Aging Together // Unfiltered

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This month we’re hearing from Dr. Monique Nugent, a practicing hospitalist and an associate director for the Division of Hospital Medicine at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She is also the author of Prescription for Admission: A Doctor’s Guide for Navigating the Hospital, Advocating for Yourself, and Having a Better Hospitalization, a complete guide providing the critical information you need to navigate the hospital. With her advice, readers can stay calm, feel confident, and focus on healing after a health crisis. Dr. Nugent is passionate about advocating for every patient by working to make healthcare equitable, safe, and high quality.

Topics: 
- How to Navigate the Hospital System
- How to Advocate for Yourself
- How to Plan Ahead for an Aging Loved One
- How to Plan Ahead for Yourself

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Dr. Maria Cristina is a health and wellness coach for women 50 years and older. She is the founder and owner of Sheehan Health & Wellness. 

Her journey began at age 69 when she found herself aging typically, slowing down, gaining weight, and feeling that the decline she was experiencing was inevitable. At the age of 69, she stepped away from her academic career, where she served as a CEO for 20 years, and into the world of fitness. Today, at the age of 77, she is a natural body fitness competitor winning multiple gold and silver medals in bikini, swimsuit, and sports model categories in international competitions since 2017. 

She became a health coach and fitness trainer, coaching women over 50 both online and in-person. She is a sought-after speaker for audiences who want to improve their health and turn back their clock. She enjoys speaking on wellness and longevity, as well as working with executives and their teams to foster healthy lifestyle habits to enhance their health and improve productivity. 

She has been featured on the Aging and Awesome TV series and now hosts fitness retreats in Central America for women wanting to reclaim their bodies and energize their health. Her next one is in Panama coming up next month, in February! Her programs feature how to transform your thinking about aging while mastering the movement right for you, along with the meal plan that is sustainable to achieve your ideal health goals. She is the best example of her own philosophy which is: we CAN get stronger with age. She believes adults, especially women over 55, should not expect to be frail and dependent as the decades advance. Now, it is her mission to help others who wish to age well. 

In this episode, we discuss health and wellness as it related to strength training, diet, and kickstarting health and wellness goals in the new year. 

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Wow, what a year! This episode is the last episode of Season 1, 2023. In this episode, I provide a broad overview of the year/season, share my gratitude, and introduce the upcoming changes and launch of Season 2, 2024. 

If you listened to any of the 50 episodes this year and found even one of them valuable, please help me out by liking, subscribing, rating, and sharing a review. It truly helps me continue doing this work!

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December is World AIDS Awareness Month. While the face of the AIDS epidemic has evolved over the years, the challenges faced by older adults living with this condition remain significant. As advocates for health and wellness, it's imperative to recognize the unique intersection of aging and HIV/AIDS, addressing the needs and concerns of this demographic.

In this episode, I review the history and significance of World AIDS Awareness Month, its relevance to our aging population, challenges faced by older adults living with AIDS, and strategies for health and wellness for those individuals. 

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December is full of holidays in our melting pot of cultures, religions, and traditions. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, approximately 30 different holidays are celebrated across the United States. For many, these holidays are a time to bring the family together, with relatives of all generations and extensions of marriage. For many families, this means a juggling act between kids and parents. 

The holidays bring warmth, joy, and a sense of togetherness, yet they can also pose unique challenges, especially for families with aging members. As an occupational therapist specializing in geriatric care, I've witnessed firsthand the importance of creating inclusive and enjoyable holiday experiences for older adults, particularly those dealing with health issues or age-related limitations. In this episode, I share some tips for managing culture and traditions with aging relatives during the holiday season. 

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December is Universal Human Rights Month. Universal Human Rights Month commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. This landmark document serves as a foundational framework emphasizing the inalienable rights of every individual regardless of race, gender, age, or creed. It articulates fundamental freedoms, dignity, equality, and the right to live free from discrimination and abuse. 

With so many people being denied basic universal human rights around the world right now, it’s hard to minimize it to one group of people. However, in line with the topics of this podcast, in this episode, I review the relevance of human rights to older adults and outline the critical importance of upholding human rights in the realm of aging through key initiatives and solutions.

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December is National Identity Theft Prevention & Awareness Month. As more older adults integrate their lives into the modern online world, they’ve become easier targets for online dangers. In this episode, I interview Sagar Pandya, a cybersecurity expert, on top tips to keep older adults and their families safe online. 

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“Dementia is one of the nation’s most expensive old-age health conditions and the most
time consuming for family caregivers.” - Population Reference Bureau (PRB)

November is full of celebrations and appreciation.

It's National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.
It's National Family Caregivers Appreciation Month.
It's National Home Care and Hospice Month.

This week, I brought them all together.

This episode talks about the current and projected state of Alzheimer's in America, the impact on family caregivers, and the project burden of care on both family caregivers and our long-term care system.

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Approximately 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of elder abuse each year, yet only 1 in 14 cases ever comes to the attention of authorities. This hidden epidemic affects millions of seniors and underscores the critical need for effective elder law services and advocacy in safeguarding the rights and well-being of our aging population. 

According to recent data, over 70% of older adults will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime, whether it's in their own homes, in assisted living facilities, or hospice care. However, less than 10% have made adequate legal preparations for this stage of life, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive long-term care planning and the role of elder law attorneys in ensuring a smooth and legally sound transition into these critical care settings.

October was National Domestic Violence (DV) Awareness Month. November is National Family Caregivers Appreciation Month, as well as National Home Care and Hospice Month. 

In this episode, I chat with Bryan Adler, an elder law attorney, who talks us through elder abuse, reporting, and long-term care planning. 

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Family caregiving is a cornerstone of the American healthcare system. According to data from the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, there are an estimated 53 million family caregivers in the United States, providing care to adults and children with special needs. This number represents a substantial portion of the population, highlighting the importance of caregiving in our society.

November is National Family Caregivers Appreciation Month. In this episode, I explore the prevalence of family caregivers across the country, including how it differs among various ethnic and minority groups. I also discuss strategies to help caregivers manage the challenges they face, and how these challenges relate to systemic differences in aging with support in America.

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