We Are Old, Get Over It!

"Mr. Gluckman, why didn't you show up for jury duty? You didn't answer your summons. We're going to have to charge you a fine."

Yikes. Sounds pretty real, doesn't it?

Ken starts off this episode with a story of how his phone rang recently, he picked it up, and that's what he heard. His response?

Hang up immediately. Don't even entertain the notion that it might be real.

If your loved one, the police, or anyone posing as an authority figure is trying to get your attention, it's just that: posing.

Nora Duncan is with us for part one of our two-part conversation on helping seniors identify and protect themselves from scams, something that is just so ubiquitous these days. Online, digital and AI scams target and affect everyone, but seniors can be particularly easy targets, as we learn about today.

Nora is the State Director of the AARP in Connecticut, and as such, stories like Ken's come across her desk all the time. The AARP plays a very active role in fraud prevention, working with the genuine authorities to understand and track what's happening, and working with legislatures to develop laws that help counteract what the bad guys are doing.

But as we all know, the best person to look out for us is ourself. So pay close attention in this and the next episode, where we clarify what to look for, and how to be prepared.

It's scary, but knowledge is power, and remember: if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

In part one, learn about:

• how to recognize an attempt at a scam, it's easier than you think
• how often you should change passwords
• how your Facebook page is likely a sieve of personal information
• how to deal with 'false imposters' - the people posing as authority figures
• how to emotionally react to red flags: don't panic
• why emotional manipulation makes it so easy for scammers to trick people

And lots more.

Our thanks to Nora for her time and expertise in keeping us informed and ready!

Important resources to save:

AARP Fraud Watch Network - https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/

FTC Consumer Sentinel - https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/consumer-sentinel-network

identitytheft.gov - https://www.identitytheft.gov/

IC3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center) - https://www.ic3.gov/

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

We've talked in separate episodes about hospice and palliative care, in Episode 5 of Season 1, with Annalisa Smith of Avow Hospice in Naples, Florida.

And we talked with Dr. Gary Lee and pastor Larry Wildemuth of the CODA alliance, who promote Advanced Care Planning via the Go Wish cards: special cue cards that prompt thought-provoking and important questions about how you want to approach the end-of-life. That was in Season 2, Episode 11.

Now, we have them all here together for a special group conversation! Dr. Gary and pastor Larry are joined by Dawn Kolderman, Senior Clinical Director at Avow, and Deborah Simon, palliative care chaplain at Avow. Avow are on the front lines of using the Go Wish cards with their patients, and Dawn and Deb have seen first-hand the extraordinary impacts of having these important discussions with families.

We talk about the significance of palliative care, the holistic approach to patient needs and real-life applications of the Go Wish cards in fostering open dialogue between patients and their families, often in the face of cultural barriers. We look at the significance of dignity and comfort in care, the importance of having early discussions about end-of-life wishes, and the necessity of empowering patients and families to navigate healthcare decisions.

Open communication is so important to make sure that us and our families are prepared, and we have plans in place that meet our wishes. These conversations are a gift to our families, and the Go Wish cards play a huge role in making that happen.

Thank you for joining us on this episode, and here's your Call to Action: start having these discussions with your loved ones, and make sure those you care about are having them too. And order a pack (or four) of Go Wish cards to help you out!

Order your Go Wish cards through the CODA website here:

https://codaalliance.org/go-wish/

You can reach Avow Hospice through the following contact info:

Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Ln, Naples, FL

https://avowcares.org/⁠

+1 239-261-4400

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

We want to keep things light and fun here at the podcast We Are Old, Get Over It! It's not all serious, sobering topics - as important as those things are. But you gotta have some fun too, and who better to join in than some great comedians?

Amanda Cohen made an appearance on the podcast back over the holidays, and now we have the full conversation for you, all in one place. Amanda has been a stand-up comic for 20 years, not in a row. Her first performance was at her high school cabaret at 17, and she's placed in the top 16 of the World Series of Comedy twice.

Amanda talks about her journey in stand-up comedy, the challenges she's faced as a female comic, what it's really like to interact with the audience, and the fusion of burlesque and comedy in her career.

We discover the writing process, some of the unique and sticky situations she's found herself in, and the importance of understanding audience dynamics. No two audiences are the same, which logically means that a joke that doesn't work one night could knock 'em out the next.

We learn about some pre-show rituals, and why it's important to understand comedy history and assumptions if you really want to grow and thrive.

And then Amanda shares her experiences with her father's decline due to Lewy body dementia, reflecting on the impact of family, caregiving, and the influence of comedy in her life.

We look at the challenges of balancing personal and professional life while navigating the complexities of aging and memory loss.

Through it all, Amanda's humor shines through as she recounts her father's artistic legacy and their shared love for comedy, providing a poignant look at the intersection of family and creativity.

Check out some of Amanda's comedy sets:

Amanda's Stand-Up Special from the Comedy Cube, courtesy Funny Media Group:

https://youtu.be/LzTqvTQy5sg?si=hSeP4nmGp2kgzdYZ

Amanda's Set at the Copa Santa Barbara:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4WR-ly5RBw

Amanda's Set at Don't Tell Comedy in Pittsburgh:

https://youtu.be/qT0XavdfvuU?si=1Kuxhc5yzsKr4kOL

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

If you've ever wondered why it is that people have such a deep attachment to pets (maybe dogs in particular... no bias here...), and does it go past just the obvious reasons into something on a more molecular, scientific level, well, there's a fabulous book that dives into it!

The Purest Bond, co-authored by Stacey Colino and Jen Goldbeck, is a book that's not just a warm and cozy read, but also adds some science-backed research: how dogs are good for our health, mentally and physically, and how even our resistance and gut microbiome improve by sharing a living space.

Stacey Colino has been an author and health & science writer for the past 25 years, who recently turned her attention to the human experience with their pets. As a long time dog owner, with many touching stories and experiences of her own, she could relate to that intrinsic question of, "Why?"

Stacey shares her wonderful story of finding Sadie (in fact, they chose each other!), after the devastating loss of their previous pet, while Ken shares about driving all the way up to Michigan to pick up Charlie the puppy, much to the surprise of his wife, but 8 years later Charlie is well ensconced in the Gluckman household.

We chat about attachment bonds between human and pet, but also the notion of "disenfranchised grief," when people don't realize the effect that losing a dog can have on someone. It gets kind of dismissed and forgotten. Stacey's book helps you channel your grief in ways that can help you heal and process it.

The book is full of beautiful and amazing stories, and we hear some excerpts here today, such as the remarkable story about a man in Florida, who was saved by his dog giving essentially a type of doggy-CPR.

Today's episode is a good companion piece to our double episodes from season one about pet adoption and petsitting, Golden Years & Golden Paws: Seniors and Dog Adoption - Part 1 and Senior Pet Adoption, But Not the Usual Suspects! - Part 2, so make sure to check those out for some great info on how to enjoy pets, without necessarily making a full time commitment.

Our thanks to Stacey for sharing her stories and research!

Find The Purest Bond here:

https://a.co/d/0bVyae8E

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

We move from one outstanding guest to another, and continue with our critical focus on preventing falls in seniors: this week, I welcome Dr. Tiffany Shubert, a physical therapist who has studied falls and fall prevention, with a particular focus on what's called "The Otago Method."

Dr. Tiffany's focus is on safe, effective exercise and activity. The good news: there is in fact an optimal dose of exercise to decrease your risk of experiencing a fall.

It's 30 minutes a day, three times a week.

And it doesn't even have to be all at once!

We often have or hear about the experience of going to see the doctor, being asked if you've had a fall recently, and if that's the case, getting some kind of prescription pills and otherwise the message that there's nothing really you can do.

Studies related to the Otago Method revealed that those studied fell 35% less than folks who did not do the exercises.

In other words, it's worth doing.

No matter what age you are, you can continue to build your muscle. Everyone is empowered to manage their own fall risk. We don't typically fall out of chairs, we fall when we're standing. So we need to practice our balance when standing.

We look at weight training practices, repetitions, home safety, the differences between Tai Chi and the Otago Method, and lots more.

This one is a great follow up on last week's episode, so improve your cognitive function by following along, and getting active!

Learn more about the Otago Method here:

The Otago Program for Fall Prevention Exercises, by GiveFit. Series of 4 YouTube videos with Dr. Tiffany Shubert

More background on the Otago Exercise Program:

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Otago_Exercise_Programme

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

Today's topic is one of those topics that has a very, very far-reaching impact, and yet most of us don't recognize that's the case.

Did you know just how impactful a fall can be when you're a senior? It can be the start of a cascade of side effects and impacts that can last the rest of your life.

Not to be dour about it, but in today's episode we want to focus on a simple solution: take falling seriously, be prepared and keep your muscle strength up as much as you possibly can.

To help us in this endeavor, we have Dr. Jo Bergh from the University of California San Francisco here to share some of her research and knowledge, her practical experience as a doctor of physical therapy, and in particular her expertise as a certified geriatric clinical specialist.

We talk about fall prevention strategies, risk factors in your clothes and around the house, how to develop your own targeted strength training, and even talk about doing a bit of Tai Chi.

There are lots of options to maintain your strength and mobility! Many people mistakenly believe that falling is a normal part of aging, but it's not: and you can do something about it!

Check out this recent article by Dr. Jo in the San Francisco Chronicle:
https://health.yahoo.com/wellness/healthy-aging/mobility/articles/bad-balance-isnt-just-normal-130000517.html

00:00 Understanding the Seriousness of Falls in Older Adults
10:01 Identifying Risk Factors for Falls
14:46 The Role of Physical Therapy in Fall Prevention
21:09 Actionable Steps to Prevent Falls
26:04 Overcoming Barriers to Exercise

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

https://weareoldpodcast.com

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at
[email protected].

We dropped a preview of this conversation back over the holidays, but we have it here for you now, all in one place: it's comedian Susan Rice!

No, not the diplomat (I'm sure she's heard that one many times!), but the inspiring, impressive and, most of all, humorous veteran of 43 years of comedy.

We step into her shoes as a comedian and learn the rituals she follows before going on stage, how she adapts her performance based on audience reactions, and the challenges of keeping up with new comedic talent.

Susan talks about her journey into stand-up comedy, reflecting on her four-decade career, the challenges of connecting with audiences, and some great personal anecdotes on the absurdities of life and the unique situations she has encountered as a performer.

She tells us about the unique bond she forms with her audience, particularly women, and the unexpected personal stories that often emerge during her shows. Do you lean into your age, your appearance, your gender and your life experience? Or do you try and sweep that under the rug?

And we touch on the evolution of comedy in the digital age, and the importance of adapting material to resonate with contemporary audiences. Jokes about Ronald Reagan don't quite land the way they used to!

Self-esteem plays a crucial role in performance, and there are few things more raw than stand-up comedy. Which is probably why so many people are fascinated by it - the mindset of going up on stage, all alone, just you and a microphone in the spotlight, to make people laugh.

When you hit the mark, laughter serves as a powerful tool for connection.

You can watch Susan's act on YouTube, in examples like this:

https://youtu.be/cbHJT2SLqgY?si=06qaIaVvEQYpgZbc

And buy or rent her comedy special, Susan Rice: Silver Alert !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s7omNdf1zs

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer."

What a great quote, and here today we have a conversation that demonstrates how accurate it is.

Kelsey Perri of Road Scholar joins me to share her non-profit organization's mission, programs and opportunities, all designed to get you out there, seeing the world.

They call it "experiential travel," and the hook is if you want to do something different than sitting on a beach or lounging by the pool, these are the group tours and immersive activities that help you truly experience the world.

It's like turning the entire world into your classroom. But, as you'll discover, the impacts are very deep and profound.

Road Scholar experiences help combat the epidemic of loneliness, and help increase socialization in older adulthood. Keep your physical, mental and social activity heightened through an educational, active tour.

60% of their travelers are women, 30% are solo travelers, and 85% of their solo travelers are women. And they did an interesting study in 2023 that found that 60% of their solo travelers who are mostly women, are in fact actually married, but traveling without their spouses. Road Scholar gives you the opportunity and encouragement to follow your dreams, and be supported in doing so.

They're known for some signature programs, including Grandparent Adventures, Signature Cities, and the "Choose Your Pace" program that emphasizes slow travel.

And then there are the famous cruises, some of which go for over 100 days: simply unpack your bags, stay in the same room, and go forth for adventure and learning! Or, you can stay in an apartment for six weeks in Europe!

To help as many people as possible participate, they offer scholarships, or the Unique Caregiver Grant, which provides respite for full-time family caregivers, or the Pair Scholarship for retired educators, including education admin staff, even janitors. What a wonderful idea!

Imagine:

• Going into an Italian family's home and learn how to make gnocchi with them.
• Going lobster fishing with a local fisherperson and learn a trade that dates back centuries.
• Not just driving past a building, but learning its story - what happened in those buildings, what's the history?

You have to be at least 40 to enroll in the program, and the average age is 72. Road Scholar has programs in over 100 countries and almost 50 states; go as far abroad as you wish.

How intense is it? Well, they have a very clear activity level scale on their website that you can read to figure out what the right activity level is for you.

We've got the links below to help you find your perfect trip, but today's conversation will surely give you a boost to start planning!

Learn more about Road Scholar through their website here:

Road Scholar Official Website - https://www.roadscholar.org

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

Hearing is about more than just understanding what's happening around you, it has a direct impact on quality of life, cognitive health and self esteem.

It shouldn't take much convincing to say that you should do as much as you can to look after your hearing.

But it may seem a little intimidating, overwhelming or even embarrassing to talk to someone about it.

My good friend Dr. Susan Waltzman is here today to break down the stigma and misinformation, and point us in the right direction to getting the help we need.

We talk about hearing aids, both over-the-counter ones that are a few hundred dollars, and the much more substantial Cochlear implants, which can be an absolute life-changer.

And here's the amazing thing: Cochlear in particular can be almost completely covered by Medicaid!

So get your hearing tested, that's the first step. Visit an Otolaryngologist or an Audiologist to get the ball rolling.

Addressing hearing loss can prevent social isolation and cognitive decline. So if you're struggling with hearing loss, take charge and rescue your hearing! There is help, and lots of it.

As per the subject, this one is audio-only: we want you to really concentrate on what's being said!

Find Dr. Suzie and some very useful resources here:

• ⁠Susan Waltzman, NYU Langone Health
  https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/susan-b-waltzman
• A Faster, Clearer Way to Program Cochlear Implants:
  https://nyulangone.org/news/faster-clearer-way-program-cochlear-implants
• Cochlear Implant most effective way to correct hearing impairments
  https://www.informa.com/media/press-releases-news/latest-news/cochlear-implant-most-effective-way-to-correct-hearing-impairment-in-arab-populations/

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

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and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].

So, you have a tattoo.

Maybe you're thinking, "I'd like to get rid of that thing."

Maybe you've even been telling yourself that for oh, a few decades now.

The good news: the technology is available now to zap that tattoo away, so that there's scarcely any trace of it. It takes a while to do, and it's not cheap, but it is doable.

So if it's important to you to get it done: there is a way.

Lisa Giamarino is here to discuss laser tattoo removal, something she does on an increasingly regular basis at her clinic, Naples Laser & Skin Aesthetics.

We chat about the types of people who come into her clinic, reasons they have for removing tattoos, and the difference between laser removal and the other ways.

You don't want to try the other ways.

It is quite interesting though to learn how these lasers actually work on your skin. It may sound like James Bond but don't worry, they expect you to talk. So you can tell others how it works!

But in all seriousness, finding a qualified, certified professional to do this service is paramount. It has to be safe, clean and hygienic, and a clinic like Lisa's covers all the bases.

Did you know?

• 32% of U.S. citizens have tattoos.
• 13% of baby boomers have tattoos.
• Tattoo removal is increasingly popular among seniors.
• Laser technology is the most effective method for tattoo removal.
• Tattoo artists cannot legally remove tattoos.
• The age and type of ink affect removal success.
• Pain levels vary, but removal is often more painful than getting a tattoo.
• Costs for removal depend on the size and complexity of the tattoo.

Find Lisa and her resources here:

• ⁠Naples Laser & Skin Aesthetics:
  https://www.napleslaserandskinaesthetics.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/napleslaserandskinaesthetics/
• https://www.facebook.com/napleslaserandskinaesthetics

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Reach out to the show by visiting our website,

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weareoldpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and send me your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected].