Next Steps 4 Seniors: Conversations on Aging with Wendy Jones

We all say we value our elders, but our daily habits often tell a different story. Wendy Jones sits down with Pastor Tim Holland for a candid, faith-rooted conversation about the C5 Initiative and the fifth commandment: “Honor your father and mother.” What starts as a Bible passage quickly becomes a practical framework for caregiving, family decision-making, and the way we treat older adults in a...

Stuff isn’t the real problem. The real problem is the story attached to it and the fear that letting go means losing the memory. I’m joined by Alyssa Egnoli from Caring Transitions to talk about supported transitions for seniors, from “we need to declutter” all the way to “we’re settled in and it finally feels like home.” We get honest about why we keep everything: family heirlooms, baby clothes,...

Guilt can creep into caregiving in a thousand small ways: the day you lose patience, the moment you snap back, the quiet resentment you feel but never say out loud. We sit down with Pastor Tim Helland from Creekside Christian Church to name the weight so many family caregivers carry and to offer something sturdier than advice: mercy, grace, and forgiveness that actually work in real life. We start...

Dementia can change memory, language, and independence, but it does not erase personhood, and it does not have to destroy the relationship. We sit down with dementia care expert Deborah Sealhoff of Dementia Forward to talk about what families actually face day to day: confusion, repetition, shower struggles, siblings arguing, and the heartbreak of watching a loved one change in real time. We get p...

Guilt is not a light emotion, it’s the one that hooks into you and refuses to let go. Wendy Jones sits down with Pastor Tim Helen from Creekside Christian Church to talk honestly about why guilt feels so heavy for caregivers and families, and how forgiveness can become the turning point that brings relief instead of constant replay. We dig into the hard part: when someone hurts us, our instinct is...

A hospital stay can “fix” the diagnosis and still leave someone weaker than before. We sit down with Jonathan Gasso, owner of PARC Home Care and Hospice, to get practical about what happens next and how families can build the right support so an older parent can stay home longer, safer, and with more confidence. We talk through what skilled home health care actually looks like in real life: physic...

Guilt can feel like it has a barb in it, and once it’s in, it’s hard to pull out. We sit down with Pastor Tim Helen from Creekside Christian Church to talk plainly about what guilt does to the human heart, why it keeps replaying in our minds, and how forgiveness is not a soft concept but a concrete practice that can change a family system. If you’re caring for aging parents, navigating sibling con...

A hospital stay can “fix” the medical crisis and still leave you weaker than when you went in. We sit down with Jonathan Gasso, owner of PARC Home Care and Hospice and an occupational therapist by training, to talk honestly about what happens next for seniors and families trying to navigate recovery, safety, and the desire to stay home as long as possible. We break down the confusing language you...

Guilt can sneak into caregiving like a constant background noise, then suddenly turn into a crushing weight: I should have known, I should have been kinder, I should have done more. Wendy Jones sits down with Pastor Tim Helland to talk plainly about why guilt is so common in aging families and why it hits caregivers especially hard. We also share a bit of our history serving older adults, includin...

Knee pain can quietly shrink your world until stairs feel risky, sleep gets interrupted, and “I’ll just live with it” becomes the default plan. We sit down with Dr Tom Nabity from Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine to talk about a different path: regenerative orthopedics designed to reduce pain and restore function without traditional surgery. We dig into what PRP (platelet-rich plasma) act...

Caregiving can feel like a long series of small heartbreaks, and one of the hardest is this: the person you’re trying to help may be the one who hurts you. When an aging parent is declining physically or mentally, words can get sharp, gratitude can disappear, and your patience can evaporate right along with their independence. On this episode of Conversations on Aging, Wendy sits down with Pastor...

We sit down with certified dementia practitioner Erica Ansel to break down why a loved one can seem clear in the morning and then shift into confusion, anxiety, pacing, or agitation as the light changes and fatigue builds. We unpack what sundowning actually is, why it often starts three to four hours before sunset, and how triggers like long naps, hunger, thirst, pain, and reduced lighting can qui...

Guilt can feel like it hooks into you and won’t let go, especially when you’re caring for an aging parent, navigating family conflict, or replaying old words you wish you could take back. Wendy Jones sits down with Pastor Tim Helland from Creekside Christian Church for a candid conversation about why guilt sticks, why forgiveness feels impossible on our own, and how faith gives us a path forward t...

Labor Day gets marketed as burgers and one last trip up north, but we want to bring it back to something deeper: honor where it’s deserved, not just observed. Who are the people that kept your world standing when it was inconvenient, exhausting, or unseen? Today we’re naming them, and we’re inviting you to do the same for the workers, caregivers, veterans, business owners, and families whose dedic...

Caring for an aging parent can break your heart and deepen it at the same time. When you’re exhausted, under pressure, and doing your best, one sharp comment can tip you into resentment, shame, or that lingering feeling of guilt that says you’re never doing enough. We sit down with Pastor Tim Helland from Creekside Christian Church to talk plainly about mercy, grace, forgiveness, and why these are...

When should you start cancer screenings, and how often should you get tested? On this episode of Next Steps for Seniors: Conversations on Aging , Wendy Jones welcomes Dr. Pradhan to break down the most important cancer screenings and what seniors and their families need to know. They discuss screening recommendations along with warning signs to watch for and how family history and genetic risk can...

Guilt can sneak into caregiving in ways that feel impossible to admit out loud: I’m annoyed at someone who can’t help it, I didn’t do enough, they’re gone and I’m still here, I’m making choices that decide the rest of their life. Wendy Jones sits down with Pastor Tim Helland to name that burden clearly and offer a way through it that doesn’t rely on denial, perfection, or pretending you’re fine. W...

Planning for the future isn’t only about who gets your belongings—it’s also about protecting your wishes, your family and your ability to make important decisions before a crisis occurs. Wendy Jones sits down with elder law attorney Mike Rutkowski of Rutkowski Law Firm to simplify the essentials of estate planning. They discuss: • The key differences between a will and a trust  • Why a will does n...

About Next Steps 4 Seniors: Conversations on Aging Conversations on Aging brings together trusted experts, practical resources, and meaningful conversations to help seniors and their families navigate aging with greater confidence. Need help finding the right senior living or care options? Next Steps 4 Seniors provides personalized guidance and support to families at no cost. 🌐 NextSteps4Seniors....

In this episode of Next Steps 4 Seniors: Conversations on Aging , we sit down with Erica Ancel of Next Steps 4 Seniors for an important conversation about the realities of caring for someone with dementia—and caring for yourself along the way. Caregiver stress is real, and it can take a toll mentally, physically, and emotionally. Erica shares practical guidance for navigating behavioral changes, s...

Host Wendy Jones sits down with Lynn Breuer, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and Senior Director at Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit, along with Beth Seelbach, Certified Dementia Practitioner and social worker, to discuss how aging affects brain health and what people can do to maintain cognitive wellness. Lynn explains that while some cognitive decline is a...

Host Wendy Jones sits down with Victoria Volk, owner of The Unleashed Heart and an Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, to discuss the six common myths of grief and why so many people struggle to process loss in healthy ways. Victoria explains that grief is about more than death—it can stem from the loss of relationships, health, dreams, and expectations. She shares practical insights on...

Learn more : https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. About Next Steps 4 Seniors: Conversations on Aging Conversations on Aging brings together trusted experts, practical resources, and meaningful conversations to help seniors and their families navigate aging with greater confidence. Need help finding the right senior living...

In this episode of Next Steps for Seniors, host Wendy Jones welcomes Lynn Breuer and Beth Seelbach from Jewish Family Services to discuss two valuable programs: the Caring Connections Neighborhood Hub and Retirement Reimagined. Lynn and Beth share resources to support family caregivers and help retirees create purposeful next chapters. Caring Connections Neighborhood Hub: Located at the J in West...

Learn more : https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. About Next Steps 4 Seniors: Conversations on Aging Conversations on Aging brings together trusted experts, practical resources, and meaningful conversations to help seniors and their families navigate aging with greater confidence. Need help finding the right senior living...