The Agewyz Podcast

The Coronavirus pandemic has forced many residential care facilities to go on lockdown and implement “no visitor” policies.  As a result, family members with loved ones in care facilities are feeling a heightened sense of “ambiguous loss”—a term coined by pioneering educator and researcher Dr. Pauline Boss to describe a form of never-ending grief.  Common in caregivers of family members with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, this feeling of grief arises because the person with dementia is “there but not there.”  Another form of ambiguous loss was noted by Dr. Boss in the early 1970s, when she interviewed family members of pilots who were missing in action during the Vietnam War.  These family members were unable to “let go” of their loved ones because they did not know whether the pilot was dead or alive.  Dr. Boss elaborates on both forms of ambiguous loss and tells us how she has experienced it in her own life.  She offers suggestions for how to lower stress levels and increase our tolerance for ambiguity, for caregivers and non-caregivers alike who are now confronting new and confusing relationships, ruptured by dementia and social distancing. Note: this episode originally aired on May 30, 2019.   For a transcript of this episode please click here: Episode 171  Explore the work of Dr. Pauline Boss: Ambiguous LossNew from Agewyz Media!  Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast:  iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.comMusic: "Arashi" by Kakurenbo | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive

Like many adult children, psychologist Nancy Picard is determined to prevent her aging parents from contracting Covid-19.  But Nancy and her parents live in separate states.  So she's in daily communication with them, and has wired up their house with cameras placed at strategic locations - at foot level, to give her parents some privacy.  A returned Peace Corps volunteer who has supported people from age four to 94 as a clinician and researcher, Nancy also focuses on supporting people's needs for reminders through her health care startup, MemoryBeach.  As a psychologist and as a daughter who has cared for her elderly parents, Nancy understand the stresses of the moment and how everyday can feel incredibly long.  She's here to offer comfort and advice to caregivers, for surviving as individuals with their own needs, and as sons and daughters  tasked with filling the needs of family members and friends.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptExplore Nancy's startup: MemoryBeachLearn more about Life Stories for the Ages: Capture a Story. Connect the Generations.

Renowned flutist Eugenia Zukerman has performed in concerts and recitals all over the world.  She was the artistic director of Colorado's Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival for 13 years, and the arts correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning for over 25 years.  And then in her early 70s, Eugenia was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.  Instead of crawling into a corner, she picked up paper and pencil and started writing - in poetry.  She has no idea why she wrote in verse, but the words flowed and resulted in her vivid new memoir, “Like Falling Through a Cloud: A Lyrical Memoir of Coping with Forgetfulness, Confusion and a Dreaded Diagnosis.”  Eugenia tells us how she stays positive despite her "gnarly" disease and about how she and her husband Dick are making every moment in life count, whether on tour with "Like Falling Through a Cloud" or among the bears and deers in their upstate New York house.  Dick tells us about his experience of Eugenia's diagnosis, and she reads from "Like Falling Through a Cloud. "  Tune in for a tale of love and the incredible power of music.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptEugenia's website: Like Falling Through a CloudFacebook page: Eugenia on FB

Growing up in Alice, Texas, Jason Resendez didn't have any experience with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.   But more recently dementia has started to become an issue in his family.  Now the issue has come full circle: as Executive Director of the LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's Network, all Jason thinks about are the changing demographics in the Alzheimer's community, and in our nation.  That's because the number of Latinos in the US over age 65 is set to triple by the year 2050, when the care and treatment of Latinos with Alzheimer's disease will be a critical health equity issue.  Jason tells us how LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's is coordinating Alzheimer's awareness and brain health promotion efforts in the Latino community, where individuals have unique barriers to the health care system, or issues around stigma and language access that other communities don't necessarily have.For a transcript of this episode and update on Jason's career click here: Transcript and UpdateConnect: LatinosAgainstAlzheimer'sReport: Latinos & Alzheimer's Disease: New Numbers Behind the Crisis"Celebrating the Power of Memory with Disney's Pixar's Coco" (Jason Resendez, 10/30/19, Medium)NEW from Agewyz Media!  Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast:  iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.comMusic:"Feels Like Fuzz in My Head" by Dlay | | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive"Tomoshibi" by Kakurenbo | | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive

Veteran writer Leslie Gray Streeter established a loyal readership through her Palm Beach Post column, "That Girl." Now a general entertainment columnist at the Post, her writing for the newspaper began in the early 2000s and eventually included mentions of Scott Zervitz, referred to in Leslie's column as The Gentleman Friend when she and Scott were dating, and The Mister after they married.  Baltimore natives who went to the same high school but didn't know each other well at the time, Leslie and Scott had re-met after 20 years and become soul mates for life. But tragedy struck in 2015, when 44-year-old Scott died of a heart attack and Leslie became a widow.  By her own admission, she was not cut out for the role.  Five years after Scott's death, Leslie shares her moving love story and twisty path through grief and loss toward healing in her new memoir, Black Widow: A Sad-Funny Journey Through Grief for People Who Normally Avoid Books with Words Like "Journey" in the Title.  On the show and in print, Leslie has a few things to say about grief.  Aging, too.  For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptBuy Black Widow:  Amazon | Barnes and NobleLeslie's website: Leslie Gray StreeterColumns in the Palm Beach Post: PB PostNEW from Agewyz Media!  Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.com

In the last two decades the number of people age 65 or older who are taking five or more medications has increased 300 percent. A problem that is much bigger than America’s opioid crisis, the scope and impact of over-prescribing in older adults is detailed in “Medication Overload: America’s Other Drug Problem,” a report co-authored by The Lown Institute’s Judith Garber, a Health Policy and Communications Fellow at Lown; and Shannon Brownlee, Senior VP at the Institute and author of the book, “Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine is Making Us Sicker and Poorer.” We talk with Shannon and Judith about what’s driving the practice of over-prescribing, solutions that have been effective in tackling the problem and what you can do to prevent adverse drug events. This episode airs on the heels of a newly-released report from Lown titled, “Eliminating Medication Overload: A National Action Plan.” Note: this episode originally aired April 11, 2019. For a transcript of that episode click here:  Transcript Original Report: Medication Overload: America’s Other Drug ProblemJust released: “Eliminating Medication Overload: A National Action Plan”Lown Institute Action Plan Issue Briefs (quick takes):Reducing Pharmaceutical Industry InfluenceImplementing Prescription CheckupsImproving Information at the Point of CareRaising Awareness of Medication OverloadEducating and Training Health ProfessionalsNEW from Agewyz Media! Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.com

Geriatric Care Manager Sonja Kobrin was in her twenties when she began caring for the grandparents who raised her. She had no help and was traumatized by the experience, but it informed her approach years later, when she cared for the biological father who had been absent in her childhood. This school of hard knocks training has influenced Sonja’s holistic and comprehensive approach to helping her clients at VIP Care Management, the Palm Beach County, Florida company she co-founded with her husband in 1993.  Tune in for real talk from a compassionate care manager who shares her insights and advice, and stories of families in crisis that may sound familiar.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptExplore the services of VIP Care ManagementSouth Florida Contact: 561-588-5151Toll free: 877-588-5158 NEW from Agewyz Media! Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.com

Award-winning filmmaker Deirdre Fishel walked around in a state of rage during the making of her documentary film, “Care,” which delves into the world of paid care from the perspective of both workers and care recipients. Deirdre talks about the making of her film, and about how her vibrant but frail mother influenced her decision to make it. As we head into the 2020 presidential elections, “Care” is a must-see film for candidates—and a powerful tool for advocates. Note: this episode originally aired June 8, 2017. We have an update at the end of this broadcast.For a transcript of this episode as it originally aired click here: TranscriptWatch the trailer: CareWebsite for Deirdre's film: CareLearn more: Domestic Workers UnitedNEW from Agewyz Media! Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.com Music: “Alya” by Dlay | CC BY NC ND | Free Music ArchiveEpisode Art/Photo by Heidi Gutman

Brent Wright is one of 64 million sandwich generation Americans who has simultaneously cared for an aging parent and his kids, all under the same roof. What made their setup unusual? His mom moved in with Brent and his husband, Sandis, and their two adopted daughters.  Brent tells us how the dynamics in their family changed when his mom moved in, and how his 7- and 10-year-old daughters help care for their grandma.  Brent Wright is the Chief Operating Officer of Family Equality, a nonprofit that advances legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families, and for those who wish to form them, through building community, changing hearts and minds and driving policy change.For a transcript and update on Brent's work click here: Transcript and UpdateNEW from Agewyz Media! Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunes Learn more about Family Equality: Advancing EqualityFamily Speak Out Pearl of Wisdom ProgramMentioned in the show: T. Rowe Price Annual Parents, Kids & Money Survey

One in 68 children born in the US today is diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. The vast majority of them are being raised by single moms, and boys make up roughly three-quarters of those diagnosed. Faced with these and other alarming statistics, Topher Wurts decided to use his background in tech media to develop Autism Village, a free mobile app designed to help families find autism-friendly places and services. The issue is personal for Topher: his son, Kirby, was diagnosed with autism at eighteen months old. Topher shares his family’s caregiving journey with Kirby, from altered careers and tricky social situations to the all-autistic Boy Scout troop Kirby thrives in. He tells us why celebrating each day is what his family is all about, and how his non-profit Autism Friendly is training businesses to better serve clients on the autism spectrum. Note: this episode originally aired August 3, 2017.For a transcript of the episode click here: TranscriptNEW from Agewyz Media! Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunes Download the Autism Village free appMore about Autism VillageTraining for businessesAdditional Resources:“Born on a Blue Day”by Daniel Tammet“Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew”by Ellen NotbohmBooks by Temple GrandinLearn about jazz pianist Matt Savage

Michigan resident Shaista Kazmi has firsthand knowledge of the isolation and guilt felt by millions of family caregivers. But as a Pakistani Muslim, she's had the added challenge of finding culturally competent home health aides for her elderly family members. To help caregivers like her avoid the same fate, Shaista founded Detroit-based Apna Ghar, the first senior care agency in America dedicated to serving the needs of elderly ethnic minorities.  Shaista tells us how well-meaning senior care agencies tried but failed to meet the cultural needs of her family members, and how it affected her ability to work and raise her kids.  She shares her first generation perspective on the dilemmas faced by her mostly Indian and Pakistani clients, who speak little or no English and eat foods that are particular to their cultures and unfamiliar to most in-home aides.  Immigrants who came to America with next to nothing, these ethnic minority elders assimilated and built successful lives.  Now they are assimilating in a whole new way, attempting to age in place with dignity but hard-pressed to find culturally competent care or even admit that they need help.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptLearn more: Apna Ghar Home CareCall Apna Ghar: (248) 325-9028NEW from Agewyz Media!  Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunesMusic: “Chupke Chupke” - Ustad Salamat Ali Khan  [Recording Artist: Iqbal Asif]

Single Payer, Medicare For All, Universal Healthcare - as these phrases get tossed around the presidential debate stage we get real with Suzanne Garber, whose documentary film, "Gauze: Unraveling Global Healthcare" compares and contrasts healthcare systems around the world to determine what "best healthcare" means and what it really looks like. We talk with Suzanne about her own experience with medical care, both in the US and abroad, what she discovered during the making of "Gauze" and why many Americans are choosing to go overseas for affordable, quality care. Tune in for a lively conversation with this filmmaker who traveled to 24 countries and 174 hospitals in search of the best healthcare systems around the world.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptNew from Agewyz Media: Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast: iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.comWebsite for the film: "Gauze: Unraveling Global Healthcare"Gauze (company) database of international hospitals: GauzeTwo companies that list healthcare costs: Castlight Health and MediBidAdditional links referenced in the interview:Bankruptcies resulting from medical problems: American Journal of Public HealthLife ExpectancyEuropean tax rates: Here and HereHospital non-profit money makers and for-profit money losers

LA resident Cynthia Lim, author of the book, "Wherever You Are: A Memoir of Love, Marriage and Brain Injury," returns to the show a year after our first interview to talk about how her life has changed since the death of her husband, Perry. Retired from working in the LA Unified School District, Cynthia has also raised two grown sons and been a fulltime caregiver for her husband. She talks about the gradual changes she’s made, to her house and in her life, now realizing this is a point in her life where she has the freedom to actually do what she wants to do. Traveling on her own still comes with feelings of guilt, but Cynthia recently gained perspective talking with others at a recent conference of the Well Spouse Association, where she delivered a keynote speech. Cynthia Lim holds a BA in Experimental Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, a Masters in Social-Work from UC Berkeley, and a PhD in Social Welfare from UCLA. Her husband, Perry, passed away on April 30, 2018.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptNew from Agewyz Media: Life Stories for the AgesSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast on iTunesListen to our previous interview with Cynthia: Episode 151Explore Cynthia’s writing: Cynthia LimRead an excerpt from “Wherever You Are”: ExcerptMentioned in the show:The Well Spouse AssociationWriteGirl – LA non-profit empowering teen girlsMusic:“Early Rising” by Dlay | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive“Beautiful Rain” (stripped down remix) by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive

What happens when a gay, middle-aged daughter who has never gotten along with her makeup-addicted, former television singer mother is suddenly thrust into the role of her caregiver? That's the subject of James Beard Award-winning food writer Elissa Altman's new book, "Motherland: A Memoir of Love, Loathing and Longing."  Jana talks with Elissa about how “Motherland” evolved and what it was like for the author to revisit her complex relationship with her mother, Rita, this time through the prism of hands-on care.  At age 56, after countless therapy sessions and the publication of three memoirs, Elissa finally has a healthy relationship with her mother.  The key to their success? Setting firm boundaries. Elissa is still actively engaged in Rita’s life, but they no longer speak fourteen times a day.  Tune in for a lively conversation.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptFor more details visit Elissa's websiteFollow her on Twitter: @ElissaAltman | Facebook | Instagram: elissa_altmanSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast on iTunes 

Adrienne Glusman always knew she would have to care for her mother at some point. It just happened 30 years sooner than she expected. An only child of divorced parents, Adrienne was 29 years old and traveling the world in between waitressing gigs in New York City when her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Adrienne initially managed her mother's care from a distance, flying back and forth between New York and her mother's home in Tampa, Florida during emergencies. But as her mother's Parkinson's progressed, Adrienne became more anxious. She finally decided to leave New York and move back to Florida, to be a more hands-on caregiver. Jana talks with Adrienne about how caregiving has impacted her life and her career, the grueling process of finding an assisted living facility for her mom and juggling visits to the facility with the demands of her work. Now an entrepreneur and fierce advocate for millennial caregivers, Adrienne says aging organizations need to start preparing themselves for the reality that millennials are the people they're going to be having the conversations with. Adrienne Glusman is a public speaker, EMD Serono's "Embracing Carers" Ambassador and primary caregiver to her mother, Hetty.For a transcript of this episode and update since its airdate, click here: Transcript and UpdateConnect with Adrienne on Instagram: @journeyedcaregiver | On Facebook: Young Life InterruptedWSJ article featuring Adrienne's story: "The Call to Care for Aging Parents Comes Sooner Now" (8/6/2018)Learn more about Parkinson’s Disease: FactsSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast on iTunes 

Pioneering educator and researcher Dr. John Eric Baugher was just eighteen years old when his mother was murdered.  Filled with rage, John felt he was fated to join his mother's killer in life imprisonment.  Not behind bars, but behind psychological walls of unresolved grief and anger.  How he channeled his grief and discovered compassion and even humor in the face of death is at the heart of John's new book, "Contemplative Caregiving: Finding Healing, Compassion and Spiritual Growth Through End of Life Care."  Jana talks with John about how "Contemplative Caregiving" evolved from his early years as a hospice caregiver in New Orleans, at the peak of the AIDS crisis, to working with hospice volunteers at a maximum-security prison and interviewing dozens of hospice volunteers in the US and abroad.  Without sugarcoating the experience, John also describes meeting his mother's killer, who is still behind bars.  "Contemplative Caregiving" affirms John's belief that we can transform experiences of loss and suffering into a path of compassion, and that even amid the challenges of caregiving we can find joy in unlikely places.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast on iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.comVisit John's websiteOrder John's book: Contemplative Caregiving: Finding Healing, Compassion and Spiritual Growth Through End of Life CareMusic:“early rising” by Dlay | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive“Wounds (remix) by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive

In a span of five years, Nebraska native Valerie Bourdain lost her daughter to adrenal cancer, her mother to lung cancer and her father to Chronic Lymphomatic Leukemia (CLL). Midway through their daughter’s cancer journey, Valerie's husband left the marriage. Valerie forged ahead. But as the sole caregiver for all three family members, her weight and blood pressure soared to dangerously high levels. Finally, she was motivated to get healthy so her grown son wouldn’t have to care for her later in life. As Valerie slowly rebuilt her life, and her body with the help of a fitness and nutrition coach, she also began working on a memoir titled, "Put Up Your Umbrella: Finding Shelter in the Storm of Cancer." Tune in for an incredible story of resilience, reinvention and learnings along the way. Note: this episode first aired August 18, 2016 . We have an update at the end of the show.For a transcript of the episode as it originally aired, click here: TranscriptSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast on iTunes Buy Valerie’s book: Put Up Your UmbrellaExplore Valerie’s websiteFind Valerie on FacebookWhat is Adrenal cancer?Music:“Always Late” by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive“I can see daylight again” by Dlay | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive

In 1996, Mike O’Krent became a volunteer interviewer for Steven Spielberg's Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, the largest oral history project captured on video in the world. The experience of interviewing Holocaust survivors rocked Mike’s world and led him to found Life Stories Alive, which records the life stories of individuals, couples and siblings for their families before it’s too late. Mike’s own father and grandfather died before he could capture their stories, so he vowed not to make the same mistake with his mother. Mike talks about getting hooked on the process of storytelling, why it’s important for us to know our elders’ histories and about his mission of helping others unearth stories of their loved ones that in many cases they’ve never told anyone before.Subscribe to The Agewyz Podcast on iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.comLearn more about LifeStories Alive"Being Humble Is Nothing to Brag About" by Mike O'Krent (8/27/2018)Mike's list of 15 Powerful Lifestory Questions to Ask Your Loved OneMusic:“early rising” by Dlay | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive“Arashi” by Kakurenbo | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive

Janet Elsbach was raised by people who did a lot of cooking, but she didn't go to professional cooking school.  A home cook inspired by seasonal food, the cravings of those she loves to feed and the idea of bringing people together at the table, Janet knows from personal experience that in times of illness and sorrow there's nothing like the gift of food.  Her new book, “Extra Helping: Recipes for Caring, Connecting, and Building Community One Dish at a Time” includes personal stories from the front lines of care, cooking shortcuts for cooks short on time and tips for tweaking recipes to suit all kinds of dietary restrictions.  Janet tells us how “Extra Helping” came about, how illnesses in her own family changed the way she receives the gift of food, and about the surprise gift of Kollyva she received from a Greek friend following the death of Janet’s older sister from cancer.  What Janet hopes to offer, with “Extra Helping,” is not so much a group of recipes but the idea that no matter what, you can begin.For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptJanet’s website and bookConnect on FacebookJanet’s handle on instagram: @raisinporpoiseNOTE: A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each copy of Janet's book supports Feeding America and their efforts to combat hunger.Support THE AGEWYZ PODCAST! Become a Supporter here: AgewyzSubscribe to The Agewyz Podcast:  iTunesGot a story to share? Email us any time at jana@agewyz.comMusic: “Goodbye and Thank You” by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive

What happens when a family member or friend is incapacitated and they’re counting on you to make a healthcare decision for them?  Do you take the doctor's advice for treatment?  Or do you push back, knowing the patient would never want the treatment the doctor is suggesting? In high pressure situations like this, the wisdom of someone like Viki Kind is invaluable. Viki is what's known as a clinical bioethicist.  She helps families make good medical decisions and she counsels healthcare professionals on how to do right by their patients.  On the show, we examine what went wrong in situations where the patient's wishes were not honored, and Viki offers practical advice for making decisions that are right for you.  Viki Kind is a professional speaker, a hospice volunteer and author of the award-winning book, "The Caregiver's Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices For Those Who Can't."For a transcript of this episode click here: TranscriptExplore Viki's website and free resources Subscribe to The Agewyz Podcast:  iTunes Music: "True Blue Sky" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive