Many of us know how painful it can be to watch a once vibrant person lose function in their mind and body. Denise Medved knows this story all too well. She lost her mother to Alzheimer’s Disease. On top of the grief she suffered, she was left wondering what the future had in store for her as she aged. Through extensive research, Denise discovered that the number one concern of people of all ages is losing cognitive function and mobility as we age. She spent years researching the relationship between physical movement and cognitive function and became an expert on aging and the brain. This led to the development of her science-informed program “Ageless Grace” which targets all parts of the brain and is actually fun to do! Find out more at AgelessGrace.com. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

We all know that being part of a community is good for our health. We deeply crave a sense of belonging, especially these days. After all, we’re mammals, and we’re designed to be with others. But what if your community also helped cut down on waste and challenged the values of our consumer culture? That would be an amazing community! Welcome to the Buy Nothing Project. The Buy Nothing Project was founded in 2013 with the mission to build community by connecting people through hyperlocal gifting, and reducing our impact on the environment. You’d be surprised to find out what you can have for free–including chicken poop and pickle juice! Find out more at BuyNothingProject.org. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

Having grown up in a multigenerational home, aging expert Isabel Tom wants us to consider how our attitudes toward aging affect our elders. She’s passionate about helping us develop better relationships with elders, both for their sake and ours. She believes it’s a great loss for both young and old to experience life separately. A writer, speaker and educator, Isabel Tom wants to teach us the value of elders and elder care. Find out more about her at IsabelTom.com. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

Unless you are a devout minimalist you have a lot of stuff. We’re surprised how much stuff we have. Where does it all come from? But have we thought about our relationship to our things? How does it change over our life span? Why is it more complicated than just figuring out something in our closet “sparks joy”? Professor David Ekerdt has researched questions like these over his academic career. His acclaimed book, “Downsizing: Confronting Our Possessions in Later Life”, is not a how-to, but a deep dive into our relationship with our stuff, how it changes, and how it’s much harder to part with stuff than the how-to guides would have us believe. Here’s his article from the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/44-years-studying-retirement-11634913113 Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

The mother of extreme climber Alex Honnold, star of the Oscar winning documentary “Free Solo”, decided to take up extreme sports in her sixties. At age 66, Deirdre Wolownick set a record of her own on El Capitan – becoming the oldest woman ever to climb that sheer rock face. A multi talented woman in her own right, she proves that determination and grit can bring you to places that you’ve never imagined and even help heal a life that was full of emotional challenges. Find out more at DiedreW.us. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Have you ever wondered who will take care of you as you age? It’s not always pleasant to think about, but the reality is that we may outlive our partners and family members. The truth is that many of us will be solo agers. So what are the choices we need to start thinking about right now to prepare for that time? Dr. Mary L. Flett is the Executive Director of the Center for Aging & Values and founder of Five Pillars of Aging Seminars. Now retired as a treating psychologist, she has turned to writing and consulting as she creates workshops and seminars to help others age better and age well. Find out more at https://drmaryflett.com/.

Carrie Luteran is a professional organizer. She talks to us about the importance of having a place for all of your important papers and instructions for when you “kick the bucket”. It’s an easy task to put off. Who wants to be reminded of their own mortality? But it’s the loving thing to do for the person who is going to be in charge of dealing with your stuff when you are no longer here. It may seem daunting at first, but doing it brings a feeling of tremendous relief. Find out more about Carrie here: PrettyNeatSolutions.com. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

Jane Adams, Ph.D., is a social psychologist who is an expert on family estrangement. Her book “When Our Grown Kids Disappoint Us” gets to the heart of the dilemma of having an adult child who has significant problems in life. Her work has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, the Oprah Winfrey Show and PBS. FInd out about Jane at JaneAdams.com. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.

“Duty Free” is a documentary about a son who witnesses his mom get pushed out of her job due only to her age. As a filmmaker, he uses the opportunity to document not only her struggle, but the bucket list adventure he takes her on to reclaim her life. As she struggles to find work, he documents some of the painful realities from her past and the economic insecurity soon to shape not only her future, but that of an entire generation. Find out more about Sian-Pierre Regis and his award winning film and the policy he and his mom are influencing here: DutyFreeFilm.com. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com

Deborah Voll has been an Airbnb “super host” for nine years. She’s the author of the book “The Tell-All Guide To Airbnb Hosting, Tips, and Tricks for Successful Hosting”. Deborah shares some of the lessons she has learned about herself, and tips for you to not only be a successful host but a great guest. Check out her website: DeborahVoll.com. Check out https://copenotes.com/zestful for an innovative app that supports mental health. Find out more about the Zestful Aging Podcast at ZestfulAging.com.