This Day and Age

We’re excited to be kicking off Season 3 of This Day & Age, where we’ll cover topics around the theme of “The Art of Positive Aging.” But before we dive in, we wanted to share a quick recap of Season 2, in which we educated listeners on the growing, aging population in America and the implications this has. From the challenges Baby Boomers face to misconceptions about moving into a senior living community and unexpected keys to healthy aging, this episode highlights some of the most important takeaways from our second season.

While grief is most commonly associated with the passing of loved ones, there are a number of different factors that can lead to a higher level of grieving in aging adults. From retirement to becoming empty nesters to physical or mental decline, these natural life transitions and changes can contribute to feelings of anguish. In this episode, we’re joined by Janet Jaymin, Director of Bereavement Services at Faith Hospice, and Bereavement Counselor Jenny Gruppen to discuss how aging adults can cope with the loss of loved ones and other types of grief.

There is still a lot of stigma around dementia, and the lack of awareness and understanding leads many people to shy away from those living with the disease. In this episode, we’re joined by Lois Thomas and Rosemary Apol-Hoezee of the Dementia Institute, who educate listeners on the effects of brain change and how we can better interact with, communicate with, and approach those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. 

People often think of older adults as carefree individuals with few responsibilities and stressors in this phase of life. However, older adults can still experience mental health issues like anxiety and depression—the causes are just different. In this episode, we’re joined by Hope Huizinga, a Transition Navigator with Reliance Community Care Partners, as we discuss factors that can lead to mental health issues and cognitive decline in aging adults and how they can be prevented.

In this episode, we’re taking a moment to celebrate one of our community’s greatest resources: the knowledge and wisdom of the older generations. Their collection of stories, experiences, and lessons learned over a lifetime are invaluable, especially to the younger generations. Listen now to hear what advice Holland Home residents Dan Girdwood and Lois Vander Wel recently shared with Calvin University students. 

Every generation is shaped by a number of historical events and experiences that lead to shared cultural and personality traits. As more and more Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age, these characteristics are reshaping the senior living and care industry. In this episode, we’re joined by Holland Home Chief Strategy Officer David Tiesenga and Grand Valley State University Professor Priscilla Kimboko to help us learn more about the needs, wants, and expectations of aging Baby Boomers.

When it comes to healthy aging, things like eating healthy and staying active are what people typically prioritize. While these are important aspects, more and more research is pointing to other factors that profoundly impact the health of aging adults. In this episode, Holland Home Director of Resident Life, Marenta Klinger, and Welbi CEO, Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau, discuss the role of social engagement and life enrichment in optimizing the health of older adults. 

Technology and the older generations haven’t always meshed well. Whether due to ageism, access gaps, or anxiety about its use, older adults have been impeded from utilizing modern tools. However, with an aging population, technology is and will continue to play an important role in caring for older adults. In this episode, Jessie Riley, Holland Home Resident Technology Manager, and Keith Brophy, COO at Mentavi Health/ADHD Online, discuss emerging trends and how technology will impact senior living in the future. 

When it comes to senior living, there’s a fair share of misconceptions. Many people still have a negative image of it—hospital-like institutions with sterile living facilities and little interaction. But that is far from the reality of the vibrant, bustling, and social community you’ll find today. In this episode, we’re joined by current resident Ann Robinson and Holland Home Sales Director Michael Loughman to talk about what “senior living” actually looks like today.

Whether you plan to receive help from family, move into a senior living community, or use home care services as you age, there is a lot of planning and preparation that needs to take place. One of the biggest aspects being finances. In this episode, we’re joined by Holland Home CFO Adam Kinder and Holland Home Financial Liaison Stephanie Hotz to discuss misconceptions about the costs of care and offer guidance on planning financially for the care you will need and the life you want as you age. 

The Baby Boomer generation — America’s most populous generation — will soon all be 65 and older. As they continue to age, the demands for their living and care needs will too. On top of an increased life expectancy, fewer caregivers and limited senior living space could create a crisis. In this episode, Holland Home President & CEO Troy Vugteveen and Dr. Robert Riekse, a Geriatrician with Trinity Health Grand Rapids, discuss what needs to be done to ensure this aging population receives the care it needs.

How can you prepare for the shifting aging demographics in our country? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Carol Robinson, a speaker and consultant in healthcare advocacy. She’ll help listeners better understand the conversations they should be having, the research they should be doing, and the steps they should be taking to advocate and plan for their wants and wishes as they age.

The baby boomer generation has brought both challenges and opportunities to our country’s economy, infrastructure, and institutions. Now, with this aging group set to make up 21% of the U.S. population by 2030, what can we expect for the future? In this episode, David Tiesenga, CSO at Holland Home, and Brad Straub, EVP of Greystone, discuss the continued impact and implications that this group of aging adults will create.

A recent study revealed that 57% of Americans are experiencing grief in someway. That means that one out of every two people you see is grieving. In thisepisode, Faith Hospice Bereavement Manager Janet Jaymin teams up withWOOD-TV8 Meteorologist Terri DeBoer to discuss this important topic. As theydo in their book, Grieving Well, the duo dives into the cycle and process ofgrieving, touching on their own experiences with grief to help people along intheir healing.

How can we change the culture around dementia care? In this episode, dementia expert and founder of Positive Approach to Care® (PAC), Teepa Snow, uses real-life examples to help listeners better understand how to care for and relate to loved ones with dementia. She touches on the different types and stages of dementia and shares more about her organization’s mission to enhance the lives and relationships of those living with brain change.

Hospice and palliative care each have a distinct purpose. In this episode, hospice and palliative care physicians Dr. Patrick Fitzgibbon and Dr. Jason Beckrow help listeners discover what that purpose is, discussing the origins, differences, and uses of these fields of medicine. Using real-life examples, the doctors. give listeners a raw, human take on why these areas of care are so vital and why they are committed to delivering them. 

What does active, healthy aging look like in senior communities? Truthfully, it varies, and some, like Holland Home, have a more comprehensive approach than others. Vibrant Living, our award-winning and research-based model, goes far beyond the typical senior community activities and is woven into the daily lives of our residents. In this episode, we talk with Marenta Klinger, Director of Resident Life at Holland Home, and Jaci Martin, Life Enrichment Coordinator, to dig a little deeper into the science and research used to help create the Vibrant Living model and how it evolves to meet the different needs of residents.

This episode educates listeners on the many options available to help adults age safely in their homes, maintain independence, and make daily living easier. Home care experts Kate Sylvester and Kim Fischer take listeners through the process of evaluating an individual’s home for areas that could contribute to falls, slips, etc., and provide solutions, including technologies to aid in monitoring and, ultimately, provide peace of mind for the aging adult and their loved one.

As our loved ones age, it can be difficult to find the balance between honoring their wants and wishes and ensuring that they are safe and healthy. Older adults don’t want to feel like they are losing their independence and can be hesitant to receive any sort of help. In this episode, social workers from Holland Home and Atrio Home Care discuss how to recognize when your loved one might be ready for home care or a senior living community and how to have that conversation in a productive and respectful way. 

In this special episode of This Day & Age, Trillium Institute faculty and hosts of the podcast, Palliative Matters, Drs. John Mulder and Jason Beckrow, join us to discuss the importance of exploring a patient's goals and values as they face a life-limiting illness. In these situations people often assume that taking the most aggressive route of treatment is the only choice, but that is not always the case. Listen and learn to better give people a voice and a choice as they navigate this journey.