EPAGA University

"The good news: We're living longer than ever. The bad news: We're living longer than ever (AARP)."

"As it turns out, living a healthy life is so much more complicated than just exercising and eating right. The more mundane tasks you do each day (bingeing on Netflix, driving to work) have more of an impact on your well-being than you think (Prevention)."

Join us this week as we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of what experts say we're doing to add (and subtract) years from our lives.

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Hormone levels naturally shift as we age, but other than the doom and gloom of menopause, what else can we expect to experience?

Join us this week as we discuss the fluctuations in hormone levels from age 20 on, how hormone fluctuations affect both men and women, and what you can do to help support your hormones as you age.

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Well... we've made it through 96 whole episodes without getting on our soap box. We guess it's time.

"In an ideal world, hospital discharge would take place when both you and your healthcare provider think the time is right. You would be strong enough and healthy enough to handle not only the important discharge tasks and details, but also to take care of yourself once you arrive at your destination. However, we don’t live in an ideal world" (Verywell Health).

"Unfortunately, as many as one in six people on Medicare gets readmitted to the hospital within 30 days" (Verywell Health).

This week, we're talking about the events surrounding a premature hospital discharge and the all-too-common ensuing readmissions. Strap in... if we get a little passionate, it's because we've been on the receiving end of these disastrous outcomes a few too many times. Our goal in sharing this information is only to bolster your personal awareness so you can be better prepared to be an advocate for yourself and your loved ones.

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"While everyone is at risk during a natural weather-related disaster or similar emergency, older adults can be especially vulnerable during these challenging times. Being prepared in advance can literally mean the difference between survival and death, particularly for those who may have special medical or mobility needs" (National Institute on Aging).

Join us this week as we discuss how to evaluate the risks your geographical region poses, stocking an emergency kit, considering the role your medical needs will play in your preparedness, and how to plan for an efficient evacuation.

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We're a day late and a dollar short, but alas... we've got another good one for you this week! 🪦

Let's just start with one truth: Dying is expensive. Included in those costs are funeral expenses, including embalming, cremation, casket, hearse, limousines, and floral costs. But one expense we can sometimes forget about is the headstone that will mark our resting place for the rest of the foreseeable future.

Join us this week as we talk all things headstones including costs, options, ordering procedures and more!

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First things first: Hoarding is a mental disorder.

Now that we have that established, we are ready to dive in! This week, we're discussing the ins and outs of hoarding, including possible causes, triggers, how to analyze and arrive at a diagnoses, and treatment options. We'll also discuss things you should and SHOULD NOT say to a hoarder, regardless of your relationship with him/her.

Whether you are wondering if you are a hoarder or you're wanting to gain tips and tricks to help someone who is, strap in and get ready for this episode!

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"There's no such thing as a self-made person.  Someone else believed, encouraged, and invested in you.  Be grateful and be that someone for others." - Unknown

Founder & CEO of Vitalogy EMS, Brodie Verworn, was born and raised in Montana. He initially forayed into EMS in 1998 to help on a local community ambulance in Seeley Lake, Montana. In 2006, he became a full time EMT/Firefighter with the Big Mountain Fire Department, where he was the senior paramedic on staff until his retirement in 2020. In 2010 he earned his AAS in Paramedicine. He is an American Heart Association instructor in BLS CPR, ACLS, and PALS, instructs NAEMT courses, and is a lead EMS instructor for the state of Montana.

Backed by incredible knowledge and extensive experience, Brodie and his wife, Amy sought to fill the dire need in our community and founded Vitalogy EMS, a private ambulance transport company based out of the Kalispell, MT area. With the rise in medical transport needs in the region, Vitalogy EMS aids in transporting our community's most vulnerable from hospital to hospital, hospital to other care facility, hospital to home, or home to a medical appointment.

Join us this week as we dive into Brodie's world of constantly finding a need and filling it!

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For those that have bed-bound loved ones, proper positioning, sanitation, and overall care is critical to the comfort and health of the patient. This week, we're discussing how to best maintain these levels of comfort and health through first obtaining the ideal equipment, followed by the proper positioning of the patient, all in an effort to prevent bed sores and pressure ulcers. We also dive head-first into the realities of what it takes to maintain sanitary standards through timely and proper diaper changing protocols.

Strap in; you're sure to learn a thing or two from this episode!

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Sometimes, it's hard to know what to say after a friend has lost a loved one. You may be afraid of intruding, saying the wrong thing, or making your loved one feel even worse at such a difficult time, however, the worst thing you can say is nothing.

Join us this week as we discuss how to best support someone who is grieving, how to interact with them after a funeral, and the best ways to actively lighten the load for those in a heavy season.

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"If you have wrinkles, you don’t need to be told the skin — the body’s protective outer layer — is susceptible to the effects of aging. For older adults, however, intrinsic and extrinsic changes in the skin make it more prone to disease. In fact, a recent study found that 75.7 percent of adults 70 and older have at least one skin condition requiring treatment either at home (43 percent) or by a physician (57 percent). And 39.1 percent have at least three simultaneously" (AARP).

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