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.
🎙️ New episodes weekly
📍 Originally broadcast on WYCB 1340AM (Washington, DC)
The Senior Zone
Ep. 725 | Know Your Rights. Stay Connected. Keep Moving Forward.
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This week on The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry puts information, protection and connection front and center.
In Segment One, Legal Counsel for the Elderly’s Albert Reed, Senior Ombudsman Specialist, discusses residents’ rights as Residents’ Rights Month approaches in October. Saunya Connelly, Tenant Empowerment Specialist, explains what D.C. consumers should know about third-party energy suppliers.
Then, longtime friend of the show Shememe Williams, Founder and CEO of My Active Senior, joins Shawn to talk about the organization’s growth from local DMV senior events into a broader effort connecting older adults with activities, resources and community around the country.
Plus: Birthdays of the Week, Dear Grave Woman featuring Joel Simone, and the Later Life Lowdown.
The Senior Zone airs Mondays from 10:00–11:00 AM ET on WYCB 1340 AM and streams live at MySpiritDC.com.
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_02Welcome to the Senior Zone, where we connect older adults with the organizations and resources that serve them.
SPEAKER_12The Senior Zone's goal aims to educate, empower, enlighten, entertain, and engage older adults with the tools and information to stay healthy, happy, and secure.
SPEAKER_02Great guests, help to upcoming events and useful information.
SPEAKER_12So get ready to take notes.
SPEAKER_02It's now time for the senior zone.
SPEAKER_08Good morning, family, and welcome to another Monday right here on the Senior Zone, the DMV's number one weekly radio program serving the 50 plus community since 2012. All thanks to you. I am your host, Sean Perry. And whether you are joining us live this Monday morning or catching up later through the Senior Zone podcast, I am always grateful that you have chosen to spend a little time with us. As we close out September and prepare to step into a brand new month, I want to remind you of something simple. Aging well isn't just about how many birthdays we celebrate, it's also about knowing our rights, staying connected to good information, and continuing to find people, places, and experiences that keep us engaged in life. With that being said, here is your weekly vitamin. Never confuse getting older with becoming smaller. Your voice, it still matters. Your choices matter. Your presence still matters, and there is still more life waiting for you to participate in it. Carry that with you in the week ahead. Because today's program really speaks to just that. In segment one, we're spending time with legal counsel for the elderly. With Residents' Rights Month coming in October, Albert Reed, Legal Counsel for the Elderly Senior Ombudsman Specialist, will help us understand some of the protections and rights residents should know. And then Sonia Connolly, Legal Counsel for the Elderly Tenant Empowerment Specialist, will talk with us about third-party energy suppliers in the District of Columbia, what consumers should understand before agreeing to anything and why paying attention to the detail matters. And then in segment two, I'm reconnecting with somebody I have known for well over a decade. Shamem Williams and I go back to those senior spa days, midday galas, and community events. Many of you may remember throughout the DMV. Today, she is the founder and CEO of My Active Senior, and we'll talk about how that local work has grown into much bigger efforts around the country, connecting older adults with activities, resources, and community as well as one another, just not here, but around the country. And before we leave today, folks, we'll celebrate our birthdays of the week. Hear the latest Dear Grave Woman featuring Joelle Simone and get you caught up with our later life lowdown, news and announcements that you can actually use. And if life gets in the way of listening live, remember the senior zone is now available on demand. Find the podcast after the show on Spotify, Apple, iHeart, Amazon, or wherever you listen to podcasts. But before we take this quick break, you know I gotta send some love and gratitude to our sponsors and partners. So thank you, 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 D.C. residents most in need. Don't change a doll. I promise we'll be right back.
SPEAKER_00Legal 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 eviction 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_11Attention, 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 specialist, 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.
SPEAKER_08Welcome
Segment One – Legal Counsel for the Elderly
SPEAKER_08back. I am your host, Sean Perry, and now it's the Legal Zone on the Senior Zone brought to us by Legal Counsel for the Elderly. Today we're covering two very different but very important topics. Many DC residents have been opening their utility bills and seeing they owe more. But it may not be just about how much electricity they're using or rising energy costs. We'll talk with LCE Sonia Connolly about third-party energy suppliers, what consumers should be watching for, and what to do if something on that bill just doesn't look right. Then we'll turn our attention to Residence Rights Month with LCE Ombudsman, Senior Specialist Albert Reed, and talk about the rights of people living in long-term care facilities and what residents and their families need to know if those rights are not being respected. Sonia,
Third-Party Energy Suppliers with Saunya Connelly
SPEAKER_08Albert, welcome to the Senior Zone. Good morning, Sean. It's a pleasure to have you both. Sonia, let's get started with you and utility bills. As the tenant empowerment specialist, you see many people struggling to pay their bills, especially now. Can you explain how much of the increase is tied to PEPCO's rates versus other factors?
SPEAKER_13Yes, Sean. This is an especially important conversation for older adults because when you're living on a fixed income or limited income, an unexpected increase in a utility bill can have a real impact on the household budget. The first thing consumers should understand is that there isn't one single reason your electric bill may be higher. PEPCO has been recovering costs associated with modernizing and strengthening the electric grid. Regulators approved about $123 million in PEPCO rate increases spread across 2025 and 2026, and those increases affect the delivery side of the customer's bill.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. So there's more to the bill than just usage, obviously, right? Uh aren't there other costs associated with our utility bill? You know, what are they?
SPEAKER_13Exactly. PEPCO's rates aren't the whole story. Electric bills also reflect transmission costs. That's the cost of moving electricity across the regional grid. The District of Columbia is also part of the larger Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland regional electricity market. Growing electricity demand, including demand from data centers in Northern Virginia, along with extreme weather and wholesale energy market conditions, can put additional pressure on prices.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_08And so then that brings us to what else may be driving the increase that we all see. Are there other factors that play into these increases, Sonia?
SPEAKER_13Yes, Sean. One other factor that is particularly important for individual consumers to understand third-party energy suppliers. What that means is a third party energy supplier is a company that sells or supplies the electricity that ultimately comes through Pepco's wires. If you don't choose a third-party energy supplier, Pepco provides your electric supply through what's called standard offer service or SOS. DC uh allows residents to choose a licensed third-party energy supplier to provide the electricity supply portion of their bill instead of receiving Pepco's standard service, standard offer service. That choice can affect how much a particular household pays. But if you voluntarily or unknowingly enroll with a third-party supplier, the supply rate you pay can be different from Pepco's standard offer service rate. So if you decide to go with a third-party supplier, you may be subject to an increase from that supplier and Pepco. So the important takeaway is a higher bill isn't necessarily because you personally use more electricity.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. And so let's talk about one of those factors, uh, Sonia, because this can be confusing. Why does the district even have third-party energy suppliers? I thought Pepco was the electric company.
SPEAKER_13Yeah, it is pretty confusing. Pepco is the local electric utility, it owns and operates the local distribu distribution system that includes the poles, the wires, meters, and other infrastructure that deliver electricity to your home. If there's an outage or a problem with the delivery of your electricity, Pepco is still the company that you contact. But DC's energy system allows consumers to choose who supplies the electricity itself.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. And so uh this is where consumers really, really need to pay uh attention. Uh the DC Attorney General has warned about deceptive practices by some, not all, by some third-party energy uh suppliers. What are some of the warning signs, uh, Sonya, that residents should be looking out for to avoid being switched without their knowledge or consent?
SPEAKER_13You're exactly right, Sean. Um, this is a point where listeners should slow down and be cautious. DC residents have a choice. They can remain with Pepco's standards offer service or SOS or voluntarily choose a licensed third-party supplier. But you don't have to switch just because someone contacts you. One major warning sign is someone claiming to be from PEPCO and asking to see your utility bill or asking for your account number so they can check your rate. The Office of the People's Council specifically warns that local utilities will not come to your home asking to see your bill or count number to offer you a lower price. Second warning sign is pressure. If someone says you have to sign up today, this offer expires in an hour, you need to confirm your account. Stop. You have the right to stay with your current supplier. You don't need to confirm your choice just because someone asked you to. And don't give a salesperson your utility account number or a copy of your bill unless you have decided that you want to switch and understand exactly what you're signing. A legitimate third-party supplier representative also has to identify themselves as not being a representative of the local utility. And marketing materials must include the company's DC Public Service Commission license number.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. You know, and I appreciate that information, good information, but there can also be legitimate reasons why someone chooses a third-party supplier. Why would a customer go with a third-party supplier, Sonny?
SPEAKER_13Uh, third-party suppliers are often marketed as a way to save money. The data show that in many cases, however, the opposite has happened. Now that doesn't mean that every third-party supplier is more expensive. Some contracts can offer competitive rates, and some consumers may deliberately choose a supplier for a particular fixed rate or renewable energy product. But consumers need to compare the actual price and they need to understand the contract and watch out for variable rates, which can change after an introductory period and sometimes double. So don't assume that third party means cheaper.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. So let's figure out uh or share with our listeners how they can tell what they actually have. Where on the bill does it show whether a customer is with Pepco or a third-party supplier?
SPEAKER_13Sean, this is very easy for them to check. Um take out your Pepco bill and look at this description, the at the section describing your electricity supplier or electricity supplier charges. If Pepco is providing your standard office offer service, you should see Pepco's standard offer service reflected there. If you see the name of another company listed as your electricity supplier, that means you're enrolled with a third party supplier. So look at the supplier charges section. And if you're not sure about what you're seeing, don't guess. Ask Pepco or contact the Office of the People's Council for help understanding your bill.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, great information again, uh Sonya. If a resident, uh Sonya discovers that they've been switched to a third-party supplier without their knowledge, without their authorization, what steps should they take to restore service and report the issue?
SPEAKER_13The first step is to contact PEPCO and tell them you did not authorize the supplier change. You should also contact the third-party supplier and tell them you want the enrollment canceled. Check your bill monthly and react immediately to correct unauthorized third party supplier switches. Then, and this is important, report the unauthorized switch to the DC Office of the People's Council. Their consumer assistance number is 202-727-3071. Again, 202-727-3071. And lastly, keep your paperwork. Keep the bill showing the supplier, any letters or emails you receive, and notes about who you spoke with when and when.
SPEAKER_08Thank you so much. Let me switch
Residents’ Rights with Albert Reed
SPEAKER_08over to uh Albert now. Albert, you are a senior ombudsman specialist with LCE's Office of the DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman. October is residence rights month. So let's talk about some of those rights, uh, my friend. Uh, beginning with the first, the right to be fully informed. What does that mean, Albert?
SPEAKER_01Sean, so residents have the right to be fully informed. Um, I always tell residents living in long-term care facilities that just because you have transitioned into a long-term care facility to live, the rights walk in the door with them. Um, I also add that ombudsmen's offices are federally mandated. Um, therefore, their rights for residents and living in long-term care facilities are protected federally. So fully informed means you know having changes clearly stated for their stay in a long-term care facility in the form of a monthly statement of account, just like someone in the community received a monthly utility bill. Also means a written copy of facility rules, regulations, and policies. Um, and those are usually provided um in in their admissions packet. Um also means information in a language they understand. You might speak Mandarin, you might speak um Spanish as your primary tongue. And if something is provided to you in English, you can't read it. That's a that's an issue. And they have the right to have that in their language that they can understand. And residents have the right to file a complaint in the form of a grievance to facility staff, um, law enforcement officials, and to be informed that there is an external advocate to support their rights, um, such as the Office of DC long-term care ombudsman.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, good information, uh Albert. Another important right involves one's uh care. Residents have the right to participate in one's own care, as I understand it. That's the verbiage. What does that look like?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so they have the right to be notified of all changes in their medical condition and treatment. Um, if there's a change in their medication uh and a nurse comes in one day and provides a different medication that they're not familiar with, they have the right to be um informed about this change um in medication being provided to them. Um they have the right to participate in their uh um treatment plan. Um federal regulations state that there should be a care plan meeting every 90 days, just like we would go to our physician in the community to to do a checkup. And that was to be review all of their any updates, any changes. Um, and the resident also has the right to question the the uh treatment plan. Um they have the right to be free from physical physical restraints, can't be tied down so that they can be provided a shower, um, or they can't be tied down um by medication. Um they also have the right to um accept or refuse treatment, and this is a challenging one for the office because residents do make poor choices, although we support their choice. We make certain that the facility staff explain the risks involved in refusing uh medical care, such as stop taking their medication or refusing to eat. Um and and finally they have the right to review their own medical record.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, well, thank you, thank you, thank you, uh Albert. And just as important uh is how residents are also treated, tell us about a resident's right to dignity, respect, and freedom.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, this is a very important one, um, Sean. Um and and this starts when they first enter the facility. Um the the right to be treated with consideration, dignity, and respect should be um provided and shown to a resident even before they come into the facility um as a and be shown as a and treated as just a normal human being. Um not to be yelled at, not to be ignored, but just you know, respectful. Um they have the right to be free from mental, verbal, physical abuse. Um they also um have to be respected. Often individuals who work in facilities, um the f one of the most disrespectful ways that they exhibit towards a resident is that they look at the residents as having a room and that these are not their home. So you knock on the door. If you go to somebody's home, you knock on the door. And oftentimes we have to remind the staff that they have the right to be respected by you knocking on the door, asking if you could come in, and then entering once they stated that you could. Um, they have the right to be respected and supported of their religious beliefs. Um, and that could be things that they want to um place in their room, or even types of their dietary needs that may not be the normal food that is um provided to residents in a long-term care facility.
SPEAKER_08So uh Albert, and thank you again. Uh let's talk now about an issue that families you know sometimes encounter: involuntary discharges, transfers, or relocations from a nursing home, as I understand it, are more common than they should be. So, how can a resident or family member be sure a move is valid?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, this is another one of those that are very challenging. Um, so Sean, residents have the right to valid discharge, transfer, or relocation. And and the important thing to remember to remember about this is that all three reflect movement of a resident in a long-term care facility. Um, a discharge is permanently leaving the facility. If it is valid, it is as a result of a resident's request. An invalid one means the facility is attempting to force the resident out against their wishes. Um a relocation is internal where resident is moved from one room to the other. The ombudsman makes certain any transfer is requested by the resident. If not, the resident stays where they are. Uh and finally, a transfer is a temporary move out of facility, such as um having to be transferred to during an emergency to a hospital. Um but to suffice it to say that all three of these movements, Sean, must have residence authorization. A notification must be provided in advance.
SPEAKER_08And that connects directly to uh personal choice, as I uh sum it up. We all cherish our right to make our own decision. So please talk about a resident's right to make an independent choice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Sean, a resident should never lose their right to make decisions for themselves unless they have a court appointed guardian who, although have the final determination. Of care provided must also include the resident's voice. So it's never lost, even though you might have someone that governs over your care. There's a right to choose one's own physician. A resident may have a primary care physician in a community and transitions to a long-term care facility, they have the right to keep that physician in the community if they want to. And you know, some residents have a 20, 30-year relationship with their primary care physician and community, would like to keep that relationship going. They also have the right to participate in community activities. Community activities are extremely important because social isolation is a huge issue in long-term care facilities. So it's very important that there's social engagement. They also have the right to organize and participate in a resident council. And a resident council provides residents in a long-term care facility to collectively join their voices to address issues and concerns and you know individual advocacy. We always support and encourage residents to uh advocate on their own and through um a group such as the resident council. And finally, managing one's own uh financial affairs, very important. You have the right to know what's in your bank account, you have the right to have a statement provided to you on a monthly basis. Um you have the right to they have internal banks uh accounts at long-term care facilities, so you have the right to go and um extract money just like you would at a bank in a community. So um those rights are extremely important for those residents have, and we take those very seriously in advocating to make certain that those rights are protected.
SPEAKER_08And thank you once again, Albert. And if uh someone feels that those rights aren't being respected, how do they go about contacting your office?
SPEAKER_01So if you're living in a long-term care facility, we have posters all throughout the facility with uh my personal um direct connection to the office. Um, and that's not only for residents, but that's also for family members and guests who walk through. So our helpline is 202-434-2190-202-434-2190. And there's an option to email us at DCOMBS at aarp.org. Once again, that's DCOMBUDS at aarp.org. And most importantly, all services are free and confidential.
SPEAKER_08Thank you, thank you, thank you, Albert Reed. And finally, uh back to you, Sonia. If people have questions about their PEPCO charges or other legal issues, how do they reach LCE?
SPEAKER_13Sean DC residents can reach LCE's legal hotline by calling 202-434-2120. That's 202-434-2120.
SPEAKER_08Sonia Connolly, Albert Reed, thank you both for joining us and helping us make sense of two issues that really come down to the same thing: knowing your rights, asking questions, and speaking up when something doesn't seem right. Whether it's understanding what's showing up on your utility bill or making sure a loved one in a long-term care facility is being treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, information can make all the difference. This has been the legal zone on the senior zone, brought to us by legal counsel for the elderly, Sonia, Albert. Thank you both for joining us today. Thank you.
SPEAKER_13It's been a pleasure.
SPEAKER_08It's been my pleasure as well. Folks, this next break is brought to you by Compassion and Choices, empowering everyone to chart their own end-of-life journey. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_09In 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. Compassion and Choices, empowering you to make choices that reflect your values.
SPEAKER_04Hi, neighbor. I'm inviting you and your wife to my husband's 65th birthday party next week.
SPEAKER_07Great! Has he applied for Medicare yet?
SPEAKER_04Not yet. It's very confusing.
SPEAKER_07Call Montgomery County Ship. They help me with questions about my Medicare coverage.
SPEAKER_04What's Montgomery County Ship?
SPEAKER_07It's ship 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_04Can anyone call them?
SPEAKER_07Sure, 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. What's that number again? Montgomery 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_03When 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_05Growing older shouldn't mean giving up your independence, connections, or the life you love. The DC Department of Aging and Community Living supports district residents with nutritious meals, transportation, caregiver assistance, benefits counseling, and resources to help you remain safe and independent at home. For more information, call 202-724-5626 or visit dacl.dc.gov. The DC Department of Aging and Community Living, helping older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers live well in the communities they call home.
Segment Two – Shememe Williams / My Active Senior
SPEAKER_08Welcome back. This is the Senior Zone, and I am your host, Sean Perry. Family. Every now and then I get to welcome somebody to the Senior Zone who isn't simply a guest. They're somebody I've actually shared a little history with. And that's certainly the case with my next guest. Shamem Williams and I go back a decade or more. Some of you who've been around the DMV senior community for a while, remember those senior spa days, the midday galas, and some other events we were doing back then. And Shamim was right there, bringing older adults together, getting folks out of the house, getting them moving, socializing, laughing, and enjoying themselves. But what I find interesting is what that work has grown into. Today, Shamim Williams is the founder and CEO of My Active Senior. And what started with that very local connection of older adults has evolved into something with a much bigger vision. Connecting seniors with events, activities, resources, and one another, and taking that concept beyond the DMV and into communities around the country. So we're going to talk about the journey, the growth, and more importantly, where my active senior is headed next. Shamim, my friend, welcome back to the senior zone.
SPEAKER_10Wonderful. Thank you for inviting me back. I really appreciate it.
SPEAKER_08It's my pleasure. I love it. Thank you. It is good having you here, all smiles here. So, Shamim, before we talk about where my active senior is going, I have to take you back for just a minute. We've known each other, as I've as I said, for more than 10 years, probably near 15. And I remember those senior spa days and midday galas very well. When you look back at what we were doing then compared with what you are building today, did you imagine it becoming this big? I did.
SPEAKER_10I absolutely did. And it's not, I'm not even there yet. I know that when we were doing the galas, we were creating like local experiences. But during that time, I had a full-time job. And my full-time job, I was still still doing the same thing, creating experiences. And even then, I kept saying, this is too small for me. I want to create events and experiences for millions of seniors. I'm doing that for hundreds, right? It's not enough. I know I can do this on a national scale, worldwide scale. So I already, and I still have that same vision. I knew back then what I'm seeing, experiencing now is what I've already envisioned even more.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. And I saw it. What struck me was that you understood, as a young person, uh then you weren't even in your seniorhood, but you understood pretty early that older adults weren't simply looking for quote unquote senior services. They also wanted experiences, as you just mentioned. They wanted to have some fun, which you are delivering. So my next question is: what did you see happening or maybe not happening for older adults that originally convinced you there was a need for my active senior?
SPEAKER_10So, first I saw that there was a clear like disconnect, right? There were like millions of seniors who like they want to be active, they want to be social, they want to be engaged. But finding that was not for them. You know, when you find, when anybody younger finds activities, they go on Eventbrite, they go on different sites, local sites. There was nothing specifically for older adults. Um, I've seen what happens when you create the right environment. They show up. If you make it for them and you make it senior-friendly, and it's music for them, events for them, they'll show up, they'll dance, they'll travel, they'll make new friends. They want experiences. So I stopped looking about, I stopped looking at it as what services do seniors need. Because I started out doing it that way, making services. And I started asking, what can we make or what can we do for seniors to keep living, have a better quality of life? And that's when I said, okay, this is the event platform, is what we're gonna do.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. And so that brings us to what my active senior uh has become today, right? I'm excited to hear about it myself. But somebody listening to us right now who's never visited my active senior, explain it to them. What is my active senior today, and what can an older adult actually do once they become part of the My Active Senior community?
SPEAKER_10Okay. Wonderful question, because I get to ask that all the time. So, My Active Senior is an event and community platform that's for older adults. That's it. An event and community platform. You can come to our website, you can discover events happening in your area, you can join a local chapter, you can connect with other seniors, you can find resources and services. And the one that I love the most is that seniors can actually create their own events. That's what the platform is.
SPEAKER_08Wow, wow. I love it, I love it. And this is where I think your story gets particularly uh interesting because this isn't just a DMV operation anymore. As I have observed through social media, you've been expanding my act of senior beyond Maryland, DC, and Virginia. What's driving uh Shamem that national growth? And what are you learning about older adults in other parts of the country?
SPEAKER_10So it's social media. I mean, that is really it. Social media shows us that it's not just a DV area. We would post our seniors from the gala dancing from back in the day. We would post, I would post seniors dancing and joining themselves at our events, and people would comment from Texas, from Florida, from Cincinnati, when are you coming here? When are you gonna have an event in Atlanta? And I said, Oh my God, this is so much bigger than the DMV area. This is nationwide. People want experiences on a nationwide uh uh level. And so, and I couldn't ignore it. I was saying to myself, it's no, it's too, I can't, how am I gonna do an event in Florida? How am I gonna do an event in Atlanta? I can't do it, I can't be everywhere. But the market was screaming at me saying, We need you to come here and figure out a way, basically, figure out a way how to get to us. So I started helping, I figured out a way, prayed and asked God, how can I make experiences on a nationwide level? How can we move from city to city, state to state? And that's when the idea came of creating this platform where I don't have to create everything, the seniors themselves can do it themselves and create experiences nationwide.
SPEAKER_08And that's what that's what I want to talk about. You know, uh obviously this is technology uh driven, so I applaud you. Uh as you just mentioned, one of the things you're developing is the ability for seniors, seniors themselves, not only to find and register for uh your events, but eventually create their own events. Talk about that idea again because that's a very different model than simply telling seniors, here's something for you to attend.
SPEAKER_10Sure. I mean, my continuous, we can't do it. We literally, we physically literally cannot do it all, and we shouldn't do it all, right? We can't create everybody's experience. Like imagine somebody in Cincinnati saying, Oh, 10 women, 10 of my friends, we want to walk together every Friday or every Saturday, or somebody in Philly saying, I want to have a game night. They should they shouldn't have to wait for Michael Senior to do it. They can do it themselves. We want them to create and connect themselves because they know what they want. I don't know what someone in Texas wants, right? But they know what they want. And I can tell you right now, they're already doing it. Seniors nationwide are already, especially women communities, they already have their own communities. They already create events. We would we want them to put it on our platform and put it online so that anybody else can who also wants to do, whoever's in their area can join. They can now join them as well. So they're already doing, we're just creating a platform where they can just put it on and make it live and make it uh more expansive for people in their area.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. I I I mean, I love it. It is so important because you are essentially putting some of the power into the hands of older adults themselves, right? No more excuses. There's no events out there. They can create their own events on your platform, My ActiveSenior. And I want to stay there for a moment. You know, we hear so much about loneliness and social isolation among older adults. I have spoken about it quite a bit here on the senior zone. How much of what you're building is really about creating community and connection rather than simply filling somebody's calendar with activities.
SPEAKER_10I got you. So of course the connection is like a huge part of it, right? But the way I want to look at it and the way I've had I've been looking at it is like from the positive side, right? I don't want to just say singers are lonely. Yeah, we we I mean we we know we understand that concept. But I want it to be like, where can we do? Let's just say I want to create, I want to be doing a way where seniors can just say, you know what, let's go and do an activity. Let's walk into one of our events and um do some dancing, let's go to movies together. I want them to just, I want them to not think about I'm loaning, just to say, where can I go and find activities to do? That's I want to kind of approach them in a positive way. I don't, you don't need to always talk about isolation all the time. You just need somebody to say, we're going on dancing on Friday, come with us. That's it. And just focus on the positive side of it.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. Whether it's one or many, uh, your platform can accommodate, you know, uh big and small events, correct?
SPEAKER_10Correct. Correct.
SPEAKER_08There you go.
SPEAKER_10But if it's two people, two people just having coffee and conversation, or it's a group of 10 or a group of 500.
SPEAKER_08Well, you know, I applaud you. As I said, we go back, we have a history, but I applaud you for doing what you have done and what you will be doing with my active senior. You have built a substantial social media uh following around my active senior. What have you learned from from that uh that buildup of my active senior on social media? And what does the challenges you know look like for older adults online? Uh, can you can you address that from a technology standpoint? Sure.
SPEAKER_10So I can tell you this. I mean, we actually we learned this, actually, I actually learned it first about technology with seniors and doing it at the gala. If I go back. When if you remember when the gala, we was going to the casino and the seniors, they had the lever to use to play, use at the slots. And they made an announcement about getting rid of the lever. I said, Oh no, this is not gonna work. They went digital. Now, oh no, this is not gonna work. They're not gonna wanna use technology to play through the slots, and they had no problem transitioning. None. These seniors, our seniors, they're online. They're watching videos, they're sharing our content, they're commenting, they're buying tickets, they're connecting with each other. Our events are only sold by buying tickets. They're doing that themselves on our platform. They're using technology every single day on social media. We get four million views a month. This is this is seniors sharing, commenting, viewing, going to using technology to just to have an experience or watch an experience of seniors being active. Yes, are the technology barriers? Of course, it's always something. But we're trying to make our platform where seniors can find things to do, make it really senior-friendly. I'm very intentional about being senior-friendly, and we can provide education. But so they are we are getting them there. We have a newsletter every month, and I'm always teaching seniors how to use technology on that on that newsletter.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, folks, you got to go to myactivesenior.com, myactive senior.com. Shameam, there's another side to a myactive senior that I don't want to overlook because families listening to us are constantly searching for trustworthy information and resources beyond the events and social activities on myactivesenior.com. What kinds of resources and services can seniors and their families find through your website?
SPEAKER_10Well, please know that that was the core of the business originally. That was the original thought of resources. Um, so we're building myactive senior around the whole person. Um, the events, it's like the doorway, right? But seniors need, of course, they need trusted information and our in resources. So we have senior living resources, we got health, we got wellness program, we have Medicare education, nutrition, travel, all of that is on the platform. We even allow our vendors, if you want to have, if you provide education for seniors, because I know this is very important. If someone has an event, it can be a dance or a game night. But our platform allows educators to do virtual events, educational events directly on the platform. We have someone who does Medicare Mondays every week on the platform that allows the seniors to get family members to get education on top of events that they can attend. So we incorporated that as well. So they can get the education directly. All kinds of all of our providers provide education on the platform in addition to coming to an event.
SPEAKER_08A one-stop shop for myactivesenior.com. Uh now let me put your CEO hat on for a minute. Uh, you know, taking something that worked locally and trying to build it nationally, I can only imagine is a major undertaking. What's been the biggest challenge in growing myactive senior shameleman? What has surprised you the most about the opportunity?
SPEAKER_10Okay, so being transparent. The biggest challenge has been like transitioning from a company where I create the experiences to building a technology platform that can work without me touching every single piece. That's the that's a different business, right? I'm learning to let go. I'm learning, I'm automating things, I'm making seniors so they can they can navigate the platform and what has to be main what has to remain personal. So that challenge is the transition period from me doing everything to allowing the the platform to create it so seniors can do it themselves.
SPEAKER_08And I know you well enough to know that you're probably already thinking several steps uh beyond where you are today. With that being said, give us a glimpse of the future. If you and I are sitting together having this conversation again, say three or five years from now, what do you hope my active senior has become?
SPEAKER_10So I want my active senior to become one of the places where seniors automatically think about when they ask, what can I do? Where you live, I want to be able to open my active senior and see what's happening around you, find events, find trips, find classes, find chapters, find resources, and other people who want to be active. And actually, the bigger vision is that seniors aren't just consuming the events, they're creating it. Right. I want thousands of students across the country creating events, starting chapters, building their own communities through our platform. And once we accomplish that, we're going to be bigger, much bigger than anything I can ever organize myself.
SPEAKER_08Well, I can't wait to have that conversation with you three or five years from now. I have no doubt that you're going to uh uh achieve all of what you want to uh achieve with my active senior. You know, Shaman, before I let you go, I want to bring this back to the person who's listening right now. There's somebody listening right now who is 60, 70, maybe 80 plus years old who says, you know what? I need to get out more. I need to meet some people, I need to start doing some things again. What would you say directly to that person? And how do they get started with my active senior?
SPEAKER_10Go to my senior.com. Go to one event, browse the events, go to one event, join a chapter, take one trip, introduce yourself to one person. That's it. And then once you go to my senior, you can see what's near you and close to you, choose something. If there's nothing happening where you live, help us create it. You're never too old make a friend, you're never too old in something new, or create another chapter in your life. We want the senior to be active and engaged and to be open-minded that you know what, I can still be the friend of 80. I can because there are some there's other people who are your age who like the same things. If it's if it's if it's dancing, if it's reading, if it's praying, if it's you know, activ any kind of activity. There is somebody else that likes the same interest as you. We want to help create that experience where they can find that person and find that group of people that can be active and engaged.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. Well, Shamem Williams, uh, my friend, I gotta tell you, this one is a little special uh for me because I remember where some of this started. I remember the senior spotties, I remember the midday galas, I remember us running around the DMV trying to create something that gave older adults a reason to get dressed up, get out of their house, meet somebody, laugh a little bit, and simply enjoy the day. And now, roughly a decade or so later, I'm watching you take that same basic idea that growing older should never mean stop living, stop connecting, or stop having fun, but building something designed to reach seniors across the country. That is growth, my friend. I can't wait to see what happens three years from now and more. I am proud of you. I'm proud to see what's happening. Family, this has been Shamem Williams. She is the founder and CEO of MyActive Senior, where older adults and their families can discover events, activities, resources, and opportunities to stay connected and engaged. You can learn more at myactive senior.com or call 866-594-6249. That's 866-594-6249. Shamim, congratulations on everything that's happening with MyActive Senior. You deserve it. And knowing you, I'm pretty sure you're just getting started. Folks, this has been the Cena Zone. Shamim, thank you, my friend.
SPEAKER_10Thank you. Thanks for having me. I enjoyed it.
SPEAKER_08All right, you're welcome back uh anytime. 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. And then it's your later life lowdown. News, events, and resources you can use. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_09Today 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_00Happy birthday to you!
SPEAKER_10Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday.
Birthdays of the Week
SPEAKER_08So let's get this party started. First up, we have Deborah Johnson Swan, 75 today, September 28th from Lothian, Maryland. Happy birthday, Deborah Hewitt Brantley, 81 today as well. Monday, September 28th from Bowie, Maryland. Happy birthday, Hewitt, Diane Grooms, the Big 60, 60 years young today, September 28th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Diane. Hope Burns, also 60 years young. Tuesday, September 29th from Germantown, Maryland. Happy birthday, Hope. Katherine Fennelli. I love this woman. 77. Wednesday, September 30th from Annandale, Virginia. Happy birthday, Catherine Mary House in the House. 66 on Thursday, October 1st from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Mary. Yvette Alexander, 65, Medicare eligible on Thursday, October 1st from Washington, D.C. She's a former Ward 7 Council member. And last but not least, this one is special to me. It's my only uncle, Ronnie Tanner, turns 80 years young, the big 8-0, 80 years young on Sunday, October 4th from Long Branch, New Jersey. Happy birthday, Unc. I hope to talk and see you soon and many, many more. And again, happy birthday to each and every one of you. May the year ahead bring you good health, plenty of laughter, peace in your spirit, and more reasons than you can count to be thankful. Now,
Dear Grave Woman featuring Joel Simone
SPEAKER_08birthdays give us an opportunity to celebrate life. And our next segment reminds us that part of honoring life is making sure the people we love clearly understand our wishes when that life comes to an end. So let's turn our attention to this week's edition of Dear Grave Woman. Joelle, the mic is yours, my friend.
SPEAKER_06Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Dear Grave Woman here on the Senior Zone. I am Joelle Simone, also known as the Grave Woman, and we've spent this month talking about preparedness from a different perspective. We've talked about preparing your loved ones for your absence, preparing for the unexpected, and even preparing your dig digital life for after your death. And for our final conversation honoring National Preparedness Month, I want to talk about something that can make even the best death plan complicated. And that's our family and loved ones. Because sometimes the hardest part of carrying out our wishes isn't knowing what we want, it's having five or six other people who think they know what we want. And so, number one thing I encourage you to do is not or don't assume your family knows what you want. And I know I've said that hundreds of times here on this segment, but you might say, My daughter knows what I want, or my son and I, or my wife and I have talked about it. But the truth is a conversation isn't necessarily the same thing as a clear plan. And as people remember conversations differently in moments of grief, one person may remember you saying you want it to be cremated, another may remember you saying that you wanted a traditional funeral. Someone else may say, Mom or dad would never want that. And suddenly your death becomes a family debate. Do not make your loved ones guess. Tell them what you want and put it somewhere in writing that they can find it. And even better yet, go a step further and let the professionals who will be handling your care, whether medically or in death, know what it is that you want. Number two, your wishes don't have to please everybody. And this is an important one for a lot of people because preparing for your death doesn't mean creating a plan that everyone in your family or all of your loved ones will agree with. It's your life, it's your body, and it's your farewell. Maybe you don't want a traditional funeral. Maybe you want a celebration of life instead. Maybe you want something quiet and private. Maybe you want your cultural or spiritual traditions that are important to you to be honored. Your loved ones may have opinions and they're allowed to have them, but their grief doesn't automatically give them authority to rewrite your wishes. And last but not least, tell your family what you want or your loved ones what you want. And if you can, tell them why. And here's why I want you to go a little bit deeper because understanding the reasons behind your wishes can help your family and loved ones honor them when their emotions are high. Saying something like this tradition is important to me because, or I don't want a large funeral because it changes the context of the conversation. So as we close out National Preparedness Month, here's my question for you. If your family disagreed about what should happen after your death, would your wishes be clear enough to speak for you? Thank you so much for tuning in this month. And Sean, back to you for the Later Life Lowdown.
Later Life Lowdown
SPEAKER_08Joelle, thank you, thank you, thank you. Family, your final wishes do not have to please everybody, but they should be clear enough to speak for you when you are no longer able to speak for yourself. And with that being said, it is now time for this week's Later Life Lowdown, useful information, programs, and resources helping older adults throughout the DMV. And now in Washington, D.C., the DC Department of Aging and Community Living offers benefits assistance for older residents and adults with disabilities who may need help applying for food, health care, housing, or other public benefit programs. DACL can also connect residents with its Safe at Home program, which provides eligible older adults and adults with disabilities with home safety modifications designed to reduce falls and make it easier to continue living independently. For more information or to request assistance, call the DC Department of Aging and Community Living at 202-724-5626. Again, that's 202-724-5626. Now let's head over to Maryland. Maryland Access Point, better known as MAP, is the state's gateway for older adults, people with disabilities, families, and caregivers looking for information about things like long-term services and community-based support and much, much more. MAP Counselors can help you explore available options, develop a personalized plan, and connect with programs in your local community. To reach Maryland Access Point, call 844-627-5465. That's 844-627-5465. And finally, over in Northern Virginia, older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County can contact the county for help locating programs involving transportation, housing assistance, recreation, disability services, and other aging-related resources. Call 703-324-7329. That's 703-324-7329 and ask to be connected with services for older adults, caregivers, or people with disabilities. Now, no matter where you are listening from across the country, visit this website, benefitschecup.org. It's a free and confidential resource from the National Council on Aging that can help older adults and people with disabilities identify programs that may assist with things like groceries, prescription medications, health care, utilities, housing, and transportation. You can also speak to a benefits checkup specialist by calling 800-794-6559. That's 800-794-6559. And that's this week's Later Life Lowdown because good information does more than keep us informed. It helps us make decisions, protect our independence, and prepare for what lies ahead. Family,
Closing Remarks
SPEAKER_08that brings us to another close of the Senior Zone. We have celebrated another year of life with our birthday honorees, reflected on the importance of making our final wishes unmistakably clear and shared resources designed to help us live safely and independently. The message connecting it all is preparation. Preparation is not about expecting the worst, it's about caring enough to make life a little easier for ourselves and for the people who may one day be called upon to speak or act on our behalf. So have the conversation, write down your wishes, keep information, uh important information where it can be found, and make certain the people you trust understand not only what you want, but why it matters to you. That is one of the most thoughtful and loving gifts that we can leave behind. And one more thing, the scene to zone has always been more than about a moment. It's about building something that lasts. That's why we are now available as a podcast so these conversations they can live on, they can be revisited, and they can be shared. Just search the Seam to Zone wherever you listen to podcasts. So thank you for spending part of your Monday with me. Take care of yourselves, continue looking out for one another, and never underestimate the difference that one thoughtful conversation can make. So 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_12Be sure to join us on our next broadcast.
SPEAKER_02Until then, live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.
SPEAKER_12Have 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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