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.
Episodes
112 episodes
Talking About Death Won't Kill You: What is a Death Doula, & Other End-of-Life Care Needs
Every family faces the inevitable, yet few are prepared to navigate the emotional and logistical complexities of death. In this eye-opening episode, host Pooja A. Patel dives deep into the world of death doulas with seasoned experts Kim Ladd an...
Hearing Loss & Dementia: A Silent Link & A Whole Lot of Money
When was the last time you got your hearing checked? If you think hearing loss is just a minor inconvenience, think again. Dr. Pooja A. Patel and Dr. Robert Keefer dive deep into the startling connection between untreated hearing loss and its s...
Nobody's Selling Peace of Mind: Why Care Tech Skips Family Caregivers
In a world where health tech is evolving rapidly, the most overlooked players in the caregiving landscape are the caregivers themselves. Join Pooja A. Patel and seasoned elder care expert Meghan Phelan as they unveil the crucial gaps in care te...
I'm Just Helping: What the Caregiver Identity Crisis Costs Families
Content Type: InterviewPrimary goal: EducationalSummary: In this episode, we explore the complex world of caregiving, focusing on self-identification, societal perceptions, and systemic support. Our guest, K...
Lost in Translation: Why the U.S. Caregiving System Fails South Asian Families
Content Type: InterviewPrimary Goal: DiscussionSummary:This episode explores the elder care navigation gap faced by immigrant families in the US, highlighting cultural, systemic, and language barriers....
The System Keeps You Alive, Not Well: Caregiving & Health Span in a Longevity Era
Content type: InterviewPrimary Goal: EducationalSummary:This episode explores the critical issues of caregiving, health span versus lifespan, and the importance of proactive planning for aging well. ...
The Question of When: Why Most Families Wait Too Long to Plan for Placement
SummaryIn this episode, Pooja & Cory discuss the complexities of long-term care planning, exploring options, timing, and decision-making processes for families facing elder care decisions.Key Topics...
The ER Wasn't Built for Seniors: What is Hospital-Level Care at Home?
summaryThis episode explores the future of hospital-level care at home, addressing why it hasn't become mainstream yet, and how it can reduce costs, improve patient outcomes, and ease caregiver burdens. Lon Hecht, CEO of Care2U, ...
Long-Term Care Will Wipe Out Your Wealth: Can Home Equity Be Your Plan?
Summary: This episode explores the critical topic of long-term care funding, focusing on innovative solutions like reverse mortgages and insurance options. Kevin Guttman, a reverse mortgage expert, shares insights on how seni...
Dementia & Financial Exploitation: Who's Responsible?
Summary: This episode explores the silent crisis of elder financial exploitation, especially in the context of dementia. Charles Wallace shares his harrowing three-year legal battle to uncover how nearly $1 million was stolen...
Why Isn’t This Covered? The Truth About Home Medical Equipment and Insurance
summaryThis episode explores the critical role of home medical equipment in aging in place, insurance coverage challenges, and practical strategies for families to access necessary adaptive devices. Erica Sell, founder of Harmony...
Can I Sue for This? Accountability In Nursing Homes
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Riz Ali discuss the complexities of personal injury law, particularly in the context of nursing homes. They explore the nuances of medical negligence, the importance of family advoc...
ADA Doesn't Help Everybody: How to Design Inclusive Spaces
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Francisco Lasta explore the complexities of accessibility, universal design, and inclusive design. They discuss the evolution of these concepts, the challenges faced in implementing...
Widowed at 33: The Caregiving, The Grief, & Everything in Between
SummaryThis conversation delves into the profound journey of caregiving, grief, and loss experienced by a young widow. The speaker shares her personal story of navigating the challenges of caregiving for her husband, diagnosed wi...
Home Modifications Are NOT A Weekend Project: The Reality of Aging in Place
Summary: In this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Dawn Heiderscheidt discuss the complexities of aging in place and the importance of proactive planning for home modifications. They explore the misconceptions surrounding home...
We're Guilt-Tripping Families Into Dementia Care: A Systems Issue
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Rachel Wiley discuss the systemic challenges in dementia care, emphasizing the unrealistic expectations placed on families and the inadequacies of memory care facilities. They explo...
Too Poor to Afford Care, Too Rich for Medicaid: The Forgotten Middle of Aging
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Dr. Brandy Archie discuss the challenges faced by the 'forgotten middle' in elder care, particularly regarding Medicare's limitations and the lack of resources available for those w...
When Care Is an Hour Away: The Reality of Aging in Rural America
In this episode, Dr. Pooja A. Patel and Dr. Sydney Marshman delve into the critical issue of healthcare access in rural communities, emphasizing how geographical location significantly impacts the quality of care individuals receive as they age...
Season 5 Trailer
We don’t need more polished narratives right now.We need honesty, especially in healthcare.Caregiving, aging, access to care, dementia, systems that fail quietly—these realities are already heavy. Sugarcoating them doesn’t protect an...
S4E20: Women's Health - Hormones, Fitness, & Recovery | Karlin Soelberg
SummaryIn this conversation, Karlin D. Soelberg shares her personal journey of navigating health challenges after turning 40, particularly focusing on her experience with hormonal changes and the difficulties in finding appropriate medi...
S4E19: Navigating Grief - from SIL to Mother to Husband | Leslie Frank
SummaryIn this conversation, Leslie Frank shares her extensive experience as a caregiver for her husband, mother, and sister-in-law, highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges of navigating long-term care. She discusses...
S4E18: Tech Tools to Support Elders | Alfred Poor, Health Tech Futurist
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel interviews Alfred Poor, a health tech futurist, about the intersection of health technology and aging. They discuss the evolution of health tech, the import...
S4E17: Cultural Perspective: Filial Piety & Remote Work | Vijay Sairam
SummaryIn this conversation, Vijay Sairam shares his transformative journey as a caregiver for his aging parents and how it shaped his mission to democratize access to remote jobs through his startup, Remote Job Central. He discusses th...
S4E16: The 8 Dimensions of Wealth(ness) | Jaelyn (Jae) Vickery, LSW, CFT
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel interviews Jaylen Vickery, a certified financial therapist, about the intersection of financial wellness and emotional health. They discuss the seven dimens...
S4E15: Grief & Strength: Raising Children while Losing a Spouse | Allyson Schrier, MFA
SummaryIn this conversation, Allison Schrier shares her profound journey as a caregiver for her husband, diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, while raising two children. She discusses the emotional turmoil of navigating grief,...
