45 Forward

As we get older, we all strive to increase the years of “healthspan,” along with our lifespan. But how can we plan to sustain overall wellness during elderhood—potentially into our 90s—not only our physical health, but our mental and emotional health and sense of well-being? In today’s episode, Tim Daniels, an independent wellness planning expert, talks about his pioneering journey carving a path through the health and wellness landscape, shifting the focus of care toward proactive wellness improvement. He’ll explain how he creates comprehensive wellness plans for individuals that include nutritional balance, supplementation, age-appropriate exercise, quality sleep, a healthy home and effective engagement with healthcare providers. Tim likens his role to that of a financial manager who provides strategies to support the fiscal health of individuals, but then transfers his knowledge and skills, empowering people to take charge of their own wellness. He’ll also talk about his approach to managing pain, employing a non-pharmacological tool called PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) that studies have shown can significantly reduce acute and chronic pain. And with a diverse background that includes executive roles in the technology and home-care fields, as well as personal experiences as a collegiate wrestler and practitioner of Chinese internal martial arts, Tim will talk about how he focuses today on serving the elderly, retired professional athletes, corporate executives and entrepreneurs--meeting people where they are, while helping them lead their best lives.

This has been a particularly hot summer, between 100-plus degree weather and the fiery political rhetoric filling our nation’s airwaves and social media. So let’s take a break—a much-needed humor break—and lower the scorching temperature with a dollop of laughter and perhaps a scoop of our favorite ice cream. In today’s episode, humor columnist and author Jerry Zezima returns to 45 Forward to talk about his latest book, “The Good Humor Man: Tales of Life, Laughter and, for Dessert, Ice Cream.” Jerry is a natural storyteller—he’s been called the “Will Rogers of retirement”—spinning out stories that offer a warm, often unexpected, takes on life as we age. Jerry will offer a smattering of excerpts from his seven books, as well as his thoughts on famous humorists and humor writing over time and generations. His self-deprecating observations and word play will bring a smile to your face (don’t resist it!). Lots of research has shown that humor is good for our longevity. It relieves stress, helps ease anxiety and depression, supports our immune system, helps lower blood pressure, and relaxes our muscles. Good humor is very good for our health—like vegetables or therapy, only much more fun. Especially with Jerry.

Anyone who has gone through the process of signing up for Medicare quickly comes to the same conclusion: It’s complicated! Even if you’re already enrolled, plans and regulations may change, as well as your personal health needs, so it’s a good idea to review your policy every year—long before the annual open enrollment period in the late fall. In today’s episode, James Donnelly, a Certified Medicare Advisor, explains not only Medicare basics, but offers valuable insights and information that cut though the deluge of mailings, phone calls, marketing pitches and commercials we’re exposed to every year. He will talk about how to make sure a plan fits your needs; how you can switch coverage during special enrollment periods (even if you don’t think you can); and how you can qualify for extra financial assistance or programs to help pay for coverage. The host of a regular “Medicare Monday” podcast, James will offer examples of specific scenarios from his wide-ranging experiences, including advice about avoiding Medicare scams. “Where you get the facts matters,” he says. “Education is everything.”

As we enter the second half of the year, it’s a good time to pause and take stock of how we’re feeling about ourselves as we move into the second half of 2024. Are we happy with our life? Well, that’s not really the right question. There’s an unspoken myth that somehow, we “should be happy,” at least most of the time, and when we aren't, we feel like something is wrong—perhaps even something wrong with us. But in today’s episode, Dr. Beth Kurland, a clinical psychologist with three decades of experience, talks about how to stop forcing ourselves to feel “happy” when we’re faced with difficult, uncomfortable emotions that reinforce messages of “not good enough.” Instead, Dr. Kurland, the author of the recently published book, “You Don't Have to Change to Change Everything,” will offer ways we can change our perspective instead of changing ourselves, shifting six “vantage points” to cultivate inner stability, greater awareness of our internal resources, and perhaps most importantly, self-compassion. Rather than strive for happiness, which is dependent on mood, she says, we should seek a deeper well of inner resources that we can draw upon, no matter what life’s circumstances might throw at us, even in our darkest hours. Dr. Kurland will share her own healing journey, and how the six vantage points helped her find ease in the midst of life’s challenges—and how they can become an essential part of our daily well-being toolkit.

For the past several years, nursing homes have come under intense public scrutiny, as more than 200,000 long-term care residents and staff have died due to the COVID pandemic. Healthcare officials, advocates, policy makers and watchdog groups have called for a list of fixes to the industry, such as increased staffing levels, higher pay for nursing home workers, and changes in protocols and safety procedures. But some advocates have been fighting for much bigger changes—a dramatic transformation of the way we deliver long-term residential care. In today’s episode, we talk with Anne Montgomery, a noted policy consultant who has worked for improved access to affordable long-term care services. For more than two decades, Anne has worked on many initiatives as an analyst and policy advisor for government entities and nonprofit organizations, including the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, the Alliance for Health Reform, the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Altarum Institute. She has wide-ranging experience in developing and evaluating research initiatives, and in designing intersectional projects focused on aging, community issues and long-term care, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and family caregiver supports. Anne is currently working on a ground-breaking national demonstration project to reinvent nursing homes, a proposal known as The EINSTEIN Option (Evaluating Innovation in Nursing Home Systems to End Institutionalization). It’s a disciplined, three-year approach to transforming the long-term care residential sector, from redesigning institutional-style nursing homes as smaller homes or cottages, to rethinking how services are delivered in a continuum of care model. And Anne continues to speak out about aging and ageism issues issues—what they mean for economies and social cohesion around the world.

There are many advocates for older adults these days, but few like Orlene Grant, an iconic leader acclaimed for building innovative partnerships across government entities, higher education, local and national nonprofits. In today’s episode, Ms. Grant, the Founder and CEO of the Juanita C, Grant Foundation, will talk about her organization’s mission to improve the lives of older adults through economic development, education, and training—working collaboratively in the community to address high levels of elder poverty, lack of social connectedness, and financial hardships as a result of elder abuse and fraud. She will spotlight the Foundation’s recent interactive summit, that brought together professionals, thought leaders and industry experts to focus on common issues and solutions to disrupt elder abuse and its damaging long-term effects—tangible steps to interrupt, prevent, and dismantle the exploitation of targeted communities. Ms. Grant, who also founded The Grant Group, a healthcare management consulting firm, will describe her wide-ranging efforts to efforts to improve the quality of life of the 50+ community through economic security and interventions that address ageism through workforce initiatives, advocacy efforts and research. She is indeed a tireless champion for equity in aging and elder justice.

It’s a frequent scenario for older couples or surviving spouses: They find themselves unable to manage the home they’ve lived in for years and realize that, regrettably—but inevitably—it’s time to move on. Sometimes the decision comes suddenly; other times it develops gradually. But when the time comes, homeowners often find themselves overwhelmed with the myriad tasks required to make the move. In today’s episode, we meet Diana Zagariello and Rachel Rohn of Caring Transitions, Senior Certified Relocation and Transition Specialists who provide an broad array of services to seniors experiencing these stressful and emotional circumstances. Diana and Rachel will explain how they help families develop a transition plan to declutter their homes, downsize, organize the move, and perhaps conduct estate sales and design functional floor plans for their new residences. Each plan is different, but they all require empathy and patience, often coordinating services with real estate agents, movers, attorneys, estate planners and other professionals. Ultimately, Diana and Rachel’s goal is to create a streamlined support system, taking care of the details so that people in transition can take care of their loved ones—and themselves.

Just over a year ago, Mae Caime was crowned Ms. New York Senior America for 2023. But the contest was not a beauty pageant. Rather, it was a competition based on talent and presentation skills, and this recognition was a crowning achievement of Mae’s long and illustrious career—one that is still unfolding with originality, excitement and adventure. In today's episode, Mae will unfold her remarkable journey as a visionary in the fields of health and business that has led to her position as CEO of aMAEzing Midlife & Beyond, which she launched to empower women, dispel ageism and support transformational change in both their personal and business paths. Beginning her career as a Registered Nurse in pediatrics and the ER, she leveraged her ability to perform under the most intense situations into a foundation as successful administrator in healthcare, building multimillion-dollar health enterprises, turning struggling organizations into premier practices, creating cohesive team environments, and pioneering new concepts. Indeed, Mae’s portfolio of positions has grown to include action coach, healthy lifestyle expert, corporate trainer, event director and keynote speaker—not to mention her involvement in numerous community charities and worldwide medical missions. There has been much success, but many challenges, too. Mae will share how she has dealt with risk and pushed herself out of her comfort zone—and now supports and encourages women to do the same, stepping out to learn new skills for personal and professional growth. Live with energy, action and purpose, she says, and remember that it is never too late to rise up “from role to soul.”

Six years ago, Virginia Cervasio decided to dedicate her life to helping veterans. The mother of a young Iraq War vet who died by suicide, she learned that veterans have an unspoken bond that “no one could break—a mutual understanding and a trust that they are going to support one another and help each other out.” So, Virginia founded Heroes Among Us, a nonprofit whose mission is to help veterans and their families readjust to life after war. In today’s episode, Virginia recounts her journey that led to the creation of this inspiring organization, which supports many vets who are coping with emotional struggles and trying to find their footing when they return home. She’ll describe the wide-ranging work of the nonprofit, from helping veterans pay their bills to finding therapists and organizing school supplies drives for their families. Virginia will also discuss her continuing advocacy focusing on suicide prevention support and education. She’ll talk about her organization’s participation in various national events, such as the hosting of the traveling Vietnam Memorial, known as “The Wall That Heals,” which, along with an education center, moves from state to state each month. And Virginia will explain how people can get involved and contribute to Heroes Among Us, finding meaningful ways every day to thank our veterans for their service.

As we continue to celebrate Older Americans Month, we often ponder our legacy as we age—not only our personal legacy, but the larger legacy we want to leave for our planet. We know that climate change is a huge challenge, and many of us are feeling “climate anxiety,” worrying whether we have the time, technologies and political fortitude to preserve the earth for future generations. We do. In today’s episode we talk with energy and environmental policy specialist Dr. John Berger, author of “Solving the Climate Crisis: Frontline Reports from the Race to Save the Earth.” Dr. Berger, who spent more than six years researching his book, traveling the nation and abroad to interview scientists, engineers, energy experts, business leaders and policy makers, will explain his three-pronged approach to addressing climate change: Technological (moving quickly) to 100% renewable energy through innovation; Ecological (enhancing and protecting natural ecosystems); and Social (updating and creating new laws, policies and economic measures). He’ll highlight new technologies such as “green steel” and “green concrete,” and dispel some of the myths about the obstacles to combating the climate crisis. We already have the scientific knowledge, entrepreneurial acumen and financial strength to reinvent ourselves, Dr. Berger says, and show the rest of the world what a prosperous and emissions-free nation could look like.

When older Americans are asked about where they want to live during their later years, an overwhelming majority say they want to “age in place”—in the comfort, safety and security of their current home, for as long as possible. But aging at home also brings challenges. How do you make sure the design of your house meets your evolving needs? And how can you stay connected to your neighborhood and community—fulfilling your social, recreational, health and mobility needs? There’s one solution that has helped millions of older homeowners across the country: NORCs, or Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. These housing developments were not originally designed for older adults, but over time evolved into a place where a large percentage of older adults live. In today’s episode, we explain how different NORCs develop; how they can be supported through government programs; and the range of health and social services that may be available to older residents. And we’ll offer an unusually vibrant picture of NORCs through the personal experiences and reflections of Bess Friedman, a NORC resident in the Queens borough of New York City; Kristin Smith, who oversees the NORC Program for the state’s Office for the Aging; and Betsy Smith, an administrator who has overseen several New York City NORCs and innovative programs. You’ll be inspired by this unique approach to aging that can serve a broad range of senior populations, and yet offer “concierge social services.”

As we kick off Older Americans Month, what better way to celebrate their contributions than to highlight the perspective and achievements of an extraordinarily active octogenarian. In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Ronald Kaiser, an innovator in the field of positive health psychology, who has developed the concept of “Rejuvenaging: the Art and Science of Growing Older with Enthusiasm.” During his half century of helping others, Dr. Kaiser has evolved an approach to working with people at all ages that emphasizes their abilities to take charge of their lives and build emotional strength to overcome obstacles and improve general mental health. He’ll talk about how we can own the aging process; master the 7 keys to Rejuvenaging; build strengths to overcome adversities; and experience the joy of “feeling your age.” He will describe his broad range of individual psychotherapy and coaching programs, as well as collaborative training programs with business and community organizations, including active adult communities. Growing older, Dr. Kaiser notes, is not a spectator sport. At the same time, he sums up his philosophy with this statement: “If I knew how much fun old age would be, I’d have grown older faster.”

Across the country, many aging homeowners want to age comfortably in place—but they often face a number of obstacles. Sometimes, their homes, intended for their once-larger families, are too much to maintain for empty-nesters. In other instances, older parents want to stay close to their adult children and grandchildren—but the cost of housing in nearby communities is prohibitively expensive for young families. Enter ADUs, or Accessory Dwelling Units. They go by several names, like granny-flats, mother-daughter houses, in-law suites, or casitas. ADUs are secondary homes on the property of a main house that have their own entrances, and at least a bathroom, a kitchen or kitchenette, and a sleeping area. They can be separate units or attached to the primary home. And they’re one of the fastest growing types of residential construction today. In today’s episode, Sheri Koones, an award-winning author and recognized national authority on home construction, will explain all the in’s and out’s of the nationwide ADU trend. She’ll recount the history of ADUS; describe the array of configurations and formats; the costs and financing options; the opportunities for multigenerational living, as well as the restrictions people may face from local zoning and design regulations. The author of the recently published book, “ADUs: The Perfect Housing Solution,” Sheri, will highlight a number of compelling stories of attractive, well-designed ADUs that will stir your imagination and offer resources to explore the possibilities of this new housing during our older years.

On December 31, 1999, Ellen Smiley left the airline industry, after a career spanning more than 30 years with British Airways. She took a few interim jobs, eventually landing at a large credit union on Long Island, where she soon found herself in the business development department. It was there that first learned about financial literacy—a subject she knew nothing about. But It didn't take Ellen long for her to see the incredible value of financial literacy, and what a difference such knowledge could have in people’s lives. By the time she left the credit union in 2013, she was teaching between 125 and 150 classes a year. In today’s episode, as 45 Forward continues our recognition of National Financial Literacy Month, we talk with Ellen about her many insights and experiences as the owner of her own financial literacy consulting practice. Working with individuals and groups, she teaches commonsense basic skills—which many people lack—like setting up sensible budgets and how to improve their credit scores. She has worked with people across multiple ages and generations, from high school students to college students, to mature families and older adults. Financial literary provides knowledge that is increasingly necessary as the world gets more complex, and Ellen will explain how her programs and practices lead to significant stress reduction and free up money that can be used to improve their lives of families, no matter what stage of life they’re in.

There are special moments in life when we experience a profound sense of awe at the planet we inhabit—such as the recent solar eclipse, when communities across America gathered in public spaces to gaze at the sky in wonder. Indeed, as we mark this year’s Earth Month, we need to blend our concerns over climate change and environmental sustainability with a rekindled sense of awe at our lives and our place in nature. In today’s episode, we talk with Martha Blackwelder, a creative entrepreneur who founded Unexpected Adventures NYC, an educational company offering creative team-building events, including “Awe Walks” in Manhattan’s Central Park to encourage people to get outside in nature and find more moments of joy, aliveness, and awe. Martha, a widely recognized Asian art historian, is endlessly curious about the connections between art, culture and nature, and is passionate about inspiring others to slow down, reengage their senses and reclaim their own vitality for life.

When we graduate from college, we often have little idea of where we’ll find ourselves in the second half of life. We wonder how our career will evolve; how we will grow a family and move into our middle ages; what surprises will be revealed; and what legacy we will leave our family and friends—and the planet. In today’s episode, we talk with Leslie Danoff, a long-time friend who graduated in the ground-breaking first freshmen class of women at Yale; embarked on a career in professional broadcast journalism and documentary filmmaking; raised a family of three sons; and took an unusual turn into the world of conservation, co-founding Global Forest Generation, a nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate meaningful forest restoration—and help stave off the scourge of climate change. Leslie will offer her wide-ranging observations about lifelong learning and how she made unconventional moves into uncharted territory later in life, and how we can all continue to grow—45 Forward.

It’s been 21 years since the U.S. Senate declared April to be National Financial Literacy Month, and since that time, financial education has become a perennial national issue, especially among young people who need key skills to take control of their money and plan for the future. But the importance of such skills has grown dramatically for older people, too, as they live much longer than previous generations and need to plan for retirement security during rapidly changing economy times. In today’s episode, we lead off Financial Literacy Month with Peter Janowsky, a long-time retirement planning specialist and “holistic financial planner,” who takes a broad conceptual approach, blending the emotional with the fiscal realities of planning. Peter, whose oldest client is 103, will talk about how to plan for “slow aging,” without significant hardships, only to be faced suddenly “very fast aging” requiring substantial financial adjustments. He’ll explain about how to prepare for working effectively with an array of financial, legal and health care professionals. And as the co-founder Project S.A.F.E. (Seniors Against Financial Exploitation), he’ll share strategies for how adult children caring for their parents can guard them against fraud and financial scams.

As we close out Women’s History Month, we talk with the Hon. Gail Prudenti, who reflects on her continually ground-breaking career as a distinguished jurist, law school dean and now partner of a boutique New York law firm. Judge Prudenti was the first woman to hold a number of judicial posts in New York State, including the Presiding Justice of the Appellate for the Second Judicial Department. Subsequently, she serves as New York’s Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts, supervising the operation of the statewide court system, with 3,600 state and local judges and 15,000 non-judicial employees. Judge Parenti will assess the challenges older women have faced in the workforce, especially the courts. She’ll describe her dynamic tenure as dean of Hofstra University’s Maurice A Deane School of Law, spearheading its 50th anniversary celebration and her multi-faceted efforts to strengthen the school. And she’ll discuss how her wide range of experiences in the legal system has shaped her perspective over the years, and the importance of the public confidence in the courts and other public institutions.

About six years ago, as Scott Fisher and Ben Green approached their 70th birthdays, the challenges of aging loomed ever larger for these two lifelong friends. Both of us had known people who had reached their eighties and nineties with enduring vitality—but also family members and friends who seemed to have given up on life. Scott, an organizational psychologist, and Ben, a psychoanalyst, were curious about these divergent paths, so they decided to explore together what kept some elders going strong while others lost interest or drive, or both. And they were determined to learn as much as possible about how to make their own elder years as satisfying and fulfilling as possible. In today’s episode, we take a closer look at the outcome of Scott and Ben’s still developing journey—their forthcoming book called “The Aging Wisely Project.” This is their second appearance on 45 Forward, as part of a series probing the concepts in their book, which presents a powerful and immensely useful approach to help propel our understanding of aging forward, especially at a time when public perceptions about “old people” and their mental competence are often badly misinformed. The co-authors propose the emergence of a new, distinct developmental stage of elderhood, which they call “Elder Identity Revision.” Scott and Ben will talk about several critical psychological tasks we face during this period, such as dealing with the loss of control and competence in our lives. They’ll also delve deeply into some of the skills and attitudes (they call them “Healthy Habits”) to address these challenges. By strengthening these healthy habits, they explain, we can make a substantial difference in how we experience this stage of life. “The Aging Wisely Project” offers a compelling journey into old age, and by understanding the psychological tasks that await us—despite the inevitable setbacks—we can bolster our hopes and expectations for improved health and happiness—a meaningful, well-lived life.

Dr. Ken Redcross is an internist with over 20 years of medical practice. He also is a concierge doctor to a number of families; volunteers as a physician tending to dementia patients in assisted living facilities; appears as an on-camera medical expert for TV news programs; and serves as an advisor and consultant to several companies, including supplement manufacturers and a leading manufacturer of adaptive wear for seniors and disabled people. Welcome to the fast-evolving world of medicine and entrepreneurship. In today’s episode, Dr. Redcross recounts his storied cross-country career, starting as a provider to farm workers in California, to his current multi-platform practice in the New York metropolitan area. He acknowledges that he “wears many hats as a solo practitioner,” but what connects his various enterprises is his commitment to “emotional intelligence” or E-IQ—what it takes for doctors and patients to be “true partners in wellness.” In his best-selling book, “Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor,” Dr. Redcross outlines the essential elements of a successful doctor-patient relationship: “trust, communication, respect, and empathy on both sides of the stethoscope.” When these four are paired with proper nutrition, daily movement, and a strong spiritual foundation, true health and healing can take place, Dr. Redcross says, and remarkable health outcomes can be achieved—something he has witnessed countless times over the course of his career.