45 Forward

The first time I met Dr. Ken Dychtwald was in 1989, when I was writing a cover story about older workers as a business reporter for Newsday, Long Island’s daily newspaper. I remember it well. I was interviewing job experts and workers who talked about the frustration they felt being overlooked by employers—especially at a time when most companies, facing acute labor shortages, could ill afford to do so. Ken was the author of a best-selling book, “Age Wave,” (he now has written 19 books) and was the founder of an acclaimed think tank bearing the same name. At the time Ken explained what has become commonly known today: that the U.S. was experiencing a “senior boom.” Older workers were living longer; the baby-boom generation was turning forty-something; and the nation’s birth rate was continuing to decline. “A young country is growing old,” Ken told me. He foresaw a time when most older workers would routinely work longer and leave jobs in their 50s for entirely new careers. “It will happen within the next decade,” he said. “We’re tiptoeing on the edge of the ice, testing the surface.” Well, folks, we are now at center ice. Ken Dychtwald was absolutely right—as he has been about many observations in the field of aging. In today’s episode, you’ll get to hear an array of Ken’s latest thoughts—observations, reflections and sage advice from America’s foremost thinker regarding the many consequences of our aging society. He’ll talk about how we can close the gap between our lifespan and healthspan; how we need to recast the conversation about what older people really want as they age; and how many of us are choosing to redefine our legacy from success to significance. All that, and much more!

As we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month, it’s important not only to honor the contributions of 48 million family caregivers nationwide, but understand how they fit into our government-supported care system for older adults. In today’s episode, I talk with John Cochran, the Chief of Staff for New York State’s Office for the Aging, who has worked on a wide range of aging issues for decades. With a career spanning high-level staff positions in government, the state legislature and the field of government relations, John brings a rare perspective and keen insights to the challenges of serving the needs of older Americans, including how to support community empowerment and civic engagement, advocate for long-term care reform, emergency response planning, and home care support for individuals aging in place. John will describe the state’s comprehensive Master Plan for Aging, set to be unveiled next year, and outline how ideas, goals and recommendations were gathered from stakeholders across the state, highlighting what experts have found not only in New York, but across the country: That our fragmented systems of aging services and healthcare delivery lack the coordinated approach that we sorely need to serve our growing aging population.

Wherever we go these days, we feel the impact of technology. It’s part of every workplace, in our digital devices, our “smart homes,” cars, virtual reality tools and games, and, of course, the inevitable AI. Sometimes this march of technology feels relentless and overwhelming. And yet, technology is so essential to navigating—and succeeding—in our society that it has become a significant issue for policymakers and advocates, who point to a “technology gap”— a lack of access and resources, especially for older people, who are not digital natives. In today’s episode, I’ll talk with Mario Rubano, a manager for the nonprofit organization, OATS, which stands for Older Adults Technology Services, who will describe their flagship program called Senior Planet. Senior Planet, a charitable affiliate of AARP, is an incredible resource that offers free courses and programs to help seniors learn new skills and improve their lives through a host of online events and in-person classes in New York City and at locations around the country. Mario will explain how people can access these programs in areas ranging from financial security, to health and wellness, and civic participation. You can find classes in morning stretch and meditation sessions; programs on online banking and telemedicine; discussion groups that foster conversation and lasting friendships; engaging podcasts, videos and articles; demos of new and emerging technology. Indeed, after listening to Mario today, you’ll learn why Senior Planet celebrates “aging with attitude”—living life to the fullest and enjoying every minute of it, struggles and successes alike.”

If you’ve ever had a loved one living in a nursing home, you may have worried at times about the quality of their care—especially when high-profile cases of neglect and abuse make their way to the top of the news headlines. How do you make sure your family member is safe, and how can you prevent abuse or identify it when it happens? In today’s episode, Deborah Truhowsky, a renowned personal injury attorney and staunch advocate for the elderly, talks about her passion for protecting and securing maximum compensation for victims of nursing home neglect and abuse. She’ll explain how to evaluate the quality of nursing homes, identify frequently asked questions and myths about long-term care practices; outline what you need to know about regulations and resident rights; and explain how families can fight for the rights of their loved ones. And as President of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Long Term Care Community Coalition, Deborah will describe how advocates nationwide have joined together to protect the welfare of people in long-term care, striving to help them thrive with dignity, respect, and a quality of life they deserve.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to host Asher Rabinowitz, a clinical social worker and credentialed counselor as a guest on 45 Forward. Asher, who has worked in the field of alcohol and substance abuse treatment for the past 28 years, has helped thousands of individuals with what he calls a “simple, but not easy” approach, which he calls, aptly, the “ABCs of Recovery”—the letters representing Awareness, Boundaries and Consequences. What makes Asher’s treatment system so distinctive is his approach to engaging people, motivating them to action, through stories that offers life lessons. In today’s episode, we’ll follow up with a closer look at storytelling as an unusually effective therapeutic tool. These stories are told in Asher’s newly released book, which includes a far-flung assortment over time and cultures, ranging from a 2nd Century B.C. collection called the Panchatantra, to 17th Zen Master Bankei Yotaku, to contemporary American storyteller Heather Forest. They are powerful tools, not only for those facing recovery, but for the rest of us seeking ways to manage life’s many challenges as we age.

As you approach traditional retirement age, you probably know the importance of enrolling on time in Social Security and Medicare—the bookends of retirement planning. But what you may not be aware of is that only a small percentage of recipients maximize their benefits, which could have a significant impact on their standard of living in their later years. Both programs are designed to support retirees, but optimizing one’s benefits requires careful planning and strategic decisions. In today’s episode, I talk with Todd Whiton, the president of Colby Jackson Advisors, a veteran Social Security and Medicare expert who offers an integrated approach in providing effective planning strategies for the two programs together. Todd reviews a litany of key provisions people need to consider when evaluating their coverage; mistakes people make or misconceptions they have about these programs; and what significant changes may be coming down the pike in 2025.

As we kick off October with the United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons, it’s fitting that we begin the month with Maria Alvarez, an iconic leader who has been at the forefront of advocating for older Americans for more than 30 years. In today’s episode, Maria who is Executive Director of the New York Statewide Senior Action Council, explains the mission of her grassroots organization, which brings seniors together from across the state for self-empowerment and improvement of the quality of life for older New Yorkers and their families. She’ll explain why it’s critical to have consumer representation and involvement in public policy and why seniors are so vital to strengthening the fabric of our society. And Maria will offer her broad perspective as to what aging looks like in the years ahead, and how the Senior Action Council will continue to conduct its wide-ranging advocacy campaign for future generations.

In an age of when technology has become an integral part of virtually every workplace, you might think that STEM skills—science, technology, engineering and math—are the top skills sought by corporate managers when looking for new hires. Not so. Several studies have shown that the top two skills that 75% of managers look for in recent college graduates are the “soft skills” of critical thinking and communication. And a large percentage of these managers rate recent graduates as lacking in these important skills. This “Skills Gap” has had serious consequences, with poor communication skills costing companies an estimated $3 billion a year and poor writing skills costing $400 billion a year. In today’s episode, Jim Rowe, a seasoned marketing expert, talks about what he decided to do about this skills gap when he retired after more than 45 years in his field. He would write a book, but not just another boring business book. Inspired by the best-selling “Who Moved My Cheese?” Jim wrote a simple fable to provide managers and HR personnel with a practical training tool to teach a structured process of critical thinking. His book, “Get Your Ducks in a Rowe,” has actually grown into two books: Book 1, which teaches Jim’s simple 10-step business communication formula to critical thinking; and Book 2, the A-D-A-P-T-E-R Method, a holistic approach to strategic business communication. Jim’s books have already been introduced in a number of educational institutions—to highly acclaimed reviews—and his approach may eventually change how students learn these fundamental skills—BEFORE they graduate to their first jobs.

As we prepare for the second half of life, many of us think about estate planning, our long-term care needs and our legacy. Lots of questions arise about the things we know—and the things we THINK we know—but realize we don’t. In today’s episode, I talk with Aaron Futterman, an experienced elder law attorney and tax expert who helped many individuals and families plan for their future while alleviating the fears, anxieties, and concerns that we often experience when facing the unknown or inevitable. Aaron will give us an overview of advance directives, the latest in long-term care planning and how to navigate health care coverage between Medicare and Medicaid. He’ll also explain the many complexities and options in estate planning, including probate issues, estate litigation, what families can accomplish with trusts, and new provisions for transfer of death deeds. And in an age of rampant fraud—especially victimizing seniors—he’ll offer insights into how estate planning can reduce the risk of scams.

We’re in an age driven by fast-moving technology, but how do we find ways to intersect these technological changes with everyday human behavior? In today’s episode, I talk with Howard Fields, a former IBM executive whose career has evolved as the Founder and Principal Consultant of Rethink Alignment

Howard is a future-focused leader, who takes a holistic view of problem-solving, spurring innovation and helping companies overcome and realign multiple issues that are limiting their bottom-line. There are very few new problems, he says, only better ways to solve them. A long-time, out-of-the-box thinker, Howard helps individuals and organizations and individuals envision how problems may be solved in the future—before the future slaps them in the face!