Empowering Independence

Marilyn and co-host Britni answer listener questions on aging issues. 01:27  When to consider memory care for a parent 05:28  How to choose a memory care facility 17:13  Downsizing: When is the right time? For more information, go to the VillagesOKC website here https://villagesokc.org/ 

Co-hosts Marilyn and Dana talk with Becky Rummage of Providence Home Care and Courtney Willis of Legend Senior Living to discuss what aging looks like and how they can help for 2 different scenarios.   Becky was drawn to the elderly from an early age. She has served the seniors around her in various capacities. She has cared for close elderly friends, acted as a resource for family caregivers and the aging in her community, and has served in faith-based nursing home ministries. She has a heart for seniors and a desire to grant their wish to age in place with independence and dignity. Her professional history includes working as a Care Manager for seniors on the Advantage Waiver Program, aging Veterans, and Private Pay clients. She has a heart for professional and family caregivers, desiring to see them healthy, thriving, and equipped with the resources available. Called to others, Becky has a passion for serving in various community projects and church ministries.

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Chris McCone and Ashley Davidson on how Physicians Housecalls is change the way people see the doctor. Chris McKone joined Physicians Housecalls as the Vice President of Operations in 2021 and recently became the Chief Growth Officer. Prior to joining Physician Housecalls Chris served as the Manager of Commercial Services at Chesapeake Energy where he was responsible for negotiating and managing the organization's commercial contracts for product delivery and sale. Before that he served 10 years as a pilot in the United States Navy. Chris has 20+ years of experience in the areas of business and strategy development, process improvement, and operations and he holds an MBA. Ashley Davidson graduated with a Masters degree in Gerontology from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2005. She has worked with seniors and their families in various roles throughout the years, including Senior housing, long term care , home health , hospice and home based primary care. She has been with Physician Housecalls for over 5 years and is thrilled to be a resource for some many needing primary care in the home.     For more information about VillagesOKC go to https://villagesokc.org/  

Marilyn and co-host Britni answer listener questions on aging issues. 01:13  My child is too busy to discuss my aging decisions 03:50  Are dementia symptoms modifiable? 06:17  It's time to downsize how do I get the best price for my home? 10:11  I'm isolated with caring for my husband who has dementia are there other alternatives to putting him in a home? For more information about VillagesOKC go to https://villagesokc.org/ To find out about The GIFT workshop check out this Empowering Independence episode 16 

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Keith Bishop on what it can look like to prevail over cancer. Keith Bishop is a Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, Author, and Retired Pharmacist with a deep commitment to cancer prevention and treatment through integrative approaches. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Keith’s journey into the world of natural health began after witnessing the impact of cancer on his family. His wife and he both have a family history of early onset prostate cancer, brain cancer and neuroendocrine cancer, which led him to extensively review medical research in 1997 to find ways to reduce his and his wife’s own risk. This pivotal moment inspired him to sell his pharmacy in 1998 and focus on natural health. He has a clinical practice where he assesses a person’s a challenge and customizes cancer prevention and treatment recommendations. For more info on Prevailing over Cancer click here For more info about VillagesOKC click here. 

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Lola Edwards on how a small town girl came to build a multi state business helping others.   Lola Edwards holds more than 39 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has been responsible for the leadership of four of Oklahoma’s largest and most successful Home Health and Hospice Agencies.  Ms. Edwards has extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions. Currently, she owns and operates Complete OK, providing home health, hospice, palliative care, and home care services with branches throughout the state of Oklahoma, caring for nearly 11000 patients/clients, and employing nearly 2200 Oklahomans.   Lola has served as the President of HealthCare Innovations Private Services and Professional Home Hospices and the Vice President of Operations of HealthCare Innovations, Vice President of Professional Services for Medical Home Health.  She is active with the National Association of Home Health and Hospice, currently serves as  the President  for Oklahoma Association of Homecare and Hospice. Lola holds the position as the President of Home and Community Based Council Services, a member of the Oklahoma Nurse’s Association, a member of American Businesswomen’s Association, is the Speaker of the House appointment to the State Council on Aging, and the Governor’s appointment to the State Agency for Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care Board. Also , serves on the routine -health committees with National Association for Home Health and Hospice.  Above all, Lola’s most significant achievement in healthcare is her unparalleled care philosophy all patients deserve care .  Her successful business model will always include serving Oklahoma’s most fragile and at-risk patients.  CompleteOK Home Health and Hospice   For more information on VillageOKC head to https://villagesokc.org/  

Marilyn Olson and Co-host Dana Bellows talk with travel agent Marcie Murphy about the nuts of bolts of traveling.   Marcie Murphy was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK. Marcie is a retired Army veteran and a retired Postal worker. She is a veteran-owned, independently operated franchise of Cruise Planners. Cruise Planners has been in business for over 30 years. Marcie has had her franchise for over six years. With a passion for travel, she loves to help people explore the world and eliminate their travel bucket list. Sharing memories for generations to come. You can contact Marcie on her Facebook page here or email her at marcie.murphy@cruiseplanners.com   For more info on VillagesOKC go to https://villagesokc.org/

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with eye doctors Privott and Horner about the importance of eye care and resources in OKC.   Dr. Mark Privott is a life-long Oklahoman.  He graduated from McLoud High School and received his B.S. in Vision Science and his Doctor of Optometry from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  He is Board Certified as a Diplomate by the American Board of Optometry.  He served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, retiring as a Colonel. Dr. Privott is active in his community, serving as Chairman of the Bethany Economic Development Authority.  He has previously served as an officer in the Chamber of Commerce, along with leading a small group from his church. Dr. Privott has a philosophy of building a personal relationship with his patients, both in primary and post-operative care.  He strives to provide access to the most advanced sub-specialty care to best serve his patients eye care needs.  Dr. Privott enjoys staying physically active playing pickle ball and golf along with walking his dog. He and his wife enjoy traveling, hiking, and spending time with their granddaughter. You can contact Dr. Privott at his office at Eye Care Associates of Bethany   Dr. Neil Horner graduated from Northeastern State University College of Optometry and continued his education at University of Houston college of Optometry.  He has lengthy experience in the Air Force using his optometry degree and now works as the Low vision Optometrist/Medical Director at NewView Oklahoma    For more information on VillagesOKC go to https://villagesokc.org/

Marilyn and co-host Britni answer listener questions on aging issues. 00:53   What can be done about the new way to cheat people with a cash offer for "mom's home" 03:39    Exercise is so boring...what do I do? 07:34    Longtime friend lives in a great retirement community but seems stressed and is lonely.  She asked me for a good psychiatrist. How do I help? 10:18     Do you know anything about medical alert devices? For more information about VillagesOKC go to https://villagesokc.org/

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Byron Jackson about his nonprofit Possibilities, and the bumpy road he took to get there. Byron's bio: Over the past 40 years, Byron Jackson has created an impressive track record of community training on many subjects, including cultural diversity and team building. These experiences have led him to develop a “special sauce” of experiential learning, humor, music, and fun that creates a safe environment where people can deal with their differences and share who they truly are. Byron is Executive Director of Possibilities Inc. a non-profit in Oklahoma City that’s mission is to Strengthen the Ability of People to Work Together for Community Change.  An agency whose purpose is to facilitate individuals improving their skills so that they can impact communities they are a part of. https://www.possibilitiesinc.org/

Marilyn and co host Dana talk with Anissa Chaddick about the many ways a YMCA membership can benefit you.   Anissa's bio: Anissa Chadick is a dedicated Health Promotion Professional committed to fostering a culture of well-being and preventive health practices. With a passion for empowering Oklahomans to make informed choices, she leverages her expertise in health promotion to create impactful programs and community outreach.  She has oversite for chronic disease prevention programs, healthy aging, and healthy living initiatives for the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City.  She brings 25+ years of experience in the field of health promotion, having worked in diverse settings such as community-based organizations, corporate wellness programs, and healthcare systems. Her comprehensive understanding of health determinants, behavior change theories, and evidence-based practices allows her to develop and implement effective strategies for improving health outcomes. For more info about the YMCA visit: https://ymcaokc.org/ For more info about VillagesOKC visit: www.villagesokc.org 

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Dr. Debbie Ozment about how important our guts are to our overall health. Debbie's bio: Dr. Debbie Ozment has been a private-practice dentist since 1985. A graduate of Oklahoma University College of Dentistry, she served as adjunct faculty there for seven years. Dr. Ozment completed a Masters' degree in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and is a Diplomate with the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Trained at Mayo Clinic, she is a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She is the host of "Vitality Made Simple," a weekly podcast committed to sharing practical, understandable and fun strategies to enhance your Vitality and Healthspan. Dr. Ozment is committed to early diagnosis and intervention of periodontal disease to positively affect not only the mouth, but the entire body. Enjoy her 14-minute TEDX Talk entitled "The Forgotten Orifice".   To register for the free Positive Aging Listen to your Gut event at Metrotech Springlake Campus on February 21st click here.  Dr. Ozment can be reached at: Debbie@DrDebbieOzment.com For more info about VillagesOKC visit www.villagesokc.org 

Marilyn and cohost Dana talk about mortgages and what exactly a reverse mortgage is and how you can benefit from it.   David's bio: David Lee is the Co-Owner and Managing Partner of Centennial Home Mortgage based in Edmond, Ok. David is married for 33 years to his lovely wife Lori Lee and has one grown Daughter that lives in the area. We love to travel and continue to do so whether that is in the Country or outside of the Country. We are “foodies” as most call it and enjoy Culinary Tours around the World. He is a man of Faith and is a member of Faith Bible Church in Edmond. David started in the Finance and Mortgage business in 1977 and has continually been in that business for 46 years. For 30 years he worked for and retired from The Associates Corporation of America, followed by 5 years with Wells Fargo Mortgage then the past 12 years has been the Co-Owner of Centennial Home Mortgage. Centennial Home Mortgage is a Full-Service Mortgage Company offering a full array of Home Mortgage products and loan types and also specializes in REVERSE Mortgage Loans, most commonly called Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM). David has over 20 years of experience offering, counseling and helping Seniors understand a Reverse Mortgage and if it is right for them in their particular situation. He helps them understand that the product is a GREAT product but has to be the RIGHT product for them. To connect with David visit: https://centennialmtg.com/ For more information about VillagesOKC visit https://villagesokc.org/

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Scott and Preston Schaefer about how they've help people make financial plans for the future. Scott Schaefer LUTCF®, FIC, CKA® - Financial Consultant Scott grew up in Edmond and still resides there with his wife of more than 30 years, Jacqueline. Through his 30 years of experience working for Thrivent, Scott has helped his clients be wise with money, live generously and protect themselves and their loved ones from the unexpected.  Over the years, Scott has received many awards for his hard work. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Thrivent in 2012 and reached the highest honor in our organization, Hall of Fame Legends, in 2022. The Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Legends celebrate financial professionals’ long-term commitment to our organization and their consistent, successful performance.  In his free time, Scott enjoys playing golf with his sons, Preston and Zac, traveling with his wife and spending time at their lake house on Table Rock Lake in Missouri. Scott has also been a member of his local Bible Study Fellowship for more than 15 years. Preston Schaefer CLTC® - Financial Consultant Preston grew up in Edmond and now resides down the road from his childhood home with his wife, Zoe. Soon after graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2016 with a degree in economics, he started working with his father, Scott. Together they built their team, The Schaefer Group. Over the years, Preston has helped educate clients on how to be wise with money and work toward their financial goals.  In his spare time, you can find Preston on the golf course, in the stands at an OU football game, or traveling with his wife, Zoe. To connect with Scott click here To connect with Preston click here    

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Apple Guru Jeff Albright about how technology is for everyone. Jeff started working at Apple just as the original iPhone came out in 2007, and he hasn’t stopped teaching people how to use Apple devices since. He worked at Apple for four years and in IT at Oklahoma Heart Hospital for nearly a decade, then he started his own business, iCan Help in 2021, teaching people of all experiences in the OKC Metro. To contact Jeff email help@icanhelpexpert.com

Marilyn and co-host Amy talk with Paula Anderson about how she cared for her mom much longer than she anticipated.  She shares what it was like and what she would do differently. Paula grew up in Kansas and Missouri as the daughter of a minister. Attended BNC now, SNU and graduated with a early childhood degree. She stayed home with children until 1980 then returned to the classroom while pursuing a masters as a Reading Specialist. She taught Kindergarten for 18 years in the Mustang School district and continued for 9 more years as a reading specialist. She retired from teaching 15 years ago which has given her more time to enjoy her hobbies of gardening and traveling.  She is married to Donald Anderson and a mom of 2 daughters and 2 bonus sons as well as a grandmother of 12. In 2003 they built a home with a mother- in-law plan and began taking care of her then 85 year old mom.  After 12 years, she had some health problems that resulted in needing to move her then 96 year old mom into independent living.    Episode referenced: The GIFT   

Marilyn and co-host Britni answer listeners questions regarding aging. 1:26 - My 80 year old father has signs of Alzheimers, my parents think it's just regular forgetfulness of aging.  How do I approach them regarding this? 5:25 - I'm 65 and slightly overweight.  I know I need to be more active but can't get motivated.  Any advice? 8:18 - I'm in my mid-70's and don't have an appetite.  How do I get it back?      

This is the second episode dedicated to veterans as we approach Veterans Day Nov 11, 2024. Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Gary Banz about his service, as well as what he has done as a veteran to honor other veterans. Gary Banz completed his 28-year public educator career at Midwest City High School in 1998.  He was a teacher/coach in the Putnam City school district from 1970 to 1982 and at Ada High School from 1982 to 1985.  Banz served 12 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing east Midwest City, Nicoma Park, Choctaw, and southeast Oklahoma county.  As a legislator, he held several leadership positions including majority whip and chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs, House Rules, and House Ethics Committees. Banz served in the US Army from 1968 to 1970 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1970.  He served in the US Army Reserve from 1982 to 1990 and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal in 1985.  Gary was co-founder and executive director of Oklahoma Honor Flights (OHF) from 2009 to 2016.  Serving as flight commander on 24 flights, he and volunteers of OHF took 2,055 veterans from 226 Oklahoma communities to Washington, DC to see their memorials courtesy of generous Oklahomans contributing $2.5 million.  That effort led to the publishing of the documentary “Journey to Honor” in 2016 and a book he authored in 2017 entitled Just in Time.   He is a lifetime member of Leadership Oklahoma from Class XVII.  Oklahoma Boys’ Basketball Coaches Association inducted Banz into their Hall of Fame in 2014.  Southern Nazarene University recognized Banz with the “Patriot in Kingdom Service” award in June 2017.  In 2019 the Oklahoma Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored Banz with their prestigious Medal of Honor. Banz graduated from Southern Nazarene University in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1973.  He is married to wife Linda and they have three children and six grandchildren

This is the first of 3 episodes dedicated to Veterans, as Veterans Day Nov 11th 2024 approaches. Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with veteran Lucy Schoals about how she came to be in the military, what it was like for a woman and what she learned while serving.   Chief Master Sergeant Lucy “Marshall” Shoals served as the Recruiting & Retention Superintendent for Head Quarters (HQ), Oklahoma Air National Guard and she holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma.  She served in the Army National Guard from 1979 – 1981 where she served as a Photojournalist.  Chief Shoals joined the Air National Guard in 1982 as a Financial Services Specialist.  Later she moved to personnel as the Personnel Superintendent and conducted programs to recruit personnel to satisfy the requirements of the Air National Guard.  She later held the position of Minority Officer Recruiter, where she recruited minority pilots and navigators nationwide for the Air National Guard.  As a Recruiter Chief Shoals conducted seminars and spoke to thousands of students.  The emphasis of the seminars:  Education, Life Choices, Character and Belief in one’s self.  In September 2000, Chief Shoals retired from the full time work force.  In addition to the Bachelors degree, Chief Shoals also holds an Associate degree in Liberal Arts and an Associate degree in Human Resource Management.   Shortly after retirement from the Air National Guard, Chief Shoals was appointed to the Department of Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, where she served for three years.  This committee is charged with providing advice to the Secretary of Veteran Affairs and the Congress of the United States on the needs and concerns of women veterans with respect to the administration of veteran’s benefits and services.  Chief Shoals is now enjoying retirement, again. 

Marilyn and co-host Dana have a conversation with Julie Davis about how she had experience in the aging field and suddenly had real life experience with her father's diagnosis. As a firm believer in the power of belonging and healthy living, Julie has long been a champion for the lifestyle todays older adults are looking for.  Julie has spent over 25 years as an advocate for older adults. Her career began at the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, where she served for 11 years, in the Health and Wellness arena as well as a Membership Director. This emphasis on total wellness provided an excellent foundation for promoting healthy lifestyles and aging well. These relationships also allowed for insight into the needs and values of older adults and their families. In 2008, Julie was asked to join an upscale Independent Living community in Plano, TX as their Activities Director. This industry change allowed Julie to utilize her event planning talents and program knowledge to create exceptional lifestyle experiences for the residents. These events and programs soon became a primary driver for Marketing and directly impacted the success of the sales team. Julie was promoted to Marketing Associate, as a result.  In 2014, Julie took a leap of faith and left her family and friends, in Texas, for a position as Marketing Director for Concordia. This step has proven to be one of the most rewarding experiences both personally and professionally.  Engaging and empowering others is Julie’s wheel house. By connecting with older adults and their families Julie has produced an environment for trust and respect and that has allowed for occupancy growth.   Julie is viewed as an industry thought leader cultivating a team of trusted professionals, she has positioned Concordia as a respected resource in the NWOKC area.   Concordia Senior Living