for people with ALS. That’s because about 75% of people living with ALS lo...

This week on Aging in Portland, I interviewed Dr. Cyrus Khambatta, co-founder of Mastering Diabetes. Dr. Khambatta, with a Ph. D. in Nutritional Biochemistry, and his partner, Robby Barbaro, with an MPH, are the co-founders of Mastering Diabetes, @masteringdiabetes.com. They have teamed up to make sure people living with all forms of diabetes can optimize their diet and exercise habits to feel gre...

I had an opportunity to interview Lisa Kendall, the Recruiting Coordinator from ComForCare Home Care in West Linn. We discussed the qualities and traits she seeks when recruiting caregivers. That matters because any caregiver who walks into your home has a meaningful impact on your life. That’s why you should insist that your caregiver is a match to your specific needs. Lisa understands that and s...

This week on Aging in Portland, our guest is “Dr. B,” a gastroenterologist from The Plant Fed Gut. We talked about how anyone can get their gut thriving again by becoming “fiber fueled.” Optimizing your gut health will have a MASSIVE impact on your total wellness, from improved digestion to balanced hormones and a stronger immune system. Dr. B, a gastroenterologist, was himself a junk-food junkie...

This week, we have a double-header. Our two guests are eminent physicians, and both of them are joining us to talk about this week’s Aging in Portland theme, “How to survive a pandemic and embrace healthy senior living!” My first guest is Dr. Michael Greger, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of NutritionFacts.org, who kicked off the first half of our show discussing his new book, How...

This week on Aging in Portland, our guest and guide is Krista Kinzer, Executive Director of Fieldstone Cornell Landing. Choosing the right long-term care community can be challenging. Our guest and guide for today's show is Krista Kinzer, who Krista began her career as a caregiver, and today is the Executive Director of Fieldstone Cornell Landing. She knows that choosing the right long-term care c...

If you’re at the point where you need home care, how do you know that the person who comes to assist you is the right person? This week on Aging in Portland, I interviewed Joanne Kantor, the Administrator of ComForCare Home Care in West Linn, and Danielle Hoygaard, their Director of Client and Caregiver Relations. We discussed matching the right home caregiver to each situation. Since caregiving i...

Our guest this week is Allison Lindauer, Ph. D. and Nurse Practitioner from the Layton Aging and Alzheimer's Center at OHSU. She gave us her take on the latest research and treatment. Dr. Lindauer and her colleagues at OHSU offer hope for those with dementia through leading-edge treatment and research. Their technology is designed to improve at-home care. They work with the Oregon Center for Aging...

Lance Christian, Executive Director, and Stephanie Rudeen, Director of Donor Engagement of the ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter, joined us for ALS Awareness Month. We were very pleased to have Lance and Stephanie back in the studio with us for an update. Of course, COVID-19 is having an impact on those living with ALS and their families. Practicing safe hygiene is especially crucia...

This week on Aging in Portland, our guest is “Dr. B,” a gastroenterologist from The Plant Fed Gut. We talked about how anyone can get their gut thriving again by becoming “fiber fueled.” Optimizing your gut health will have a MASSIVE impact on your total wellness, from improved digestion to balanced hormones and a stronger immune system. Dr. B, a gastroenterologist, was himself a junk-food junkie...

This week, Michelle Rahn, a motivational speaker, joined us to talk about how to defy the gravity of aging expectations. Meeting new experiences and challenges in life can easily lead to trepidation, especially as we journey on this unpredictable path called "aging." As Michelle says, “Aging deliberately is not passive. It lets us be the best that we can be and allows us to accomplish things that...

This week, our guests are Seth Dickinson and Olivia Mathis of Oasis Senior Advisors. They explain the details and options for transitioning to senior care in the Portland area. Do you know what to look for when it comes time to consider transitioning from an independent lifestyle to senior care? Most people find it daunting. Seth and Olivia have an intimate knowledge of Portland’s choices for long...

This week, our guest is Bob Kuenzli, father, grandfather, and storyteller. Bob joins us for the January feature on our series, “Your Story Matters.” Bob was born in 1926 and has been a keen observer for over nine decades. He shares his life story with us – what it was like growing up in Salem, as a childhood prankster, then years later witnessing the burning of Oregon's state capital building. He...

This week, our guest is attorney Tom Pixton of Pixton Law Group. We discussed the peace of mind that comes from thoughtful legal planning. As an attorney, Tom’s mission is to ease some of the burdens of aging and provide peace of mind by using a holistic and caring approach to planning for life’s challenges. In addition to standard legal issues, an attorney can help senior citizens make provisions...

This week, Carolyn Miller Parr joined us. She is a retired judge, mediator, and author who shares her insights about how families can live in peace as their parents' age. In her newest book, Love’s Way: Living Peacefully with Your Family as Your Parents Age, she outlines the positive ways adult children can deal with their aging parents. It is a practical handbook that helps us all understand the...

This week on Aging in Portland, I interviewed Dr. Cyrus Khambatta, co-founder of Mastering Diabetes. Dr. Khambatta, with a Ph. D. in Nutritional Biochemistry, and his partner, Robby Barbaro, with an MPH, are the co-founders of Mastering Diabetes, @masteringdiabetes.com. They have teamed up to make sure people living with all forms of diabetes can optimize their diet and exercise habits to feel gre...

This week, our guests were Don Fries and Bev Bow, co-founders of Healthy World Sedona. We talked about their recent annual Healthy World Sedona Conference 2020. Don and Bev join us to discuss the success of the conference, now in its fourth year. The conference addresses the science and practice of “food as medicine” – medicine that goes beyond managing chronic conditions to promote true healing....

This week on Aging in Portland, I interviewed Merrily Orsini, President of corecubed.com, and an award-winning expert in home care companies and what they can do for you. Merrily is a thought leader in the in-home care industry and is involved in numerous organizations, where she provides her insight and advice. She is a leader in the Help Choose Home initiative and hosts their podcasts, which foc...

This week on Aging in Portland, I interviewed Pat Patton, Director of The Odd Couple, and Grant Byington, the actor who plays Felix Ungar, at the Lakewood Theatre. The Odd Couple is a fictional bromance based on Neil Simon's Broadway play in 1965. This successful play, film, and 1970s TV series is being revived on the stage at Lakewood Theatre. Pat Patton discusses the play’s co-stars: Grant Bying...