The Senior Zone
The Senior Zone is the DMV’s #1 weekly radio program dedicated to empowering adults 50+ to live fuller, healthier, and more informed lives — now available on demand as a podcast.
Hosted by Shawn Perry since 2012, The Senior Zone features thoughtful conversations with trusted experts, community leaders, advocates, and everyday people doing extraordinary work in aging, health, finance, caregiving, and purposeful living. From timely resources and consumer protections to inspiration, wisdom, and real talk — this is where experience meets opportunity.
Whether you’re planning your next chapter, supporting a loved one, or simply committed to thriving beyond expectations, The Senior Zone delivers insight, clarity, and encouragement — one meaningful conversation at a time.
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📍 Originally broadcast on WYCB 1340AM (Washington, DC)
The Senior Zone
Ep. 714 | Advocacy in Action: Maryland, DC & What Older Adults Need to Know
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On this episode of The Senior Zone, host Shawn Perry leads an all-AARP conversation focused on advocacy, aging, and the real-life issues affecting older adults across the DMV.
In Segment One, Sara Westrick, State Advocacy Director with AARP Maryland, joins the show to discuss AARP Maryland’s 2026 Legislative Wrap-Up — including key takeaways from Annapolis and what older Marylanders, caregivers, and families should know.
In Segment Two, Louis Davis, Jr., State Director of AARP DC, returns to The Senior Zone to discuss the District’s recent primary election, AARP DC’s Community Challenge Grants, Social Security, and the ongoing work of helping older adults stay informed, engaged, and empowered.
Plus, we close the show with Birthdays of the Week, Dear Grave Woman by Joelle Simone, and the Later Life Lowdown — news and resources for older adults in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
The Senior Zone airs Mondays from 10:00am to 11:00am EST on WYCB 1340AM and streams live at MySpiritDC.com. Listen on demand wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow.
Opening Remarks & Weekly Vitamin
SPEAKER_07Welcome to the Senius Don't.
SPEAKER_04Well, we connect older adults with the organizations and resources that stuff that's the Senior Zones goal forward. Great guests. And useful information.
SPEAKER_07Get ready to take notes.
SPEAKER_04It's no time for the senior zone.
SPEAKER_05Welcome, welcome, welcome, family, to another edition of the Senior Zone. I am your host, Sean Perry, and you already know what it is. The Senior Zone, the DMV's number one weekly radio program serving our 50 plus community since 2012. And as always, we are grateful, I am grateful that you have chosen to spend part of your Monday morning with us. Now, this week, we're leaning into something that matters deeply to older adults, caregivers, families, and communities across the region: advocacy. Not advocacy as a slogan, not advocacy as a press release, but advocacy that shows up in real life, in our homes, our health care, our utility bills, our voting rights, our social security, and our ability to age with dignity, safety, and choice. Because the truth is, family, many of the decisions that shape our lives are made long before they reach our kitchen tables. And part of our job here on the Senior Zone is to bring those conversations closer to home in plain English with respect and with you in mind. So here's your weekly vitamin for the days ahead. Stay aware, stay engaged, stay rooted in your words, because growing older does not mean stepping back from life. It means bringing your wisdom forward and making sure your voice is heard. And let me say this too. The Stinger Zone is now available on demand as a podcast. So if you missed us live or you want to go back and hear that conversation again, just search the Stinger Zone with Sean Perry wherever you listen to podcasts, Spotify, Apple, iHeart, Amazon music, and more, the work doesn't stop when the broadcast ends. Now, coming up first, we're heading to Maryland and taking a closer look at what came out of Annapolis during the 2026 legislative session because when laws are passed or when bills don't make it across the finish line, older adults can feel the impact in very real ways. We're talking about health care, caregiving, long-term services, financial security, utilities, housing, and the everyday issues that affect quality of life after 50. So we're going to break it down clearly and practically. Joining me in segment one is Sarah Westrick, State Advocacy Director with AARP Maryland, to walk us through the AARP Maryland's 2026 legislative wrap-up, what moved, what matters, and what older Marylanders and their families should keep on their radar. And then in segment two, we continue this all AARP broadcast with a look right here in the district. Lewis Davis Jr. State Director of AARP DC joins us to talk about a timely mix of issues, including what DC voters experienced in the recent primary election, AARP DC's community challenge grants, and why Social Security remains such an important foundation for older adults, workers, and families. So today's show is about staying informed, but more than that, it's about staying in power. And later in the show, we are finished with Birthdays of the Week: The New Dear Grave Woman by Joelle Simone and our later life lowdown, news, announcements, and resources for adults across the DMV. But before we take this quick break, I want to send some love and some gratitude and some thanks to our sponsors and partners, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP of the District of Columbia, AARP of the State of Maryland, Compassion and Choices, Jewish Council for the Aging, Mary Center, and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living. Folks, we'll be right back after this short break, brought to you by Legal Counsel for the Elderly, providing free legal and social work services to DC residents, most in need. Don't change that dial, I promise. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_04Legal Counsel for the Elderly champions the dignity and rights of DC elders by providing free legal and social work services to those in need. Worried about addiction or foreclosure? Need help obtaining Social Security or Veterans Benefits. Call Legal Counsel for the Elderly at 202-434-2120. Income eligibility applies. LCE is an affiliate of AARP. 202-434-2120.
SPEAKER_06Attention, listeners, criminals are consistently developing new ways to steal your hard-earned money and personal information. But the AARP Fraud Watch Network is here to help you protect yourself and your loved ones. See or report scams in your area with our scam tracking map. Get guidance from our trained fraud specialists and sign up to receive information on the latest scams. Knowledge is power. If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. Get more tips and resources at AARP.org slash fraudwatch network.
Segment One: Sara Westrick, AARP Maryland
SPEAKER_05Welcome back to the Senior Zone and this all AARP broadcast. I'm your host, Sean Perry. Now, family, every year during the Maryland legislative session, a whole lot gets debated in Annapolis, and sometimes it can feel far away from everyday life. But the truth is, many of those decisions touch our homes, our health care, our caregiving responsibilities, our utility bills, even our long-term care choices, and our financial security. So today we're going to break it all down in plain English. Joining me now is Sarah Westrick, State Advocacy Director with AARP Maryland, and she's here to walk us through the AARP Maryland's 2026 legislative wrap-up: what passed, why it matters, and what older Marylanders and their families need to know. Sarah, welcome back to the Senior Zone.
SPEAKER_00Thanks, Sean. It's really great to be with you. I love our conversations and I'm ready to discuss what was a really big legislative session, my first in this position, and a very exciting one at that.
SPEAKER_05Well, let's just jump right into it, Sarah. Before we get into the specific bills, however, uh give us just big picture. When AERP Maryland looks back at the 2026 legislative session, what stands out the most, Sarah?
SPEAKER_00What stands out for me was momentum. The state made a really serious commitment to becoming a place where people can age with dignity and independence and financial security. And we saw a lot of progress among many different fronts from health care, consumer protection, housing, long-term care. And importantly, I really felt that legislators were thinking holistically about what it means to support an aging population. So we weren't just talking about one bill, one big win, but rather a coordinated push to make our systems work better for real people. And I have to toot our own horn a little bit here, Sean, if you'll indulge me, uh, because our volunteer advocates and and I, we supported more than 40 bills that have now been signed into law. And I'm so proud of this team and how we work together and how we worked with so many different partners and coalitions and with many, many dedicated legislators to push for these reforms.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, well, that is a strong place to start. And I will also pat you on the back for the body of work that you have done and congratulate you on this first uh legislative session with AARP uh Maryland. I say all that, Sarah, because sometimes people hear legislative session and we just tune out. I know I'm in that company as well, but these are really kitchen table issues that you are lobbying and fighting uh for. With all of that being said, your office supported a large number of bills uh this session. For older Marylanders listening right now, what were the top, say, two or three wins that you believe will have the most direct impact on their lives?
SPEAKER_00It's right. As I mentioned, we supported more than 40 bills, and it's a lot, it's a lot for me to keep straight, even, and and this is my full-time work. Uh so I would just maybe highlight uh maybe three bills for your audience today. And the first has to be the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, because this sets the foundation upon which the state is going to build that multi-sector coordinated plan for aging. And this was a this was a plan that AARP fed into, and now that plan has been codified into law, and I I look forward with many of my colleagues and and partners and other advocates into implementing aligned bills, longevity ready Maryland aligned bills in the future.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. So let's talk about the Longevity uh ready Maryland Act. We spoke with the Secretary of Aging uh a couple of weeks ago and had uh this discussion as well, but I want to hear it from you. What does this law actually do, uh Sarah, and why is it important for Maryland to have a coordinated aging plan across uh whether it's state, local, nonprofit, as well as private partners?
SPEAKER_00Well, this law creates the framework for the for the strategy because so much of this work is implemented through different parts of government, whether through transportation or housing or through the Department of Aging. So this plan allows all of those uh pieces, and in the private sector as well, I I should add and highlight uh to align around a shared vision and a shared strategy. And this matters because services can be fragmented, uh, but this law is going to help ensure that that those important components of a quality of quality of life, whether housing, transportation, health care, caregiving supports, that they're coordinated. And it's ultimately about making sure people don't fall through the cracks, and so Maryland can be can be ready as our population is already aging and will continue to age. Yeah, when I first highlight um uh a couple other bills before we get into the rest of the conversation.
SPEAKER_05Sure, go ahead, Sarah. The floor is yours.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so the second one I wanted to highlight is the Safe Staffing Act, and this is a bill that for me was was very personal, and this was the third time that this bill was being brought before the legislature, and this is so important because it strengthens hospital staffing plans, and this impacts patient safety as well as their experience going through, for example, the emergency departments at the hospital. And third, I think um I'd like to touch on what became a really strong package of fraud prevention laws and financial protections. At the top of that list is the Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act. And this one is that I'm really, really proud of. We had some amazing volunteer advocates share their story in a brave way to help get this bill passed to prevent what happened to them from being perpetrated on others. And this this these are the changes I think people are gonna feel in their day-to-day lives.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I love this act and I'm glad that it was signed uh into law, I believe, in mid-April by uh Governor Wes Moore, because the reality of our aging population is that we're not getting ready for it someday. We're getting ready for it right now, and it's because of the work that you and many, many others have done and delivered uh there. So I'm excited about aging in our state of uh Maryland. So we already spoke about the Longevity Uh Ready Maryland Act. Let's talk about the aging in place programs and multi-generational third places as I understand it. For folks who may not know that phrase, what are third places and how can they help reduce isolation among our older adults?
SPEAKER_00That's right. It's a term that people might not have heard before, but it simply means places that are outside of the home, which is traditionally referred to as maybe the first place, and outside of work, which might be your second place. So it's those places that people can gather, like libraries, community centers, parks, cafes, and such. And for older adults, these third spaces are really important. They help reduce social isolation, they build community, and that supports mental and physical health as well. And so this bill that you're mentioning about supporting aging in place and third places uh also bolsters the Department of Aging's ability to create these multi-generational spaces and and to foster foster that environment where people can stay connected, engaged, and feel supported in their community.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, you know, and and thank you again, uh Sarah. I'm gonna keep thanking you throughout this broadcast, uh uh Sarah. You know, another issue I know our listeners care deeply about is health care. Uh because, you know, access is one thing, but quality and safety, they're entirely another thing. And so I'm gonna revisit, you know, briefly the Safe Staffing Act, which passed after several years of debate, and you just talked about it briefly. What does this law require hospitals to do and how could it affect patients and caregivers and frontline workers in layman terms? So we can understand.
SPEAKER_00Sure. So, quite simply, this act requires hospitals to create formal staffing plans and formal staffing committees so that direct input from frontline workers, not just administrators, can be harnessed to focus on making sure there are enough staff with the right skills in the right places to meet patient needs. And for patients and families, that's gonna mean safer and more attentive care. For caregivers, I think it's gonna provide an element of reassurance. And for frontline workers, the aim is to help address burnout and to improve working conditions. So this can really have a ripple effect across the entire healthcare system. And most notably, we're really hoping and expecting that this bill and the work that these committees do is gonna directly improve the very long ER wait times that we experience in our state.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Uh, and thank you for that. Now, Sarah, I know one of, I can only imagine, one of the most painful calls that a family uh can get is that a loved one that's in a facility is being discharged or transferred without enough notice or real care or a real care plan. With that being said, your office supported legislation closing what's been called the involuntary discharge loophole, right? And with that being said, what problem was this law designed to fix and what protections does it give nursing home residents and their families?
SPEAKER_00So this was a really big win for the most vulnerable of our residents in the state at their most vulnerable moment. Um and what this loophole was is that if you were a nurse if you were in a nursing home for less than 30 days, you could be involuntarily discharged with no notice. It could happen the same day, and that of course would lead to an inadequate transfer of your care. And there were some very terrible stories of people being discharged to wholly inappropriate settings, uh, even like storage units and uh and on the street, quite frankly. And so this bill closes that loophole so that persons, all persons in nursing home facilities, if they're facing an involuntary discharge, it has to meet certain criteria in terms of giving 30 days notice and having a care plan in place, having uh information about accessing the office of the long-term care ombudsman in that notice. So this is going to help give residents proper notice or due process and strengthen those protections so those those residents aren't discharged with inappropriate safeguards.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I mean this is this is really a big one to me, uh uh and closing that loophole because you know, families, you know, they need someone in the system whose job it is to speak up uh for residents and not let that uh happen. Uh so uh great stuff there, my friend. You were busy this uh this legislative session, Sarah, uh my friend. Uh you mentioned the uh long-term care ombudsman. I understand they received more reliable uh funding uh through uh this session. What why does that matter, uh, Sarah, especially for residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities?
SPEAKER_00Well, we are very fortunate in our state to have a wonderful long-term care ombudsman uh at the home, um, and then terrific ombudsmen uh locally working under that office, and they really speak for the residents. They are the advocates for the residents uh for both nursing homes and in assisted living facilities. And these are the people that investigate complaints, they help resolve issues when they arise, uh, and they make sure that the residents' rights uh and wishes are respected. And more reliable funding for this office means that the administration of that office can can be more consistent, their staffing, their planning, uh, the services they're able to provide, they can they can budget appropriately for that from year to year. And and this matters so much because when when something goes wrong, the residents can turn to the ombudsman and and that uh the ombudsman acts as their their voice often, speaking for them in a way that perhaps the resident themselves hasn't been able to do.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, very important role that the um long-term care ombudsman uh has. Let's shift uh Sarah to something we talk about often here on the senior zone, as well as your office uh as well, fraud and scams, as well as financial exploitation. The Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act, that's a mouthful for me, uh allows banks and credit unions to pause suspicious transactions when exploitation is suspected. Uh, how will that work and what should seniors as well as caregivers know about it?
SPEAKER_00This bill was a big win for us and for all residents of Maryland because as I'm sure you've discussed in the past, if someone falls victim to a scam, once the money leaves their account, it's virtually impossible to recover those funds. And so this this bill, this new law, is our best hope to prevent that financial loss from happening. And what it does is it allows banks and credit unions to put a hold on suspicious transactions so that they can investigate and inquire about why the person may be wanting to access the funds that they're trying to withdraw. And so if a teller notices something unusual or something just doesn't fit into the pattern of their clients' transactions, they can they can ask questions, they can uh involve a trusted individual that's assigned to the person's account, they can work with uh law enforcement, and they can work with the Department of Adult Protective Services to inquire about what might be at play here. And and as I'm sure you've discussed, many scammers will tell their victims to not talk to anybody, you know, to keep quiet. Like what is happening is just between them, or else something very bad is going to happen. And so that sense of urgency is really what pushes people to act rashly and try and withdraw money quickly. And so we want people and and we want the banks to just be able to pause and ask a couple questions before the money leaves the account because oftentimes just in that moment of reflection, the the person can learn that they're actually a victim of a of a fraud or a scheme, and that their their financial resources can be preserved.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, you know, you're absolutely right, uh my friend. You know, scams are changing fast, and we talked about it. As often as we can here on the CNZone. And I talk about it off where when I have more choice words, Sarah, because this is the one thing that truly gets under my skin. We're not, we're no longer talking just about suspicious phone calls anymore. We all get them. I know that I do. I know that you do as well. We're talking about things like virtual currency kiosks. We're talking about gift cards. We're talking about artificial intelligence, also known as AI, as well as deep fakes. I don't even know anything about deep fakes, uh uh Sarah, but I know that Maryland passed several fraud prevention measures this year. What are you most glad to see addressed? And we're with older adults like myself still need to be especially cautious.
SPEAKER_00That's right. We're there were it was the first time I had worked on anything related to deep fakes myself, but um it's true. We in the state we saw many new laws trying to tackle fraud from vent very uh many different angles. Um in 2025, we did have a bill that put some guardrails on the use of virtual currency kiosks, and we saw a bill this year tighten those guardrails even a little bit further. Um, we saw uh some bills to uh increase penalties for benefits exploitation and for um gift card uh scams and thefts. Uh and so I think the most important thing for older Marylanders is just what I was trying to get at a moment ago, is to trust your gut and pause and reflect and think about what is actually happening and whether it makes sense. And to please talk to a trusted friend, confident neighbor, the AARP fraud hotline, talk to somebody about what you might be experiencing if it doesn't seem if it seems out of the ordinary. Because in that moment of reflection, you could be safeguarding your hard-earned and hard-saved uh retirement funds or uh other other financial resources.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, well said, uh my friend. Uh if it sounds too good to be true, most likely uh it is too good to be true, and uh being patient and not being you know rushed uh into a transaction is certainly uh uh the thing that we all need to do. Just pause. Another area that often gets overlooked, uh Sari, until a family is in crisis is estate planning, right? And so I understand there's a new transfer on death deed law, which could be a big deal for us homeowners. In plain language, what does this allow Maryland property owners to do? And why might families want to talk with, say, a qualified attorney about whether it fits their situation?
SPEAKER_00This is a bill that flew under the radar a little bit, even though I tried to talk about it a lot because it's really important. But this is a very big deal for homeowners and for families, because in simple terms, this transfer on death deed law is going to allow people to designate who's going to inherit what is usually their most valuable asset, their home, when they pass away without having to go through probate. It's a simplified form, and it's going this bill is going to be in effect come October, and it's going to help families save time, reduce costs, make things smoother, and and it's an important piece of, like you said, of the estate planning toolbox. And we're really excited to help get the word out about it. We work with the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus on this bill. Uh, it was one of their priorities for the year, and uh it can be an important piece of that estate planning process for Maryland families.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, so just so I'm clear, uh Sarah, Maryland will be a TOD, transfer on death deed state come October.
SPEAKER_00That's correct.
SPEAKER_05That is news. That's news to me. So thank you for sharing uh that, uh uh, my friend. Sarah, before I let you go, are there any closing remarks? Anything that I may not have asked that you want to get out this quarter?
SPEAKER_00I just want to thank you and your audience for their support and for their individual advocacy if they were involved in any of these bills. I like to say advocacy is a team sport. It takes all of us to help progress these laws and to help improve the state for for families. And to stay tuned for 2027. It's only gonna get it's only gonna get more exciting from here on out, I think.
SPEAKER_05Well, you are a true uh advocate, and I thank you, uh Sarah. This has truly been uh uh incredibly uh helpful and family. This is why we do these conversations because laws can sound complicated, but when you break them down, they're really about people staying safe, aging with dignity, protecting your money, supporting caregivers, and making sure Maryland is ready for the years ahead. Sarah Restrick, AARP Maryland State Advocacy Director, thank you for joining us here on the Scene Zone and for helping make the 2026 legislative wrap-up plain, practical, and useful for our listeners, my friend. Thank you.
SPEAKER_00Thank you so much, Sean. Great to be with you.
SPEAKER_05Likewise, likewise, can't wait to have you back here. Folks, this next break is brought to you by Compassion and Choices, empowering everyone to chart their own end of life journey. Stay tuned. We'll be right back, I promise.
SPEAKER_08In life, choices matter. Compassion and Choices is here to support you on your journey. Our organization provides a wealth of resources to help you navigate difficult decisions with compassion and understanding. Need guidance on end-of-life choices? Visit our website at compassionatechoices.org for a range of informative articles, toolkits, and personal stories. Our compassionate team is just a call away, ready to assist you. Because, let's face it, talking about death is not gonna kill you. Compassionate choices, empowering you to make choices that reflect your values.
SPEAKER_10Hi, neighbor. I'm inviting you and your wife to my husband's 65th birthday party next week.
SPEAKER_03Great! Has he applied for Medicare yet?
SPEAKER_10Not yet. It's very confusing.
SPEAKER_03Call Montgomery County Ship. They help me with questions about my Medicare coverage.
SPEAKER_10What's Montgomery County Ship?
SPEAKER_03It's Chip like a boat. Montgomery County State Health Insurance Assistance Program. They help seniors like us, or people with disabilities, or caregivers and families with Medicare insurance questions.
SPEAKER_10Can anyone call them?
SPEAKER_03Sure, as long as you live in Montgomery County. You can call them at 301-255-4250. Or check out their website at www.medicareabcd.org.
SPEAKER_10What's that number again?
SPEAKER_03Montgomery County Ship. 301-255-4250. Made possible with a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living through the state of Maryland and Montgomery County.
SPEAKER_09When you hear the chirp, it's time to do some work. Change the battery. Working smoke alarms save lives, including yours. For more information on smoke alarms and other fire prevention and safety tips, contact the DC Fire and EMS Department Fire Prevention Division at 202-727-1614. Or email us at FEMS.fireprevention at DC.gov.
SPEAKER_05Welcome
Segment Two: Louis Davis, Jr., AARP DC
SPEAKER_05back to the Senior Zone. I am your host, Sean Perry. Joining me now on this all AARP broadcast is a familiar voice and a strong advocate for older adults here in the District of Columbia. Lewis Davis Jr., State Director of AARP DC. Now Lewis is back with us at a very timely moment. The district just came through a primary election season with a new voting system. AARP DC, his office, has announced the latest community challenge grant recipients, and Social Security remains front and center for millions of older adults and families. So we've got a lot to cover. Lewis, welcome back to the Senior Zone.
SPEAKER_02Sean, it's good to be back and good Monday to you.
SPEAKER_05It is always good to have you here, my friend. Lewis, let's just start, jump right into it. Let's start with the June 16th primary election, nearly a month ago. What stood out to you most about how things went in the District of Columbia?
SPEAKER_02First up is what you uh mentioned a second ago. Uh the June 16th primary was the first time DC used ranked choice voting, or what we call RCV for short, in races with three or more candidates. Um for those who either didn't participate or for whom uh aren't voters in DC, ranked choice voting is new here in DC, but it's not a new thing in different parts of the country. It's where instead of picking just one person, voters get to rank their choices first, second, third, and so on. In races where there are at least three candidates or more. Overall, what we're hearing from the Board of Elections and some uh news media reports, and some commentary I even heard from some um constituents in DC who voted, it seems to be going fairly smoothly. Uh early signs show that voters overwhelmingly understood the process.
SPEAKER_05Well, good stuff, good stuff. I know it was a big change this year on how voters uh were casting uh their ballots. But for our listeners who are still getting familiar with it, uh Lewis, can you explain how ranked choice voting worked in this election? Sure.
SPEAKER_02So prior to ranked choice voting, let's say you had nine candidates running for dog catcher. And uh because there were so many running for dog catcher, and say one of them is the incumbent, so you have eight people running against the incumbent, uh incumbents, if you study political science or or not, uh you know the incumbents have an edge. They're already in office, they have a uh a machine uh working for them. Uh unless they've unless they've uh burned up a lot of good credit uh with the community, they've got an edge over those uh trying to make a name for themselves and and unseat them. So before ranked choice voting, if you split the vote among those nine, somebody might walk away with a win with less than 30%, 40% of the vote. If it's a city wide citywide race, you could wind up having somebody in that seat for dog catcher uh who wins with just 27% of the vote because they were fighting that the votes were spread so thinly across the other eight candidates. What ranked choice voting aims to get at is to make sure the winner earns a true majority, 50% of the vote or more, especially in these crowded races. That that's that's the aim.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah. You know, anytime there's a new voting uh process, especially for folks who have voted the same way for many years, there's always a learning uh curve. How do you think, with that being said, how do you think voters handled ranked choice voting the first time around?
SPEAKER_02I think we'll have to ask each each voter, right? Uh I've heard some from voters just last night in a meeting I was in. Uh one said she hated it. Uh other said they got along just fine. I mean, it's but in a referendum, 76% of DC residents voted for it two years ago. It was just implemented this year, but it was voted for by referendum, and 76% of D.C. voters said they wanted it. Um in the mayor's race, Ward Four Councilmember Janice Lewis George won handedly with over 54% of the vote. So in that race, ranked choice voting didn't need to go additional rounds. So she won outright because if candidate gets 50 plus one, they've won. Uh they won that race, no matter how many candidates they're running against. Uh same for the DC delegate race for to replace longtime House delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, at-large council member Robert White won handedly with 63%. Again, making no additional rounds necessary for RCV. So in those races, enough voters voted first choice for Pistores and first choice for Robert White, that it didn't matter how many other candidates were running against him. Once they hit that 50 plus one margin, it would be like any other race, whether it was RCV or not.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that was uh they had the majority. So now that the primary is behind us uh a little over three weeks ago or so, folks need to know what comes next. What should district voters be paying attention to between now uh and the general election come November?
SPEAKER_02First, they should visit our candidate question guide that will still be relevant come general election. They want to go to www.arp.org slash DC votes, and there you'll find our candidate guide, but also links there to the DC Board of Elections, where you can get all this information I'm talking about and even more on the results from the primary election. You can see how all the candidates answered our, or most of the candidates uh answered the questions that we put to them. Uh so you'll know who to vote for again come November. The general elections scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd. Sounds far off, but time flies. So I would say your listeners should be watching for early messages from the DC Board of Elections. They'll be doing all over again what they did before the primary, making sure people understand uh RCV when early voting starts and in-person and mail-in deadlines. So I would say pay attention over the summer. You can use and they can use the summer to get ready uh for RCV in the general election. But visit our website at our uh our website and uh and our voter guide at www.arp.org slash DC votes. They can also look for additional information on where the candidates stand on issues there important to older residents at that same link and website I just gave you. Um in there we use ARP survey and research data that we got from district residents, and that's how we came up with these questions to put to the candidates because DC residents told us these were things that were higher in their minds.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. If you don't mind, uh Lewis, I'm gonna say to my listeners out there, uh, don't wait until the last minute to get informed. These are resources that Lewis just mentioned that are available now or will be coming up uh shortly. Get informed as soon as you possibly uh can. So, with that being said, uh Lewis, and I know you're a nonpartisan organization at AARP, uh, that is, what kinds of issues did AARP DC focus on when reaching out to candidates?
SPEAKER_02Sure. Uh because we only have so little time uh for your listeners, what I'm giving is a thumbnail sketch. Uh the detailed questions you can find. I'll give the uh the URL again uh at our voter guide. But for the House seat, because that's a national seat, it's in the U.S. Congress, we focus on Social Security and Caregiving. So for the for the candidates running to replace Eleanor Holmes Norton, they answer questions around Social Security and Caregiving. Here locally, for the at-large seats and the mayor's race, uh we focused on housing, transportation, aging in place, health care, and access to healthy food. And again, you can find the full questions and the responses from the candidates at www.aarp.org slash dc votes.
SPEAKER_05Gotcha, gotcha. Give that website out one more time.
SPEAKER_02www.arp.org or r g slash dc votes altogether.
SPEAKER_05Great stuff, uh, my friend. So, Lewis, let's shift from the ballot box to the block because your organization, AARP DC, is also supporting work that helps make communities more livable. This year marked a milestone, as I understand it, for the AARP Community Challenge. For our listeners out there who may not be familiar, what is the community challenge program?
SPEAKER_02Well, Sean, this is uh a milestone year. It's the 10th anniversary of the AARP Community Challenge Grant Program. Uh nationwide, ARP is investing $8.3 million in 750, what we call quick action, shovel-ready projects to make communities more livable, especially for older adults. Here in DC, since 2017, ARP has invested over $350,000 across 24 projects. That's here in DC alone. And this year, we're adding nearly $90,000 more to support six new local efforts. These are projects that are shovel ready. They're not for research or studies. These are folk who say we are ready to do this thing. If somebody would just give us $5,000 or $10,000 or $15,000, we could help make this part of aging better for district residents.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. And I understand there are several local organizations receiving support right here in the district. Tell us about this year's uh community challenge grant recipients in the District of Columbia.
SPEAKER_02We have a bumper crop this year. We have six awardees in no particular order. Capital Area Food Bank has gotten a grant for $15,000. Their project will expand awareness and access to their Grocery Plus and SNAP and senior farmers market nutrition programs. Capital Riverfront Parks Foundation is getting $15,000. Their project installs aging-in-place technologies to help people live more safely in their homes. DC Fire and EMS will get $15,000. Their project's going to expand access to free smoke alarms inside people's homes and apartments. Many Languages One Voice has won $15,000. They're providing group and one-on-one multilingual digital literacy training to older adults. Seabury Resources for the Asians is getting $13,590. Their project will expand transportation shuttle model services for older adults, helping to reduce barriers for them getting around town to the things they need to do. And Thrive DC is getting $15,000. Their grant will expand digital access to low-income persons, providing laptops and tablets, printers and scanners, and software. And all of these projects amount to close to $90,000 here in DC this year from AARP.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. You know, Lewis, uh personally, you know, uh the community challenge grant by AARP across the country, but certainly within the District of Columbia, I love these projects because they are practical, right? They touch people's daily uh lives, and that's uh that's uh that's special. So uh congratulations to Capital Area Food, Bank and Thrive, uh DC, and uh DC Fire Me and MS. And I know I've forgotten the other three, but congratulations to all six.
SPEAKER_02Many languages and sea bearer, yep.
SPEAKER_05Yep, absolutely, absolutely. Uh my friend, before I let you go, Social Security remains front and center for so many older adults and families, including myself. So, what is AARP DC doing this summer around Social Security and how can our listeners get involved in helping to protect Social Security?
SPEAKER_02Johnny, right, this summer does mark another anniversary for Social Security. And for millions of Americans, like yourself, it's a cornerstone of retirement security. With the cost of living rising from groceries to housing, gasoline, people rely on Social Security more than ever. And it's worth noting, in 90 years, Social Security has never missed a payment. ARP will continue working to protect and strengthen the benefits people have earned to make sure a payment is never missed. Folks can follow along on our social channels and website to stay engaged. Uh again, it's www.arp.orgslash dc. At our parent, you can go to www.arp.org. Once you get to the landing page, type in Social Security and you'll see boatloads of information there about the program and all that ARP uh does around the nation and at the halls of con in the halls of Congress to protect Social Security.
SPEAKER_05Gotcha, gotcha. And before I let you go, my last question to you, uh my friend, is there anything else coming up this summer from your office? And if so, how can our listeners uh get involved, raise their hands?
SPEAKER_02Well, take Social Security, for example. Tell us a story. Tell us a story about what Social Security means to you. What would it mean if you lost it? Go to www.arp.org slash DC and share your story there with us. Visit us on Twitter, for me known or X, Family Knows Twitter at ARP DC. Facebook is AARP DC. You can uh our website is www.arp.org slash dc. You can email us at dcaarp at arp.org. Lastly, you can old school call us at 202-434-7700. Uh so uh in all those ways you can find us. Uh find us out in the community. We're doing engagements all around town. We were at the AHR uh home rule festival uh just this past Saturday, for example. Fantastic festival. If you missed it, boy, you missed a fantastic time. Uh and so we're all around town. Uh no, no excuse for not finding us.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and folks, if you need uh a person to contact Lewis and he doesn't give that information out to Yeah, I know his cell phone number, his phone number, his address, everything about him. If you need to contact Lewis Davis Jr. Uh lightheartedly said there, uh my friend. Uh thank you, thank you, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that was Lewis Davis Jr., State Director of AARP DC. Again, thank you as always for keeping our listeners informed. Thank you for keeping them prepared, Lewis, and thank you for keeping them connected. Family, whether we're talking about elections, stronger neighborhoods, or protecting social security, the message is the same. Stay informed, stay engaged, and make sure your voice is counted. Lewis Davis Jr., thank you, my friend. It was fun, Sean. See you next time. It always is. Folks, this next break is brought to you by AARP DC, your wise friend and fierce defender in Washington, D.C. When we return, it's birthdays of the week, followed by Dear Grave Woman featuring Joelle Simone. Then it's your later life lowdown, news and events that you can use. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_08Today is your day to connect with AARP and DC. AARP is here in the District of Columbia working hard to make it an even better place to live, work, and play for people of all ages, and you can help. Put your skills and talents to good use as an AARP volunteer where you can help lead local events or become an advocate for the issues that matter in your community, like funding for programs that help district residents age with dignity and independence. AARP is also helping you get the most out of life. Check out their educational workshops where they can help you grow as a caregiver, find a job, and teach you about the latest technology, or enjoy a night out at any of their exciting local events, like their happy hours and free movie screenings. Today is your day to connect with your community and with AARP. So let's take on today and every day. Learn more at aarp.org slash DC.
SPEAKER_04Happy birthday to you!
SPEAKER_08Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday.
Birthdays of the Week
SPEAKER_05So first up, we have Demita Gold Ring, 62, Social Security eligible today, July 13th from Palm Bay, Florida. Happy birthday, Demita. Friend here, Ray Evans, 71 years young today as well, July 13th from Bowie, Maryland. Happy birthday, Ray. Mamie Williams, 71. Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14th, also from Bowie, Maryland. Happy birthday, Mamie. Kevin Langford. Family here at Radio One turns 72. Tomorrow, July 14th from Greenbelt, Maryland. Happy birthday, Kevin. Joe Wrecker, 68. Wednesday, July 15th from Baltimore, Maryland. Happy birthday, Joe. JJ Jones, 72 on Wednesday, July 15th from West Palm Beach, Florida. Happy birthday, JJ. Oh, I love this lady here. Elise Nichols, 85 years young, still looking good. Elise turns 85 on Wednesday, July 15th from Silver Spring, Maryland. Happy birthday, Elise, and many more. Wanda Newman, 73 on Thursday, July 16th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Wanda. Family here. Larry Allen 77 on Friday, July 17th from Birmingham, Alabama. Happy birthday, Larry. And last but not least, Colette Owen 65 Medicare eligible on Saturday, July 18th from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Happy birthday, Colette. And to each and every one of you, we celebrate you, we honor you, and we thank God for another year of life, wisdom, experience, and grace. Now, family, if you know of someone who is celebrating the birthday and want to give them a shout out, just send us an email. Send that email to info at theseniorzone.com. That's in fo at theseniorzone.com. Be sure to include their full name, their birth date, the age they are turning, and the city and state where they are from.
Dear Grave Woman by Joelle Simone
SPEAKER_05And now, family, we shift into a thoughtful moment with Dear Grave Woman featuring Joelle Simone. This is where we pause, breathe, and reflect on life, legacy, love, lost, healing, and the conversations that many of us carry quietly in our hearts. Joelle has a way of helping us think a little deeper, feel a little more honestly, and remember that even the hard conversations can bring wisdom, peace, and purpose. So let's lean in now for this week's Dear Grave Woman featuring Joelle Simone. Joelle, the mic is yours, my friend.
SPEAKER_01Hello everyone, and welcome back to Dear Grave Woman, your three-minute segment here on the Senior Zone where we talk about life, death, grief, planning for the end, and everything in between. This week, I want to shift gears and talk about affordability as far as it relates to pre-planning. I had the pleasure of working with a 68-year-old gentleman this past week who I met through his sister, who referred him to me. And while we were talking, he's a Knicks fan, he's from New York, and you know, he was just really excited to be doing something to prepare himself and his family for the inevitable, to take the burden off of their shoulders in the future and to take a level of responsibility and autonomy over his experience. And one of the conversations we ended up having was about affordability and how it was his desire to leave more of a financial legacy for his descendants. Therefore, he wanted to spend not necessarily the least amount of money possible, but to explore the options that would be most affordable for him as far as his plan for leaving a legacy. And so we talked and we discussed the difference between the disposition of options for traditional funeral and burial cremation and combining the both of them. And ultimately he decided on cremation. However, I explained to him that it was important for him to make the decision for direct cremation with the understanding that his loved ones would not be able to see him the final time presented to them in a way that they would most recognize him. And ultimately he was okay with that. But I wanted to just share that story to let you know that affordability does come at a cost and also has cost advantages. And so when speaking to your funeral and pre-planning professionals, that is the question would it be possible for my family to both see me and for me to be cremated as an option? The answer to that question is definitely yes. Options such as rental caskets, viewings without traditional services, viewings with traditional funeral services, and the opportunity for your family to say goodbye to your physical body in a way that we're most familiar with is a possibility. However, if that's not important to you, the option for direct direct cremation is available. So thank you for listening to that story. And Sean, back to you for the later life lowdown.
Later Life Lowdown
SPEAKER_05Thank you, thank you, thank you, Joelle. You are always a blessing. And now, family, it's time for the later life lowdown or your later life lowdown. A few helpful resources, reminders, and connections for older adults, caregivers, and families across the DMV. And as always, I want to remind you about benefitscheckup.org. It's a website. Again, it's benefitscheckup.org. It's a free resource that helps older adults and people with disabilities find programs that may help them with things such as food, medicine, health care, utilities, and even everyday expenses. Again, it's benefitsecheckup.org. It's free and confidential. Now, in Washington, DC, if you need help connecting to aging services, caregiver support, transportation, meals, wellness programs, senior centers, or benefits assistance, contact the DC Department of Aging and Community Living at 202-724-5626. Again, that number is 202-724-5626. And DC residents can always call 311 and ask to be connected to Aging and Disability Services. Now in Maryland, if you or someone you love needs help navigating services for older adults, caregivers, or people with disabilities, contact the Maryland Access Point, also known as MAP. The number is 844-627-5465. That's 844-627-5465. The Maryland Access Point can help connect you with information on in-home support, food access, health care, housing services, caregiving, transportation, financial assistance, and much, much more. And if you're not sure where to begin, start with MAP MAP. You don't have to know every program name. Just make the call and ask for help. Now, in Northern Virginia, if you're in Northern Virginia and need help with aging services, caregiver support, meals, transportation, housing services, or disability-related services, your local area agency on aging, it's a good place to start. In Fairfax County, you can call 703-324-7948. That number again is 703-324-7948. And in Arlington, that number is 703-228-1700. That's 703-228-1700. And lastly, in Alexandria, that number is 703-746-5999. 703-746-5999. Family, the resources are out there. But sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start. So write these numbers down. Share them with somebody who may need them, and don't be afraid to ask for help. And once again, visit benefitscheckup.org to see what benefits, discounts, and assistance programs that may be available to you or to someone you love.
Closing Remarks
SPEAKER_05Well, family, the pencil broke. That is all she wrote. That brings us to the close of another edition of the Senior Zone. I want to thank you for spending part of your day with us, and I want to thank our guests, our partners, our sponsors, and every member of this listening family who continues to make the senior zone what it is. Since 2012, we've been committed to serving the 50 Plus community with information, inspiration, resources, and real conversations that matter. And one more thing, the Senior Zone has always been about more than just a moment. It's about building something that lasts. That's why we're now available as a podcast so these conversations they can live on, they can be revisited, and they can be shared. Just search the senior zone wherever you listen to podcasts. So if you missed part of today's show, you want to hear it again, or you know someone who needs the information we share today, make sure you tell them to search the senior zone with Sean Perry wherever they listen to podcasts. Well, family, thank you again for tuning in. And until we meet again, keep your head high, keep your heart full, and always be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. Love you. Peace.
SPEAKER_07Be sure to join us on our next broadcast.
SPEAKER_04Until then, live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.
SPEAKER_07Have a wonderful week, and God willing, the Senior Zone will be here for another informative and entertaining hour next Monday morning at 10 a.m.
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