Aging Together // Unfiltered

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel interviews Allison Penna, a grief resilience coach, who shares her personal journey of caregiving and navigating grief after the loss of her husband. Allison discusses the challenges of caregiving, the importance of setting boundaries, and the need for self-care. She emphasizes the significance of building n...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this conversation, Dr. Kim Harms, an end-of-life expert, shares her personal journey through grief and the importance of legacy planning. She discusses the concept of emotional insurance, the significance of building emotional legacies, and practical steps individuals can take to prepare for their end of life. The conversation also touches on navigating difficult conver...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel and Arvette M. Reid discuss the critical intersection of healthcare and financial planning for aging adults. Arvette shares her personal journey into elder care, emphasizing the importance of family conversations, the role of care managers, and the unique challenges faced by solo agers. They highlight the ne...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of the Aging Together podcast, host Pooja Patel speaks with Amy Friesen, a bestselling author and expert in the senior living industry. They discuss the challenges and similarities in caregiving across borders, the importance of early planning, and the emotional toll on caregivers. Amy shares insights from her book 'Breadcrumbs' and emphasizes the...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel speaks with Carol L. Stokes, JD, a caregiver coach and advocate. They discuss the challenges faced by caregivers, particularly women, and the importance of self-care, communication, and planning in caregiving. Carol shares her personal journey and insights on how caregivers can reclaim their sense of self an...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this conversation, Pooja & Annie explore the Montessori approach & its application in dementia care, particularly in intergenerational settings. Annie shares her extensive experience in working with both children & elders, emphasizing the importance of purposeful engagement & creating supportive environments. They discuss various activities that can bene...

Send us Fan Mail Summary:  In this conversation, Dr. Pooja A. Patel speaks with Kerry Flickner, vice president at Hartmobility, about the innovative SafetyGrip grab bar designed for individuals with compromised grip strength. They discuss the evolution of grab bars, the inspiration behind SafetyGrip, and the collaboration with KITE Rehab Research Institute. The conversation highlights the importan...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 4!  If you're new here, thank you for joining us!  If you're returning, thank you for your support!  We've got our first-ever LIVE streams this season, along with our very first sponsor. I can't wait to see and hear what you think! Leave some comments :)  S4 Sponsor: SafetyGrip, by Hartmobility Patented anti-slip grip technology for all your h...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Dr. Judith "Judy" Smith, Ph. D., LCSW Judith R. Smith, Ph. D., LCSW, is a NYC based psychotherapist, professor, and researcher on women’s issues as they age.  She is a professor, Emerita, at Fordham University.  She offers support groups on-line for mothers with difficult adult children. Her book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children through Conflict an...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Phyllis Anderson, Retired RN, CEN; RCFE-RCA Phyllis is a retired nurse with nearly three decades of experience, including 22 years in the emergency room and time as an administrator for a memory care facility for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She is the founder and author of Carefolio, a medical healthcare journal designed to empower individuals and caregivers...

Send us Fan Mail Guest : Emily Clark, M.A., CCC-SLP, RYT 500 Hour Yoga Instructor, Meditation Instructor, Life Coach Emily Clark is a Life Coach, RYT-500 Yoga Instructor, Meditation Instructor and founder of Abundant Wellness with Emily. Being a former Speech-Language Pathologist in the healthcare industry it was from her own struggles with pouring her heart and soul into her career, being a mom a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode:   Our guest, Kristin Luckie, shares her lived experience and journey of caregiving for her mother with Alzheimer's disease while she was in her 20s, an age group not often associated with caregiving for an older adult, although with an incredibly high prevalence.  About the Guest: Kristin Luckie has crafted compelling stories for some of the most ambitious or...

Send us Fan Mail Lani, a native of the Windward side of Oahu in Hawai’i, is a wife, mother, grandmother, and seasoned professional with a rich background in education, business, and nonprofit sectors. With a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, she dedicated 15 years to the American Cancer Society in leadership roles focused on health communication and community e...

Send us Fan Mail Lisa Dare, BSc. Pharm, CCC, PCC is principal and CEO of Lisa Dare and Associates. She is an executive coach, leadership practitioner, consultant and speaker with close to 20 years of experience. Her background includes practising as a clinical hospital pharmacist, a medical sales representative for several major pharmaceutical companies and a certified fitness instructor. As a ded...

Send us Fan Mail Janice Russell, the Overwhelm Slayer, deals with the aftermath of a health diagnosis. Clients hire her when they want to optimize their life after a medical diagnosis (brain-based disorders, autoimmune diseases, and/or body-based conditions). With virtual coaching and accountability, they become successful with crossing off their to-dos, managing their paperwork, and optimizing th...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Boss is a Healer who combines Astrology with different Holistic Healing modalities to help people successfully navigate and transform through major life transitions, activate their inner power and manifest the life of their dreams. Her passion for spirituality, combined with travel, has led her to study diverse types of energy modalities around the world. Sarah’s background...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dana Kaplan shares her journey through an unexpected caregiving journey and how she navigated family trauma. About the Guest: As a retired classroom educator, certified trauma specialist, and coach for neurodiverse learners, Dana Kaplan has become an internationally recognized specialist focused on accessibility, inclusivity, and rich belonging in the world. With...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Courtney Moore shares her journey through hospice in caring for her father with pancreatic cancer. This episode is the first of ten episodes in the 2025 Caregiver Stories vertical.  About the Guest: Courtney Moore is an intuitive healer trained in Classical Chinese Medicine. She has a clinic in San Francisco where she offers acupuncture, bodywork, and Reiki, and a...

Send us Fan Mail This trailer reflects on Season 2 and provides a sneak peek into Season 3.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Before we move into today’s episode, I want to express my sincere gratitude as I wrap up Season 2. This podcast show has come a long way since I first started it in January of 2023. All thanks to YOU all, the audience, this podcast grew from an average of 30 listens/month to 30 listens/week, and further to 100+ listens/week. This is the last episode of Season 2 as I take a little...

Send us Fan Mail If you are or will be a family caregiver, this episode is for you! Did you know that over 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to a family member, often neglecting their own health and well-being? Many report high levels of stress and burnout. It's time we address the often-overlooked need for caregiver self-care. Today, we're exploring a trauma-sensitive approach to...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that 70% of Americans over 65 will need some form of long-term care? Yet, only 16% of adults have discussed long-term care with their loved ones. Money talks, but when it comes to long-term care, many families stay silent. Did you know that 53 million Americans are unpaid caregivers, with 61% of them juggling caregiving with employment? The financial strain is real, y...

Send us Fan Mail Are you a planner or a procrastinator when it comes to preparing your home for aging in place? Did you know that nearly 90% of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age, but only a third actually plan for it? With 77% of adults 50 and older wanting to remain in their homes for the long term, it's a question we all need to consider. Yet, many of us put off these cruc...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that only 60% of seniors aged 65 and older use the internet, with many struggling to navigate the complexities of social media and online care platforms? In today's hyper-connected world, where 89% of American adults use the internet and 58% of WHO Member States have implemented digital health strategies, the ability to navigate online platforms is crucial, espec...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Regina Asihene & I talk about assisted and skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Asihene, MD is a highly accomplished specialist in internal medicine with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. She completed her medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine and her residency at The Cambridge Hospital of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Asihene has exten...