Empowered Elder Podcast

Downsizing and estate cleanouts are rarely just logistical. They’re layered with memory, responsibility, and often grief.

In this episode, Marc Agins, President of Grasons of Southwest Denver, joins Tasha Beckman and Nicole Robilotto to talk honestly about what families experience during estate liquidation.

From common misconceptions about value to emotional overwhelm, this conversation brings both clarity and compassion to a process many people avoid discussing.

You’ll hear:

• Why 70–75% of estate sale items are everyday household goods
• What families often throw away that still has value
• Why some treasured collectibles may no longer hold the price they once did
• How photographed inventory can protect families during probate
• The first practical step to take when considering downsizing

Marc describes the journey in one word at the beginning — stress — and one word at the end — relief.

If you’re facing decisions about belongings, legacy, or letting go, take this episode slowly. There is a way to move through this that honors both the home and the heart.

Guests: Marc Agins, President, Grasons of Southwest Denver 🌐 https://www.grasons.com/southwest-denver/

Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

In partnership with Agewise Colorado:

https://agewisecolorado.org/blog/empowered-elder-podcasts/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/empowered-elder-podcast/id1862896231

🔗 Visit our website & episode resources:

https://app.highnote.io/c/p/249d4ddf/empowered-elder-podcast?cp=link

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@empoweredelderpodcast?si=kqtNIsxVq8rtg149

What really happens after someone dies — beyond the funeral?

For many families, the days and months after a loss also bring confusion, paperwork, unanswered questions, and unexpected responsibility.

In this episode, we talk with Kylee Bandy, founder of Afterloss Advisors, about what families actually face after someone dies — and why organization is one of the most loving gifts we can leave behind.

We discuss:

• Why a will is important — but not always enough
• The hidden stress of missing passwords and unknown accounts
• How probate can stretch longer than expected
• What “after-loss support” really looks likeThe power of creating a simple legacy directory

Whether you’re planning ahead or currently navigating loss, this conversation is about clarity, dignity, and reducing unnecessary burden for the people you love.

You don’t have to do everything at once.

But you can take one small step today.

In partnership with Agewise Colorado:

https://agewisecolorado.org/blog/empowered-elder-podcasts/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/empowered-elder-podcast/id1862896231

🔗 Visit our website & episode resources:

https://app.highnote.io/c/p/249d4ddf/empowered-elder-podcast?cp=link

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@empoweredelderpodcast?si=kqtNIsxVq8rtg149

Guests: Kylee Bandy, Founder, After Loss Advisors🌐 https://afterlossadvisors.com

Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

When is the right time to start talking about downsizing or relocating?

Most families don’t plan to downsize in the middle of a crisis — but many do.

In this episode, we talk with Alex Vaughn of Caring Transitions of North Aurora about what really happens when families wait too long to address relocation, estate cleanouts, or right-sizing decisions. From emotional attachment to physical safety concerns, we unpack why these transitions feel so overwhelming — and how they can be handled with more clarity and less chaos.

We discuss:

• The difference between downsizing and right-sizing

• Why waiting increases stress and limits choices

• What full-service senior relocation actually includes

• How planning ahead protects both dignity and family relationships

• Subtle signs it may be time to start the conversation

This episode is a reminder that asking for help isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to make thoughtful decisions.

You’re not behind. You’re not alone. And it’s never too early to start with one small, steady step.

Guests: Alex Vaughn, Owner, Caring Transitions of North Aurora

🌐 caringtransitionsofnorthauroraco.com

Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

🤝 In partnership with AgeWise Colorado:https://agewisecolorado.org/blog/empowered-elder-podcasts/🍎 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/empowered-elder-podcast/id1862896231

What does it truly mean to thrive later in life—and why does community play such a powerful role?

In this episode, hosts Tasha Beckman and Nicole Robilotto are joined by Melissa Clifford and Amy Benedict of iPlace Seniors for a thoughtful conversation about aging with intention, connection, and choice. Together, they explore why waiting for a crisis often limits options and how proactive planning can create more freedom and peace of mind for both older adults and their families.

The discussion also addresses common challenges like family guilt, resistance to difficult conversations, and the myth that aging in place works for everyone. Melissa and Amy share how personalized guidance and community engagement can support dignity, purpose, and better outcomes as needs evolve.

Key takeaways include:

• What “thriving” really looks like in later life

• Why community and connection matter more than we think

• The benefits of planning before a crisis occurs

• How involving older adults in decisions preserves autonomy

You’re not meant to navigate aging alone—and thoughtful conversations today can make tomorrow feel lighter. 🤍

🔗 Visit our website & episode resources:
https://app.highnote.io/c/p/249d4ddf/empowered-elder-podcast?cp=link

🤝 In partnership with AgeWise Colorado:
https://agewisecolorado.org/blog/empowered-elder-podcasts/🍎 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/empowered-elder-podcast/id1862896231📺 Subscribe on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@EmpoweredElderPodcast

Guests: Melissa Clifford, CEO and Founder of iPlace Seniors 🌐 https://iplaceseniors.com/Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

Grief is a universal experience — yet it’s often misunderstood, avoided, or carried in isolation. In this episode of the Empowered Elder Podcast, Jennifer Flaum, Executive Director of the HeartLight Center, joins the conversation to reframe how we understand grief, especially as it relates to aging, caregiving, and major life transitions.

Jennifer explains why grief isn’t limited to death, how anticipatory grief can emerge during changes like downsizing or shifting care roles, and what healthy grieving can look like across different stages of life. She also shares practical guidance on how to support someone who is grieving — focusing less on what to say and more on how to be present.

This episode is a gentle reminder that grief is not something to rush, fix, or carry alone — and that community, curiosity, and compassion play a powerful role in healing.

Guests:Jennifer Flaum (she/her), Executive Director, HeartLight CenterConnect with Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2101243/🌐 https://www.heartlightcenter.org📷: https://www.instagram.com/heartlightcenter/👍: https://www.facebook.com/HeartLightCenter/Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

Dementia doesn’t erase humanity — and connection is still possible.

In Episode 9 of the Empowered Elder Podcast, we welcome Cody Kohlhagen, a dementia care professional with over 17 years of experience supporting individuals and families through every stage of dementia.

Cody’s journey began in companion care while studying psychology, and evolved into a lifelong calling focused on understanding dementia from the inside out — not just as a diagnosis, but as a lived experience. Throughout this conversation, he gently challenges the idea that dementia is only about loss, reminding us that emotion, personality, humor, and connection often remain.

Together, we explore how intentional communication, inclusion, and curiosity can transform the caregiving experience — even when memory fades.

🧠 In this episode, we discuss:

• Early signs of dementia and how symptoms often begin quietly

• Why reassurance, safety, and belonging matter more than correcting facts

• The difference between confusion and forgetfulness

• How inclusion and purpose can improve emotional well-being

• Why doing everything for someone can unintentionally cause harm

• How curiosity can replace frustration in difficult moments

• The powerful role of music, touch, and creative engagement

• What families should look for when choosing a dementia care community

Cody shares moving real-life stories that highlight a simple but powerful truth: dementia does not erase humanity — and how we communicate can change everything.

This episode is for caregivers, families, professionals, and anyone walking alongside someone living with dementia.

🎧 Listen in, reflect, and share with someone who may need this reminder today.

Guests:Cody Kohlhagen, Community Development Director at Belleview HeightsConnect with Cody: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codykohlhagen/🌐 https://www.sunshineretirementliving.com/belleview-heights-assisted-living-aurora/Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

Why Most Families Wait Too Long to Plan for Senior Care?

In Episode 8 of The Empowered Elder Podcast, hosts Tasha Beckman and Nicole Robilotto welcome Stacy Hathaway, founder of Family Connection Senior Consulting and Placement.

Stacy shares her transition from corporate life into senior care advocacy, inspired by a personal family experience. This episode explores why planning ahead is essential, how families can avoid crisis-driven decisions, and how seniors can maintain dignity, independence, and purpose later in life.

Listeners will hear real stories, practical advice, and compassionate insights on navigating care options, supporting aging loved ones, and advocating with heart.Guests:Stacy Hathaway, Family Connection Senior Consulting and PlacementConnect with her 🌐 https://www.fcsplace.comHosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

What happens when independence doesn’t end because of health — but because transportation disappears?

For many aging adults, independence doesn’t end because of declining health — it ends when transportation becomes inaccessible.

In this episode of The Empowered Elder Podcast, hosts Tasha Beckman and Nicole Robilotto explore why accessible transportation is a critical — yet often overlooked — component of aging with dignity.

Joined by Cory Luebben of Key Transit, the conversation dives into what truly goes into senior transportation: safety standards, driver training, emotional awareness, and the responsibility of supporting vulnerable passengers. Cory also shares real-world stories that illustrate how mobility enables access to medical care, social engagement, and meaningful life moments.

This episode covers:• How transportation impacts independence and emotional well-being• Why mobility planning is essential for aging in place• What families and caregivers often underestimate• How transportation influences housing, downsizing, and future planning

This conversation is especially relevant for seniors, adult children, caregivers, and professionals working in real estate, probate, estate planning, and senior services.

Accessible transportation isn’t just about getting from one place to another — it’s about preserving dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.

🎧 Episode 5 is now live. No reason to miss this one.

Guests: Cory Luebben, Operations Manager, Key Transit

Connect with him on LinkedIn: ⁠  / cory-luebben-531aba11a  ⁠🌐 ⁠https://www.keytransit.com/⁠

We live in a culture that avoids talking about death—but avoiding it doesn’t make it easier on the people we love.

In this episode, Jamie Sarche, Director of Preplanning at Feldman Mortuary, joins The Empowered Elder Podcast to explore how end-of-life conversations, funeral preplanning, and meaningful ritual help families replace fear with clarity and navigate grief with intention.

Guest: Jamie Sarche, Director of Preplanning, Feldman Mortuary, Colorado🌐 https://www.feldmanmortuary.comLinkedIn:   / jamie-sarche  

Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.

What does it actually take to prepare a state — and its communities — for an aging population?

Colorado’s population is aging rapidly — and the way we design our communities, healthcare systems, housing, and workforce will determine how well we all age.

In this episode of The Empowered Elder Podcast, we’re joined by Kristine Burrows, Senior Specialist on Aging for the State of Colorado, to explore the state’s Multi-Sector Plan on Aging — a 10-year blueprint focused on building age-friendly communities and sustainable systems of care.

Kristine shares how her background in public health led her from direct care to systemic change, why ageism quietly drives billions in avoidable healthcare costs, and how older adults are essential to Colorado’s economic future.

We discuss:• What “age-friendly communities” actually mean• Why housing, transportation, and zoning matter for aging• The myths around older workers and retirement• How caregiving, social connection, and prevention reduce long-term costs• Why aging policy must be community-led, not top-down

This episode is essential listening for caregivers, families, real estate professionals, senior service providers, and anyone planning for aging with clarity and dignity.

Guest: Kristine Burrows, Senior Specialist on Aging, State of Colorado🌐 https://aging.colorado.gov/Hosts: 🎙️ Tasha Beckman & Nicole Robilotto The Empowered Elder Podcast — where we talk about home, heart, and the next chapter of life.