45 Forward

Getting old may not be for sissies, as Bette Davis once said, but that doesn’t mean we should be resigned to going through a long period of decline as we age. Quite the opposite, says Carol Waldman, a gerontologist and former executive director of a large and innovative suburban senior center. Getting older can mean thriving, not just surviving during the later stages of life. How so? Carol provides a step-by-step “Thrival Guide,” with several pragmatic tips, including how to adapt to change, stay open to unseen possibilities, discover new purposes, and adopt a new view of time. Carol offers a wealth of stories and examples of programs that have brought joy and meaning to thousands of seniors over three decades, including a nationally recognized Lifelong Learning Lecture Series. A passionate fighter against ageism, she also has spearheaded an AARP Age-Friendly initiative in her local community, advocating for policies that benefit people of all generations.

Advances in health care and medicine have added years to our lifespan, but they’ve also made retirement more complicated than ever. How do we plan for this “longevity bonus,” considering the uncertainties of health care, caregiving, housing transitions and savings that may not last as long as we do? In today’s conversation, Host Ron Roel talks with Mark Miller, a widely recognized journalist, podcaster and author who writes extensively about retirement trends and aging — but with a uniquely different perspective. While the field of retirement experts tends to be very investment and saving-oriented, Mark focuses heavily on social insurance, a critical component in ensuring a secure and sustainable life in our later years. The publisher of RetirementRevised.com, Mark offers the latest information about Medicare options and Social Security benefits, as well as incisive thoughts on how to consider housing and work as part of retirement planning.

While the practices of yoga and meditation have been around for thousands of years, their popularity has surged in recent decades, as part of the ever-growing trend in holistic health, spiritual wellness and mindfulness. But there’s much more to these practices than increasing the flexibility of our aging bodies and finding occasional moments to de-stress our stressed-out lives. Lesa Kingsbury, head instructor at the Amba Yoga Center who has taught yoga for over 20 years, and Ken Taub, a former advertising executive who leads meditation workshops at the Amba center, take a deep dive into how yoga and meditation work together in profound ways. Lesa and Ken will explain the basics of these practices, as well as describe their personal philosophies and approaches. And they will venture far beyond the basics, offering insights and examples of how people of any age, experience or physical condition can benefit from both these practices—and stay with them for life.

If living through the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to make sure our legal affairs and estate plans are in order, even when we’re not ready for retirement. How do we take care of such critical needs, especially in a time of virtual meetings and social distancing? Host Ron Roel talks with one of America’s top elder law attorneys, Ronald Fatoullah, discussing the latest information you need to know about wills and trusts, advanced directives, Medicaid planning, estate planning and guardianships. He has been advising New Yorkers for over 30 years, helping them plan for sometimes difficult “family conversations” to meet the needs of their elderly loved ones. Whether a client need immediate assistance for long-term care or is looking to create an estate plan for future generations, Mr. Fatoullah’s mission has always been to help families meet the challenges of aging with confidence, grace and dignity.

We celebrate friendship as one of the true joys—and necessities—of life, from our childhood through our elder years. But what does true friendship really mean, and how to we sustain it in our fast-paced and changing world — especially in these difficult times of social distancing and social unrest? Host Ron Roel and Dr. Andrea Gould-Marks, a clinical psychologist with decades of experience guiding people through relationships and life transitions, share wide-ranging thoughts about the many “nutritional values” and facets of friendship. How do we preserve and renew relationships with cherished old friends, and how do we find and develop dynamic new friendships as our lives and locations change? What are realistic expectations from different kinds of friendships — at work, at school, in our places of worship, and community? And how do we deal with loneliness —which experts say has become a has become an epidemic worldwide, despite the profusion of social media and technology?

As the economy continues to struggle under the weight of the raging coronavirus, host Ron Roel talks with Scott Passeser, a widely recognized innovator in the staffing field, about how to navigate a job market upended by fear and social distancing. Job-hunting these days is tough for people of any age, but especially for those from their mid-40s and older who face unspoken age discrimination and skepticism about their ability to manage new technologies. Scott, a senior vice president at Executive Alliance, a national recruiting firm, will reveal how to use his unique system to get through the “black holes” of online job applications that often lead nowhere for frustrated job-hunters. Also, he will offer the latest advice on effective interviewing online; how to turn resume obstacles into non-issues, as well as how to strategize career shifts. And he will provide listeners with a list of things that job-hunters should always do (and never do).

In his inaugural show, Host Ron Roel talks with Kathleen Otte, an award-winning senior official at the U.S. Administration for Community Living, which helps millions of people live independently and stay active as they age in their communities. Kathleen, who has been working to improve the lives of older adults for more than 30 years, will explain how federal and state programs are collaborating to promote the philosophy of “consumer control,” engaging people in the decision-making process about their options, preferences, values and financial resources. Advancing the theme for Older Americans Month in 2021 — “Communities of Strength”— Kathleen and Ron will share stories of how older adults have built resilience and strength over the second half of their lives. Kathleen will also offer examples of how families can connect with local, practical resources they need—services, programs, education or just information — wherever they live.