Aging In Full Bloom

The Impact of Home Ownership on Longevity: "having too much of a concentration of rental in one neighborhood maybe is not helpful for longevity and the like." - Justin MoorI have the pleasure of sitting down with Justin Moor, the President and CEO of the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio. Justin and his organization serve ten counties in our region, with a mission to help those who are 60 and better, not just older, live healthier, fuller, and longer lives.Together, Justin and I talk about the many services his agency offers, from case management and home repairs to meals, transportation, and vital caregiver support. We talk about how every community is unique, discuss the realities and challenges around Medicaid and long-term care, and explore the incredible value older adults continue to bring to our society.Justin also shares some eye-opening stories about how basic resources, safe housing, and social connection can impact longevity, and why advocacy at every level can make such an important differ

Life Hack to Look Younger: "There's a surefire way to look younger. Tell people to step back." - Diane Dean-EppsI have the pleasure of chatting with Diane Dean-Epps — an author, humorist, and, as she puts it, the queen of multiple jobs that make her a minimum amount of money. Diane just released a new book called Bangs and Botox: My Aging Journey Into, Through and Beyond Denial, Fillers, and Human Preservatives, and together, we’re diving into the ups and downs (and laughs!) of accepting aging.During our conversation, Diane opens up about her personal journey: how she’s learned to face her changing reflection, why she swears by bangs as an anti-aging “arsenal,” and her admittedly hilarious adventures with fillers and Botox. We also have an honest talk about the emotional side of growing older—those unsolicited public comments, the shift in how others view us, and, ultimately, the power and joy that come from embracing who we truly are, even if we’re not everyone’s cup of tea.If you’re wrestling with the idea

I enjoyed sitting down with Marc Cooper, the insightful author behind "Older to Elder." Together, we discuss the difference between simply getting older and consciously stepping into the role of an elder—a transformation that calls for intention, mindfulness, and a commitment to higher purpose.Marc brings a refreshing perspective, moving beyond conversations about ageism and decline to focus on what’s possible when we choose to live with wisdom, curiosity, and compassion. We talk about what it means to be a “contemporary elder” and how this journey involves embracing—not avoiding—life’s endings, and, in doing so, finding freedom, peace, and relevance.Whether you’re navigating your own path through aging or supporting someone you love, I think this conversation will inspire you. It’s all about seeing aging not just as something that happens to us, but something we can deeply engage with—so we can truly age in full bloom. Key Moments00:00 Overcoming Ageism: "Older to Elder"05:13 "Elders' Acceptance of Aging"07:

"...Everybody takes their car in to get routine maintenance, because they don't want costly repairs or their vehicle to break down. And the home is the same thing." - Sean FitzgeraldIn this part of our series on aging at home, I’m taking a closer look at something that’s vital for seniors—but often gets overlooked: home maintenance. I’m joined by Sean Fitzgerald, president of TruBlue Home Service Ally, to talk about why proper home upkeep is so important for older adults who want to stay safe and independent in their own homes.Sean and I discuss the common challenges seniors face, from preventing falls to simple chores that become harder as we age. He explains how TruBlue’s services—like home safety assessments, grab bar installation, and maintenance packages—can help solve these problems and give both seniors and their families peace of mind. We also talk about how even small fixes, like improving lighting or clearing clutter, can make a big difference. Whether you’re a senior yourself, caring for an older l

What are some of the most important factors you should consider when planning to age at home?Welcome to another episode of Aging In Full Bloom with Lisa Stockdale. I’m so glad you’re here as we wrap up our “Aging at Home” series with a conversation packed full of practical strategies to help you—or the ones you love—stay safe, independent, and happy right at home.In this episode, I’m joined by Deana Liss, Executive Director of Elderwerks, a nonprofit organization from Illinois that provides complimentary support to older adults and their families. Together, we dive into what it really takes to age well at home, covering everything from making your living space safer and more accessible to financial planning, long-term care options, and the vital importance of honest conversations and early planning.We’ll also tackle the rising threat of scams targeting seniors and point you to reliable resources and a supportive community, with highlights on the Elderwerks Senior Resource Directory—a goldmine of information f

Curious about how your local pharmacy can help you age at home?In this episode, we look into the benefits of choosing a local pharmacy, and how it can enhance your ability to age at home successfully. My guest is Hussain, an experienced pharmacist and owner of GoodNeighbors Family Pharmacy in Toledo, Ohio. Hussain shares his vast experience with seniors and discusses the personalized services his pharmacy offers, such as free delivery, home vaccinations, and medication packaging. Together, we highlight the importance of building relationships with local pharmacies and the personalized attention they provide—benefits that go beyond what's typically available at chain pharmacies. Here's what we uncover...Personalized Care is Key: Local pharmacies offer a unique level of personal attention and familiarity. Hussain emphasizes the importance of knowing each patient personally, which can lead to better health outcomes through tailored advice and support.Superior Services for Seniors: From free home delivery to in-h

With this episode, I start our our "Aging at Home" series with a focus on the invaluable role of home care. I am joined by a remarkable guest, Steven Tweed, a leading expert in the home care industry. Steven is the CEO of Leading Home Care, a consulting and publishing company specializing in the home care sector, and he's also the founder of the Home Care CEO Forum.Steven shares his personal journey and professional insights, revealing how home care can not only support individuals in staying independent but also foster a sense of peace for families. Through his extensive experience, both personally as a father to his son Jason and professionally, Steven highlights the benefits and essence of home care in today's society. We also talk about how to choose the right home care agency and discuss the significance of preparing for senior care as the fastest-growing demographic in our society continues to rise. Whether you're a family member looking for care or considering starting an agency, this episode is packed

"Turning Volunteerism Into a Recruitment Platform": "I thought, okay, if I can kind of think of this almost as a recruitment platform and use the students need for volunteer hours, I can find the hidden gems." - Isabella SolanoI am delighted to explore the powerful impact of intergenerational friendships with my guest, Isabella Solano, the inspiring founder of Herralink. Isabella's nonprofit initiative in Northern Virginia connects high school students with seniors in various communities to build meaningful friendships and combat loneliness. We talk about how Herralink started, the personal motivation driving Isabella's mission, and the growing positive outcomes for both young volunteers and seniors. Learn about the importance of connection and how fostering these relationships can not only enrich lives but also change how we perceive the aging process. Key Moments00:00 Finding Joy in Nursing Home Visits05:48 Seniors: Forgotten and Isolated09:07 Senior Community Activity Collaboration12:39 Intergenerational B

I am joined by Amanda Barusch, a retired professor of social work and gerontology, who brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to our discussion. Amanda recently authored the compelling book, "Aging Angry, Making Peace with Rage."Fear of anger can ultimately be as destructive as expressed rage, fomenting social isolation, injustice, and misunderstanding. In rich and insightful prose, "Aging Angry" draws upon the experiences of hundreds of older adults and a wealth of literary and academic sources to empower readers with new understanding of anger’s sources, dynamics, and possibilities.Together, we explore the underlying causes of anger in older adults, from workplace ageism to family dynamics, and discuss how this anger can be understood and even channeled into positive change. We uncover the realities of aging beyond the stereotypes and learn how to make peace with rage. Hear invaluable insights and advice for anyone experiencing or witnessing the complexities of aging.Key Moments00:00 Engagi

I explore the power and importance of storytelling with Andrew Hall, cofounder of No Story Lost. Andrew and his team are dedicated to preserving life's treasured moments by transforming individuals' life stories into beautifully crafted heirloom books. We explore the power of memories, the connection that storytelling fosters, and the legacy it leaves behind. You'll learn about the process of capturing these stories and the special value they hold for families, as well as discuss tips for ensuring that no story is ever lost. Whether you're curious about creating a lasting tribute to a loved one or simply interested in the magic of storytelling, this is an insightful conversation.Memorable Moments00:00 Creating Personal Life Story Books05:22 Quality Storytelling Over DIY Solutions10:00 Interview Insights: Life's Purpose12:31 Unlocking Shy Interviewees14:42 One-Hour Love Story Book17:44 Capture Family Stories NowHere are 3 key takeaways from my conversation with Andrew:The Power of Storytelling: Andrew highligh

Do you want to make your home smart, but aren't sure where to begin? Are you worried about hackers taking control of your smart devices? Do you want to make a smart home that keeps your family entertained, comfortable, and safe?My guest is the author of The Smart Home Manual, Marlon Buchanan. He has worked in the IT field for over twenty-five years as a software developer, a college instructor, and an IT Director. When you are done reading The Smart Home Manual you'll know:What a smart home is and what it can do for youHow much smart homes costHow to start building your smart home from scratchHow to pick the right smart home devicesHow to plan for the future of the smart homeHow to secure your smart homePlus, you'll be equipped with all the tools and information you need to plan, design, and implement the smart home you've always wanted.And make a note of his 3 tips for a smart home, which includes:a good home network/wifithink about what you want your smart home to do for youstart simple and play,

Meals-on-Wheels from LifeCare Alliance delivers thousands of meals each day to satisfied customers in Franklin, Madison, Marion, Champaign, and Logan counties. And how is it done? Most of it with volunteer help.My guest is Stephanie Sparrow Hughes, Development & Community AffairsDevelopment & Community Affairs at LifeCare Alliance. Meals-On-Wheels is LifeCare Alliance's signature program and is volunteer intensive. But they make it easy for anyone to volunteer.It's easy to do so, and easy to learn more about how to make a huge difference in older adults' lives around Central Ohio. Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com Copyright 2025 Lisa Stockdale Mentioned in this episode:Aging in Full Bloom with Lisa Stockdale is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio-based, family-owned and operated company, providing solutions that help seniors age on their own terms. Those solutions include home care, senior living, nursing home and rehab care, and hospice. Learn more at Capi

"I teach people with arthritis to move differently, so they can overcome pain and get back to doing the things they love."My guest is Dr. David Sofer. And this is a quote from his website, www.arthritishelp.info.In our conversation, he states that being diagnosed with arthritis is not a call to the wheelchair and chronic pain. Yes, arthritis is a chronic condition possibly giving us chronic pain. But 50% of those diagnosed with arthritis will not feel the pain or discomfort of this disease.He teaches the principles of movement, which breaks down the fundamentals of how we move. That helps us understand how to live with arthritis.Dr. Dave talks more about posture as well. As he states in this interview, there is no such thing as good or bad posture. Your body tends toward what is comfortable for you, to get your body to balance over your bones.And finally, we talk about how patients are diagnosed with arthritis, and how it is wearing and irregularity in your joints.His website is full of free tutorials and

The Choose Home Care Act of 2021, introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Todd Young (R-IN), aims to give more seniors the option to receive care at home for 30 days after a hospitalization, rather than going to a skilled nursing facility or other transitional settings. The legislation would open the door to a variety of home-based services, including skilled nursing, therapy, primary care, personal care, RPM, telehealth, meals, home adaptations and non-emergent transportation.My guest is Joe Russell, Executive Director at Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice.Here's how you can take action to help this Act move forward.And here's a link to helpful tips to get your voice heard by your representatives.image thanks to thinkstockEmail me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com Copyright 2025 Lisa Stockdale Mentioned in this episode:Aging in Full Bloom with Lisa Stockdale is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio-based, family-owned and operated company, providing solutions th

Ed Brazee, Jill Spencer, and Chris Toy from Boomer Tech Adventures are back as my guests on this episode.BoomerTECH Adventures is all about serving boomers and seniors who want to feel competent and confident in their online skills while using their personal technology devices.Spamming is kind of a benign form of scamming. It's not necessarily evil, but it certainly does take resources and time. Be sure to keep your personal information offline because that's how the spammers find you. Plus, if you have a digital assistant like Siri or Amazon's system, Alexa or Google, they are always listening. That can actually result in ads that will kind of target you.Be careful if you receive an email that may like it's from a known source or an unknown source. If it has a link in the email and it asks you to click on that link from inside the email, you want to avoid that. What's happening is that the hacker or scammer is directing you to go to a place that they have designated.Similar to that is, more and more, you'll

Ed Brazee, Jill Spencer, and Chris Toy from Boomer Tech Adventures are my guests on this episode. BoomerTECH Adventures is all about serving boomers and seniors who want to feel competent and confident in their online skills while using their personal technology devices.Here are the five tech issues that drive Boomers crazy that we cover in this episode.1) Keeping passwords straight and the importance of knowing how to organize passwords. And remember that there's a difference between passwords and passcodes.2) Once you get online, one of the things that everyone, especially seniors, should be concerned with is being safe, secure of aware online. 3) Accessibility features on our devices. A lot of people don't even know that these exist.4) Becoming more self-reliant in terms of knowing how to ask the right questions about their devices or their technology.5) How to use tech for fun.Find out more about BoomerTECH Adventures on their website - https://www.boomertechadventures.com/Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anyti

Why does a 24-year old purchase a 200+-year-old local newspaper business?My guest is Bonnie Rutledge. She was born and raised in Harrison County, took a summer internship at the Harrison News-Herald newspaper as she worked through college. Over a three-year period, she learned the newspaper business which helped her step into the role of ownership. In this interview, I talk to her about how she is looking to refresh the content of this weekly newspaper, the look, and online reach, as well as supporting the community and Harrison County in every way possible.https://www.harrisonnewsherald.com/home/Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com Copyright 2025 Lisa Stockdale

My guest is author Andrew Robin, and we find out more on how to build a great life after your several-decade-long career. His book is an easy, step-by-step guide.https://www.amazon.com/TAPAS-LIFE-Rewarding-After-Career/dp/1736333909Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com Copyright 2025 Lisa Stockdale

My guest is Patti Davis, the daughter of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.When Patti's father announced his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in an address to the American public in 1994, the world had not yet begun speaking about this cruel, mysterious disease. Empowered by all she learned from caring for her father―about the nature of the illness, but also about the loss of a parent―Davis founded a support group for the family members and friends of Alzheimer’s patients. Along with a medically trained co-facilitator, she met with hundreds of exhausted and devastated attendees to talk through their pain and confusion.Her book, Floating in the Deep End: How Caregivers can See Beyond Alzheimer's, discusses her experiences to provide her unique experience of battling Alzheimer’s.https://www.amazon.com/Floating-Deep-End-Caregivers-Alzheimers/dp/1631497987/Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com Copyright 2025 Lisa Stockdale

For more than 30 years, the Mount Carmel Street Medicine program has been providing free urgent medical care to central Ohioans who are uninsured or underinsured. The Street Medicine team serves individuals experiencing homelessness, refugees, immigrants, victims of human trafficking, and anyone who has barriers accessing medical care.My guest is Laura Imbrock, a Mount Carmel Street Medicine caseworker.The Street Medicine team is comprised of a comprehensive team of healthcare professionals, including a family practice physician, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse practitioner, registered nurses, medical technicians, bilingual caseworkers, and community paramedics who are prepared to provide the most needed care and support.https://www.mountcarmelhealth.com/about-us/community-benefit/outreach-programs/mobile-medical-coach-and-street-medicineEmail me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com Copyright 2025 Lisa Stockdale