Unlocking Senior Resources Presented By: Leave the Key

In this episode I sit down with Lauren Vlachos,Executive Director at Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center, about dementia,caregiving, and brain health. Lauren breaks down why patients repeat questions,what caregiver burnout really looks like, and how to ask for help withoutburning out. We talk about the “club sandwich generation,” the cost of care inNY, and 4 lifestyle changes that can cut dementia...

In this episode I sit down with Adam Novak, Funeral Director at Jerusalem Memorial Chapels, about making funerals less of a crisis and more of a plan. Adam explains his shift from Wall Street to funeral work, NY-specific rules like narrow Jewish plots and no chairs at cemeteries, and how NY’s FDIC-insured Preplan trust protects families. The conversation covers why only ∼35% of people pre-plan, ho...

In today's episode, Larry Wagner sits downwith Pierre Menard, an independent insurance broker specializing in Medicareinsurance. Pierre walks through his 20-year journey in insurance from lifeinsurance to Medicaid to Medicare and breaks down exactly how Medicare works,the costly mistakes people make, and how to avoid the scams that target seniorsduring enrollment season. They cover the differe...

Summary In today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Comfort Uwadiae from Opt 2 Restore. Theydiscuss the real conflict families face when deciding between keeping seniorsat home vs. independent/assisted living. Learn why modern facilities aren’t the“nursing homes from 40 years ago,” how to balance what parents want vs. whatthey need, and why the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house. Comfort...

In this episode of I sat down with SandraLozano, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Huntington Hills Center forHealth and Rehabilitation. Sandra shares her 20-year journey in skillednursing, from Nassau to Suffolk. The episode covers National Health CareAssociates’ backing, staff culture, dietary accommodations, and why “leadingwith kindness” + innovation creates better outcomes. Contact, tou...

In this episode I talk with Dr. KevinMunjal, Chief Medical Officer of Care To You , about bringing ER andhospital-level care into the home. The conversation covers real patientexamples, how shared decision-making works in the home, and why this modelcould become the new standard for urgent and acute care.   Timeline    00:00– Opening: The idea of hospital-at-home as the future standard of care  02...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Zaretsky of Zaretsky Wellness, a licensed mental health professional,doctor of cognitive sciences, and hypnotherapist who helps adults, kids, andfamilies break through patterns that keep them stuck. She specializes in ADHD,twice exceptionality, neurodiversity, addiction, and rapid transformationalhypnotherapy coaching. We also discuss late-diagnosed ADH...

In today’s episode, I sit down with RonFatoullah of Meltzer Lippe, an elder law and estate planning attorney helpingfamilies protect assets and plan for senior transitions since the 1980s. Ronshares his path from social work to law, how he became known as the “povertylawyer” for teaching legal asset protection for Medicaid, and why his firm’smotto is “doing well by doing good.”   We discussed why...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Bruce Schneiderof Next Chapter Home Transitions*, a senior transition educator who helpsfamilies navigate the complex, emotional move from home to long-term care. After personally going through five family transitions in five years, Bruce andhis wife built a service to educate families, vet resources, and create clearplans because good information is hard to fin...

In today’s episode, Isit down with Andrea Resnick of Legacy Concierge, a licensed funeral director,fourth generation funeral director, and funeral consultant. Andrea helpsfamilies navigate one of the most emotional and avoided subjects they’ll everface  death, funerals, and preplanning. From burial timing to casket selection, cemetery plots to celebration-of-lifeservices, Andrea’s role is to educa...

In today’s episode, I sat down with AdamWalsh of Adam Walsh Consulting, a senior living placement advisor and resourceconsultant on Long Island. Adam helps families navigate one of the mostemotional and overwhelming decisions they’ll ever face figuring out the rightsenior living situation for a loved one. From independent living to assistedliving, Adam’s role is to narrow down the options, match f...

In today's episode, I sit down with ClaySnider, probate attorney and senior associate at Sammartino Law Group, todiscuss what probate really looks like — and why it's one of the mostmisunderstood and frustrating legal processes a family can face after losing aloved one. They break down the differences between wills, trusts, probate, andadministration, and why so many families end up in a l...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Paul Barrett of Modern Medicare Agency to break down what Medicare really looks like — and why it’s far more complex than most people expect. We cover the different parts of Medicare, including Part A, Part B, Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Part D, along with the serious consequences of missing enrollment windows, including permanent lifetime penalties that ca...

In today’s episode, I sit down with estateplanning attorney, Britt Burner of Burner Prudenti Law to discusswhat estate planning really looks like — and why it’s not just about whathappens after you pass away, but what happens while you’re still alive. Webreak down the differences between wills, trusts, power of attorney, andprobate, and why relying on default legal systems can create unintendedcon...

In today’s episode, I sit down with estateplanning attorney Jackie Cara to discuss the realities families facewhen planning for the future — and what can happen when those plans aren’t inplace. We explore why estate planning is about far more than drafting a will. It’s about protecting families, preserving relationships, and ensuring that theright people can make critical decisions if something un...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Jenny Bonadonna , a Community Sales Director at Brightview Senior Living inPort Jefferson, New York to discuss what modern senior living really looks like— and how today’s communities are redefining independence, dignity, and agingin place. We break down the differences betweenindependent living, assisted living, and dementia-specific care, and whywaiting “until...

In today’s episode, I sit down with JaniceThorn, the founder of Personal QR (PQR) to discuss how a simple wearable QRcode can provide immediate access to critical medical information and emergencycontacts during moments of crisis. What began as a personal concern about achild leaving for college evolved into a broader mission focused onpreparedness, accessibility, and reducing uncertainty when eme...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Lori Sumekh of the New York Elder Law Group to discuss Medicaid home care planning, protecting senior assets, and navigating the financial realities of long-term care. Lori shares how her career evolved from mortgage banking into elder law, and how working on guardianship cases led her to specialize in Medicaid planning. Throughout our conversation, Lori breaks...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Renata Landskind and Terence Ricaforte of Landskind & Ricaforte Law Group, P.C. to discuss why Medicaid planning isn't just for the impoverished, but a vital "life planning" tool for the middle class. Renata and Terence expose the common misconceptions that keep families from protecting their legacy, explaining why waiting for a medical crisis...

In this episode of Unlocking Senior Resources, Larry Wagner is joined by Deanna M. Eble , a Partner at Russo Law Group, P.C. With over 17 years of experience at one of Long Island’s most respected elder law firms, Deanna tackles the number one fear among seniors: losing the family home to a nursing home. This conversation is a must-watch because it peels back the curtain on the "human side" of eld...

Beyond the Paper Trail: Why Your Lawyer’s Tech Skills Matter In this episode, we sit down with Alexander Paykin of The Law Office of Alexander Paykin, P.C. to expose how "old school" legal habits cost seniors thousands and put private data at risk. Alexander explains why an attorney’s technical infrastructure is now as critical as their legal knowledge, revealing the hidden dangers of fi...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Leslie Sultan of Sammartino & Sultan Law Group to explore one of the most important, but often overlooked, estate planning documents: The Power of Attorney, and how it fits into a broader, well-structured estate plan. Leslie explains why having a properly drafted Power of Attorney is critical for protecting families during incapacity, avoiding unnecessary co...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Beth Weeks, RN, co-founder of Senior Living Consultants of New York, to discuss how families can navigate senior living decisions with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Beth shares her journey from working in senior living communities to becoming a registered nurse and trusted senior care advisor. We explore why choosing the right assisted living or senior ho...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Michael Ettinger of Ettinger Law Firm, an experienced estate planning attorney, to unpack some of the most misunderstood aspects of long-term planning, Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs), and inheritance protection. Michael shares his client-first philosophy and explains why estate planning is not about “one-size-fits-all” documents, but about thoughtful,...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Peter Groffmann, an experienced estate and trust attorney, to discuss disinheritance, no-contest clauses, and strategies to avoid probate. Peter breaks down how to protect your estate, plan for the unexpected, and navigate family dynamics while preserving peace of mind for both seniors and their loved ones. Throughout our conversation, Peter shares real-life sto...