Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp

There's a mental health crisis facing older adults in their families.  About 1 in 4 older adults experiences a mental health condition, including depression, anxiety, dementia, substance use and more, yet 67% of them struggle to get adequate mental health care, resulting in worse medical and mental health outcomes, like suicide. Herein lies the crisis. In this podcast episode, I discuss the m...

Cancer affects individuals, families, and communities.  According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2020, an estimated 1,806,590 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the United States and approximately 39.5% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes.   The American Cancer Society conducted an 8 year study published in 2013 and found that on average can...

Many older adults decide to stop drinking as they get older (YAY!) There's an ageist idea circling around society, however,  that suggests that "older adults can't change". This idea is not only false, it's incredibly harmful to older adults who may just believe this erroneous statement and never get the help they need.  Some researchers and mental health and aging groups...

More than half of the people in the US living with HIV are 50 years old and older. With the use of antiretroviral medications, people who were diagnosed with HIV decades ago have been able to live well into older adulthood.  This is great news.  Sadly, stigma due to age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status contributes to poor mental health and physical health.  In this interview, D...

Over 75% of adults with developmental disabilities live at home with family. There is a growing population of aging caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities, in part due to increased lifespan and extensive waiting lists for residential services (The Arc Autism Now).   In honor of World Autism Day on 4/2/21, today's podcast episode focuses on older adults who are caring for adult c...

When older adults begin to experience physical or mental health changes, like with dementia disorders, for example, it can be difficult to know the steps to take when aging parents need help. It can be especially difficult for family caregivers to know how to balance autonomy and independence with concerns for risk and safety. In this episode, Dr. Sara Qualls, clinical geropsychologist and Kraemer...

Researchers have been investigating brain health recommendations that help to reduce our risk for cognitive decline in older adulthood. Many of the tips  that I'm going to share today are really about how to live your healthiest life and achieve optimal physical health, brain health, and mental health in older adulthood.    You may already be doing many of these recommendations. As you listen...

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends only 7% of their entire life outdoors.  Our guest today, Dr. Paula Hartman-Stein, geropsychologist and author, discusses the importance of Vitamin N for Nature by sharing current research about the importance of incorporating nature into our daily lives and provides actionable strategies you can use to reduce &quot...

In today's interview, Dr. Jason Karlawish, Neurologist and Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center is on the podcast answering some of your burning dementia questions, like:  What is mild cognitive impairment?  Describe the difference between Mild Cognitive Impairment Vs. Dementia Vs. Alzheimers. What are the best tips for staving off dementia when you have mild cognitive impairment? What are t...

In today's interview, Dr. Natali Edmonds, Geropsychologist and founder of Dementia Careblazers, talks about how to improve communication in dementia care by sharing:  3 caregiving communication traps to avoid and what to do instead A very important message she wants all dementia caregivers to hear.  The tips in this episode will not only help you improve your communication with a person with...

Chrissy Thelker was 55 years old when she had her first stroke and was subsequently diagnosed with Vascular Dementia.  In today's interview, Chrissy shares her experience of living with dementia and her journey to finding purpose and hope.    With more and more people living with dementia, it's imperative that we gain perspective and understanding of the lived experience of people living...

In this Caregiving Bonus episode, I answer the following question from a listener:  My 85 year old dad is calling me multiple times a day. It’s interrupting my time at work. Sometimes he needs something. Sometimes, he just wants to check in. He has someone assisting him, but he’s always calling me. Can you address how to handle an elderly parent who is calling me all day long.  Thank you,  Theresa...

Dementia is one of the most important, but often overlooked, health care issues related to older African Americans.  Research shows that African Americans are two to three times more likely to develop a dementia disorder (compared to European Americans) and at the same time are less likely to be diagnosed early in the disease process and provided with adequate treatment. Today's guest, Dr. Fa...

We have a narrative in society that says that caregivers have more depression and stress, spend their caregiving years suffering, only to lead to premature death. Our guest today shares a more balanced and factual narrative about caregivers. Yes, many caregivers do indeed have increased rates of stress and depression. Research shows, however, that caregivers are remarkably resilient and actually D...

Have you helped your loved one move to a senior living or assisted living community? Do you find that in the midst of experiencing relief that your loved one is being cared for and is safe, you also have intense feelings of guilt and shame? You're not alone. Many caregivers struggle with guilt and shame after moving older loved ones into a senior living community. Perhaps you feel that you&ap...

There may come a time in caring for your older loved one, when you're faced with the dreaded conversation of moving into a senior living  or assisted living community. The expert tips in this episode will help you start this conversation without pushing your older loved one away.  Today's episode will share:  6 Strategies for setting yourself up for success with the senior living discuss...

When he was in his late 80s, Candy Cohn's father unintentionally stopped taking medication for a long-standing bipolar disorder and experienced a significant mental health crisis requiring hospitalization and intensive treatment. It was following this episode that Candy knew that she needed to help her older parents find a senior living community that would provide more continuity and medicat...

When we think of older adults during COVID, images of older adults living in long-term care communities sheltering in place with hands pressed against windows trying to connect with loved ones circle in our heads. 2020 was a year of incredible hardship and pain for many people and especially for many older adults and their families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us tha...

Dementia is a devastating illness that often robs families of the opportunity to connect and experience joy.  Because of this, it's essential that we find a way to share connecting moments, enjoy one another, and see a little piece of the person eclipsed by the shadow of this devastating illness.  And, I have just the person to help us with this! In this week's episode, I interview Gary...

Have you ever had the experience of meeting up with a dear friend for coffee or talking with your trusted therapist, and all of a sudden, you stumble into a conversation that's a little scary and emotional? Maybe you hesitate for a minute and ask yourself if you're gonna take the risk and really "go there". I don't know about you, but when I find myself in these situations...

Have you had an end of life conversation with a loved one? What feelings came up for when you read this? Fear? Sadness? Longing? Remorse?   Naturally, when we experience these feelings, we often want to run from them, rather than toward them.    But, did you know that when we actually pursue end of life conversations with our loved ones, it actually does more good than harm.    Research shows that...

#036- In honor of world AIDS day on 12/1, I am devoting today’s episode to HIV and aging. And, yes. HIV is an important topic when it comes to aging. An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States had HIV at the end of 2018.   More than half of the adults living in the US with HIV are 50 years old and older. With the use of antiretroviral medications, people who were diagnosed with HIV decad...

#035- November is National Caregiver Month, but I really think this entire year should be dedicated to caregivers for all that they have been through during COVID.  In today’s episode, I share statistics about the toll of caregiving during COVID and 5 self-care strategies for caregivers during COVID.  Family caregivers during COVID are more stressed and overwhelmed than ever before and here are so...

#034- Transgender Awareness Week (November 13-19) is a week when transgender people and their allies (like me!), take action to bring attention to the transgender community by educating the public.   Transgender folks have heartbreaking rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. According to a 2019 study, suicidal ideation averaged 46.55% and attempts averaged 27.19%. Suicide rates were highest amon...

#033-  Close to half of today’s Veterans are 65 and older. If you're caring for an aging Veteran, you may have many questions but not know where to start. Once you do get started, you might not know HOW TO ACTUALLY HAVE a conversation with your loved one about their military service.    Maybe you're afraid of saying the wrong thing, pushing too hard, or maybe you're afraid that star...