This Is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World Podcast with Dr. MELISSA BATCHELOR

In this episode of This is Getting Old podcast, listen if you are coping with handling an older person or loved one going through repetitive verbalizations and Alzheimer's Disease.  Let me tell you a story of two residents that I used to take care of a long time ago — Walter and Miss Lucy and how we managed their behaviors. Every day, about three o'clock in the afternoon, Walter would begin to yel...

Self-imposed ageism is real. I'd be interested in your thoughts about this quote - drop a comment below. In the words of Maggie Kuhn founder Gray Panthers, "The first myth is that old age is a disease, a terrible disease that you never admit you've got, so you lie about your age. Well, it's not a disease—it's a triumph because you've survived. Failure, disappointment, sickness, loss—you're still h...

Words are powerful. They influence how we think, behave and approach things. They can produce labels, misunderstandings, misrepresentations and change our perceptions in profound and meaningful ways. In this episode of This Is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World showcases GSA's work on Reframing Aging. Tune in as our guest —Patricia D'Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP—offers us ways to...

We have a lot more control over aging well than most people think. Successful aging can be attributed to a wide range of habits that are modifiable - meaning if you have don't have  healthy diet or don't exercise, you can begin to make small changes over time that will improve your overall health. It's never too late to get started. In this episode of Dr. Melissa Batchelor's This Is Getting Old: M...

Are businesses in your city going the age-friendly path? If they are not, they make up the many companies worldwide that are missing out on this crucial initiative that supports and benefits senior consumers. In this episode, I provide essential yet often forgotten things that businesses should include in their spaces to accommodate the needs and ensure the continued patronage of older adults. It...

Age is just a number. But in the workplace, your age can have a negative impact - maybe you were passed over for that promotion because your boss thinks you're "too young". Or maybe you feel that you weren't hired for a position because the organization implied you were "too old". Either way - this is ageism and we need to be more aware of it so we can address it. In data released by the Bureau of...

That moment comes in the life of married couples when the other half may begin to experience memory issues. Typically, this will change the dynamics of the marriage itself because the person who's experiencing Alzheimer's or dementia will not function in the way they used to.  In this episode of This is Getting Old podcast, listen if you are struggling to handle a spouse or a senior loved one repe...

Transportation Options for Older Adults: NV Rides with Jennifer Kanarek "One of the best ways to get people interested in caring for older adults is to have a positive experience—NV Rides volunteer driving program does just that." -Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN ______________________________________________ When you're young and you got your driver's license, driving yourself from...

"More than 40% of people over 65 years old misperceive that Medicare covers long-term care." -Marc A. Cohen, PhD Long-term care is care across a range of settings and can include medical and non-medical services that assist individuals who cannot care for themselves for extended periods. Also, long-term care is often provided at a person's home, largely by family and friends. Thus, it's a challeng...

Bladder Infections: To Treat or Not to Treat in Older Adults? "Asymptomatic bacteriuria in long-term care is more common than actual Urinary Tract Infections. About 35 to 40% of men and about 50% of women in long-term care have it—that's even higher for women with urinary incontinence." -Jamie Smith, MSN, FNP ____________________________________________________________________ When someone is aged...

"Atypical Presentation of Illness when an older adult has an illness or condition that doesn't show up in the typical textbook definition/ ways." - Jamie Smith, MSN, FNP "Mrs. Jones just isn't 'right' today". Subtle, non-specific changes in an older adult may be the first sign that family members and caregivers see when an older adult is developing an illness. In today's episode, we will talk abou...

I've taken care of thousands of older adults living with Alzheimer's disease and ultimately dying either with or from this devastating disease. I hope the information in this podcast will help you to be prepared as your loved one moves through each stage of the disease. There is some variation in what different people think are the Stages of Dementia. I am of the mindset (pun totally intended) to...

Welcome to This is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World, I'm your host Melissa Batchelor, and today I'll be talking about What are the Stages of Alzheimer's Disease? I've taken care of thousands of older adults living with Alzheimer's disease and ultimately dying either with or from this devastating disease. I hope the information in this podcast will help you to be prepared as your l...

Alzheimer's Disease and Living Alone: Four Signs Someone May Not Be Safe at Home Alone  Welcome to This is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World, I'm your host Melissa Batchelor, and today I'll be sharing Alzheimer's Disease and Living Alone: Four Signs Someone May Not Be Safe at Home Alone – and what you can do about it. A lot of people have asked me what some of the signs are that a...

Alzheimer's Disease and Driving: Five Signs that It's Time to Take the Keys Welcome to This is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World, I'm your host Melissa Batchelor, and today I'll be talking to you about Alzheimer's Disease and Driving: Five Signs that It's Time to Take the Keys. There may come a time when you realize that your parent, or spouse, or loved one isn't able to drive safe...

Nursing Homes During COVID "There are published checklists for how to determine the quality of care a facility can deliver. But most of that's gone out the window because COVID has changed everything."  -Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN ____________________________________________________________________ As of February 2021, 35% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States have occurred a...

Have you ever had a conversation with your healthcare provider about how the food you eat impacts your overall health? Historically, healthcare providers have not received training to have this conversation but Culinary Medicine is poised to change that. As the world's most comprehensive curriculum for physicians, healthcare professionals, patients and community members, Health meets Food is chang...

Welcome to This is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World, I'm your host Melissa Batchelor, and today I'll be talking about Five Things "The Father" Teaches Us About Alzheimer's Disease A friend of mine recently reached out and asked me if I'd seen "The Father" yet with Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman - Anthony Hopkins won the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role. I have to say, I agree...

Welcome to This is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World, I'm your host Melissa Batchelor, and today I'll be talking about Six Tips for Managing Behaviors in Alzheimer's Disease.  In Alzheimer's disease, a person may do things that are very distressing to you as a caregiver. These are often categorized as behavioral and emotional behaviors and may range from being irritable; having maj...

"The Age-Friendly Employers Program is the antidote to ageism. It gets people back into life, re-engaging, socializing, getting off the couch, not depressed, and contributing to society." -Tim Driver, Founder & CEO of Age-Friendly Ventures "The wisdom and experience of older people is a resource of inestimable worth. Recognizing and treasuring the contributions of older people is essential to the...

Age-Friendly Ecosystems "It's a blessing to be an older adult." - Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN For decades, advocates have called for communities, neighborhoods, and organizations like hospitals to become more "age-friendly." Although the idea of an age-friendly society has been promoted both locally and internationally, adoption remains more aspirational than an organized practi...

"See Me at the Smithsonian" "See Me at the Smithsonian is a program for adults with dementia and their care partners."  - Robin Lynne Marquis Community Outreach Coordinator "Beautiful, young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art." —Eleanor Roosevelt. Artists understood that an art piece helps both the artist and the viewers. Access Smithsonian is a catalyst for...

Age-Friendly Universities  Colleges and universities are preparing future leaders, who will interact with older adults; yet we don't give them the essential skill set for interacting with that population and how to tailor to their needs  -Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN ______________________________________________ Higher education in the United States has historically centered on...

Rethinking Nursing Homes and Care of Older Adults "Communities should create solutions that aren't just involving geriatricians of the world or the geriatric nurses and social workers. It's going to take everybody pulling together."  -Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN ____________________________________________________________________ " Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be....

Integrative Medicine and Healthy Aging "People can stay healthy when their head, heart, and spirit are aligned." -Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN Polypharmacy is a significant concern in geriatric treatment, presenting a chance of adverse effects and medication reactions. Although older adults under the age of 60 take 2–3 prescription medicines every day, those above 80 consume over...