July 29, 2026 • 30 mins
Hosted by Laurie Alverio, The Still Blooming Radio Show is a warm, honest and empowering space for conversations about aging, caregiving, wellness, relationships and community
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following is paid programming by The Still Blooming Radio Show.
The content of this show is that of The Still
Blooming Radio Show and does not reflect the views or
policies of this station or iHeart Media.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
News Radio Wham 1180 welcomes you to this still-blooming radio show, Aging, Living, Thriving,
presented by Hand in Hand in your home. Join in
with your comments or questions. Call 222-1180 or 1-800-295-1180. Now
live from the News Radio Wham 1180 studios in downtown Rochester,
(00:35):
here's your host, Lori Alvareal.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Still-Blooming Radio Show. Aging, Living, Thriving.
I'm your host, Lori Alverio, and thank you for joining
us on NewsRadio WAM 1180 and the iHeartRadio app. Here
on the Still Blooming Radio Show, we believe that aging
isn't the end of the story. It's an opportunity to
(00:59):
continue growing, finding purpose, and building meaningful connections. Whether you're
an older adult, a caregiver, a family member, or simply
planning for the future, this show is here to inform, inspire,
and remind you that every season of life has something
to offer. Today, we're exploring two essential ingredients for living well,
(01:21):
caring for ourselves and staying connected to others. We'll begin
with Patty Bike from Calm and Core, who will share
how movement, wellness, and self-care can help us live healthier,
more fulfilling lives. Later, we'll welcome Heather Burrows, community advocate
and host of the Finding Common Ground podcast, for a
(01:45):
conversation about the power of relationships belonging and building stronger communities.
I'd also like to recognize the Greater Rochester Area Partnership
for the Elderly, GRAPE, for its continued commitment to supporting
older adults' caregiving and aging service professionals throughout our region.
We are grateful for organizations like GRAPE that help strengthen
(02:07):
our community through education, collaboration, and advocacy. And a special
thank you to our presenting sponsor, goodness, Hand in Hand,
in your home for supporting the Still Blooming Radio Show
and its mission to help older adults age with dignity, independence,
and purpose. I'm so glad you're here. Let's get started.
(02:29):
So joining me, Now is Patty from Common Core in Sotus,
New York. Patty, welcome to the Still Blooming Radio Show.
I'm so glad you're here. I've had the opportunity to
learn more about your work and what really stood out
to me is your belief that wellness isn't one size
(02:49):
fits all. You help people create what you call their
own wellness equation. And I absolutely love that idea. So
let's start there. Patty, can you tell our listeners a
little bit about yourself and what inspired you to create
Common Core?
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
So I'm a caregiver by nature and felt a strong
need to help create services that have a profound impact
on our aging population. While working in home care, I
developed my skills as an occupational therapist and realized that
I needed to provide services using a different model of
delivery to do it better. So Common Core was created
(03:32):
out of a deep commitment to serving our aging community
and making essential wellness services truly accessible. During my years
working in home care, I saw a pattern that concerned me.
Many of my patients needed outpatient occupational therapy or personal training,
but they either couldn't get to the clinic or chose
(03:52):
not to go because it was too far, too inconvenient,
or simply not available in their area. So living in
a rural community and being able to provide services and
create a local clinic while also providing mobile services was
my solution.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, it's a unique combination of skills as a licensed
occupational therapist and a certified personal trainer. Can you tell
me a little bit about how those two areas work
together to help people improve their health?
Speaker 6 (04:25):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
So occupational therapy looks at how a person moves through
their daily life, getting dressed, cooking, bathing, transferring, reaching, bending,
and staying safe at home. OT identifies the barriers that
make these tasks difficult and provide strategies, exercises, and adaptations
to improve independence, whereas personal training builds the physical foundation
(04:50):
needed to support those daily activities. It focuses on strength, balance, endurance, posture, mobility,
all the essentials for preventing falls, maintaining confidence, and staying active.
So when these two services work together, the clients benefit
from functional strength, improved balance and stability, better joint mobility
(05:13):
and flexibility, safer movement patterns, personalized modifications, and holistic wellness.
So together, OT and personal training create a seamless supportive
system that helps aging adults stay strong, capable, and engaged
in the activities that matter most to them.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
So Patty, I noticed on your website the wellness equation.
Can you talk about what that is and how are
you helping people build that?
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Okay, so Common Core, we believe that wellness is not
a single path. So it's a very personalized equation for
each person. So every person has different needs, abilities, challenges,
and goals, especially within the aging community. So building your
own wellness equation means identifying the specific pieces that help
(06:10):
you function at your best. And for some people, that
equation includes strength training, fitness, to stay mobile. For others,
it's balance work to reduce fall risk. So for many,
it's occupational therapy strategies that make daily tasks safer and easier.
And for everyone, it includes the right mix of movement, rest, support,
(06:31):
and confidence. So your wellness equation could include functional strength.
It could include balance and stability training. It could include
mobility and flexibility work, OT-guided strategies. Mindful movement and breathing,
lifestyle adjustments, learning what modalities are needed for healing, and
(06:53):
figuring out how often to perform a health risk scan.
So each person that walks in the door will have
a different plan moving forward, and that plan is ever-changing.
So when they build their own wellness equation, they're part
of that equation. So they get to decide where to
lean into and what's most important to them.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Wow, okay, great. So I did hear you talk, I think,
about a tool that you're using. Can you just give
us an idea of just a few of the tools
that you're using with your clients before we wrap up
for break?
Speaker 6 (07:36):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
So movement is one of the most powerful tools for
healthy aging with benefits that span generations. the body, the brain,
and emotional well-being. So we have the physical benefits. The
regular movement helps counteract some of the most common physical
changes that come with age, like with muscle and bone health.
(08:00):
Movement helps with not allowing the bones to break down
as quickly. So we're not having to deal with sarcopenia
and if we are having to deal with sarcopenia it
kind of slows that process down and helps reduce the
loss of bone density by improving balance you know movement
(08:22):
improves balance and it creates fall prevention so there's you
know the leading cause of falls is lack of movement
so we use exercise to prevent falls It helps with
your heart and metabolic health just by moving, helps with
(08:42):
functional independence and brain and mental health benefits. And the
type of movement that is most helpful for the aging
population is aerobic activity of at least 150 minutes of
moderate intensity per week. Muscle strengthening that happens.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
At least twice a week.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
Balance and flexibility training, which can be done daily to
help with maintaining the upright position. The encouraging news is that,
you know, it's never too late to start. You know,
even people that are beginning exercise later in life still
can have meaningful benefits. I hope that answers the question.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
It does.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Thank you, Patty. So I am going to cut for break.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Patty.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Can you please tell people or our listeners where they
can find you or how they can get a hold
of you outside of the show?
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Okay, so I am located in Sotus, New York, and
I am right on Maple Ave. My phone number, people
can text me. I believe my phone number is on
the website, but it's 315-576-5007.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Patty, thank you so much. And we look forward to
having you as a guest here to share more information
on aging safely, healthfully, and with moderate exercise. You are
listening to Still Blooming Radio Show, Aging, Living, Thriving. I'm
Lori Alverio, and you're listening on NewsRadio WHAM 1180. I'm
(10:25):
Lori Alverio, and thank you for spending part of your
Saturday morning with us on NewsRadio WHAM 1180 and the
iHeartRadio app. Before the break, Patty reminded us that wellness
begins with taking care of ourselves, but important as self-care
is self-care. We also know that none of us are
(10:45):
meant to do life alone. As we grow older, one
of the greatest predictors of health and happiness isn't just
what we eat or how much we exercise. It's the
quality of our relationships, our sense of belonging, and the
communities we're part of. That's exactly why I'm excited to
welcome our next guest. Joining me now is Heather Burrows,
(11:08):
community advocate, storyteller, and host of Finding Common Ground podcast. Heather,
welcome to the Still Blooming Radio Show. It's wonderful to
have you.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
I'm so glad I could join you today. This is great.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Heather, before we talk about Finding Common Ground, I'd love
our listeners to get to know the person behind the microphone.
So tell us a little bit about yourself, your journey,
and what inspired you to launch Finding Common Ground. finding
common ground. And please don't forget to talk about Devin.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Of course.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
So I became a school psychologist because that's what my
dad did. And I grew up with a sister who
has autism. So my whole goal was I was going
to help the people who were misunderstood because back when
I went to school, nobody knew what autism was. And
my sister, Erin, faced a lot of different challenges just
(12:10):
because people didn't understand it. I think she was also
in some ways more included because there was no label.
And so when I started my school psychology journey, one
of my first placements was in a classroom full of
children that had autism.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
And I still remember running home and telling my dad,
there's a name for this.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Like what Erin has, there's a name for it.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
It's called autism.
Speaker 6 (12:37):
And that was the first time something became really clear
to me because I remember him pausing and saying, yeah,
we knew, but we didn't tell anybody because back in 1975,
it was the first year schools had to take children
with disabilities.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
And Aaron was born just a little bit after that.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
My dad was working in schools and he was so
worried if people knew she had autism, they would lower expectations.
She might not be able to go to her neighborhood school.
So they had consciously made that choice to not tell
people about that diagnosis. And although it made sense, I
just had this thing that clicked in me and I
was like, I'm not going to do that. I'm always
(13:19):
going to just, you know, say things out loud and
make people understand. And that was just like my, you know,
young disposition. And so I started having children. I have
four children that are neurodivergent, but when Devin was born,
who's now 19, I realized.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Um, there was a lot going on with her.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
So I, uh, really struggled at first balancing it.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Like, am I going to take my parents route and,
you know, do it that way? Or am I going
to be really loud?
Speaker 6 (13:49):
And I don't know how, because I was rather shy
in the beginning of my journey.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
I did become more, much louder.
Speaker 7 (13:57):
I feel like when I look back on it, I don't,
I don't know how it exactly happened except that Devin
had so many challenges and that when we found something
that worked and then people tried to get in the way,
I could not fathom it.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
You know, I just couldn't.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
So I started advocating, you know, I had advocated for
students the whole time and then I started advocating for her.
And I was so frustrated with education at that point
because of what we were facing.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I moved to healthcare.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
That's where I met you, which is crazy because, you know,
a school psychologist ending up at a nursing home, we
were both at this 500 bed facility and, uh, I
was really out of place. I just felt like I
can't believe I landed here. This is not what I expected,
you know, my journey where my journey to bring me,
but it was exactly what I needed to see because
(14:51):
I say this all the time. I didn't know there
were pediatric wings and nursing homes. I didn't know how
starved some people were for attention. So some of the
things that I used, as a school psychologist, like hug
or handshake. I always did that at the end of
my sessions with people so that they knew that no
matter what went down at the end, I respected them
(15:14):
and that I was glad that I got to see
them that day.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
So I started doing that at the nursing home.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
And Lori, I don't know if you remember what happened,
but I did it for a little while.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
And I had this coffee shop and people would join us.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
And then at the end of the day, people started
lining up outside my office for a hug or a handshake.
And I realized, I think this is the only time
someone hugs them. I think that when people touch them,
it's just to provide care and they needed it. Like
they needed that human contact and that connection at that level.
(15:50):
And it did change me working there. Cause I just,
I didn't think about it in the same way until
I was in that setting.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
And I think you have become the voice for so
many that don't have a voice or are in fear
to use their voice, which is really what brings me to,
you know, my first question today is really, what does
finding common ground mean to you personally?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Right.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
So that project started because it seems like no matter
how good an idea is, there's always this dichotomy. People
are going to say, that's wonderful. We should do that
for people with dementia. And then there's this whole group that.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Says, no, that's the most horrible thing you could do.
And then we stall out.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
So these like really great ideas get stuck because the
two sides aren't talking. They're only talking to people who
agree with them and they're not talking to each other.
And so I thought, You know, I met Steve and
he's a fellow parent advocate too.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
And he's out in Utica.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
And I said, we could create this platform where people
have this chance to not argue back and forth or debate,
but look where our values overlap, where we do agree
and then build.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Something from there. So that was our whole idea. And
it's really blossomed into a whole movement.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
We have all these families that have come together where
there's common ground and are building things for their loved ones.
whether it's, you know, the veteran population or the aging
population out in Utica, we're having them team up with
a disability community because a lot of them need the
same support. So we just are building ideas based on
(17:41):
the parts of us that overlap, the parts that we
can agree on. And we're not trying to change people's
opinions on all the other parts because we each get
to think and feel what we want to feel, but there's,
we all have to have some kind of common ground
that we're working from to fix the bigger problems like
housing and healthcare and belonging.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
People need to feel like they belong. Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
So we are going to take a quick break, and
then we will be back to hear more from Heather.
And I'm L'Oreal Vario, and you're listening on NewsRadio WHAM 1180.
Welcome back to the Still Blooming Radio Show, Aging, Living, Thriving.
I'm Lori Alverio, and thank you for joining us this
(18:25):
morning on NewsRadio WAM 1180. If you're just tuning in
to today's show, it's been all about wellness, connection, and
the power of meaningful conversations. We're going to pick right
up where we left off with Heather. And Heather, let's
kind of talk about one guest or one conversation that
(18:47):
has changed your perspective.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
That's a good question.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
I had this illusion, I think, before I went into
health care that people could build things in the community
that would work. I just had this idea that when
I first started my career, there were group homes coming
up and families were involved. And it just seemed like
(19:15):
the systems were all moving in this beautiful direction that
was really supporting community living.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
And then I moved my... career into the healthcare part.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
And I was in this 500 bed facility and I
realized there are a lot of people just stuck here,
not because they don't want to be in the community,
not even because they really can't be, they just can't
coordinate all the parts. And so I was working with
this young man, he was in his early twenties and
he just needed a vent at night and he had
(19:46):
IDD and he had been in kind of like a
sheltered workshop environment.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
But he had come from this rural town and he
lived on.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
A dirt road off a dirt road and they could
not take care of his medical needs in his hometown.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
He ended up living in a nursing home. I remember
asking him, is this where you want to live? And
he just looked at me and he said, I've had
12 roommates die in front of me. I never expected
to live this way. He was young.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
And so I said, well, what would home look like
if you could pick any home? He said, well, I
would love to live near my family. And I realized
they had to travel hours to come see him. This
was the only facility that would take him. He had
been disconnected from all his social connections. And he was
(20:40):
living with many people who are so much older than him.
It's not that there were no young people at the
nursing home. There were plenty, unfortunately. But it just, you know,
for somebody with IDD and intellectual delay who just needed
a vent at night, it seemed insane to me that
we are spending this much money for him to live
(21:01):
in this environment. I mean, the amount of money that
New York State has spent on placements like this, We
could have bought that guy a ventilator every year with
the amount of money we spent for him to be
in that environment. And that really got me thinking about
how do we actually get.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
People back in the community?
Speaker 6 (21:21):
Because there's these barriers that are not, they shouldn't be there.
You know, so that was definitely a moment for me
where I saw like the system just funneled people into
this option because it was easier, I guess, but it
didn't give the person any voice in what they're, their
life looked like, what they wanted, or what even made
(21:42):
sense financially for taxpayers.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Oh, I completely agree with you. And I think that
is some of the problem, right, that we look at
or see across all of the lifespan is that we
stop asking people what they want and allow others to
make decisions for them.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
We see that.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
In all of in all of healthcare for sure, we
follow the traditional model is, and that is, you know,
people shouldn't live at home. We're just going to put
them in an institution. When we know that it may
not be cost effective, right? But it's more so it's
not what somebody wants. And I think that's really what
our show is about. It's about aging and caregiving and
(22:30):
healthy communities. And that does mean people are living in
their communities. So, I would agree with you completely, Heather. Um,
one thing we hear over and over again is that
loneliness has become one of the greatest health challenges facing
people today. And I think when you, when you talk
about this facility, um, that you worked in, you could
(22:55):
see that 12 roommates, a hug, a handshake. It's, it's
that connection that people really need. Um, Tell me, why
do you think genuine human connection is so important to
overall health and well-being?
Speaker 6 (23:12):
I think there's this fallacy, especially in the autism community,
that some people like to be alone, that they don't
desire connection. And we make the same assumption if somebody
has a brain injury and maybe is not responsive or
somebody who's had a stroke and looks really distant. We
(23:35):
see them sitting by themselves and we think that that's
what they want to do. And for my daughter, she
has whole body apraxia. And for people who aren't familiar,
that means like she can think of the best possible scenario,
but then she can't make her body do it. She's
kind of like locked in this body that's really uncooperative.
(23:55):
And when I look at it from that lens, I
just think all these people look so detached and they
look like they're okay with it. But when you peel
back the layers and you find a way to connect
with them, you can see the change in them. When
we do research and they wear the biofeedback bracelets and
we can measure their heart rate and look at their
brain activity, it lights up when someone gently touches their
(24:19):
shoulder or puts their hand on their hand because we
need human contact. We also need people to talk to us.
And this is something I say all the time. The
least dangerous assumption is is the one we should follow.
If we assume they can't understand us or they're not
listening or they don't want us there, that's dangerous because
(24:41):
if they do, now we've cut that off. It's less
dangerous to say, I am assuming they want attention and
connection and to feel like they're part of the conversation
and to just presume that competence, to talk to people
like they're in there, even if they can't show you
in the traditional ways, My daughter sometimes looks so upset.
(25:04):
And then if she's typed something out on her keyboard,
she'll say, I'm so excited. And I think, wow, her
face looks upset. If I went based on the cue
I had, I would have never stayed in that environment.
I would have pulled her because she didn't look happy.
But here she's just so excited that she's like almost
like her motor overflow. Her face isn't doing what she
(25:25):
wants it to do, but inside she's so happy and
she wants to be there. And I think we have
to Always have that in the back of our minds.
The people, the outward appearance of them does not always
match what they actually want.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
And we can't just make assumptions.
Speaker 6 (25:41):
We got to like dig a little deeper and assume
they want connection.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Absolutely agree. Heather, it's been great talking to you today.
Before we wrap up today's conversation, let's have a little fun.
So I'm going to ask you a few questions. Just
say the first thing that comes to mind. Coffee or tea?
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Coffee.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Morning person or night owl?
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Night owl. Depends on the day. That's what I'm hesitating
to read.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
One book everyone should read.
Speaker 6 (26:15):
I just finished Upward Bound by Woody Brown. And if
anybody has any experience with institutional programs or facilities... It's
a brilliant novel that Woody wrote about the experience.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
One person who has inspired you?
Speaker 4 (26:36):
Oh, so many people who've inspired me.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
I would have to say that right now I have
the honor of working with Elizabeth Bonker. She's a non-speaker
that was the valedictorian for Rollins College in 2022. And
so she overcame so many odds to achieve that, but
That accomplishment is just like one little thing that she's done.
(27:02):
Right now, Elizabeth has a nonprofit that she's running, which
is amazing because they're trying to unlock voices. For everybody
who has a communication delay or the traditional methods haven't worked,
she has lessons in multiple languages on her Communication for
All platform. She has videos to help families access the resources.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
That will help. She just gives people hope. You know,
like when you feel like you're not sure what to do.
Speaker 6 (27:29):
I get a lot of inspiration from Elizabeth and her mom, Jenny.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
And to play off from that, hope. One word that
describes hope.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
One word that describes hope. That's a good one.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
You'll have to let us know when you're our guest
again on the show.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
How about that?
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
And then just real quick, one word that describes community, Heather.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Connection. Amazing.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Before we wrap up, I'd love for our listeners to
know how they can continue following your work.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
We have a Finding Common Ground Facebook group that people
are always strategizing with each other. That would be a
great place to find me. I'm also doing some work
with Communication for All. We have interns this summer that
are all non-speakers. So if you look up that platform,
I'm also there too.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
As we wrap up today's show, I'd like to thank
both of our guests, Patty from Common Core and Heather
from Common Ground. And thank you for spending part of
your Saturday morning with us. Whether you are aging yourself,
caring for someone you love, working with older adults, or
(28:53):
simply planning for the future, we're grateful you're part of
our Still Blooming family. I'm Lori Alverio, and you've been
listening to the Still Blooming radio show, Aging, Living, Thriving.
Welcome back to the Still Blooming show with Lori Alverio.
I am going to close out today's show with a
(29:13):
question for Heather. So, Heather, when you hear the word
still blooming, what do they mean to you?
Speaker 6 (29:20):
I think that we have these conceptions that people stop
evolving and they stop changing. And really, every new chapter
that we walk into, there's these chances for a new journey,
new things that we're going to learn.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
And we're always learning and growing.
Speaker 6 (29:40):
And making new connections no matter what chapter we're in.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
So I think that lands with me.
Speaker 7 (29:48):
Go ahead.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I'm sorry. No, that's OK. I just feel like that.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Many people have this idea that when you get to
a certain age or you have a certain condition that's,
you know, progressed to a certain point, that things just
kind of stall out. And I don't see it that
way at all. I think that every challenge actually has
pushed me to grow. You know, I see the world
in a completely different way because of a mountain I
(30:14):
moved or a chapter that I had to close or
a new door I had to open. And when we
keep that mindset that we're always moving forward towards success,
the next thing, then we don't stall out. We can't
let ourselves just be stagnant.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Heather, it has been a true pleasure to have you
on our show today. I look forward to bringing you
back and continuing to follow what you're doing in our community.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
So thank you.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
And this is Lori Alverio with the Still Blooming Show
on WAM 1180. We look forward to seeing you all
next week.
The following is paid programming by The Still Blooming Radio Show.
The content of this show is that of The Still
Blooming Radio Show and does not reflect the views or
policies of this station or iHeart Media.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
News Radio Wham 1180 welcomes you to this still-blooming radio show, Aging, Living, Thriving,
presented by Hand in Hand in your home. Join in
with your comments or questions. Call 222-1180 or 1-800-295-1180. Now
live from the News Radio Wham 1180 studios in downtown Rochester,
(00:35):
here's your host, Lori Alvareal.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Still-Blooming Radio Show. Aging, Living, Thriving.
I'm your host, Lori Alverio, and thank you for joining
us on NewsRadio WAM 1180 and the iHeartRadio app. Here
on the Still Blooming Radio Show, we believe that aging
isn't the end of the story. It's an opportunity to
(00:59):
continue growing, finding purpose, and building meaningful connections. Whether you're
an older adult, a caregiver, a family member, or simply
planning for the future, this show is here to inform, inspire,
and remind you that every season of life has something
to offer. Today, we're exploring two essential ingredients for living well,
(01:21):
caring for ourselves and staying connected to others. We'll begin
with Patty Bike from Calm and Core, who will share
how movement, wellness, and self-care can help us live healthier,
more fulfilling lives. Later, we'll welcome Heather Burrows, community advocate
and host of the Finding Common Ground podcast, for a
(01:45):
conversation about the power of relationships belonging and building stronger communities.
I'd also like to recognize the Greater Rochester Area Partnership
for the Elderly, GRAPE, for its continued commitment to supporting
older adults' caregiving and aging service professionals throughout our region.
We are grateful for organizations like GRAPE that help strengthen
(02:07):
our community through education, collaboration, and advocacy. And a special
thank you to our presenting sponsor, goodness, Hand in Hand,
in your home for supporting the Still Blooming Radio Show
and its mission to help older adults age with dignity, independence,
and purpose. I'm so glad you're here. Let's get started.
(02:29):
So joining me, Now is Patty from Common Core in Sotus,
New York. Patty, welcome to the Still Blooming Radio Show.
I'm so glad you're here. I've had the opportunity to
learn more about your work and what really stood out
to me is your belief that wellness isn't one size
(02:49):
fits all. You help people create what you call their
own wellness equation. And I absolutely love that idea. So
let's start there. Patty, can you tell our listeners a
little bit about yourself and what inspired you to create
Common Core?
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
So I'm a caregiver by nature and felt a strong
need to help create services that have a profound impact
on our aging population. While working in home care, I
developed my skills as an occupational therapist and realized that
I needed to provide services using a different model of
delivery to do it better. So Common Core was created
(03:32):
out of a deep commitment to serving our aging community
and making essential wellness services truly accessible. During my years
working in home care, I saw a pattern that concerned me.
Many of my patients needed outpatient occupational therapy or personal training,
but they either couldn't get to the clinic or chose
(03:52):
not to go because it was too far, too inconvenient,
or simply not available in their area. So living in
a rural community and being able to provide services and
create a local clinic while also providing mobile services was
my solution.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, it's a unique combination of skills as a licensed
occupational therapist and a certified personal trainer. Can you tell
me a little bit about how those two areas work
together to help people improve their health?
Speaker 6 (04:25):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
So occupational therapy looks at how a person moves through
their daily life, getting dressed, cooking, bathing, transferring, reaching, bending,
and staying safe at home. OT identifies the barriers that
make these tasks difficult and provide strategies, exercises, and adaptations
to improve independence, whereas personal training builds the physical foundation
(04:50):
needed to support those daily activities. It focuses on strength, balance, endurance, posture, mobility,
all the essentials for preventing falls, maintaining confidence, and staying active.
So when these two services work together, the clients benefit
from functional strength, improved balance and stability, better joint mobility
(05:13):
and flexibility, safer movement patterns, personalized modifications, and holistic wellness.
So together, OT and personal training create a seamless supportive
system that helps aging adults stay strong, capable, and engaged
in the activities that matter most to them.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
So Patty, I noticed on your website the wellness equation.
Can you talk about what that is and how are
you helping people build that?
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Okay, so Common Core, we believe that wellness is not
a single path. So it's a very personalized equation for
each person. So every person has different needs, abilities, challenges,
and goals, especially within the aging community. So building your
own wellness equation means identifying the specific pieces that help
(06:10):
you function at your best. And for some people, that
equation includes strength training, fitness, to stay mobile. For others,
it's balance work to reduce fall risk. So for many,
it's occupational therapy strategies that make daily tasks safer and easier.
And for everyone, it includes the right mix of movement, rest, support,
(06:31):
and confidence. So your wellness equation could include functional strength.
It could include balance and stability training. It could include
mobility and flexibility work, OT-guided strategies. Mindful movement and breathing,
lifestyle adjustments, learning what modalities are needed for healing, and
(06:53):
figuring out how often to perform a health risk scan.
So each person that walks in the door will have
a different plan moving forward, and that plan is ever-changing.
So when they build their own wellness equation, they're part
of that equation. So they get to decide where to
lean into and what's most important to them.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Wow, okay, great. So I did hear you talk, I think,
about a tool that you're using. Can you just give
us an idea of just a few of the tools
that you're using with your clients before we wrap up
for break?
Speaker 6 (07:36):
Sure.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
So movement is one of the most powerful tools for
healthy aging with benefits that span generations. the body, the brain,
and emotional well-being. So we have the physical benefits. The
regular movement helps counteract some of the most common physical
changes that come with age, like with muscle and bone health.
(08:00):
Movement helps with not allowing the bones to break down
as quickly. So we're not having to deal with sarcopenia
and if we are having to deal with sarcopenia it
kind of slows that process down and helps reduce the
loss of bone density by improving balance you know movement
(08:22):
improves balance and it creates fall prevention so there's you
know the leading cause of falls is lack of movement
so we use exercise to prevent falls It helps with
your heart and metabolic health just by moving, helps with
(08:42):
functional independence and brain and mental health benefits. And the
type of movement that is most helpful for the aging
population is aerobic activity of at least 150 minutes of
moderate intensity per week. Muscle strengthening that happens.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
At least twice a week.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
Balance and flexibility training, which can be done daily to
help with maintaining the upright position. The encouraging news is that,
you know, it's never too late to start. You know,
even people that are beginning exercise later in life still
can have meaningful benefits. I hope that answers the question.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
It does.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Thank you, Patty. So I am going to cut for break.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Patty.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Can you please tell people or our listeners where they
can find you or how they can get a hold
of you outside of the show?
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Okay, so I am located in Sotus, New York, and
I am right on Maple Ave. My phone number, people
can text me. I believe my phone number is on
the website, but it's 315-576-5007.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Patty, thank you so much. And we look forward to
having you as a guest here to share more information
on aging safely, healthfully, and with moderate exercise. You are
listening to Still Blooming Radio Show, Aging, Living, Thriving. I'm
Lori Alverio, and you're listening on NewsRadio WHAM 1180. I'm
(10:25):
Lori Alverio, and thank you for spending part of your
Saturday morning with us on NewsRadio WHAM 1180 and the
iHeartRadio app. Before the break, Patty reminded us that wellness
begins with taking care of ourselves, but important as self-care
is self-care. We also know that none of us are
(10:45):
meant to do life alone. As we grow older, one
of the greatest predictors of health and happiness isn't just
what we eat or how much we exercise. It's the
quality of our relationships, our sense of belonging, and the
communities we're part of. That's exactly why I'm excited to
welcome our next guest. Joining me now is Heather Burrows,
(11:08):
community advocate, storyteller, and host of Finding Common Ground podcast. Heather,
welcome to the Still Blooming Radio Show. It's wonderful to
have you.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
I'm so glad I could join you today. This is great.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Heather, before we talk about Finding Common Ground, I'd love
our listeners to get to know the person behind the microphone.
So tell us a little bit about yourself, your journey,
and what inspired you to launch Finding Common Ground. finding
common ground. And please don't forget to talk about Devin.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Of course.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
So I became a school psychologist because that's what my
dad did. And I grew up with a sister who
has autism. So my whole goal was I was going
to help the people who were misunderstood because back when
I went to school, nobody knew what autism was. And
my sister, Erin, faced a lot of different challenges just
(12:10):
because people didn't understand it. I think she was also
in some ways more included because there was no label.
And so when I started my school psychology journey, one
of my first placements was in a classroom full of
children that had autism.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
And I still remember running home and telling my dad,
there's a name for this.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Like what Erin has, there's a name for it.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
It's called autism.
Speaker 6 (12:37):
And that was the first time something became really clear
to me because I remember him pausing and saying, yeah,
we knew, but we didn't tell anybody because back in 1975,
it was the first year schools had to take children
with disabilities.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
And Aaron was born just a little bit after that.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
My dad was working in schools and he was so
worried if people knew she had autism, they would lower expectations.
She might not be able to go to her neighborhood school.
So they had consciously made that choice to not tell
people about that diagnosis. And although it made sense, I
just had this thing that clicked in me and I
was like, I'm not going to do that. I'm always
(13:19):
going to just, you know, say things out loud and
make people understand. And that was just like my, you know,
young disposition. And so I started having children. I have
four children that are neurodivergent, but when Devin was born,
who's now 19, I realized.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Um, there was a lot going on with her.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
So I, uh, really struggled at first balancing it.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Like, am I going to take my parents route and,
you know, do it that way? Or am I going
to be really loud?
Speaker 6 (13:49):
And I don't know how, because I was rather shy
in the beginning of my journey.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
I did become more, much louder.
Speaker 7 (13:57):
I feel like when I look back on it, I don't,
I don't know how it exactly happened except that Devin
had so many challenges and that when we found something
that worked and then people tried to get in the way,
I could not fathom it.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
You know, I just couldn't.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
So I started advocating, you know, I had advocated for
students the whole time and then I started advocating for her.
And I was so frustrated with education at that point
because of what we were facing.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I moved to healthcare.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
That's where I met you, which is crazy because, you know,
a school psychologist ending up at a nursing home, we
were both at this 500 bed facility and, uh, I
was really out of place. I just felt like I
can't believe I landed here. This is not what I expected,
you know, my journey where my journey to bring me,
but it was exactly what I needed to see because
(14:51):
I say this all the time. I didn't know there
were pediatric wings and nursing homes. I didn't know how
starved some people were for attention. So some of the
things that I used, as a school psychologist, like hug
or handshake. I always did that at the end of
my sessions with people so that they knew that no
matter what went down at the end, I respected them
(15:14):
and that I was glad that I got to see
them that day.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
So I started doing that at the nursing home.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
And Lori, I don't know if you remember what happened,
but I did it for a little while.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
And I had this coffee shop and people would join us.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
And then at the end of the day, people started
lining up outside my office for a hug or a handshake.
And I realized, I think this is the only time
someone hugs them. I think that when people touch them,
it's just to provide care and they needed it. Like
they needed that human contact and that connection at that level.
(15:50):
And it did change me working there. Cause I just,
I didn't think about it in the same way until
I was in that setting.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
And I think you have become the voice for so
many that don't have a voice or are in fear
to use their voice, which is really what brings me to,
you know, my first question today is really, what does
finding common ground mean to you personally?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Right.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
So that project started because it seems like no matter
how good an idea is, there's always this dichotomy. People
are going to say, that's wonderful. We should do that
for people with dementia. And then there's this whole group that.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Says, no, that's the most horrible thing you could do.
And then we stall out.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
So these like really great ideas get stuck because the
two sides aren't talking. They're only talking to people who
agree with them and they're not talking to each other.
And so I thought, You know, I met Steve and
he's a fellow parent advocate too.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
And he's out in Utica.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
And I said, we could create this platform where people
have this chance to not argue back and forth or debate,
but look where our values overlap, where we do agree
and then build.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Something from there. So that was our whole idea. And
it's really blossomed into a whole movement.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
We have all these families that have come together where
there's common ground and are building things for their loved ones.
whether it's, you know, the veteran population or the aging
population out in Utica, we're having them team up with
a disability community because a lot of them need the
same support. So we just are building ideas based on
(17:41):
the parts of us that overlap, the parts that we
can agree on. And we're not trying to change people's
opinions on all the other parts because we each get
to think and feel what we want to feel, but there's,
we all have to have some kind of common ground
that we're working from to fix the bigger problems like
housing and healthcare and belonging.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
People need to feel like they belong. Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
So we are going to take a quick break, and
then we will be back to hear more from Heather.
And I'm L'Oreal Vario, and you're listening on NewsRadio WHAM 1180.
Welcome back to the Still Blooming Radio Show, Aging, Living, Thriving.
I'm Lori Alverio, and thank you for joining us this
(18:25):
morning on NewsRadio WAM 1180. If you're just tuning in
to today's show, it's been all about wellness, connection, and
the power of meaningful conversations. We're going to pick right
up where we left off with Heather. And Heather, let's
kind of talk about one guest or one conversation that
(18:47):
has changed your perspective.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
That's a good question.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
I had this illusion, I think, before I went into
health care that people could build things in the community
that would work. I just had this idea that when
I first started my career, there were group homes coming
up and families were involved. And it just seemed like
(19:15):
the systems were all moving in this beautiful direction that
was really supporting community living.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
And then I moved my... career into the healthcare part.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
And I was in this 500 bed facility and I
realized there are a lot of people just stuck here,
not because they don't want to be in the community,
not even because they really can't be, they just can't
coordinate all the parts. And so I was working with
this young man, he was in his early twenties and
he just needed a vent at night and he had
(19:46):
IDD and he had been in kind of like a
sheltered workshop environment.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
But he had come from this rural town and he
lived on.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
A dirt road off a dirt road and they could
not take care of his medical needs in his hometown.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
He ended up living in a nursing home. I remember
asking him, is this where you want to live? And
he just looked at me and he said, I've had
12 roommates die in front of me. I never expected
to live this way. He was young.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
And so I said, well, what would home look like
if you could pick any home? He said, well, I
would love to live near my family. And I realized
they had to travel hours to come see him. This
was the only facility that would take him. He had
been disconnected from all his social connections. And he was
(20:40):
living with many people who are so much older than him.
It's not that there were no young people at the
nursing home. There were plenty, unfortunately. But it just, you know,
for somebody with IDD and intellectual delay who just needed
a vent at night, it seemed insane to me that
we are spending this much money for him to live
(21:01):
in this environment. I mean, the amount of money that
New York State has spent on placements like this, We
could have bought that guy a ventilator every year with
the amount of money we spent for him to be
in that environment. And that really got me thinking about
how do we actually get.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
People back in the community?
Speaker 6 (21:21):
Because there's these barriers that are not, they shouldn't be there.
You know, so that was definitely a moment for me
where I saw like the system just funneled people into
this option because it was easier, I guess, but it
didn't give the person any voice in what they're, their
life looked like, what they wanted, or what even made
(21:42):
sense financially for taxpayers.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Oh, I completely agree with you. And I think that
is some of the problem, right, that we look at
or see across all of the lifespan is that we
stop asking people what they want and allow others to
make decisions for them.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
We see that.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
In all of in all of healthcare for sure, we
follow the traditional model is, and that is, you know,
people shouldn't live at home. We're just going to put
them in an institution. When we know that it may
not be cost effective, right? But it's more so it's
not what somebody wants. And I think that's really what
our show is about. It's about aging and caregiving and
(22:30):
healthy communities. And that does mean people are living in
their communities. So, I would agree with you completely, Heather. Um,
one thing we hear over and over again is that
loneliness has become one of the greatest health challenges facing
people today. And I think when you, when you talk
about this facility, um, that you worked in, you could
(22:55):
see that 12 roommates, a hug, a handshake. It's, it's
that connection that people really need. Um, Tell me, why
do you think genuine human connection is so important to
overall health and well-being?
Speaker 6 (23:12):
I think there's this fallacy, especially in the autism community,
that some people like to be alone, that they don't
desire connection. And we make the same assumption if somebody
has a brain injury and maybe is not responsive or
somebody who's had a stroke and looks really distant. We
(23:35):
see them sitting by themselves and we think that that's
what they want to do. And for my daughter, she
has whole body apraxia. And for people who aren't familiar,
that means like she can think of the best possible scenario,
but then she can't make her body do it. She's
kind of like locked in this body that's really uncooperative.
(23:55):
And when I look at it from that lens, I
just think all these people look so detached and they
look like they're okay with it. But when you peel
back the layers and you find a way to connect
with them, you can see the change in them. When
we do research and they wear the biofeedback bracelets and
we can measure their heart rate and look at their
brain activity, it lights up when someone gently touches their
(24:19):
shoulder or puts their hand on their hand because we
need human contact. We also need people to talk to us.
And this is something I say all the time. The
least dangerous assumption is is the one we should follow.
If we assume they can't understand us or they're not
listening or they don't want us there, that's dangerous because
(24:41):
if they do, now we've cut that off. It's less
dangerous to say, I am assuming they want attention and
connection and to feel like they're part of the conversation
and to just presume that competence, to talk to people
like they're in there, even if they can't show you
in the traditional ways, My daughter sometimes looks so upset.
(25:04):
And then if she's typed something out on her keyboard,
she'll say, I'm so excited. And I think, wow, her
face looks upset. If I went based on the cue
I had, I would have never stayed in that environment.
I would have pulled her because she didn't look happy.
But here she's just so excited that she's like almost
like her motor overflow. Her face isn't doing what she
(25:25):
wants it to do, but inside she's so happy and
she wants to be there. And I think we have
to Always have that in the back of our minds.
The people, the outward appearance of them does not always
match what they actually want.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
And we can't just make assumptions.
Speaker 6 (25:41):
We got to like dig a little deeper and assume
they want connection.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Absolutely agree. Heather, it's been great talking to you today.
Before we wrap up today's conversation, let's have a little fun.
So I'm going to ask you a few questions. Just
say the first thing that comes to mind. Coffee or tea?
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Coffee.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Morning person or night owl?
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Night owl. Depends on the day. That's what I'm hesitating
to read.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
One book everyone should read.
Speaker 6 (26:15):
I just finished Upward Bound by Woody Brown. And if
anybody has any experience with institutional programs or facilities... It's
a brilliant novel that Woody wrote about the experience.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
One person who has inspired you?
Speaker 4 (26:36):
Oh, so many people who've inspired me.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
I would have to say that right now I have
the honor of working with Elizabeth Bonker. She's a non-speaker
that was the valedictorian for Rollins College in 2022. And
so she overcame so many odds to achieve that, but
That accomplishment is just like one little thing that she's done.
(27:02):
Right now, Elizabeth has a nonprofit that she's running, which
is amazing because they're trying to unlock voices. For everybody
who has a communication delay or the traditional methods haven't worked,
she has lessons in multiple languages on her Communication for
All platform. She has videos to help families access the resources.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
That will help. She just gives people hope. You know,
like when you feel like you're not sure what to do.
Speaker 6 (27:29):
I get a lot of inspiration from Elizabeth and her mom, Jenny.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
And to play off from that, hope. One word that
describes hope.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
One word that describes hope. That's a good one.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
You'll have to let us know when you're our guest
again on the show.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
How about that?
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
And then just real quick, one word that describes community, Heather.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Connection. Amazing.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Before we wrap up, I'd love for our listeners to
know how they can continue following your work.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
We have a Finding Common Ground Facebook group that people
are always strategizing with each other. That would be a
great place to find me. I'm also doing some work
with Communication for All. We have interns this summer that
are all non-speakers. So if you look up that platform,
I'm also there too.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
As we wrap up today's show, I'd like to thank
both of our guests, Patty from Common Core and Heather
from Common Ground. And thank you for spending part of
your Saturday morning with us. Whether you are aging yourself,
caring for someone you love, working with older adults, or
(28:53):
simply planning for the future, we're grateful you're part of
our Still Blooming family. I'm Lori Alverio, and you've been
listening to the Still Blooming radio show, Aging, Living, Thriving.
Welcome back to the Still Blooming show with Lori Alverio.
I am going to close out today's show with a
(29:13):
question for Heather. So, Heather, when you hear the word
still blooming, what do they mean to you?
Speaker 6 (29:20):
I think that we have these conceptions that people stop
evolving and they stop changing. And really, every new chapter
that we walk into, there's these chances for a new journey,
new things that we're going to learn.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
And we're always learning and growing.
Speaker 6 (29:40):
And making new connections no matter what chapter we're in.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
So I think that lands with me.
Speaker 7 (29:48):
Go ahead.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I'm sorry. No, that's OK. I just feel like that.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Many people have this idea that when you get to
a certain age or you have a certain condition that's,
you know, progressed to a certain point, that things just
kind of stall out. And I don't see it that
way at all. I think that every challenge actually has
pushed me to grow. You know, I see the world
in a completely different way because of a mountain I
(30:14):
moved or a chapter that I had to close or
a new door I had to open. And when we
keep that mindset that we're always moving forward towards success,
the next thing, then we don't stall out. We can't
let ourselves just be stagnant.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Heather, it has been a true pleasure to have you
on our show today. I look forward to bringing you
back and continuing to follow what you're doing in our community.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
So thank you.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
And this is Lori Alverio with the Still Blooming Show
on WAM 1180. We look forward to seeing you all
next week.
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