45 Forward

We are in the midst of a Parkison’s pandemic—and yet, this pandemic is a relatively silent one. Parkinson’s is the world’s fastest growing neurological disorder, increasing in virtually every region in the world. In the U.S. alone, the economic cost of the diseases exceeds $50 billion a year—a staggering $50,000 per person with the disease. In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Ray Dorsey, Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center and co-author of a thought-provoking new book, “Ending Parkinson’s Disease: A Prescription for Action.” As one of four leading physicians who co-author this book, Dr. Dorsey calls for a bold, comprehensive approach to help end Parkinson’s called PACT, which stands for Prevent. Advocate for, Care, and Treat the disease. He will talk about the most promising treatments on the horizon, from immune therapies to vaccines, surgical treatments, and new developments in nutrition and microbiome research. He’ll discuss the troubling use of pesticides and toxic chemicals linked to the disease, which particularly affect farmers, veterans, and high-tech manufacturing workers, as well as the rest of us. Dr. Dorsey will also outline some of the latest advances in care, including the dramatic increase in the use of telemedicine to treat Parkinson's patients. And he will examine the lessons learned from other health crises, from polio to AIDS and COVID-19—and how we might apply them to this pandemic. And finally, he will give us an action plan for what the average citizen can do right now to help end Parkinson’s. “Parkinson’s disease is not an inevitable disease that happens with age,” he notes. “It is a preventable disease, and we need to get around to preventing people from developing it in the first place.”

Retirement is dead. Long live retirement! For many Americans these days, traditional retirement, as we’ve known it, is gone—or disappearing. We no longer work for one employer for decades, then leave the workforce with a pension, kick back and relax. At least not all the time. For one thing, we’ve living much longer, so many retirees need to think beyond filling their days with a lot of golf. But how to reimagine about this chapter of life, a time of both vulnerability and opportunity—and Covid? In today’s episode, Carol Waldman, who retired (sort of) from a long career managing a large senior center, and Vicki Ellner, who started to retire from a wide-ranging career in health care and patient advocacy and decided to “rewire” instead, thought better of it, talk about the roller-coaster of emotions as they navigate their so-called retirement years. Carol and Vicki talk about the vulnerability of losing one’s work identity, the stress and anxiety of feeling a lack of control. At the same time, this can be the most open part of life, a sense of never feeling so free, with no set plans and restraints on our time—except that there’s ultimately less of it. Long-time friends and colleagues, Vicki and Carol talk about their individual searches for meaning and purpose, finding new experiences and ways to give the most and get the most out of this sometimes-strange place in life. Retirement can be a time of dealing with grief and grievances; acknowledging loss and letting go of things. Yet, it also allows us to become more of who we are, to find new space for joy and enjoyment in our lives. And as we transform retirement from a time of sheer leisure to one of renewed activity, we need to find ways to rebalance ourselves and make sure we’re not so busy in retirement that we long to go back to work!

About a decade ago, Michael Potteiger and his sister, Nacole, decided to teach their 85-year-old grandmother how to use an iPad. Not only did their Gram learn how, but she is still an active iPad user and loves seeing her grand (and great) grandchildren on FaceTime. Inspired by “Gram the Great,” Michael and Nacole founded Generation Connect, a cutting-edge firm that integrates health care with technology to help people with dementia, their families and their caregiving team through “digital therapeutics”—the use of technology as a tool to implement effective non-drug therapy treatments. In today’s episode, as part of National Family Caregivers Month, we talk with Michael and Robin Lombardo, Generation Connect’s director of business development, about their commitment to senior care and to developing new tools for the caregiving community. Michael has spent his entire career working in technology consulting, and today he continues to work closely with seniors, their families, and care organizations to better understand how technology can help support care teams. Robin, a geriatric and dementia specialist, is a veteran of the senior care field, serving in leadership positions in various healthcare settings and at nationally recognized nonprofits for people with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias. Having exclusively worked with older adults, it is her passion to foster joy in their lives. Together, Michael and Robin will explain how Generation Connect provides a system of mobile apps, tablets, digital engagement and reporting features to help home care providers improve well-being and enhance caregiver relationships through personalized therapeutic routines and rituals. And while they believe that technology can greatly enhance the caregiving experience, technologists, too, have much to learn from the caregiving community. Thus, research remains a central component to Generation Connect’s mission, and Michael and Robin will describe their ongoing research and key findings from studies around the country—and their views on how technology will profoundly affect the future of health care.

As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day this month, today’s episode features veteran Jim Smith, who served as an Army correspondent for Stars and Stripes, the Defense Department’s daily newspaper, during the Vietnam War, reporting from every major city in Vietnam, from the Delta to the Demilitarized Zone. Whether it was observing training of South Vietnamese troops by U.S. advisers, watching massive U.S. firepower take out enemy targets or reporting on efforts to repel the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive, Jim was there to witness the events.He laughed at Bob Hope’s jokes, took cover during rocket attack, pulled guard duty at night in the jungle, got in trouble with the brass, and got caught up in the adrenaline rush of war. In today’s conversation, Jim will draw on a number of these vignettes, which appear in his gritty 2015 memoir, “Heroes to the End.” He witnessed many acts of bravery and commitment, as well as the frustrations and incongruities of the Vietnam War—dozens that were published in Stars and Stripes, and dozens that previously never made it into print. A dedicated journalist to the end, Jim will also discuss his long civilian career as a sportswriter and editor for Long Island’s daily newspaper Newsday, covering the New York Giants, the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. And coming full circle, Jim will reflect on his changing views on the Vietnam War—and subsequent wars—over the years, as well as his advocacy on behalf of social and racial justice causes, and his tireless support of the United Veterans Beacon House, which provides housing for hundreds of homeless veterans and their families at 47 locations on Long Island.

Over the years, have you found yourself increasingly frustrated, saying “yes” to people just to keep them happy? Are you tired of hearing yourself described as a pushover or “too nice”? Or emotionally exhausted by the unreasonable demands of friends, family or co-workers? Well, then, it’s time you listened to life coach and best-selling author Michelle Elman, known as “The Queen of Boundaries” by her half-million social media followers. In today’s episode, Michelle, the author of the recently published “The Joy of Being Selfish,” explains how upholding strong boundaries will teach others how to treat you, rid your life of drama and toxic relationships, and allow you to care for yourself in the best way possible. She provides guidance for people who have trouble saying “no” or who frequently find themselves on the receiving end of “emotional dumps”—when someone is transferring their unfiltered emotions on you. The creator of the “In All Honesty” podcast, Michelle offers advice on what to do if you feel guilty after setting a boundary, as well as what we should do when our boundaries are crossed. She will also describe some of her acclaimed work as an influencer, including her notable “Scarred Not Scared campaign” to bring awareness to surgery scars and help women to embrace their bodies. And as we start to come out of the pandemic, Michelle will address the need to re-examine boundaries and perhaps set new ones, as people deal with different levels of comfort, concerns and socialization. Whatever your situation, she’ll provide a practical guide to help you take back your time, while maintaining your sense of safety and self-worth.

About three years ago, Debbie Ginsberg was working as a professional organizer when she was asked to teach organizing and life management skills to help a college student improve his grades and function better all around. Six months later, the student graduated on the Dean's List—and OrganizeU4Life was born. In today’s episode, Debbie, talks about her remarkable journey as a serial entrepreneur, from her early days as president of a utility bill auditing company; to founder of Uncluttered Domain, a senior move management and aging-in-place consulting firm; to organizing mentor and CEO of OrganizeU4Life. In her current venture, Debbie offers breakthrough education with 1-to-1 techniques and tools to mentor high school and college students, as well as adults. Her main objective is to help chronically disorganized people, many from the ADHD and neurodiverse communities, take control of their lives. Debbie will describe her unique blend of individualized educational lessons and brain exercise training to increase focus, improve cognitive skills, and control the ups and downs of emotional dysregulation. Her techniques are designed to help people be more productive; reduce procrastination; master time-management; and improve study and work habits. When you teach a person how to organize and function, Debbie says, you give them the fundamental tools to organize their mind, their space, and their life.

For many older Americans, moving to an assisted living community offers a bridge between aging in place with occasional—but not really enough—socialization, and starting another phase in life, exploring new relationships and being engaged in activities suited to their needs. But how can families choose recreational programs that they believe will truly enhance the lives of our loved ones? In today’s episode, Maria Leonardo, who has spent several decades as a professional working specialist in the field of life enrichment programs and activities for seniors, will talk about her wide-ranging career and insights. Maria has planned, designed and implemented original programming, monthly calendars, special events and newsletters for numerous adult care, including independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. She’ll explain how activity and recreational professionals work together with families and staff to discover and maximize the positive abilities of residents—to meet people where they are,” as she says. Maria, who also has an eclectic background in adult ed teaching and communications (she is a voice-over talent, having created and voiced numerous radio commercials), will describe how this influence shaped some innovative programs she created in adult communities across Florida and New York: Programs that cross into the generational divide, like a senior girl scout group that joined with a local girl scout troop in activities like making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches together. Reading programs with school kids of different ages and art projects with preschoolers. Programs commemorating 9/11 program, with thought-provoking, personal questions for both young and old about how to achieve peace in the world. Programs that let kids find out about senior residents, and residents find out about kids—the hope for our future. Maria will also talk about what families need to watch for when checking out the life enrichment programs of prospective communities—a chance a chance to experience new things, whatever their abilities.

Across the country, most older people say they want to “age in place,” living in their current home as long as possible. But the ability to remain in one’s own home and community — safely and independently — often requires modifications in their home as people move from their 60s into their 70s and 80s and beyond. Successful aging in place is best achieved with deliberate planning that includes both older family members and their caregivers, as well as professional experts like Kim Kuester. In today’s episode, Kim, the owner and president of 101 Mobility of Long Island and Queens, talks about one critical piece of aging in place: making sure that your loved ones’ home continues to have the appropriate design features that provide a safe and comfortable environment — particularly to prevent accidents and potentially life-threatening falls. Kim is dedicated to help people find the best accessibility solutions, big or small, to fit their needs. She and her team assess a family’s whole house, starting with getting in and out of the home, and moving from room to room. In today’s conversation, Kim, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, will describe how she works with families to install various home modifications and adaptations, from bathtub cutouts and walk-in showers to wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, elevators, and widening of doorways—any and all means of accessibility. Ultimately, Kim’s goal is to ensure that families have peace of mind that they can age in place safely for as long as they wish to stay in their homes.

Most will unknowingly give away about 10 years of healthy living—our “healthspan” years—and the opportunity to continue enjoying daily living to the fullest. We know this, says longevity expert and educator Scott Fulton, based on data gathered from hundreds of millions of people. We don’t hear a lot about it, Scott adds, because the things that promote longevity aren’t deeply rooted in anti-aging products or retirement resorts, but rather in simple, accessible lifestyle choices. In today’s episode, Scott—a researcher, innovator, and engineer by training—talks about how millions of us could easily live healthy to 95, with just some basic education on how interconnected our bodies are with our lifestyle choices and our environment. No pills or potions; just informed natural choices, resulting in both immediate and sustainable lifestyle benefits. Scott will explain how people can “reverse engineer” the life they dream of, improve the quality of life today and achieve additional healthier years in the future by balancing what he calls the “Five Pillars of Longevity Success”: Mind, Environment Diet, Exercise and Community. Scott, who established Home Ideations, a livability consulting company, is also a dedicated educator at heart, and he will describe his dynamic adult education courses, the Longevity Advantage™, and Whealthspan™, a balanced investment approach to both health and wealth. Life happens, and if decisions are left unaddressed, they make themselves. Ultimately, longevity isn’t about doing one thing right, or about perfection, or just for the chosen few, Scott notes. It’s available to almost all of us and it’s just about making informed choices along the journey of life.

Planning for retirement triggers all sorts of thoughts: excitement, hope, expectation—and yes, a dose of anxiety. We worry about financial security (did we save enough?) but we’re often not prepared for the emotional and social aspects of this major life transition. In today’s episode, Leah Frankel— who has created the entrepreneurial role of “Retirement Journey Advocate”—offers a sharp and refreshing perspective on how to prepare for this next chapter of life. Whether you want to launch a second career; have a side-job or hobby, volunteer, travel, or just sit back and relax, Leah will guide and support you through a stress-free workplace exit, prepared for a new identity and fulfilling experiences. Leah, herself, retired three years ago from a highly successful 30-year career with L’Oreal, and in the process discovered how to transfer her skills and talents into a meaningful second act—and guide others how to do the same. In today’s conversation with host Ron Roel, Leah will explain her simple, 3-step process for leaving a long-time career—a common-sense approach that combines attention to administrative and procedural details with strategic goals and priorities. She’ll also provide a list of 7 key tips and insights to start your retirement journey, from creating a list of “hard and soft skills”; to adapting from a corporate structure to flexible time schedules; creating new relationships and social networks; and learning how (and when) to take breaks to recharge. Finally, drawing from her own personal experiences, Leah will talk about the importance of finding fulfillment, not just happiness, in retirement—finding ways to continue making a difference, imparting your experiences to the next generations, and feeling that life is important and meaningful.