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. 726 | Safe at Home. Ready for Life.
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What does it mean to be prepared—not just for an emergency, but for the life you’re living?
On this edition of The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry begins with Margaret Foster, Editor of The Beacon Newspapers, for our monthly look inside the October issue.
Then, during Fire Prevention Week, Tony White, Assistant Fire Marshal with DC Fire & EMS, joins us with practical ways older adults and their families can make their homes safer.
And Shawn closes the conversation with something more personal: “Are You Ready for the Life You’re Living?”—an across-the-couch reflection on aging, fulfillment, preparation and making sure we’re not simply planning for tomorrow while forgetting to live today.
Plus: Birthdays of the Week, Dear Grave Woman with Joelle Simone, and the Later Life Lowdown.
The Senior Zone — serving, informing and celebrating the 50+ community since 2012.
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.
Welcome to The Senior Zone
SPEAKER_02Welcome to the Senior Zone, where we connect older adults with the organizations and resources that serve them.
SPEAKER_10Senior Zone's goal aims to educate, empowered, enlightened, entertained, and engage older adults with the toes of information to stay healthy, happy, and secure.
SPEAKER_02Great guests, help notes, upcoming events, and useful information.
SPEAKER_10Get ready to take notes and up some fun.
SPEAKER_02It's now time for the senior zone.
SPEAKER_08Good morning, family, and welcome to the senior zone. I am your host, Sean Perry, and as always, I am grateful that you have chosen to spend part of your Monday with us. You know, one of the things I appreciate more as I get older is just how much of life comes down to being prepared. Not fearful, not worried, just prepared. Prepared for the unexpected. Prepared to make adjustments when life changes, and prepared to ask ourselves from time to time whether the life we're living still reflects the life we truly want. And that brings me to this week's weekly vitamin. Preparation isn't always about expecting something to go wrong. Sometimes it's simply making room for things to go right. So this week, family, take a look around, not only at your home, but at your life. What needs a little attention? What needs changing? And maybe most importantly, what deserves to be enjoyed a little bit more? That thought really connects everything we're talking about today. In our first segment, we'll talk about protecting ourselves and our homes during Fire Protection Week with Tony White, Assistant Fire Marshal with the DC Fire and EMS. And later in our last segment, I want to have one of those across the couch conversations with you about a question I think all of us should ask every now and then. Are you ready for the life you're living? And remember, if you stay with us for the entire hour, the Senior Zone is also available on demand through the Senior Zone Podcast with Sean Perry so you can listen later, revisit a conversation, or share the show of somebody who might need to hear it. And before we finish today, we'll celebrate, as we always do with birthdays of the week, we are here another installment of Dear Grave Woman with Joelle Simone, and then bring you your later life lowdown with news, resources, and information for older adults across the DMV. But before we get started, you know I gotta send some love and gratitude to the organizations that continue to support the work we do here on the Senior Zone. So thank you, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP of the District of Columbia, AARP of the State of Maryland, Compassion and Choices, Jewish Counsel for the Aging, Mary's Center, and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living. All
The Beacon Newspapers with Margaret Foster
SPEAKER_08right, family, let's keep it moving. If you're someone who likes staying informed, staying inspired, and staying ahead of the curve after 50, this next conversation is for you. I'm joined now by Margaret Foster, editor of the Beacon Newspapers, and we're diving into their October issue of 2026. What's on the cover, what's inside, and what might just change how you move, think, live, and even plan your next chapter. Margaret, welcome back to the Senior Zone.
SPEAKER_07Hi, Sean. Great to be here.
SPEAKER_08It's always a pleasure to have you uh here, Margaret. So, Margaret, let's start as we always do with the cover story. Kojo Nambi. That's an icon here in the DC uh area. Kojo Nambi has spent more than 50 years in Washington television and radio, and I understand it now. He's working on his memoir. What did he share with you about his remarkable career?
SPEAKER_07Kojo was such a pleasure to talk to. He has such a beautiful voice. I he's one of my heroes. It was such a thrill to talk to him. He has been working on his memoir for two years, and it's finally ready, and he thinks it'll be out in about a year. I can't wait to read it. But he has such an interesting background. I don't know if you know, but he grew up in British Guyana in South America. And he said he told he talked all about his childhood and how um he would overhear conversations on the street. And so he's always kind of been a listener, you know, since he was a kid, and always a good um moderator. Like he would solve our arguments and all that. All of these skills really played into his wonderful careers being just this wonderful uh host and uh voice of DC. Yeah, he's it was so interesting to talk to him. I could I could I loved it. It was a wonderful experience.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I I I can only imagine. I think I would just be so in awe of someone like him that I couldn't do my job of interviewing, you know, a Kojo Nambi. He's an iconic figure. And if you interview folks like you and I do, right, he's he's up there, right? He's been doing this for decades and doing it well and at a high uh level. So uh congratulations. I would uh uh just have I would have loved to have been there with you, Margaret, to see you just to watch that interview there. So uh good job, good job, folks. Get the Beacon newspaper this month, October edition. Let's move to the health section because I always love the health uh section. You're looking at several vaccines that older adults should be thinking about this fall. Which ones should be on our radar and why?
SPEAKER_07I don't know if you so the flu shot's a given. We should all get the flu shot. And there's actually a new kind of flu shot that that works um 27% better, they say. It's it's one powered by mRNA. I don't quite understand it, but it's the same kind of um technology as the COVID vaccines that um helped all of us. So get that new new kind of new fangled flu shot if you can. Um it's gonna work better among 50 to 64 year olds than a standard shot. Um also RSV, the respiratory virus, is potentially deadly for older adults. So get the RSV vaccine. And um shingles, I'm sure you've had your shingles shots, and you have to get two of them. Um a shingle shot vaccine actually decreases your chances of getting dementia. That's another reason to get it.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_07Um and all of these vaccines are going to be available at our expo. Um, I don't know if you're familiar with our beacon expos, but there are these in-person events, um tables and booths set up, people to talk to in person, ask questions, and you can get your vaccines there. So if you've had you know your flu shot vaccine, but you haven't had your RSV vaccine, you can get it there. And I always do every year, I go and get at least one of my shots. Um and guess what? Kojo Nambi is gonna be there too. So that's that's coming out. It's gonna be November 8th in Silver Spring.
SPEAKER_08Okay, great stuff, great stuff. Uh, just so you know, uh, I have had my flu shot already this year, September 10th. I got my uh flu shot. Have had my shingle shot a couple of years ago or so, have not had the RSV. So I have to uh inquire about that, but good stuff, uh my friend. Here's something that many of us can relate to. I know that I can, and it's in the health section. Why do so many people seem to wake up around 3 a.m. or so? And what can we actually do about it?
SPEAKER_07Isn't that the worst? And it seems to happen to older people. I mean, it's hard to have to do that. Yeah. So um according to our author, it's either your hormones are fluctuating, and this uh applies to men too. Um, it could be blood sugar spikes, you know, blood sugar withdrawal after your uh a big heavy dinner. It could be stress, of course, because we all stare at that ceiling and worry. Um sleep apnea could be waking you up if you're snoring and you know, sleep apnea also affects older adults. Um and then the last possible um cause is acid reflux. And some people have a silent acid reflux. I they they're not aware of it, but um, it causes other things like a cough or something like that. Um I remember well my sister and Barack Obama suffered from this silent acid reflux. So, anyhow, the um the author suggests that you keep a little journal and you know, do your own detective work to see like what did you eat last night, you know, what did you drink? What is alcohol, of course, wakes you up in the middle of the night too. Um, and then go to your doctor with a little bit of that information so that your doctor can help figure it out.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, absolutely. You've also got uh another great local health story in the health section. The Washington Ballet is offering free dance for Parkinson's classes. How is dance helping people living with Parkinson's disease?
SPEAKER_07John, this was a beautiful story to report. Um it's this is a data-driven program that started about 20 years ago. People with Parkinson's that do dance, and I'm sure you've heard boxing also helps people with Parkinson's. Um if they do these kinds of activities, it can actually delay and slow down the progression of the disease. It is not a cure, but it can slow it down. And I spoke to some teachers who've been teaching people with Parkinson's, and they can either sit in the chair or or stand up, and they say they can they come into class bent over, shuffling, and by the end of class they are getting out of the chair and moving normally. It's it sounds like it's almost a miracle. And uh they got very choked up and moved when they talked about it. And it it's amazing that the Washington Ballet uh they've been doing this for two years, now they're even offering it at retirement communities. And it's free. Anyone can go to them. Even if you're not living in the retirement community, you can go on Monday mornings to Inspire NBC Row in DuPont Circle for free and participate in these classes.
SPEAKER_08That's the four-letter F word we love here on the senior zone. Free but great stuff. Uh, Dance for Parkinson's by the Washington Ballet. Folks, you got to get your hands on the Beacon newspaper. It's out right now uh on stands as well as online. Let's switch over to the uh money section, uh, Margaret. You're warning readers about travel scams and reminding folks that are 73 and older about what's called required minimum distributions. What should folks be watching out for on both fronts?
SPEAKER_07So the second one about this RMDs when you turn 73, you have to um take money out of your iris that you saved all your life. When you turn 73, that they start wanting you to, you know, actually use that money. If you don't do it, they give you a 25% penalty, which is a real I mean that's harsh. And a lot of people either don't know about it or forget about it. Um so our advice is to automate that. Get it done by December 31st, or you'll get date. Um the second one, these travel scams, this one blew my mind. These scammers are getting smarter and smarter. Now they're now they're actually proposing as your airline or proposing as your hotel a few days before you go on a trip and saying, Oh, click here and check in, or there's something wrong with your reservation, or something like that. And I don't know how they know what airline you're going on, but they do. Anyway, the advice here is to don't click on anything in the email, go to the source, go to the actual website of the airline, log in there, figure it out there, call call the airline directly and make sure that it's legit.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. I tell everyone that I come across, uh, specifically my mother all the time, never click on anything, no matter what. If it's unsolicited, don't click on it, right? As you said, go to uh the source before you click on anything in an email. I don't care what it is, that's just my practice now, and it has to be uh now because we don't know. And they are so savvy, right? You you can't tell the difference between that which is legit and that which is not. So uh stay safe, uh folks. With the time that we have left, uh, Margaret, let's uh finish with a little travel, a little fun. If somebody needs to get away this fall, uh you take readers to, I hope I pronounced it correctly, Banff National Park, as well as Charleston, South Carolina. Give us a quick pitch for each.
SPEAKER_07Well, most of our travel stories are written by uh people over 50. So they tell you, hey, there's beautiful scenery in Banff National Park in Canada, gorgeous Canadian Rockies. And you don't have to put on some hiking boots and you know, trek out there. We have some accessible trails where you can walk along this beautiful blue-green river. Um, and it's just a flat boardwalk. So we got a beautiful story about Banff and the scenery. And then Melo Charleston, um, our 80-year-old travel writer, went down there, ate some great food, uh, saw a lot of history, and she was really impressed by the way this the southern town preserves some of its, you know, not so great history.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. Well, good stuff, my uh friend. And lastly, uh, how can folks get their hands, their eyes on the October edition of the Beacon Newspaper?
SPEAKER_07Well, we are in a lot of grocery stores and CVSs and pharmacies, so um look at the checkout, or when you're on when you're way out the door, you'll see one of our racks. And you can always go to our website, thebeacon newspapers.com, and you can come to our expo on Sunday, November 8th.
SPEAKER_08November 8th. November 8th. Uh, you didn't mention giant, but I get mine from the giant uh that I go to, so you is it's always there as well. Sounds like plenty to read and a little something for just about everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, we've been speaking with Margaret Foster, editor of the Beacon Newspapers. Margaret, thank you as always for giving us a quick look inside this month's edition and family. There's plenty more, including Medigap Choices, funeral planning, walking, and frailty, the arts, and much, much more. Margaret, always good having you with us here on the Senior Zone.
SPEAKER_07Thank you so much, Sean.
SPEAKER_08You are quite welcome. Folks, this first break is 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 that dial. I promise, we'll be right back.
SPEAKER_05Legal 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_09Attention, 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.
Fire Prevention Week with Tony White
SPEAKER_08Welcome back. This is the Senior Zone, and I am your host, Sean Perry. October 4th, just yesterday through October 10th, is fire prevention week. And while fire safety is important for every household, it deserves some special attention as we get older. Things change. Our mobility may change, our hearing may change, we may not move quite as quickly as we once did. And for many of us, the goal is to remain safely and independently in our homes for as long as possible. So today, we're going to talk about some simple things we can do right now to make those homes safer. Joining me for our annual fire prevention week conversation is Tony White, Assistant Fire Marshal with the DC Fire and EMS Department. Tony, welcome to the senior zone, my new friend.
SPEAKER_01Sean, thank you so very much for having me today. I appreciate it so much.
SPEAKER_08It's a pleasure to have you here. So uh uh Chief White, I call you Chief White. You earned it. I appreciate it. Let's start with the big picture. It's fire prevention week. What's the message you want most people, particularly our older adults, to hear this year?
SPEAKER_01Indeed, Sean. So we are in Fire Prevention Week, and uh for the DC Fire Department and uh nationwide, um, our focus this year is a real heavy emphasis on lithium-ion batteries, safe charging, and things of that nature. Um, and we can definitely get into that um as we go along. Um, but particularly for our older population or our seniors, um, the things that you know that we don't think about is that um, like you said a second ago, Sean, as we get older, our mobility, our hearing, and our vision and our reaction is is is affected. Um and studies show that adults over 65 uh are more likely to die in a fire than than than others. Um so some things that I would want seniors to think about, I I like them to look around their home and ask these three questions. Um, do you have a work and smoke alarm? Can you get out of your home quickly? Um, and have you practiced that uh, I guess that escape route in a sense?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, yeah, great uh information. And that really starts with what we have in our home, smoke alarms. That's where I want to uh start out uh first, uh Chief White. You know, most of us have smoke alarms somewhere in the house, but that doesn't mean they necessarily are protecting us, right? Uh how often should we be testing them and when should an alarm simply be replaced?
SPEAKER_01So I think I think that's a a great question. Um I I think often we we we we see videos or hit, we're talking on the phone with our friends, we hear chirping in the background, and I think people get so acclimated to hearing that that chirping sound that they really don't pay attention to the fact that their smoke alarm could definitely not be protecting them. Um so it's recommended that you you test your smoke alarm once a month, right? And it's as simple as pushing the button just to make sure it alerts and to make sure that you can hear it throughout the home. Um it's recommended that you place smoke alarms in all your bedrooms, in all your sleeping areas, on every level of your home, including the basement. Uh, they do have these things called interconnected alarms, where if one goes off in the living room, then it will definitely alert in the kitchen or what have you. So you can look into those things also. Um and lastly, uh when it comes to smoke alarms, we beg of you not to tamper with smoke alarms, right? I know, you know, a long time ago they would take the battery out because it would it would trigger during cooking or uh the steam coming out of the bathroom would cause it to activate. Um so in those situations, we would say move the smoke alarm, right? Don't pull the battery out. Um smoke alarms should be changed every 10 years uh every 10 years now. If you look at the manufacturing date that's usually on the back um and count down from that to 10 years, at that 10-year mark, you should be changing those smoke alarms out.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, great information. For an older adult, um Chief White, who may have difficulty hearing the traditional smoke alarm or other kinds of alarms or say alerting devices are available now.
SPEAKER_01Well, once again, great question. If you can't hear the alarm, it it does nothing to benefit you, right? Um But there are alarms and alerting systems designed specifically for um the deaf or hard of hearing. Um these alarms uh deal with strobes or flashing lights, bed shakers, or vibrating devices uh that you can install in your homes. Um and that can benefit those who can't readily hear uh the alarms go off. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_08Now let's switch to mobility. Um, you know, if one's mobility is limited or someone uses a walker, a wheelchair, or other sort of assistive uh device, how should that person plan differently for a fire emergency?
SPEAKER_01Right. So I I would always say that you you have to build a plan or an escape plan around your abilities, right? Not the abilities of everybody else, but to your abilities specifically. So if you're using a walker or a wheelchair, um, some things you may want to look into or check to make sure that the exits that you plan on exiting are wide enough uh for your walk or your wheelchair. Making sure those exits are clear of clutter. You know, I I know I've been to a lot of houses where, you know, just things just pile up. And and in that piling up, because we tend not to go over our exit plans that often, um, they get in the way. And the worst time to realize that those things are in the way is in the middle of the night, there's a fire, you can't get out of your out of your home, right? Um, if you live in a multi-story uh dwelling, like an apartment complex or even in in your household, right? Um try to consider sleeping on the ground, uh the ground level, right? Near near exit. Those make things a lot easier for those who uh who have mobility issues.
SPEAKER_08Yeah. You know, many of our older adults, as you uh likely already know, live alone, right? For that individual, what additional precautions should they be taking uh to exit their property safely?
SPEAKER_01So you're you're right. Uh if you are living alone, then then it is a little different uh mindset, I guess, when planning the escape route or the exit of a home uh in an emergency. So the first thing I would say is to always just first make sure that the smoke alarms are working, right? We can't say that enough. I I think that the smoke alarm is the usually the first line of defense or ability to save your life uh when there's an emergency like that. Um, keep your mobility devices within reach, you know, um if if you're going. sleep keep him next to the bed right and this should be the practice hey if something happens i'll turn over i'll grab my my my walker i'll jump into my wheelchair and and and and make the move towards my exit routes um you want to identify at least two ways to get out of of your home i think that sometimes we can think that i know this house so well but in an emergency it is uh the the panic sometimes takes over people right and and they aren't able to get out um once you figure those things out let your family members or a trusted neighbor know what your plans are um and how you get out so they can know what to expect if they have to pull up on the scene or if your neighbor uh hears your alarms or sees smoke coming out of your house they know exactly what what the plan is and um lastly there's a uh a a system called smart 911 and smart 911 um you can log in or call and you can let the emergency operators know um that you are you you have a mobile you know mobile situation or you use mobile devices and exactly where you are in your home and things like that so what they'll do is when an alarm or an alert comes out to the fire department for instance for a fire in the notes that are sent to the fire department it will say that you have an individual who has mobility issues or someone who's using a walk or a wheelchair so that when the firefighters or emergency response individuals come in, they'll know exactly who they're looking for, where you most likely would be and the thing uh things that that affect your your safety yeah let's move into one of the busiest and potentially most dangerous rooms in the house the kitchen right is obviously a big area of concern what are some of the cooking habits you see that can turn an ordinary situation uh Chief White into a fire emergency and what should be we and what should we be doing differently? So the cooking habits that that tend to turn things into uh a fire emergency um are things like cooking uh or leaving cooking unattended right that's one of our biggest concerns um or uh people wearing loose clothing that might catch fire over the over the stove or using this the stove as a countertop right um so so in in those situations um if you have to step away from from the kitchen while you're cooking turn the burners off right um make sure that we are not wearing loose clothing make sure that we're not stacking things on the on on the uh the the stovetop right because the eyelet can be turned easily by bumping into it um but also I think the the one thing that I think benefits everybody but singers included um is set a timer right if you if you're cooking and you cook this meal one million times set a timer just to remind you just in case the phone rings or you get caught up in in in a television show that you're watching uh set a timer that will ring to remind you that there's food on the stove um and I think that will be able to prevent a lot of the the household or kitchen hazards that we that we run into. Yeah we are now in early uh fall and so the uh cooler weather uh if not already here it's coming uh for sure let's talk about space heaters and electric blankets which I use uh myself and other heating devices what are the biggest safety concerns there so you you you're absolutely correct um this time of year is a huge concern because of space heaters right we a lot of seniors tend to be a little more uh cold so they they heat their homes a little differently sometimes um and and and honestly just like it has been forever these things cause a lot of fire emergencies so some things that that we want you to remember when it comes to um space heaters is when you are utilizing a space heater there should be a three foot circumference right every there should be nothing around it within three feet um that would be considered a uh a combustible that includes bedding right so let's not have the the heater directly up against your bed um let's not have it up against curtains or you know with clothes on the floor we want to make sure that the heater is on a uh a level solid surface um not on top of carpets or anything of that nature we want you to plug the heaters directly into the wall not a power strip or an extension cord um we recommend that you turn it off when you leave the room I understand that you know you might want the room to be warm when you get back right however taking that chance isn't worth your life or or or your property right um and then when we when we talk about electric blankets um my suggestion or our suggestion is to check those things for damages to the core to the to the device themselves um follow the manufacturer's instructions when it comes to heating and warming right maybe you know if it says don't put anything over top or or or below it then you follow those those instructions um to the T.
SPEAKER_08Yeah I always unplug mine uh when I finish with and walking out the room because it's easy to plug in when I come come back uh let's keep it moving uh my friend uh there's another fire risk that probably wasn't on the radar years ago and you mentioned it earlier uh lithium ion batteries are increasingly common where we have them all in our phones our tablets if you even if you e-bike right they're schools they're everywhere what should listeners know about safely charging and storing these batteries right so Sean you you you hit it on the head like I said this is our focus of uh Fire Prevention Week um and our slogan this year is safe charging is a superpower right um these little batteries are so beneficial to our everyday lives right but they hold so much energy in the in the little device right which can cause catastrophic failure and and things of that nature right so things that we want to pay attention um use a charger that came with the device right I don't think a lot of people understand that um these devices are a system so the charger the battery and the device work together right um so we want to use the charger that was that that is specifically for the device not a uh a laptop charger for an e-bike right um charging safety don't charge while you're sleeping or away from the home right those are some things that we we want to press do not charge if you're away from the home or while you're sleeping don't charge these uh these devices near an exit right some people put them right next to the door because this is I I get my scooter and I go straight out the door what people don't think about is if that scooter is charging and catches fire then it blocks your means of egress it blocks your escape route right um we want to pay attention to the battery right how it's how you know it is it swelling is it cracking um is it does it have discoloration um is it unusually hot while charging or while while you're using it does it have weird smells like electrical burning or or chemical burning um and if it is stop using it um we also want to remind folks to dispose of batteries correctly um throwing them in the trash is a horrible idea because they go into a trash truck they get crushed and then they they they what we call activate right and they catch fire and they produce a lot of heat.
SPEAKER_01So places that you can go are like batterynetwork.org will tell you places that you can drop batteries farmers markets um have um and monthly drop off spots um you can contact the Office of waste diversion and they can let you know exactly where you can drop them when you can drop them.
SPEAKER_08So those are some things that we want to consider when it comes to lithium ion batteries just a wealth of information chief white so let's bring this all together uh with something every household should have so suppose someone listening today says Chief White I've lived in this house for 30 years and I've never really thought about a fire escape plan. Yes what's the simplest way for that person to sit down today and create one?
SPEAKER_01So creating a fire escape plan from your home is is really simple right it's is you you know the house better than anybody else does right so some things that some ideas that I would give would be to draw out take a piece of paper and draw out a basic floor plan of your house right um and and and and and then ask yourself you know if it's in if it's the middle of the night and there's a fire how exact how exactly am I going to get out of here right I would then identify two ways to get out um I will make sure that those doors and those windows in those escape routes are working the way they're supposed to um I will make sure that nothing is blocking those routes right making sure that if I am you know if I have a mobility issue my wheelchair my walk can fit through those those those exits keeping those routes clean and and clear um I would set up a meeting place outside my home uh once I get out um I will let my family members know and I will let a trusted neighbor know right specifically if I'm I'm living alone right um this is where I'll be when once I exit and additionally like we spoke about earlier get in contact with smart 911 right and let them know what your issues are where you be what your name is and your age and and the rescuers will know who they're looking for.
SPEAKER_08Yeah before I let you go uh Chief uh White let's make sure some people know where they can get you know some help. Uh uh uh your department the DC Fire and EMS department offers uh fire prevention education and other safety resources if one of our listeners if they want to get in touch with your department to make their home safer or just simply have questions where should they start?
SPEAKER_01So here at the DC Fire Department we want you to reach out to us before the emergency right um we are a resource we are uh stakeholders in your neighborhood and we care about your safe your your your your safety and your your welfare um so you can definitely reach out to us uh we can provide education we can provide we have smoke a free smoke alarm program that we um that we can you know provide assistance to our residents we have fire escape assistance where we can come and talk to you about uh with our inspectors or our can come out and and and tell you what might be the best route to exit your home we we we offer cooking safety um and you can get all this information all this information at uh at fems dotc.gov where you can sign up request smoke alarms where you can sign up and request uh home home safety surveys or somebody come out to to inspect your home for free um and honestly in the the the last word that that I would I would give you know in reference to that is um check your smoke alarms clear the exits and make a plan and practice it gotcha gotcha and for our Maryland and Virginia listeners would you say the same thing to them of course I'm gonna say I I think I think these these safety uh ideas or or or considerations um nationwide right uh every I think everyone can benefit from them um and I think that if we here in DC can you know possibly lead the way in this I think that's even better right so yes uh anybody in the nation uh can can live by these rules and regulations great stuff great stuff and that website folks is fems dot dc dot gov.
SPEAKER_08Did I get that correct?
SPEAKER_01That's correct.
SPEAKER_08F-emsd.gov chief white great information especially for those who want to age safely and independently in their own homes a working smoke alarm a clear exit path and a practice escape plans aren't little things. They can literally save your life. Tony White Assistant's fire marshal with the DC Fire and EMS thank you thank you thank you sir for joining us here on the CNZone and helping us recognize Fire Prevention Week again. Thank you my friend no problem thank you for having me. All right and family don't just listen to this conversation and move on with your day test those smoke alarms now today look at your exits today have the conversation with the people you love today. A few minutes of preparation today could make all the difference tomorrow. 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_12And 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 hi neighbor I'm inviting you and your wife to my husband's 65th birthday party next week great has he applied for Medicare yet not yet it's very confusing.
SPEAKER_06Call Montgomery County Ship they help me with questions about my Medicare coverage.
SPEAKER_03What's Montgomery County Ship?
SPEAKER_06It'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_03Can anyone call them?
SPEAKER_06Sure as long as you live in Montgomery County you can call them at 301-2554250 or check out their website at www.medicareabcd.org what's that number again? Montgomery County Ship 301-2554250 made possible with a grant from the U.S. Administration for community living through the state of Maryland and Montgomery County growing older shouldn't mean giving up your independence, connections or the life you love.
SPEAKER_11The 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.
SPEAKER_08For more information call 202-724-5626 or visit dhtl.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 all
Are You Ready for the Life You’re Living?
SPEAKER_08right family welcome back you know we've covered quite a bit today we started with our friends at the Beacon Newspapers then Tony White from the DC Department of Fire and EMS who joined us for a really important conversation about fire prevention week and I've got about eight minutes or so before we move on so there's no guests this time it's just you and me and I want to talk about something that I think most of us think about probably more than we admit money. More specifically money as we get older October is National Retirement Security Month and when you hear retirement security what's the first thing you think about probably do I have enough enough savings enough social security enough retirement income enough to handle whatever comes down the road I get it but here's a slightly different question. Do you have enough to live the life you actually want to live there's a difference there and I've got five things I want you to think about. It's nothing complicated I'm not trying to turn this into a financial seminar I'm not a financial expert just five things from me to you so here we go. First do you really know what your life costs and I mean really no we know the mortgage we know the car payment we know the big bills but then you've got groceries insurance prescriptions heating out Amazon showing up at the front door every other day and all those subscriptions we forgot we signed up for. And then there's helping our children maybe even our grandchildren it adds up so sometime this week just take a look pull up your bank statement look at your credit cards don't make it complicated just ask what does it actually cost me to live my life every month because once you know that number you can start making some decisions. And sometimes family just knowing the number makes you feel a little more in control. Second number two give yourself some breathing room emergency savings I know everyone tells us we need an emergency fund three months six months whatever that number is I'm not trying to give you a magic uh number today but what I will say y'all is this have something because something is always going to happen the car the house the furnace the refrigerator something right and there's a huge difference between knowing man I really didn't want to spend that $1500 on this and where in the world am I going to get $1500? Two completely different feelings. That's what savings really buys you it's not just money sitting in an account it's breathing room. It's knowing okay I don't like it but I can handle it. And the older I get the more I appreciate that kind of peace. Third number three let's talk about debt. Now I'm not going to sit here y'all and say and tell everybody you've got to be completely debt free before you retire. That's not realistic for everybody. But here's the question I would ask and I ask myself this what's one debt you're carrying today that you don't really want to be carrying say five years from now maybe it's a credit card maybe it's the car maybe it's a personal loan maybe it's your mortgage whatever it is just identify it. You don't have to attack everything all at once just pick one because every payment you eliminate gives you something back and it's not just the money it's just one less obligation one less thing hanging over your head every month and there's something freeing about that. Now number four Social Security get your pen and pad ready for this one social security family please know your numbers don't wait until you are ready to file and then start trying to figure everything out go into your social security account now. Look at those estimates what would you receive if you claim earlier what happens at your full retirement age what happens if you wait and here's the important part don't make the decision based solely on what somebody else did well you know my brother took it at 62 all right that's your brother right but what's right for you? What's your health situation? Are you still working? Do you have other retirement income? Do you need the money right now? Would waiting make sense? There are a lot of pieces to that decision so I'm not telling you when to take Social Security I'm telling you understand your choices before you make the choice. And finally number five this one is probably my favorite ask yourself what is the money actually for seriously you know we spend 30 we spend 40 sometimes 50 plus years working saving investing putting money into our retirement accounts paying off houses trying to be responsible and then we finally get to this stage of life and some of us are afraid to spend a dime I mean a dime now I'm not telling anybody to go empty their 401 right now or buy a sports car tomorrow please please please don't call me next week talking about Sean told me to buy this Corvette. I did not say that what I am saying is live a little you deserve it. What did you work for? Maybe you want to travel maybe you want to spend more time with the grandkids maybe you want to take a class maybe you want to start a little business maybe you want to fix up the house maybe you just want to sit on the couch on a Tuesday morning sipping on your coffee and no you don't have anywhere you have to be and that is okay too because retirement security isn't only about having enough money for tomorrow it's also about giving yourself permission to enjoy today. There's gotta be some balance there. Prepare for the future absolutely but don't spend so much time preparing to live that you actually forget to live. So here's my senior zone challenge for you this week. Give yourself 20 minutes. That's it 20 quiet minutes. Get your coffee or your tea whatever works best for you and ask yourself this if absolutely nothing changed financially for me over the next say five years would I be okay with where I'd end up that's the question. And sit with it for a minute. Maybe your answer is you know what Sean I'm actually doing pretty well. Good. Give yourself some credit but maybe your answer is you know there are a lot of things I need to tighten up and that's okay. Don't try to fix everything. Pick one thing. Pick this week that you finally look at your social security numbers. Maybe you figure out what you're really spending. Maybe you add a little more to your savings. Maybe you decide I'm getting rid of this credit card once and for all or maybe I'm talking just maybe you realize You spent your whole life being responsible and you're doing okay. And maybe it's time to loosen the grip just a little bit. Take the trip. Go to dinner. Spoil those grandkids. Or simply enjoy a beautiful afternoon doing absolutely nothing. Because at this stage of life, family, the goal isn't just to have enough money. The goal is to have enough peace, enough freedom, enough choices, and enough confidence to enjoy the life you've worked so hard to build. And that is what I want you thinking about this week. Knowing where you are, think about where you are headed, and don't forget to enjoy where you are right now. Alright, family. Enough money talk. I hope you enjoyed that. We've got some celebrating to do after this next break, brought to you by AARP DC. We'll be celebrating birthdays of the week, followed by Dear Grave Woman, featuring Joelle Simone, and then it's your later life lowdown. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_12Today 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. Happy birthday to you.
Birthdays of the Week
SPEAKER_08So let's get it started. But lately, Barbara Proctor, born and raised in Washington, D.C., is 83 years young as of yesterday, October 4th. And this came from her sister, Evelyn Spencer. Happy birthday, Barbara. Iris Wright is 67 today, October 5th, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Happy birthday, Iris. Mary King, 66. Tuesday, October 6th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Mary. Deedra Boyd, 64 on Tuesday as well. October 6th from Clinton, Maryland. Happy birthday, Deirdre. William Lane, 75 on Tuesday, October 6th from Fort Washington, Maryland. Happy birthday, William Mary Furlong. Happy birthday, Mary, 71 on Tuesday, October 6th from San Francisco, California. Steve Austin is 71 as well on Tuesday, October 6th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Steve. Bessie Turner. God bless you. 94 on Wednesday, October 7th from Galesville, Maryland. That's in Anna Rondo County. Happy birthday, Miss Bessie. Keith Andrew Perry, no relations, 64 on Wednesday, October 7th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Keith. Teresa Dubois is 69 on Wednesday, October 7th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Teresa. Kelvin Scarborough, 62. Social Security eligible on Thursday, October 8th from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Happy birthday, Kelvin. Barbara Smith Lee, 86 on Thursday, October 8th from District Heights, Maryland. Happy birthday, Barbara. We have a long list today, folks. Next up is Abe White, 68 on Friday, October 9th from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Happy birthday, Abe. Sandy Giles. Love this woman. Still going strong. 88 on Friday, October 9th from Burton'sville, Maryland. Happy birthday, Sandy. Juanita Jones Stanton, 78 on Saturday, October 10th from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Happy birthday, Juanita. And this next one is special. It's my line dance instructor, Denise Bryant, 72 years young, still going strong. Saturday, October 10th from Bowie, Maryland. Happy, happy birthday, Denise. And last but not least, Linda Gray, 71 on Sunday, October 11th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Linda. Folks, happy birthday again to each and every one of you and from all of us here at the Scene to Zone. We hope this next trip around the sun brings you good health, plenty of laughter, people who love you, and more reasons than you can count to keep celebrating life. And now, family,
Dear Grave Woman with Joelle Simone
SPEAKER_08it's time for another installment of Dear Grave Woman featuring Joelle Simone. And since we are officially into spooky season, Joelle has a little something different for us today. Three things that actually spook her as a funeral director and pre-need professional. And as you are here, none of them involve ghosts. So, Joelle, the mic is yours, my friend.
SPEAKER_00Hello everyone, and welcome back to Dear Grave Woman. I am your host, Joelle Simone. I'm known all over the world as the Grave Woman, and Dear Grave Woman is your three-minute segment here on the Senior Zone where we talk about everything related to life, death, planning for the end, and everything in between. It is officially spooky season, and today I want to share three things that spook me as a pre-made agent and funeral director. The number one thing that spooks me is when I hear families or individuals say, We'll figure it out when the time comes. That thing scares me so much because when death happens, families, your loved ones, your communities end up making emotional, financial, and legal decisions all at once. Grief is already heavy. Coming into a situation with no plan can make an already difficult moment even harder. The second thing that spooks me is that families discovering that they don't actually really know what their loved ones want. Burial or cremation, where someone's going to be interred, buried, or kept after they're cremated, who is responsible for making the decisions, what cultural traditions matter, who should be notified, what happens or should happen to someone's remains. Those are questions that we don't need to wait until after someone passes away to try to figure out how to answer. Death has a way of revealing every conversation a family thought they had more time to have. And the last thing that really scares me is when the family says, We didn't know we were responsible for that. I can't tell you how many times I've sat across from the families while trying to figure out legal authority paperwork, transportation permits, cemetery and crematory arrangements, obituary information and details, information that's required for the death certificate, who has access to what is benefits and where that paperwork is, insurance information, and final expenses. There can be a lot of moving pieces after someone passes away. And finding out what needs to be done after someone dies is a terrible time to start learning. My pre-made philosophy is that you don't have to know everything about death, but each of us should be able to know what we want and what our people want before we need to have those decisions made. As always, if you have questions that you'd like answered here on Dear Grave Woman, feel free to send me an email directly to thegravewoman at gmail.com. If you're watching this video or listening to this online and you're on social media, feel free to send me a direct message or use the comment section below to ask your question. I'm always here, I'm always available, and I'd love to answer your questions here on the radio, on YouTube, or social media. Thank you so much for listening. Sean, back to you for the Later Life Lowdown.
SPEAKER_08Joelle, thank you, thank you, thank you. You did it again and family. That phrase she mentioned, we'll figure it out when the time comes, really says it all. Because when the time comes, that is often the hardest time to start figuring things out. You don't have to have every detail mapped out, but knowing what you want, knowing where the important paperwork is, and making sure everybody you trust knows your wishes, can save your family from having to make some very difficult decisions while they're already grieving. That's not dwelling on death, that's caring for the people who may one day have to carry on without you. And speaking
Later Life Lowdown
SPEAKER_08of information that can help us stay prepared, connected, and informed, let's move now into this week's Later Life Lowdown, a few timely programs, events, and resources from around the DMV. And now in Washington, D.C., if you've been thinking about trying pickleball, AARP DC is offering a series of free beginner pickleball clinics throughout the month of October at Craken or Cracking Courts on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast DC. These clinics are designed for beginners, so you don't need to have your own paddle or previous experience. Along with learning the game, you'll also be focusing on staying active, meeting new people, and supporting brain health. The series continues through October 29th, and AARP membership is not required, but registration is. For more information, call AARP DC at 202-434-7700. That's 202-434-7700. Now, let's head over to Maryland. Montgomery County is celebrating Active Aging Week, and on Thursday, October 8th, from 1 until 3 p.m., older adults can take part in the kickoff of the 2026 Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit. This is a free virtual event and sessions continue every Thursday throughout October. The series is designed to bring together information, ideas, and resources around creating communities where all of us can age well. For more information, call Montgomery County's Sean Brennan at 240-777-1350. That's 240-777-1350. And finally, over in Northern Virginia, if Medicare is on your radar or you're already enrolled and still have questions, Fairfax County's Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program, also known as VICAP, is holding another Medicare 101 workshop on Friday, October 9th from 1.30 until 3 p.m. at the Tyson's Pimmett Regional Library in Falls Church. They'll walk through Medicare basics and help older adults and their care partners better understand the choices available to them. Registration is required. For more information, call VCAP at 703-324-5851. That's 703-324-5851. And family, as always, don't forget about benefitscheckup.org. It's a free service from the National Council on Aging, and it can help older adults identify programs that may assist with things like prescription drugs, healthcare, food, utilities, housing, and other everyday expenses. Again, that's benefitscheckup.org. And that's your later life lowdown for this week. Helpful information, useful resources, and hopefully something that makes your aging journey just a little easier.
Closing Thoughts
SPEAKER_08Alright, family, that brings us to the end of another edition of the Senior Zone. And there really was a common thread running through today's show. Don't wait until something happens to start thinking about what you would do when it does. We heard that message when we talked about fire prevention, checking those smoke alarms, knowing your escape plan, and taking care of those little things around the house that can make a very big difference. And Joelle reminded us the same principle, but from another direction. We'll figure it out when the time comes may sound reassuring. But whether we're talking about an emergency in the home or the decisions our families may someday have to make for us, preparation gives us something far more valuable than worry ever will. It gives us peace of mind. So maybe sometime this week, take care of one thing you've been putting off. Check that smoke detector. Find that important document. Have that conversation with your family. Write something down that somebody needs to know. It doesn't have to be complicated, folks. Sometimes one small act of preparation today can make tomorrow a whole lot easier. And thank you as always for spending part of your Monday with me and with the Senior Zone. I'll never ever take it for granted. And one more thing, the Senior Zone has always been about more than a moment. It's about creating conversations and information that can continue helping us long after Monday morning has passed. 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 Senior Zone with Sean Perry wherever you listen to podcasts. Enjoy your week. Take care of yourself. Check on somebody you love. Keep laughing, keep learning, and keep making the most of this life we've been given. 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.
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