Before the Crisis

In this relaunch episode of Before the Crisis , Liz sits down with Stephanie Wilson, MS , Manager of Programs and Community Engagement for APDA Iowa, for a candid conversation about a topic many families, care teams, and senior communities avoid: sex, intimacy, and connection in later life. Stephanie brings her background in gerontology, neurology support, and Parkinson’s community programming int...

What happens when something feels off… but no one tells you what’s really going on? In this episode of Before the Crisis , Angie Sly shares her raw and honest experience caring for her mother through dementia without a clear diagnosis, without guidance, and without knowing what resources were available. From early signs like behavior changes and missed medications to dangerous falls, hospitalizati...

In this episode of The Golden Hour , Liz sits down with Golden Concier teammates Tasha Tucker and Jody Jones to talk about what real advocacy looks like in senior care and to officially welcome Jody to the team. They unpack the idea of “dignity of risk” and why seniors deserve the right to make their own choices, even when those choices feel uncomfortable to families or professionals. The three al...

In this powerful episode of The Golden Hour , host Liz Keller sits down with Angela Van Pelt , Iowa’s State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Melanie Kempf , Program Manager for Quality and Process Improvement. Together, they shed light on the critical — and often misunderstood — role of the Ombudsman’s Office in protecting seniors in long-term care facilities. From resident rights and care complaints...

In this episode of The Golden Hour , host Liz Keller sits down with Dr. Malinda Shultice to have a brutally honest conversation about the realities of senior living — from the financial pressures and ethical gray areas to the burnout and moral decisions administrators face every day. Malinda shares her journey from “accidentally” joining senior living administration to becoming a passionate advoca...

In this episode of The Golden Hour , Liz Keller sits down with Tasha Tucker, senior care specialist and Medicaid expert at Golden Concierge. Tasha shares her journey from working in hospitals and Medicaid programs to serving as a Community Relations Director in senior living communities—and now blending both worlds to provide concierge-level support for seniors and their families. Together, Liz an...

What does it really take to keep seniors safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes? In this episode of The Golden Hour , Liz Keller sits down with Dave Williamson , Housing Services Manager for Polk County, to uncover the programs that make aging in place possible. From $5,000 grants for home modifications to statewide weatherization assistance and emergency repair funding, Dave shares...

When you or a loved one faces a serious illness, navigating the healthcare system can feel overwhelming. That’s where leaders like Aimee Spores , Director of Hospice and Palliative Care at WesleyLife, come in. In this episode of The Golden Hour , Aimee breaks down the differences between palliative and hospice care, explains how WesleyLife’s bedside model is changing the landscape in Iowa, and sha...

In this episode of The Golden Hour , Liz sits down with Jeff Raines , owner of Senior Helpers Des Moines. For more than a decade, Jeff and his team have walked alongside Iowa families, providing personalized in-home care that helps seniors live safely and independently. We talk about: Jeff’s journey into senior care and why he chose this path The unique assessments and tools Senior Helpers uses to...

What does it take to create a retirement that’s both secure and stress-free? In this episode of The Golden Hour , Liz Keller sits down with Matthew Richman (RICP®, CFF®, CAS®, NSSA®) , founder of Iron Point Retirement Solutions, to explore the strategies every family needs when planning for retirement. Matthew shares how his grandparents’ financial struggles during the 2008 recession inspired his...

In this illuminating episode, Liz Keller welcomes Molly Wuebker , occupational therapist, accessibility advocate, and founder of Uncurbed , to explore how universal and inclusive design can break barriers and build environments where everyone belongs. Key themes include: The evolution of Molly’s journey—from clinical OT to accessibility consultant and ADA liaison. How the Person–Environment–Occupa...

In this episode of The Golden Hour , we sit down with Luann Sechrist , founder of Senior Planning Solutions, to unpack the truth about Medicaid planning. Luann explains: Why putting a child’s name on assets can be risky Whether children can be held responsible for nursing home costs How veterans and their families can access little-known benefits The difference between Medicaid planning and pre-pl...

In this episode of The Golden Hour , Liz Keller sits down with attorney Matthew Bollman of Pearson Bollman Law to talk about the legal and financial decisions that every family should prepare for as loved ones age. From creating a will or trust to navigating Medicaid and VA pension benefits, Matthew shares practical guidance and real-life stories from his work in estate planning and elder law. We...