The Agewyz Podcast

Filing a lawsuit can be an expensive and drawn out process—challenging factors for anyone, but especially older Americans, even if they’re healthy. In today’s episode California civil rights attorney Angela Oh talks about why mediation is a better strategy than litigation for resolving disputes and what she’s seeing in her work as a mediator in an aging and diverse America, and she offers tips on what to do if you have a dispute in housing or with a service provider. Angela also talks about how her family is preparing to meet the needs of her own aging parents, Korean immigrants whose cultural practices are outside the mainstream. California legislation Angela cited in this podcast: Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) - http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Publications_FEHADescr.htm Ralph Civil Rights Act - http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Publications_RalphDescr.htm Unruh Civil Rights Act - http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Publications_Unruh.htm Federal agencies cited: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) - http://www.eeoc.gov US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD Music: “Hung Balance” by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive

52-year-old architect Scott Joyce felt unmoored after he lost both parents six months apart, all the more so because he didn’t have kids to keep him anchored to a traditional family unit. In today’s episode Scott talks about how he and his partner of 20 years plan to grow old without having the option of kids to care for them, how he and his siblings dealt with the decline of their parents’ health, and how being gay and coming of age at the start of the AIDS crisis affected the way Scott cares for himself and others.

Explore Scott's Architetural work: https://scottjoycedesign.com

Music: “Something for Nothing” by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive

It’s an election year in the United States, and with the number of Americans who need care of some kind skyrocketing there’s no better time to size up the political landscape around the issue of long-term care. In today’s episode we get the scoop from Kevin Simowitz, Political Director of Caring Across Generations, a national coalition of advocacy groups determined to transform the long-term care system in the US. Kevin tells us where the innovative legislation is brewing, he talks about why it’s important to move away from a top-down approach to crafting policy based on each state’s needs and he explains how Caring and its partners are working to change the narrative around care from one of crisis to one of opportunity. Check out Caring Across Generations here: www.caringacross.org Music: "Is That You Or Are You You?" by Chris Zabriskie | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive

Retired engineer Patricia Lodge was thrown for a loop when her late father remarried after her mother’s death, but she soon realized the gift he’d been given, finding love again in life. In this episode Patti talks about how she dealt with her father’s decline, how she came to appreciate her stepsister’s role as the primary caregiver for both her father and stepmother—who is now living with Alzheimer’s—and the drama that unfolded after her father’s death. Music: “Songe D'Automne” by Latché Swing | CC BY NC SA | Free Music Archive

MJ Campbell is the Director of Nursing for Michigan-based Rite Choice Home Health Care, which provides in-home care for seniors through a specialized staff that includes physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, dieticians and more. In this episode MJ talks about the importance of allowing patients to recover in their homes after a hospital stay, and her own role as the primary caregiver for her parents. The daughter of a pastor, MJ hopes that people see the value in investing in America’s seniors—who she believes are just an important a resource as anyone else.

Ruthanne Zentner is a trained acupuncture physician who lived in Sante Fe, New Mexico for several years before returning to her roots in New York City, and then remaking her life in South Florida after marrying in her late-30s. In today’s episode she talks about being on standby for her larger-than-life aging parents, the role of Eastern Medicine in her life and raising an 8-year-old who loves Pad Thai. Tune in for a story of healthy aging that’s all about balance. Music: “Swing 39” by Latché Swing | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive

German-born Marion Brunken didn't know any English when she came to the US in the late 1990s after winning a green card lottery that gave her permanent residency status. Now fluent in the ways and language of America, Marion is the executive director of a nonprofit organization and she's lived in the Washington, DC area for more than 15 years. But on recent trips back to Germany she's noticed some troubling changes in her mother’s behavior. In today’s episode Marion talks about coming to grips with her mother’s cognitive decline, the growing significance of her trans-Atlantic journeys home, and how she and her sisters are redefining their roles during this challenging new phase of their mother’s life.

Writer, producer, publisher and social entrepreneur Deborah Goldblatt knows how to live life to the fullest. In today’s episode she talks about her passions and the people who have influenced her growth, how the loss of her mother at a young age shaped her views on death, long-distance caring for her dad, and her adventurous journey from New Zealand to Mexico and points in between. With kids and an in-demand cinematographer spouse in the mix, there’s never been a dull moment.

Tune in for an inspiring story of aging well and wisely. Music: “Karachal” by Alash | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive

What happens when your parent has a medical emergency and you’re the only family member willing to respond? In today’s episode, Pat Rullo shares her solo caregiving journey from Arizona to Ohio, where her mother’s worksite fall led to an eye-opening hospital experience and Pat’s career as an advocate for patient safety. Tune in for an inspiring conversation with radio producer and host, speaker and author Pat Rullo, whose book “Speak Up And Stay Alive” is a must read for caregivers. Learn more about Pat’s work here: http://www.speakupandstayalive.com Music: “Curious” by Jon Luc Hefferman | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive

30-year-old Natasha Rawding was an infant when her parents divorced and she and her mother moved in with Natasha’s grandparents. Her mother later moved out, but Natasha remained with her grandparents, who raised her. Her grandmother was a nurse, and her grandfather a Vietnam War veteran with a thriving career at the Pentagon. But at age fifty-six he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and Natasha—still a teenager—and her grandmother became her grandfather’s sole caregivers. Tune in as Natasha shares the life lessons she gained along the way, and she relates her bizarre experience of attending a caregivers conference at age 15. Music: “Secrets” (Instrumental) by Yeyey | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive