Aging Matters

Conversation w/ Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, President, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and Ken Dychtwald, PhD, Founder/CEO, Age Wave, about eldercare responsibilities related to caregiving for elder relatives, challenges facing workers who provide eldercare, and elements to be included in a work-life policy.

Conversation w/ Michael Bouchard, Management Consultant and Member, Arlington VA Commission on Aging, about the need for older adults to plan ahead when considering aging in place and selecting a housing option that helps them maintain independence as long as possible.

Conversation w/ Sophia Ross, Digital Media and Grant Program Strategist, Capitol Hill Village, and Sherrill Wayland, MSW, Senior Director of Special Initiatives and Partnerships, SAGE Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders, about how social stigma prevents LGBTQ+ older adults from living in certain communities, receive health and social services, and find housing. Resources to address these issues are discussed. 

Conversation w/ David Jara, Au. D., Clinical Audiologist, about hearing loss among older adults and what to know about hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Conversation w/ Elizabeth Field, Chief Operating Officer, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Pattie Cullum, 2025 Dole Caregiver Fellow, about family member caregiver duties and responsibilities for military and veteran family members, and the mission of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to provide support.

Conversation w/ Erica Wood, JD, Consultant on Law and Aging, about adult guardianship, what it means for a court to declare a person “incapacitated,” and duties and powers of a guardian as well as qualifications needed to serve.

Conversation w/ Suzanne Lapierre, Virginia Room Librarian, Fairfax County Virginia Public Library, about innovative programs and services being developed by libraries to meet diverse characteristics and circumstances of older adults. 

Conversation w/ Rob Haynie, Managing Director, Life Insurance Settlements, Inc., about pros and cons of buying life insurance and what to know about life settlements.

Conversation w/ Jim Joseph, CFP, President, FSA Wealth Partners, about factors to consider when planning for and after retirement, hiring a financial professional, and ensuring best approaches to personal financial growth and security.  

Conversation w/ Shawn Smith, Director, Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), about the differences between Medicare fraud, abuse, and billing errors, and how SMPs help beneficiaries handle complaints related to these practices.

Conversation w/ Carter Florence, Vice President, Programs, Meals on Wheels America, and Mary Tugwell, President, Meals on Wheels of Arlington, about Meals on Wheels services, program enrollment, and volunteer opportunities.

Conversation w/ Sara Margolin, PhD, Associate Professor, SUNY Brockport, and Author, about falsehoods and myths perpetuated about aging, and the positive aspects of the aging process

Conversation w/ Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon and Co-Author, about aging-related changes in older adult joints and bones due to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and food/beverages, dietary supplements, and exercises to help improve bone and joint health.

Conversation w/ Julius Birnbaum, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Rheumatology, and Division Chief of Rheumatology, Mercy Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Author, about types of rheumatic diseases including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and disease management.

Conversation w/ Lance A. Slatton, The Senior Care Influencer, and Host, All Home Care Matters podcast, about home-based care services, hiring and working with a home care agency, and scope of home care assistant skills.

Conversation w/ Mary Tinetti, MD, Gladys Phillips Crofoot Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, about Patient Priorities Care, a method of aligning patients’ healthcare decisions and treatment plans with their individual goals and preferences, rather than relying only on medical guidelines or treatment protocols.

Conversation w/ Hey-Jin Kong, MD, Primary Care Physician, about the physical and mental health effects of job loss on government employees and their families, and how health care providers are helping to navigate the challenges that come with unemployment.

Conversation w/ Jose Rivera, Playwright/Director, about writing the play “Your Name Means Dream,” and how artificial intelligence (AI) may enhance older adult lives and impact all people in the future.

Conversation w/ Mary Hyde, PhD, Director, Research and Evaluation, AmeriCorps, about benefits of volunteering for older adults and AmeriCorps Seniors Program services and volunteer opportunities.