Not Born Yesterday

No matter how old you are now, at some time in your life you have felt physical or emotional tension in your body and mind because of stress. There is good stress and bad stress, and our guest, Dr. Kerry Burnight, founder of The Gerontologist, a firm providing expertise on aging to businesses, tells us how to understand the causes of stress and how to deal with it. Brought to you by NEXTVillageSF....

Forty-million Americans have surgery every year, sometimes with little time to prepare emotionally. Many feel anxious before surgery and the road to recovery is often painful and prolonged due to the anxiety. The older one is, the more likely one is to feel worried as well. This need not be so, according to our guest Julie Bailit, who consults patients prior to surgery. By using relaxation, calmin...

Even though there are more older people than ever today, aging can be difficult. According to MT Connolly, author and MacArthur Genius award winner, it doesn’t have to be this hard. She believes that our society has failed to build the infrastructure we need to age well, and that we should all work to change the culture and embrace the many positive aspects of aging. Her book, The Measure of Our A...

Thousands of people are released from prisons and jails every year, many of them over the age of 50 and totally without resources. They suffer from poor medical care, poor nutrition, and feel anxious about returning to the outside world with no skills or support systems. They are also discriminated against in finding housing and jobs. Christine Green is the Director of Supportive Housing with the...

Many retirees are finding being idle is not what they thought it would be. They want to return to the workplace, not just for the income, but for the community, structure and purpose a job provides. Laura McDowell is the project coordinator of Manpower's Mature Work Program, a return-to-work program designed for older workers who want to bring their experience and expertise back to the office or b...

Today's technology allows older adults to have more control over their lives and their desire to age in place. While unique devices are constantly being invented, it might surprise you to know that college students are working on new ideas in the classroom and beyond. We talk with Dr. Jeffrey Johnson of the University of San Francisco about what's new and how things are being designed for seniors....

Dr. Laurie Vollen’s patients told her about the benefits they were finding from medical marijuana in treating back pain, headaches and anxiety .…without undesired side effects. Though she had been using traditional remedies for many years, she listened to her patients and for the last 20 years has provided safe and effect medical marijuana to her patients with great results. Why and how it works i...

There are many awkward conversations parents have with their children, no matter how old the kids are. Perhaps none are as difficult as the one about aging, end of life care, and money. Financial consultant Robert Mauterstock , author of "Can We Talk?", suggests the kind of family discussions parents and adult children must have and how to make it less stressful. Brought to you by NEXTVillageSF.or...

Today's episode involves 3 aging and retired men who joined together to meet on a regular basis with a few others to share what is happening in their lives and receive guidance on how to best navigate their situations. The groups are confidential and are a safe place to discuss challenges and feelings. Our guests describe their experiences and may encourage listeners to create support groups to he...

Although researchers tell us that the old structures of religion are disappearing in much of the country, there seems to be a renewed search for spirituality, especially among older adults. Religious leaders report that many of us are looking for meaning and purpose, and expressing that we sense there is something greater than ourselves to be understood. Our guest, Rabbi Richard Address, believes...

As we age, many of us feel invisible and diminished… whether in a restaurant, at our job, or in a store. Our guest, Paula Usery, says that too many of us internalize these feelings of aging while what we should be doing is feeling stronger and empowered. Being ignored and invisible is one of the most common complaints of people over fifty. We live in a culture where people tend to push older adult...

Recent research finds that social connections and relationships lead to longer lives. Unfortunately, as we grow older, it becomes more difficult to maintain these contacts. A San Francisco-based agency, Engage As You Age , provides seniors who are alone or have a range of limitations with meaningful connections to the world with authentic connections that reduce loneliness and its associated side...

If you think you don't have the right skills to help others, listen here! As we age, we all have experience in life and work. Passing on that knowledge to people starting and operating a small business can be rewarding for you and so important to anyone new to business planning, budgeting, marketing and more. Norman Sherman, a SCORE volunteer in New York, discusses the support and mentoring you ca...

While ageism is all around us, it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint just what it is. Old School, a clearing house of anti-ageism information, creates and disseminates resources to educate us about ageism and how to end it. Our guest, Kyrie Carpenter, is a founder of Old School and explains how to spot ageism and work to dismantle it. Brought to you by NEXTVillageSF.org NEXT Village SF is a neighb...

Today, as many as half of current 5-year-olds can expect to live to the age of 100. Yet, the social institutions, norms and policies that await these future centenarians evolved when lives were only half as long, and now need updating. Martha Deevy of The Stanford Center on Longevity has an initiative called The New Map of Life, believing that this profound transformation calls for a shift from a...

Feeling down every once in a while is normal, but if these feelings last a few weeks or months, it may be depression. Depression is a serious mood disorder. It can affect the way you feel, act, and think. It is a common problem among older adults, but clinical depression is not a normal part of aging. Our guest, Dr. Audrey Kavka, discusses common signs and symptoms of depression, treatment options...

Taking a break from our more serious subjects, this episode features cabaret and jazz singer Marilyn Maye. With over 80 years of performing behind her, she is still traveling and performing in night clubs and concert halls around the country. Discovered by Steve Allen and a Johnny Carson favorite, Maye shares her story of longevity in the world of entertainment. Brought to you by NEXTVillageSF.org...

Many adult children are “breaking up” with their folks, in what has being described as an epidemic of intergenerational dysfunction. Why is this happening and what can be done for the heart broken parents who miss their adult children and never see their grandchildren? Dr. Joshua Coleman, a psychologist and author of "Rules of Estrangement," talks about the pain on both sides and what can be done...

This episode reveals the latest in online exercise designed to strengthen and promote balance. Our guest, Amanda Rees, is founder and CEO of BOLD, a scientifically based program for movement. Learn more at agebold.com. Plus, we tell you about the Legacy Film Festival on Aging, a 10 day online film festival designed to promote the positive aspects of aging. Check out legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org B...

While we don't like to think about it, we know that death is inevitable. In several states, adults who wish to control their own deaths have the option of medically assisted dying. Our guest, Fran Johns, works with endoflifechoicesca.org, a nonprofit group that provides information, support and guidance to those seeking help when they have a terminal illness. She shares information on how to talk...

Too many older adults think technology is for younger people and definitely not for them. But many of the newest gadgets do enhance the quality of life of older adults, and many have been designed with elders in mind. Dr. Richard Caro, of techenhancedlife.com explores the intersection of aging and technology and gives us a peek into the latest and most useful new tools for aging in place. Brought...

More than 53 million people in this country serve as unpaid caregivers to family members and other loved ones. These unsung heroes have high rates of depression, low self esteem and loneliness and are often overwhelmed with their responsibilities. Tanya Yarkoni, the caregiver of a daughter with many challenges, has created a program to help family caregivers "find themselves" again while continuin...

If you are among the millions of well-traveled people who are looking for a new and enriching kind of vacation, consider volunteering in a foreign country. Our guest, Michelle Gran of Global Volunteers explains the short programs from China to Cuba and Poland to Peru for volunteers who help provide a better life in a different part of the world. Volunteers become part of a community, explore a dif...

This episode deals with looking at your life and figuring out what is important. Our guest, Dr. Jordan Grumet, is a hospice doctor who listens to the regrets of dying patients and realized that the end of life can teach us how to make every moment count. Author of "Taking Stock", Grumet gives us a guide on how to live and die well. Brought to you by NEXTVillageSF.org NEXT Village SF is a neighborh...

We all notice ageism, but often we don't know what to do about it. Today's guest helps us see that we tolerate, and even promote, attitudes and behaviors toward older people that we would reject and condemn if applied to any other group. Dr. Tracey Gendren, author of Ageism Unmasked, exposes how cultural norms and unconscious prejudices have seeped into our lives, silently shaping our treatment of...