Looking Forward Our Way

During this pandemic, our older adult population were under siege. They were the most vulnerable to the Corona virus. Their residential facilities were hotbeds for the disease. And many felt they were in a “locked down” prison at home or in a senior housing. They were unable to interact with their family and friends.

Our special guest in the episode is Dr. Krisanna Deppen with Ohio Health. Her specialties and certifications include both Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine.

This episode will be in your podcast player next week. Here is a preview of what you will hear.

We would love to hear from you.

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And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” - Sophia Loren

If you yourself are not “older”, you likely have family, friends, neighbors who are aging. Our two guests will be providing incredible information on the latest challenges for our seniors, but also the greatest opportunities open to assist and support individuals who are aging in our community.

Fran Ryan has been an advocate for Central Ohioans for over 50 years and now she is a major influencer in all senior services. She reminds each of us that living to support those around us is the key to living a long and prosperous life!

Cindy Farson, Executive Director of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, has been the key to progressing senior services in our region. We no longer assume that nursing homes are the only alternative, she co-chaired the creation of Age-Friendly Columbus/Franklin County. She has met the demands of the pandemic, shifted gears to provide affordable healthcare and home care to seniors, and supported the hundreds of agencies that provide senior services.

In early 2020 you were likely making great plans for how this new decade was going to roll out. The economy was doing well. Senior services were increasing. Funding was “stable”. Age-Friendly programs were growing. Villages were sprouting. And all was going well in our world, then the bottom dropped when a pandemic hit. Particularly in our senior community.

Cindy helps us set the stage of how the situation stood in March 2020. What was the immediate reaction to the pandemic by COAAA staff and other supporters of our seniors?

One of the major issues we faced during the pandemic was an oversupply of information. We were saturated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! However, the information was not always accurate or comprehensive! Cindy and Fran talk about how they were able to guide organizations and the agencies supporting seniors. During a time when no one knew what to expect.

COAAA has so many programs and services to help seniors, and they had to continue through the pandemic. The association supports in-home services, transportation, and so much mores. And during the pandemic had to move staff to work-from-home. Cindy covers how the continued to accomplish this herculean effort and continue to provide these great services.

The Senior Services Roundtable has made an incredible difference in our senior services programs over the past decade. We have a much better handle on what services and programs are available. And what still needs to be done. With the pandemic disrupting all of the services, Fran talks about how the Roundtable was successful in filling in the gaps for our seniors.

Many assume that seniors cannot use technology. Yet we have viewed grandparents Zooming with grandchildren; seniors scheduling tele health appointments, ordering groceries! It seems that new technologies and communication tools made a huge difference in continuing to provide needed seniors services.

We are moving past the pandemic through the success of science. Specifically, the tracing and testing, and now the vaccines. With the widespread health issues from the pandemic, Fran and Cindy talk about the additional services that are necessary to continue having a healthy senior population.

Housing and transportation in Central Ohio has become a major issue for many. Housing with increasing rent and tax delinquencies, and increasing costs. And transportation with bad roads, too many cars, and not enough buses. Cindy talks about plans being put in place to help with both areas.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

The Senior Services Roundtable has made an incredible difference in our senior services programs over the past decade. We have a much better handle on what services and programs are available. And what still needs to be done. With the pandemic disrupting all of the services, Fran talks about how the Roundtable was successful in filling in the gaps for our seniors.

We find out more from Fran Ryan and Cindy Farson in our next episode. In your podcast player on Monday August 2, 2021.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

One of the most frightening symptoms of the during this covid pandemic was to watch patients not able to breathe. The state scrambled to find respirators or "jerry rig" what machinery they could find.

But it was terrifying to think that you would not be able to take another breath, something that we do every few seconds normally without even thinking about it.

Our guests are from The Breathing Association. Alicia Hopkins, who is a nurse practitioner and director of the Lung Health Services, and Collette Harrell, who is the director of the HEAP and Social Services Programs for The Breathing Association.

The Breathing Association has a rich history here in Central Ohio. We hear a detailed overview of how the agency began.

The Breathing Association began in 1906 with the onset of Tuberculosis, but it seems that The Breathing Association have filled a void in our community long since TB was “controlled”. The association wants to ensure we can all breathe easier.

The Breathing Association strives to educate the public on the issues affecting our community, such as smoking, air quality, energy needs, diseases like COPD, asthma, and other breathing disorders. The agency is rich in educational resources and services. Alisha gives us more detail about the “Lung Health Services” she manages.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that provides eligible Ohioans assistance with their home energy bills. Colette directs HEAP and other social services. She gives us an overview of HEAP, other programs and how residents can utilize the services.

The agency is very active not only in educating the public and potential clients, but also educating decision-makers, government officials and others regarding air quality and environmental factors. Alicia talks about what is being addressed right now at the state government level, and how the association works with our representatives.

One other issue which has been prevalent in our community for decades is smoking. Ohio has continued to rate at unhealthy levels compared to the rest of the country – we do not seem to be able to “stop cold turkey”! The Breathing Association can help with their Quit For Good cessation Program and tips on how to quit.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We have another great “Healthy Living” podcast for our listeners today.

In our next episode, we welcome our guests from The Breathing Association; Alisha Hopkins, Director of Lung Health Services and Colette Harrell, Director of HEAP and Social Services for The Breathing Association.

The Breathing Association strives to educate the public on the issues affecting our community, such as smoking, air quality, energy needs, diseases like COPD, asthma, and other breathing disorders.

We cover a lot of ground, from The Breathing Association's humble beginnings, to today and how the association helps residents live healthy lives and change unhealthy behaviors.

This episode will be in your podcast player Monday July 19, 2021. Here's a preview of that episode.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We recorded this episode at the first annual WORDBridge Now's Summer Celebration in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Sara Guerrero-Duby is our guest, along with her colleague Vicki Giambrone. Sara is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Wright State University and has been a pediatrician for decades (40+ years), working with children in Ohio. Vicki Giambrone is a Managing Partner with CBD Advisors in Dayton, serving the healthcare community in its efforts to create sound legislative policy for our Ohio citizens.

We discuss where we are in the research and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines for children, under the age of 18. Some have already begun to get their shots, however, for younger children, the situation is still unclear.

The anti-vaccination movement has been around for a long time. The information they provide has been proven wrong in more recent scientific studies. However, it would seem that they have found a “new voice” or platform with the COVID-19 fight.

We now have a legislature in Ohio (and likely other states) more willing to listen to anti-vaxxers, as well as those who fought against Ohio’s role in controlling the pandemic. Sara provides an overview and the historic public health role vaccines have had in our world and the savings of lives for decades.

House Bill 248 was introduced in the Ohio legislature to allow Ohioans to say “no to vaccines”, however, it will have much greater repercussions than just allowing individuals to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine. The new legislation will greatly impact how safe children will be in school, the increase in life-threatening diseases (which had already been eradicated with vaccines) for both children and adults, and how we move into the future with disease prevention. Vicki provides an overview of the impact HB 248 will have.

Your representative does listen. We have some tips on how the general public can be more effective when we reach out to government entities, particularly when our children’s health is at stake. It should not just be “the greasy wheel” being heard, but all of us having a voice in legislation.

Finally, we ask both Sara and Vicki what they see as the future of public health and vaccines. And how we can increase knowledge and information so individuals can make sound decisions for their families.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

Lifelong learning and the power of learning is key to an individual's success in the workplace. So when education barriers for adult students and job seekers exist, we all lose.

With is us Dr. Phyllis Cummins, Senior Research Scholar at Miami University's Scripps Gerontology Center. The Center has a reputation as a strong partner and supporter of programs for older adults throughout Ohio. She helps us dive into the issues and barriers she has researched and any successful trends.

Historically, it's always been more difficult for older workers to enter the job market. Early in 2020, and now exiting the pandemic, employers are stating they can't find qualified workers, when so many older adults want to stay employed.

Ohio's economy can't continue to grow without a trained and educated workforce. But our educational systems seem to prevent Ohioans from workforce training. Partly because financial aid doesn't apply to adult and part-time students. And there is less flexibility in courses that are lock-step or rigid in scheduling. And campuses are less adult student friendly.

What is needed, in part, is "one-stop" shopping with continued education. That is, one place to go for information on all programs in Ohio. Plus better visibility and information on the direct link of education to better jobs. And lastly, financial aid for with credit and non-credit courses.

Dr. Cummins gives us some good news on information and examples of successful programs in Ohio as well. One program, as an example, is called Age-Friendly University. Two exist in Ohio, specifically, at Miami University and University of Akron. These aren't what are commonly called "Program 60." These are for workforce training.

Resources we mentioned in this podcast can be found here.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

We can't stress enough how important lifelong learning and the power of learning is in an individual's success in the workplace.

In our next episode, we talk with Dr. Phyllis Cummins, Senior Research Scholar at Miami University's Scripps Gerontology Center.

Ageism in the workforce is an issue. But there is the other side of the coin. Job seekers need to make sure they have done what needs to be done to keep themselves up to date in their skills.

Adults in the workforce, not just at at higher levels in organizations, but at every job level, have to stay up to date.

The flip side of it is to make sure employers understand that you do bring value. One way to fight ageism is to never make ageism an issue. Make sure that your skills, your experience, your knowledge is what is being discussed in an interview.

This episode will be in your podcast player July 5, 2021.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

To write a killer book, you need to edit, edit, edit, get professional input (editor, coach, agent etc.) then make the decision to go the "traditional" publisher route, or self-publish and hire beta readers.

What is self-publishing?

Self-publishing is the act of independently publishing your book on a platform like Amazon without the need of a traditional publishing house. There are a number of steps to get your book ready to self-publish, and one is to get your book reviewed by a beta reader.

We speak with Morgan Perryman, the owner of Literary Ladies Ltd Publishing. The mission of the Literary Ladies Publishing and Editing Company is to help empower women of all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and sexual orientations to tell the stories that the world needs to hear.

So what are "beta readers?"

Beta readers review finished manuscripts before they are published, providing the author with feedback from the reader’s point of view.

Beta readers through Literary Ladies Ltd review only within the genres with which they have the most experience. Each BR works within their specialty so that they can accurately provide feedback that applies directly to the genre. They review the content for common tropes, character development, and more. Authors get specific feedback relevant to what readers are expecting.

Are you ready to start sending your manuscript to your pre-publication beta readers? Morgan would love to speak with you.

This episode was recorded on location at the 1st Annual WORDBridge Now Summer Celebration in Dayton, OH.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

There are basically two ways to publish a book. The old way is now called “traditional” publishing: you pitch an agent, they sell it to a publisher, and the publisher takes care of everything. You get an advance.

And then there's self-publishing. Let’s say your book isn’t commercially viable: which means, it won’t earn enough for an agent or publisher to invest in. You can either continue writing and pitching until you have a great enough book that somebody wants to publish, or you can self-publish.

There's nothing wrong with self-publishing, it just doesn't earn very well for the amount of time you put into writing your book. Self-publishing allows writers to find readers.

There are numerous reasons that self-publishing could be right for you...you want control over

• content
• marketing
• cost
• design

Our guest is RJ Jurek, the author of A Rift Between Worlds. He goes into detail how he wrote the book, and his struggles to get the book into "traditional" publishers hands. And his ultimate decision to self-publish.

This episode was recorded on location at the 1st Annual WORDBridge Now Summer Celebration in Dayton, OH.

We would love to hear from you.

Email us at [email protected].

Find us on Facebook.

Please review our podcast on Google!

And of course everything can be found on our website, Looking Forward Our Way.

Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.