Aging Together // Unfiltered
TL;DR: A podcast for adult children of aging parents and family caregivers who want honest, no-fluff conversations about aging, care, and caregiving. We talk about what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change—without sugarcoating or euphemisms.
Aging Together // Unfiltered explores the real challenges and hard decisions families face as they support aging loved ones. Hosted by Dr. Pooja A. Patel—a double-board certified occupational therapist and gerontologist, and longtime caregiver advocate—this show moves beyond “proper” conversations and into the realities families are navigating every day.
After four seasons of carefully curated, polished discussions, this podcast is now intentionally unfiltered. Not for shock value, but because polite language hasn’t fixed broken systems—or made caregiving easier. Our elders and their families don’t need softer words. They need better care, clearer information, and honest conversations that lead to action.
Each episode features clinicians, caregivers, innovators, and leaders who bring both professional expertise and lived experience. Together, we dive into aging in America—what’s working, what’s failing, and where families are being left to figure things out on their own.
Topics include:
- Aging in place and long-term care options
- Care planning, transitions, and crisis moments
- Mental health, grief, and caregiver burnout
- Navigating healthcare systems and resources
- Advocacy, accountability, and better models of care
This podcast is for the sandwich generation, long-distance caregivers, aging adults planning ahead, and professionals working in aging and care who want the truth—not platitudes.
👉 Follow Aging Together // Unfiltered if you’re navigating aging parents, caregiving decisions, or a healthcare system that wasn’t built with families in mind—and you’re ready for real conversations, not polite ones.
🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
A production of Aging Together LLC.
Aging Together // Unfiltered
S2E07: Planner or Procrastinator? A Guide for When to Start Preparing Your Home for Aging in Place
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Are you a planner or a procrastinator when it comes to preparing your home for aging in place? Did you know that nearly 90% of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age, but only a third actually plan for it? With 77% of adults 50 and older wanting to remain in their homes for the long term, it's a question we all need to consider. Yet, many of us put off these crucial modifications until it's too late. Today, our guest will guide us through the when, why, and how of adapting our living spaces. From simple adjustments to major renovations, we'll explore the steps you can take now to ensure your home remains safe and comfortable as you age.
This month we’re diving into preparing your home for aging in place. To review this topic, I have the privilege of interviewing Dawn Heiderscheidt, MOT, OTR/L, CHAMP, ECHM, CAPS.
As a seasoned Occupational Therapist, Dawn is dedicated to helping people live safely in their current life roles and homes. She has transformed this passion into a successful consulting business by founding Aurora Independence. Dawn’s approach is client-centered and evidence-based, ensuring each project is tailored to the unique needs of her clients. She provides home safety and modification recommendations while advocating for proper accessibility at every stage of life to create a safe and comfortable living environment.
Her drive to support the Aging in Place market is deeply rooted in her personal experience caring for her parents, her professional background as a rehab specialist, and her own journey navigating healthcare spaces with her own chronic condition. Dawn shares her expertise and passion as a guest speaker on entrepreneurship at universities, as a national continuing education provider for both healthcare and remodeling professionals, and through various writing roles.
Dawn’s commitment to empowering independence is more than just a business—it’s a way of life. Together, we’re discussing how and when to start preparing your home for aging in place.
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