Aging in Style with Lori Williams

There comes a time for many of us when we have a talk with our loved ones about their living situation. 

Whether you need to find them assisted living or a nursing home, initiating the conversation isn’t always easy - and it’s common to feel guilt. Unfortunately, guilt can increase stress, drain your energy, and cloud your judgment, which can worsen the situation.

Senior Living Expert Lori Williams discusses the red flags you should look for when deciding if it’s time to start the conversation about long-term care. She also outlines 4 reasons people feel guilt when beginning this process with loved ones. While it’s an uncomfortable situation, it’s important to remember you’re not a failure for needing help and for doing what’s safest for them.

Topics discussed:
- Long-term care and senior living
- Assisted living and nursing homes
- How to tell if your loved ones need care
- Dementia / Alzheimer’s
- Caregiver's guilt
- Difficult discussions with seniors
- Resources for senior family members

Takeaways from this episode:
- Change is often hard for those involved, so try easing the process with good communication. Talk to your loved ones about their options and what they’d like in their new home – and talk with the community about your loved one’s needs.
- Your loved one may resist long-term care, but keep in mind if they have a long-term care policy, they had planned for this when they were in the right state of mind.
- Many loved ones feel denial or embarrassment when they’re struggling at home and may resist help for fear of losing independence.
- It’s uncomfortable to feel the role reversal with parents when you’re making decisions about their lives, especially if your parents are private - but it’s still important to handle.
- You’re not a failure for seeking help and providing the care they need. It’s a smart decision that promotes their safety and well-being.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 21: Red Flags:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/78dafab1/021-7-red-flags-to-look-for-during-holiday-visits-with-senior-family-members
Episode 5: Senior Housing 101
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/78876793/005-senior-housing-101

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email: [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/

If you’re a senior or family of a senior with questions or concerns about your nursing home or assisted living facility, a great resource to use is an ombudsman. 

This is a mediator position that help residents free of charge in nursing homes and assisted living throughout the U.S. They protect residents’ safety, welfare, and health and make sure facilities are following regulations and held accountable. 

As you might guess, this is a huge relief for families of residents!Yuri Martinez is an ombudsman in Tarrant County, Texas, and has advocated for senior residents for 12 years. She explains the ins and outs of her job, what the most common calls are for her service, and how they help seniors. Plus, she details how to become a volunteer if this speaks to your heart.

Topics discussed:
- What is an ombudsman
- Settling disputes for seniors
- Acting as an intermediary between facilities and seniors
- How to become an ombudsman
-The Older Americans Act
- Nursing homes / assisted living facilities

Takeaways from this episode:

- Rather than fixing problems, an ombudsman coordinates conflicts and holds all parties involved accountable - that they’re following standards and ensuring that the resident is getting proper care and services.
- They observe conditions in senior environments, searching for signs of lack of care, neglect, fall risks, and more.
- An ombudsman receives calls mostly about involuntary discharges or no longer being allowed in a senior living facility. This would then involve helping all parties understand proper procedures, reversing the discharge or starting appeals.
- Anyone in the U.S. can find an ombudsman by going online and searching by county. Facilities are also required to provide that information in an open, accessible area.
- To become an ombudsman, you must have a genuine interest in helping residents, be 18 or older, have reliable transportation, pass a background check, and complete 36-hour training.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Tarrant County LTC Ombudsman Program:
https://www.unitedwaytarrant.org/ombudsman/ 
United Way of Tarrant County
1500 N Main, Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76164
Office: (817) 258-8104
National Ombudsman Resource Center:
https://ltcombudsman.org/
Yuri Martinez, MSSW:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuri-martinez-78a0a9139/

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email: [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/

Fifteen years ago, there were plenty of medical books about Alzheimer’s and dementia, but few guides from a caregiver’s perspective. 

Author and Speaker Charlotte Canion decided to write a book called You Have to Laugh to Keep from Crying: How to Parent Your Parents with this in mind. She knew a conversational how-to guide would’ve helped others like herself who had to care for loved ones in their older age.

This week Charlotte shares her experiences caring for her parents and her father-in-law with Senior Services Expert Lori Williams. She’ll also explain helpful tips for caring for parents or spouses with dementia, as well as her “4 golden rules” to bear in mind to make the experience easier and even joyful for everyone involved.

Topics discussed:

- Caregiving tips for your loved ones
- Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s
- Finding purpose as you age
- Discovering joy in caregiving
- Making memories with senior parents
- Trying new things at any age

Takeaways from this episode:
- Even if you’re “parenting your parents,” it’s helpful and healing to make memories with each other. Find something to connect on.
- If your parents or loved ones had a passion, find an avenue to help them do it again. This helps them find purpose and contribute - and may even help their overall well-being.
- Love your parents unconditionally, and don’t give them grief for their condition.
-  In a sense you become the parent and they become the child, but don’t lose your respect for their perspective. It will make your life so much easier if you agree when they say the sky is purple! Have patience for them when they’re struggling. They’ll do and say things that you don’t understand, but try to roll with the punches.
- Your loved ones may say something uncharacteristic of themselves. That’s the disease talking, not them. Find forgiveness to set yourself free and cast off the weight of your grief.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

You Have to Laugh to Keep from Crying: How to Parent Your Parents 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XK5D7J4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
Sparks!: Ignite Your Way to Success:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D2DY68Q/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
Dementia from a daughter's perspective:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/77cb0bff/008-dementia-journey-from-a-daughters-perspective

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/

e all know by now that COVID-19 has changed the way we approach senior living and care.
One example of a business confronting these changes is Joe & Bella, Inc., a platform launched to help you find “everything you need to make life a little better for older adults.” It offers adaptive clothing, toiletries, and gift boxes for seniors - items that are either necessary or helpful to have, especially considering many caregivers can’t physically visit their seniors right now.

Founder Jimmy Zollo shares how this company was born from a love for his grandparents and their friends in senior living named Joe and Bella - the inspiration for the company name. He also discusses the items many seniors need, whether they’re in memory care or independent living.

Topics discussed:
- Gifts for seniors
- Helping seniors during COVID-19
- Moving to senior living
- Joe & Bella, Inc.
- Help for caregivers
- Memory care and independent living gifts

Takeaways from this episode:

- Joe & Bella offers a range of products from comfy clothes, to toiletries, gifts, and everything in between, to make life easier for seniors and to remind that they’re loved.

- Products featured on Joe & Bella are reviewed and approved by an advisory board of caregivers, including executive directors of care communities, gerontologists and independent caregivers.

- With lockdowns in effect, it’s hard to care for a loved one and ensure they have everything they need in their senior living residence. These giftboxes help check off common items seniors need to be restocked.

- In general the technology investment community is reaching for more senior-focused products, such as Joy For All™ robotic therapy pets and Grandpad®, a senior-friendly tablet.

Learn more about Joe and Bella (use exclusive code STYLE for 10% discount):
https://joeandbella.com/

Connect with Jimmy Zolo:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-zollo-25668622/

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/

When you think of senior women living life to the fullest, you might not imagine 107 women between the ages of 50 and 80 jumping out of a plane and skydiving. For Jean Ketcham, this fits perfectly into her international movement Aging but Dangerous® – and this event actually helped kick it off!

Aging but Dangerous aims to inspire women 50 and older to control their destinies and make their dreams come true. It has gained buzz, with thousands of newsletter subscribers and features in TIME Magazine, NBC news and more. Jean explains to Senior Services Expert Lori Williams about how this movement was born from a need for women to abandon self-limiting mindsets as they age - and how it has blossomed into fashion shows, annual skydiving events, colonoscopy parties(!), virtual happy hours and a sense of community connecting women from all over.

Topics discussed:
- Staying positive as you age
- Senior women social group
- Living life with attitude
- Getting outside your comfort zone
- Virtual events for senior women
- Eliminating fear around aging
- Senior women empowerment

Takeaways from this episode:
- Aging but Dangerous was created as an environment for women to open up, communicate and experience the “senior” phase of life together - by experiencing life head-on.

- If you have a positive attitude about life and “make your own sunshine,” so much good can come from it, and there will always be something worth celebrating.

- It’s important for women to share their feelings and experiences during the aging process since they’ll all go through it.

- If your life isn’t going the way you’d like, change it. You have the power and are the only one who can. This is true for any age and it’s never too late.

- Take care of yourself because nobody else is going to do it for you.

- Don’t put yourself in a box because of your age. Be proud of what you’ve experienced and continue to create the life you want. It’s a gift.

Resources mentioned on this episode:
014. Finding Purpose at Any Age:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/78a00db4/014-finding-your-purpose-at-any-age
Aging but DANGEROUS!:
https://www.agingbutdangerous.com/https://www.facebook.com/agingbutdangerous

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected] For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/

There’s a common perception that Senior Living Expert Lori Williams sees.
When she or loved ones recommend seniors get assistive devices or home help, they often worry their independence is threatened. However, many of these tools and practices can help seniors live independently for longer - and give them a better quality of life too.

Today Lori explains the top 5 barriers that threaten a senior’s independence. Then she’ll delve into solutions and workarounds for them to stay independent and live life happily. Since self-sufficiency such a priority for many seniors, knowledge is power, and knowing how to nip problems in the bud before they begin (or get worse) is key!

Topics discussed:

- Seniors and medication
- Apps helping seniors take medication
- Helping seniors get meals / meal delivery
- The role of community senior centers
- Senior socialization
- Senior mobility and safety
- Fall prevention
-Senior Independence

Takeaways from this episode:

- You’re not alone: Many seniors take medication, and some prescriptions need to be taken around the same time each day. There are plenty of apps that set reminders for you and even ping your loved ones.

- Visiting caregivers or home care may be more expensive if they’re coming just to take medications, so some may also be able to prepare food and socialize.

- There are many reasons seniors struggle to make meals: arthritis / joint pain, depression, memory issues and more.

- Senior centers may partner with local restaurants to provide meals to seniors at a lower cost. There’s also a few meal delivery services just for seniors.
- Technology offers countless ways to keep seniors connected through COVID. When COVID is is no longer an issue, volunteering is a great way to socialize.

- Senior living helps with food preparation, helping with medicines, and regular socialization – 3 benefits in 1.

- To prevent falls, be sure you’ve decluttered your living space, have proper lighting, and handles in risky areas (like bathrooms). This keeps you confident and safe.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Pill reminder app (Mango Health App):
https://www.mangohealth.com/
Home Health and Home Care Explained:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/79a39e48/006-home-health-and-home-care-explained-an-interview-with-kevin-jones-owner-of-brightstar-care-flower-mound
Chefs for Seniors in Flower Mound:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/78a59ff4/013-chefs-for-seniors-a-service-providing-nutritious-food-and-companionship
Senior Centers in Flower Mound:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/799a288c/004-senior-centers-a-place-for-purpose
GrandPad, tablets for Seniors:
https://www.grandpad.net/
Activities in Senior Living:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/78cc0ade/025-activities-in-senior-living-its-not-what-you-think
Fall prevention:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/792ce4fd/020-a-conversation-about-fall-prevention-with-expert-jacque-archer

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/

What does the journey look like to find your perfect senior living community?
Senior living expert Lori Williams has a conversation with realtor Trisha Spurrier about one client’s eye-opening experience from top to bottom.“Bob” is an example of a senior who went from surviving to thriving. After his wife passed, Bob found himself lonely in a home that was too big with no family nearby.

As the founder of the Spurrier Group, Tricia was able to use her realty knowledge (and her specialty of helping seniors) to help educate Bob about downsizing and selling his home. Meanwhile, Lori helped pinpoint senior living that worked perfectly with Bob’s lifestyle needs.

Bob’s story is one of many in the senior community and imparts lessons of what to look for and how to navigate this chapter of life - and finding happiness again in his golden years.

Topics in this episode:
- Downsizing your home
- Researching senior communities
- Realtors specializing in seniors
- Selling a home as a senior
- Making seniors’ houses safe
- Perks of using local senior housing services
- Finding community and companionship as a senior

Takeaways from this episode:

- There are many misconceptions about senior living options that exist, but it has evolved tremendously. Be sure to educate yourself on the different types available.

- It’s natural as a human to fear the unknown. But knowledge is power, so don’t be afraid to at least continue to collect data, information, and answers to your questions. (Bob did, and he’s doing much better!)

- If it’s not your time to downsize or take the next step to senior living, ask questions and do your homework now to prepare for the future, when you’re ready to make a move.

- It doesn’t take months or years to improve your life. A simple switch to a new community - and the social life it brings - can immediately boost your quality of life.

- There are realtors who specialize in working with seniors and have an extra level of patience and knowledge about downsizing, packing, and finding local connections to make it stress-free.

- Local senior housing placement services often have local resources within the area and a more intimate knowledge of what it offers. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:
001. Stop Downsizing, start rightsizing with Realtor Tricia Spurrier:

https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/78b68278/002-stop-downsizing-start-rightsizing-with-realtor-tricia-spurrier
005. Senior Housing 101:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/78876793/005-senior-housing-101
003. What is Indepdendent Living and How it can give seniors a new purpose in life:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/79f2ea43/003-what-is-independent-living-and-how-can-it-give-seniors-a-new-purpose-in-life-with-kristin-woods-from-holiday-retirement
026. Tips on Touring Senior Communities:
https://www.loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/episode/7925ffcd/026-tips-on-touring-senior-communities

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/

If you’re moving out of your house of 30 years, where do you even begin? 

Donna Rae lifts the veil of the professional packing, moving and liquidation service as the franchise owner of Caring Transitions in North Dallas. With 200 offices across the U.S., the business partners with seniors and their families to declutter, pack, move, and settle into their new home. Many seniors benefit from such a service especially as they downsize into smaller homes and senior living communities.

Donna shares her top tips for approaching a move and simple ways to get started - even if it’s intimidating. Her team’s strategy even works with seniors who have decades’ worth of belongings. She’ll also explain why it’s important to work with people who understand all aspects of the business and have strong knowledge of the senior population and this stage of life.

Takeaways from this episode:
-Start grouping your belongings into 4 categories: keep, donate, gift, and recycle. Use different types of bags / packing for each, like a trash bag for donations and a tote for gifts.

-Floor planning helps with layout and visualizing the new space. Measuring furniture will help give a greater idea of what will fit into this layout.

- A good moving service will help empower seniors to make decisions about their furnishings and what to leave behind while advising on what’s critical.

- Caring Transitions will “mirror” a home setup, so they’ll recreate portions of the space to make it feel like home for when you move in (like a nightstand setup).

- It’s important to communicate with adult children during the process, especially if the packing service finds legal documents or hidden cash (which is common with seniors with memory loss).

- Check pockets and furniture to make sure there’s no important items hidden away.

- With COVID-19, online estate sales are an increasingly popular way to help liquidate belongings from the comfort of home.

- In-home consultations (free) are a great way to determine how much the service will cost and to tailor individual needs.

Topics discussed in this episode:
- Tips for downsizing and decluttering
- Packing and moving seniors
- Online auctions and estate sales
- Moving into a senior community
- Packing service for seniors
- Liquidating belongings: Donating, gifting and selling

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Online Auctions/ Caring Transitions Bids:
https://ctbids.com/
Caring Transitions Brochure and next steps:
https://2c62c2be-18b3-4bab-b584-5c844cba4b48.usrfiles.com/ugd/2c62c2_7721ea8ebfde434e8ffe37d4027ba022.pdf
Learn more about Caring Transitions:
https://www.caringtransitions.com/home/fbclid/iwar1rvfazs2yxudguvcemblsski4x9u0pj3mx7enn5-wzxkhsaim1bjlkjda

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/

Mental health is just as important as physical health (if not more)!
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health, particularly in the senior community. Add the “winter blues” and it becomes more necessary than ever for seniors to prioritize their mental well-being.
That’s why senior services expert Lori Williams has invited Heidi McBain, a marriage and family therapist, to share her top tips for alleviating anxiety and depression during this tough time.

Takeaways from this episode:
- We’ve all lost a lot during COVID-19, from family time and recreation to the lives of loved ones. It’s important to recognize this as grief and realize we’re all experiencing this together.
- Start with the basics: Check that you’re tending to your diet, hydration, physical activity, and other basic needs – and be sure to get fresh air when you can.
- Journaling is a helpful practice for processing grief. It can be easier to make mental connections when you put pen to paper.
- Try meditating! There are many apps that can help you focus on breathing and living in the moment instead of letting your mind wander to frantic or dark places.
- Connect with people virtually or pick up the phone, and be sure to honestly share how you’re doing nowadays. Many people can relate with how you’re feeling.

Topics from this episode:
- Depression / anxiety in seniors
- COVID-19 and mental health
- Mental and emotional wellbeing
- Connecting virtually with family
- Journaling practice
-Anxiety tips for seniors
-The benefits of meditation
- Processing COVID-19 grief

To learn more about Heidi McBain please visit:
https://heidimcbain.com/

To suggest a topic, be a guest or to support the podcast please email [email protected]
For more senior resources and to sign up to the newsletter please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriWilliamsSeniorServices/
https://www.instagram.com/theloriwilliams/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloriwilliams/
https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/aging-in-style-podcast/