Your parents or in-laws just aren't kid people. They're not friendly. They're not engaging and they don't know how to interact with the grandkids.

We do want our kids to know their grandparents, but because the grandparents aren't kid people, we get frustrated. In this episode, I want to help you work through this issue!

HIGHLIGHTS

2:08 – They want to engage but, they feel inadequate in connecting with the grandkids.

3:49 – Are they just not relational?

4:40 – Asian Americans culture and relationship building

5:27 – How can parents give guidance?

The Grandkid Investigator Kit is a tool that I created to make intergenerational connection easy, meaningful and fun.

📩 Grab the Grandkid Investigator Digital Kit https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/gkifam

Get a FREE grandkid investigator missions at https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/freemission

Book signings and speaking: https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/speaking

📸 Instagram: @isabelctom

Do you remember a time when we couldn't see our families in person? Do you remember when families had to visit with their elders with a window of glass in between? The next time you get together with your family, here are some important reminders:

Reminders the next time you're tired of meeting together.

• Grandparents don't live forever.
• It's a gift to get to be with your loved ones in person.

Question to ask ourselves:

- How many birthdays do you have left with the grandparents?

- How many holidays do you have left with the grandparents?

- How many summers do you have left with the grandparents?

Use the time you have left and cherish it. It will result in memories that you will cherish forever. Our older loved ones are at the end of their lives, but we've got to make the most of the time we have together.

The Grandkid Investigator Kit is a tool that I created to be intentional with the time you have left with your grandparents.

📩 Grab the Grandkid Investigator Kit at https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/gkifam

📸 Instagram: @isabelctom

If you're considering a career serving older adults, this episode is for you! Whether you're fresh out of school or seeking a second career, you'll get practical next steps to break into the field. Learn how to find a mentor, volunteer, start with part-time roles, and network with professionals. Plus, get tips on effective job searching in aging services. Tune in for actionable insights that can help you take the next step toward a meaningful career working with seniors.

Highlights:

• 3:35 – Search for a mentor
• 5:50 – Volunteer
• 7:31 – Shadow someone who works in the field
• 10:05 – Tips for searching for jobs in the aging serivces field
• 19:00 - Ask more questions

This podcast series is sponsored by Dignity Memorial

Plan ahead with Dignity Memorial and secure peace of mind for you and your loved ones with our compassionate funeral and cemetery pre-planning services. Call Dignity Memorial today at 240-463-6884 to start your personalized plan with a caring expert.

📩 Grab a FREE Grandkid Investigator Mission at https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/freemission

📸 Instagram: @isabelctom

In this episode, I chat with Becky Donahue, a social worker at WinterGrowth, a medical adult day program. When I first considered working with older adults, I thought being a nurse was the only way to help, but after meeting Bob Van Dyk, I discovered many other paths in senior care. Becky shares her journey into the field, what it's like to work in a medical adult day care setting, and how she helps families as a social worker. We dive into the key qualities needed to work in this field, tips for those new to working with dementia, and what it's like to support people with cognitive impairments. If you're interested in exploring alternative careers in senior care or want to learn more about dementia care, this episode is full of insights and advice.

Highlights:

• 4:00 – What is adult medical day care?
• 6:38 – How Becky got her start in the medical day care field
• 9:57 – Her first full-time role as Social Services Coordinator and what she did
• 10:31 – How Becky helped families as a social worker
• 15:50 – Key qualities for someone looking to work in this field
• 18:14 – Something Becky wishes people knew about her work
• 19:39 – Tips for those new to working with people with dementia

Resources mentioned:

• Van Dyk Healthcare - https://www.vandykhealthcare.com/
• Winter Growth - https://www.wintergrowthinc.org/

This podcast series is sponsored by Dignity Memorial

Plan ahead with Dignity Memorial and secure peace of mind for you and your loved ones with our compassionate funeral and cemetery pre-planning services. Call Dignity Memorial today at 240-463-6884 to start your personalized plan with a caring expert.

📩 Grab a FREE Grandkid Investigator Mission at https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/freemission

📸 Instagram: @isabelctom

This is the 2nd episode in our Careers in Aging Series. In today's episode we are going behind the scenes with Jamie Arthur. I ask him what he tells people when they ask him what he does. We find the typical hours of someone who works in this field, how he got into this field and more. Whether you're a young professional who's exploring possible career paths OR you're just curious and want to listen in on this unique convo, I think you'll learn new things today and be pleasantly surprised by this discussion.

Highlights:

3:05 – What does he tell people when they ask him what he does?

8:43 – How do you get into this field?

12:00 – how many labor hours go into a funeral service

15:35 – What Jamie's funeral will be like (the music, the type of clothing he's okay with, the type what he wants displayed)

16:52 – What are some of the top qualities that would make someone a good morticians.

18:43 – Why people want to be a mortician

Resource mentioned:

Grab $30 off my Prepare to Care digital course at https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/preptocare by using the code "CAREWELL"

This podcast series is sponsored by Dignity Memorial

Plan ahead with Dignity Memorial and secure peace of mind for you and your loved ones with our compassionate funeral and cemetery pre-planning services. Call Dignity Memorial today at 240-463-6884 to start your personalized plan with a caring expert.

📩 Website: valueofwrinkles.com/contact

📸 Instagram: @isabelctom

This is the first episode in our Careers in Aging Series. Today I'm sharing with you 5 things I learned from working in the senior care field. They might surprise you!

5 Things I Learned:

1. You get to help people, but they help you too!
2. There's job security
3. The people in the senior care field are GOOD company!
4. You will grieve the decline/death of older people you serve.
5. Serving people at the end of their livse is sacred work.

Resource mentioned:

1. Article by Jenna Kellerman - https://leadingage.org/careers-in-aging-month-an-opportunity-to-reflect-and-share/
2. Argentum Workforce Project Report - https://www.argentum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-Workforce-Projections-Final.pdf

This podcast series is sponsored by Dignity Memorial

Plan ahead with Dignity Memorial and secure peace of mind for you and your loved ones with our compassionate funeral and cemetery pre-planning services. Call Dignity Memorial today at 240-463-6884 to start your personalized plan with a caring expert.

🔗 Listen now and connect with me: 📩 Website: valueofwrinkles.com/contact 📸 Instagram: @isabelctom

Grab a FREE mission from the Grandkid Investigator Kit at valueofwrinkles.com/freemission

In today's episode, we're exploring why some grandparents and older individuals may seem reluctant to share their life stories, even when we want to learn more about their past. While many people want to leave a legacy, there are several reasons why some might hold back. Let's dive into the four most common reasons:

1. Their Story is Hard to Tell

2. They Want to Protect You

3. They Don't Think You'll Understand

4. It's a Habit

Resource mentioned:

Article by Debra Nofziger - https://deploymentpsych.org/blog/staff-perspective-sharing-combat-experiences-%E2%80%93-why-veterans-struggle-opening-loved-ones

🔗 Listen now and connect with me:

📩 Website: valueofwrinkles.com/contact 📸 Instagram: @isabelctom

Grab a FREE mission from the Grandkid Investigator Kit at valueofwrinkles.com/freemission

On today's episode, we're diving into the tradition of celebrating the 100th Day of School with a controversial activity: dressing up as "old people." While meant to be fun, could this practice unintentionally teach kids to mock rather than respect older generations? We explore how this tradition may be insensitive to families and staff who have elderly relatives facing aging-related challenges. Dressing up as exaggerated versions of older adults can inadvertently promote negative stereotypes and bias, reinforcing the idea that aging equals weakness. Tune in as we discuss why it's time to rethink how we celebrate this milestone, and find ways to honor the elderly with dignity and respect instead of caricaturing them. Let's make sure we're teaching kids to embrace aging as something to celebrate, not mock.

Key Topics:

1. Why the 100th Day of School may be hurtful to families with older adults or those with disabilities.
2. How these dress-up traditions could inadvertently teach kids to mock instead of celebrate longevity.
3. Addressing age-based biases and fostering positive perceptions of aging in kids.

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that challenges the status quo and advocates for a more respectful approach to honoring the older generation.

🔗 Listen now and connect with me: 📩 Website: valueofwrinkles.com 📸 Instagram: @thevalueofwrinkles

Grab a FREE mission from the Grandkid Investigator Kit at valueofwrinkles.com/freemission

#100thDayOfSchool #AgingWithDignity #EndAgeism #CelebrateAging #RespectForAllAges #InclusiveEducation #DisabilityAwareness #AgeBias #TeachingRespect #SchoolTraditions #OlderAdultsMatter

In this special episode, we're celebrating my mom's 75th birthday by sharing her incredible story. My mom has lived through challenges, immigration, and poverty, yet her journey is one of resilience, faith, and gratitude. Hear a heartfelt recording of her sharing her story—one that reminds us all how understanding our family's past helps us appreciate our own story even more.

Plus, I'm excited to share an update on the Grandkid Investigator Kit—a tool designed to spark meaningful conversations between grandparents and grandkids. Hear how families are using it to build deeper connections!

If you or someone you love has experienced the struggles of starting over, adjusting to a new culture, or overcoming hardships, this episode is for you. Listen in, be encouraged, and don't forget to share this story with someone who needs it!

🔗 Listen now and connect with me: 📩 Website: valueofwrinkles.com 📸 Instagram: @thevalueofwrinkles

Grab a FREE mission from the Grandkid Investigator Kit at valueofwrinkles.com/freemission

#FamilyStories #AgingWithPurpose #GrandkidInvestigator #AsianAmerican #ImmigrantStories #Resilience #GrandparentsMatter

The Grandkid Investigator Kit is the perfect gift for grandparents and grandchildren alike! Today I'm sharing how this intergenerational activity is being used to help grandkids connect with their grandparents in a simple and FUN way! Learn what The Value of Wrinkles is doing to support nonprofits and how you bring more GOOD into the world through buying the Grandkid Investigator Kit. I'm also sharing the special perks for those who purchase the kit from Feb 1-9th! Highlights What I'm doing to support a nonprofit this month If you purchase the kit between Feb 1-9th, you'll be invited to a special LIVE Zoom session for a Q+A so you can get help using kit right away! 30% of sales between Feb 1-9 will be donated to the Caregiving Support Network! What does the Caregiving Support Network do and why did I choose them? Resources Mentioned Faith Community Monthly Meetups - Join with other Christians/ministry leaders who want to support caregivers/older adults in their congregations. Register at https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/churchworkshops. Link to my interview on Good Morning Washington where I got to talk about the Grandkid Investigator Kit! Buy the Grandkid Investigator Kit and support the Caregiving Support Network too! Learn about the Caregiving Support Network. Let's connect sign up for my newsletter | find me on instagram | check out my facebook page | contact meLooking for more? grab my book The Value of Wrinkles | explore the store