Many families may not realize there is support available to older veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs. These Veterans Assistance (VA) benefits are not just helpful in easing the caregiving burden—they are well-earned by the men and women who have dedicated themselves to defending our country. Unfortunately, navigating the VA system and accessing these resources can be overwhelming. In this podcast, you'll learn more about the four main VA programs that support older veterans and their caregivers and the process of applying for benefits.  

The long-term memory of music is stored in one of the last parts of the brain to be affected by dementia. For that reason, music can be a powerful tool in caring for people living with dementia. Tune in to discover from board-certified music therapist Tara Jenkins how music can profoundly impact dementia care by fostering deep connections, reducing frustration, and enhancing the quality of life for people living with dementia. Explore practical strategies to create transformative musical moments that enrich lives and align with person-centered care goals.

Most older adults want to age at home, in a place where they feel comfort and familiarity. But the reality is that to remain at home, they will need extra support. The options for care can be overwhelming and confusing, but with education, older adults and their families can find a solution that best fits them and their situation. Discover the options available to older adults needing help at home, including resources for planning to age in place with help.

Providing care for a family member or loved one can be emotionally and logistically challenging, especially when family dynamics come into play. Even the most harmonious families can find themselves in challenging situations that can quickly escalate into disputes. As professionals, we can be called upon to help families navigate these challenges and provide an objective expert opinion. Join this webinar to explore effective strategies for navigating familial complexities. Whether you're dealing with differences in opinions, varying levels of involvement, or communication hurdles, this webinar will provide valuable guidance. Gain a deeper understanding of these challenges and learn about tools to foster collaboration and harmony while caregiving.

While end-of-life discussions may be challenging, they are integral to honoring an individual's wishes and preserving their dignity. Listen to this podcast to unravel the often overlooked and misunderstood aspects of end-of-life, with a special focus on hospice care. Gain insights into crucial conversations and thoughtful planning essential for this stage of life. This episode aims to demystify the support and resources available for end-of-life, shedding light on the true value of hospice care and other supportive services. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how these resources contribute to preserving dignity and enhancing the quality of life during life's final chapter. Don't shy away from this important conversation—be part of an insightful exploration into end-of-life care.

November is National Family Caregiver Month, so it’s a great time to join our discussion about the evolving landscape of caregiving. We'll explore the latest trends, innovations and challenges faced by family caregivers today, providing valuable insights into the changing dynamics and support systems in caregiving. Whether you're a caregiver seeking information or a professional in the field, this podcast offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of caregiving and what lies ahead. Gain practical strategies to navigate the evolving landscape effectively and contribute to the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients. Don't miss the opportunity to stay informed and engaged during National Family Caregiver Month!

Individuals are reimagining the concept of retirement, especially as people are living longer. Instead of traditional retirement activities, many go on to explore encore careers—distinctive career paths embarked upon in the second half of life. Listen to this podcast to learn more about the benefits of working after retirement and the opportunities that exist. Also discover how to navigate the exciting intersection of work and purpose and gain practical strategies to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. Whether you're contemplating a change post-retirement, seeking purposeful work, or want to learn more about helping your older clients navigate opportunities in their later life, this episode will inform and equip you with resources.

The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, and we hear a lot about it. However, there are several types of dementia less likely to get the spotlight, but that still impact hundreds of thousands of individuals and their families. Join this webinar for an exploration of the lesser-known dementias. In this episode, we'll navigate the complexities of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Vascular Dementia, and Mixed Dementia. Listen to this podcast to gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and characteristics associated with each type, so you are empowered to enhance care and support for individuals affected by these various forms of dementia.

Among the older adult population, there is a complex landscape of high-risk factors that can contribute to hospital readmissions. Listen to this podcast to explore strategies for securing support systems, particularly for individuals navigating five types of risk factors: memory issues, frequent falls, living alone, managing multiple chronic conditions, and multiple medications. Learn how to identify, address, and mitigate these high-risk factors to foster an environment that reduces the likelihood of hospital readmissions.

Recognizing the early signs of Alzheimer's disease is vital, especially for early detection and diagnosis. Frequently, family members are the first to notice these signs, but initiating a conversation about scheduling a doctor's appointment can be daunting. Overcoming resistance or denial can further complicate the situation post-diagnosis, leaving both the individual and their family uncertain about the next steps. This podcast episode addresses the challenges surrounding Alzheimer's diagnoses and explores effective strategies to navigate this journey. As professionals, arming ourselves with the knowledge to help older adults and their families is key. Listen to gain insights into overcoming obstacles, providing valuable support, and accessing helpful resources for those you serve.

Access to proper nutrition can be a challenge for older adults due to a variety of factors. Compounding this issue is the fact that older adults are also at risk for isolation and loneliness. In this podcast episode, we tackle the pressing issues of loneliness and food insecurity in the older adult population. Learn how reaching out and fostering connections can have a significant impact on elders’ well-being. Discover actionable strategies to address these challenges, promote a sense of community, and ensure that no one faces isolation or hunger alone.

As dedicated professionals in the field working with older adults, it's crucial to discern and address ethical challenges as they surface, which can prove challenging. Various factors can make older adults vulnerable to abuse, neglect and ill intent, and ethical issues emerge in several areas: complex family dynamics, end-of-life wishes, preserving dignity and respect, promoting independence, and keeping the individual safe. This podcast episode will delve into these issues, and listeners will gain insights into ethical decision-making models that empower you to reduce risks, advocate for older adults, and report any concerns to the relevant authorities. Uncover a wealth of knowledge encompassing the preservation of dignity, the promotion of independence, and ensuring the safety of each older adult. 

Home is where many older adults wish to age. However, many homes are not set up as age-friendly environments. Aging in place at home can result in accidents and falls—more than one in four older adults falls each year. Listen to this podcast to learn more about key aspects of aging in place, emphasizing the significance of home safety and fall-prevention measures. Learn more about empowering older adults to maintain their independence safely and confidently within the comfort of their homes.

While our brain plays a crucial role as the command center of our body, it often doesn't receive the attention it deserves. As we age, the risk of cognitive impairment increases, but here's the good news—research indicates there is plenty we can do proactively to keep our brains sharp and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Listen to this episode to learn more about proactive strategies for maintaining optimal brain health.

As we age, there are important legal documents we should all have in place. This is particularly true for older adults. However, people often wait until a crisis to make legal decisions, which for some may be too late. While planning ahead for a person’s legal needs is ideal, it can be challenging to understand which legal documents are needed and where to begin. Listen to this podcast to learn more about the legal needs of aging and the importance of proactive planning.

Anyone working in healthcare today knows the importance of reducing hospital or rehabilitation facility readmissions. Older adults are at risk for readmissions if they lack proper support at home. The days following the transition back to the home can be crucial to keeping the older adult safe. However, older adults and their families may not be prepared for all that is involved in the person’s care as they adjust to their old environment. Listen to this episode to learn how support and help at home can be crucial to a successful transition and reduce the risk of readmission.

Interest in intimacy exists throughout the lifespan and should be supported in later life. This topic is often controversial and misunderstood in society and therefore, professionals and families can be reluctant to openly discuss. It is important to acknowledge that emotional and physical intimacy are forms of showing love and caring, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Listen to learn more about romantic relationships, sexual desires and intimacy needs of older adults. Also learn about how best to address common concerns such as sexual health, family dynamics and cognitive issues.

The topic of driving is often one that involves a lot of emotions. For many, driving equates to independence and the freedom to go when and where you want. As a person ages, it can be helpful to openly communicate about driving abilities and safety, rather than doing so due to a crisis such as a crash or a “close call.” Families often turn to professionals for guidance and insights on how to talk about driving and the best approach to taking away the keys. Listen to this podcast to learn about the importance of developing a plan to help older adults move out of the driver’s seat when necessary, while still remaining engaged with friends, family and community.

Among the tens of millions of family caregivers, about 12% of them are caring for an ill or disabled spouse or partner. Elements of caring for a spouse or partner differ from other types of caregiving relationships. On average, spousal caregivers provide more hours of caregiving, do more intense care-related tasks and do it all with less assistance compared to other types of caregivers. Professionals who understand the nuances of spousal caregiving can be better positioned to help these individuals.

Grief can take many forms and people tend to deal with grief in different ways. Grief is typically thought of in the context of the death of a friend or loved one. However, people can grieve in other ways such as the loss of independence or during a major life transition. Another form of grief called ambiguous loss, is loss without closure. This commonly occurs in those caring for a loved one living with dementia. They feel as if they are watching the person they once knew change or “slip away.” As professionals, we should be aware of the different types of grief and how this may affect the older adults and families with whom we work. Listen to this podcast to learn more about grief and ways to cope with ambiguous loss.

The highest healthcare spending years of our lives happen after age 65. While older adults are high-volume healthcare users, unfortunately, ageism is evident in healthcare practices today. Ageism can show up in subtle ways such as talking to an adult daughter instead of the older adult in the examination room, brushing off an older patient’s complaint as part of the normal aging process, or in more significant ways such as assuming a treatment plan based on a person’s age. Healthcare providers and other professionals in the healthcare system need to be aware of such ageist practices and how to avoid ageism in the care of their older patients.

Ageism is ingrained in our society and culture whether we like to admit it or not. The way older adults are referenced and depicted in the media, popular culture and even in the health and beauty industries helps to paint a picture that aging is something to dread and make light of. These depictions also help to reinforce negative mindsets and stereotypes about growing older. As professionals, we need to be aware of how ageism impacts our work with the older adults we serve and recognize opportunities to reinforce positive views of aging. This podcast addresses ageism and how everyone can make our society a better place to age.

While the most common form of dementia among all age groups is Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) is most common in those diagnosed before age 60 and can occur as early as age 21 and as late as age 80. FTD differs from other types of dementia in that memory loss is not a hallmark symptom. A group of related, heterogeneous disorders, initial symptoms bring progressive changes to personality, behavior, decision-making, communication or movement. In this podcast, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration will present signs and symptoms of FTD, emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and person-centered care, and highlight research opportunities as well as support resources for those living with FTD and their care partners.

Untreated mental health disorders at any age can have negative impacts, but particularly for older adults, it can lead to social isolation, placement in long-term care facilities, and even suicide. There are also a variety of factors that can impact an older adults’ emotional health such as major life transitions and loss of independence. Professionals in the aging sector play a vital role in helping older clients and families to recognize signs that an individual is in need of mental and emotional health support. Such professionals also help connect them to resources for evaluation and appropriate treatments. Listen to this podcast to learn more about mental and emotional health in later years and how to best support someone with mental health needs and their caregivers.

As professionals in the aging services sector, it is important to recognize the ethical issues that could arise when working with older adults. There are multiple areas in which ethical issues can emerge, including complex family dynamics, addressing end-of-life wishes, preserving dignity and respect, promoting independence, and keeping the individual safe. Various factors can make older adults vulnerable to abuse, neglect and ill intent. However, there are ethical principles that can guide us, and by better understanding these ethical issues, we can help to reduce the risk of harm, advocate for the older adult, and report issues to the proper authorities when necessary.

Listen to this podcast to learn more about the ethical considerations of working with older adults and the resources available to help support professionals and family caregivers.