Aging Insights NJ: Recent Episodes
Cathy Rowe, DrPH
NJAAW, Podcast Description
What is it like to age well in the Garden State, where nearly a quarter of residents are over 60 years old?
Are you one of them?
Join host Dr. Cathy Rowe to learn about the ups and downs of aging in New Jersey. In this podcast series, Rowe, the Executive Director of New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW), taps her network of leading experts to provide a fresh look into the key issues affecting the state’s older population, their families and caregivers, including finances, housing, health and security.
Each episode details professional insight into how you can maximize the joy, minimize the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities that aging in the Garden State offers. Older adults nationwide can learn from the expertise shared by New Jersey’s most trusted resource for aging well.
You can’t always predict when a medical emergency or serious illness will happen and the impact it will have. However, you can prepare ahead for these events by sharing your wishes by talking about what in life matters most to you and finding someone you trust who can speak for you about what care you would want if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Join us as we explore the Conversation of Your Life (COYL) with New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute’s Katie Bisaha. COYL is a statewide program that provides education and resources on how to share your wishes for care and what you need to know about picking a health care proxy.
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) is the state’s largest agency, serving over 2 million New Jerseyans. And its Division of Aging Services administers a large number of programs that make it easier for older adults to live in the community as long as possible with independence, dignity and choice.
Join us with special guest Dennis McGowan to learn about programs and services that can help you age well in NJ.
Studies show that volunteering is good for the body and mind, as well as good for the community. Older adults can bring experience, skills and talent as volunteers, and benefit from the social interaction and training opportunities.
In our newest Aging Insights, Joyce Campbell (CEO of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen), Lynne Toye (Executive Director, NJ Arts & Culture Renewal Fund) and Julia Gallanty (Interim CEO of the NJ YMCA State Alliance) discuss the importance, benefits and power of volunteering for older adults.
We hope you accept their challenge to start the new year with a resolution to volunteer!
Four years ago, a new, contagious disease was identified - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Join Executive Director Cathy Rowe and guest, Dr. Meg Fisher to talk about where we stand today against this disease and the newest vaccine to fight it.
Dr. Fisher, Special Advisor to NJ’s Commissioner of Health explains how COVID has changed, why the newest vaccine is important for older adults, and how to sort through misinformation and disinformation when searching for information about your health.
Some changes in vison are natural with age, many are not. Loss of vision can impact quality of life, our independence and our self-confidence. It's important to learn what can be done to help you maintain the best vision possible. Don't let the fear of going to the doctor or outdated perceptions of eye care keep you from achieving your best vision possible and fully participating in your life.
Learn about the newest technology and treatment for eye care with Dr. Tanya Carter and Dr. Frank Barnes of Montclair, NJ. As they walk us through the newest techniques for conducting eye exams, and a range of technology for low vision, we explore how much has changed to make eye exams easier with better results.
Ignoring hearing loss does not make it go away. Join retired social worker Pearl Feder and author Arlene Romoff to learn from their professional and personal experiences on how you can stay connected and engaged with technology, skills and support.
The good news is, we are living longer. The other news is, we have to plan for how to remain financially secure for a longer life.
Join us as financial planner Jim Parks walks through the important thing to consider as you plan for a long and secure life.
Falling is one of the scariest words for older adults. It conjures up fear of declining health, injury and a slippery slide towards losing independence. But it does not have to be that way. Join us to learn about replacing the fear of falling with tools for fall prevention.
In this episode, we talk about NOT falling with our guest, Christine Conti. Christine is a Chronic Disease Wellness Specialist, FallProof Fall Prevention Creator/Specialist & on top of all that, a Best-Selling Author.
There are many things that can help prevent falls, ranging from becoming aware of lighting, hydrations to grip strength and flexibility. As we learn, little things can add up to a lot of improvement. And be fun along the way!
Traveling is back!
It has been 3 long years since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most traveling. Now as the world is opening up again, it is time to think of where you want to go and how you are going to get there. Join us with guest Tyler Sajacz, a veteran of the travel industry President and CEO of Tours of Distinction as he gives us tips and strategies for traveling well after 60.
Whether you are flying, training, cruising, going abroad or traveling within the US, solo or with the grandkids, there is a tip for everyone in this episode of aging insights.
Learn about this new program offered to all NJ residents over 60 by the NJ Division of Aging Services with Deputy Division Director of the Division of Aging Services, Melissa Chalker, MSW.
To support older residents, promote aging well and fight the challenges of social isolation the Division of Aging services has partnered with GetSetUp to provide online programming free to NJ residents. This virtual platform offers classes and discussions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Join us to learn how to set up your account, see the range of classes, and learn more about the goals and programs of the Division of Aging Services.
‘Tis the season. As many of us are busy preparing for Holidays and making important decisions for next year, scammers and fraud schemes are busy trying to take advantage of older adults .
In this episode of Aging Insights, learn how to Stop Senior Fraud with our special guests, Christine Newman, Director of Community Outreach and Volunteer Engagement for AARP New Jersey and Charles Clarkson, Project Director for Senior Medicare Patrol NJ.
Learn how con artists try to get people to act from a sense of emotion, fear and intimidation, and how you can resist. Christine and Charles highlight ways to change the narrative and stop victim blaming. Fraud is a complex, highly sophisticated crime strategy that can be stopped and needs to be reported.
Remember that information is valuable, so listen in to learn how to take steps to empower yourself to fight fraud this year.
Over the past 2 years, we have learned and witnessed the importance of mental health and emotional well-being. The generation that is now retired - the “great generation” or the boomers - are often not used to or comfortable talking about mental health. But as we are living longer than ever before, more attention is focused on wellness, resilience and emotional health.
Dr. Michelle R. Zechner, Assistant Professor at the Rutgers School of Health Professions, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions joins us in this enlightening episode on wellness and flourishing with age.
For some people that may come naturally, but others need to be intentional about it. In this episode, Dr Zechner discusses tools people can use to flourish as they age, and what can we do to support our own multi-dimensional wellness.
Dr. Zechner has an extensive career in psychiatric rehabilitation, research, professional training and more. Her primary expertise is in helping people living with lifelong mental health conditions focus on health and wellness, and in wellness for emotional health as we age.
Physician house calls and home visits are on the rise - along with in home dental services. Join us with guests Dr Evan Rubin, from Visiting Physicians Services and Dr Lindsay Rubin from Dental Home Services to learn about the complete range of services they offer patients in the safety and comfort of their home. Dr. Evan Rubin is the Medical Director for Visiting Physician Services, part of the Parker Advanced Care Institute at VNA Health Group. He has been a geriatric house call physician for over 12 years and is board certified in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and his Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University. Dr Lindsay Rubin is part of Dental Home Services which provides dental care to homebound and disabled patients. Dr. Lindsay Rubin is a graduate Tufts University School of Dental Medicine with extensive emergency room experience.
Driving is important and emotional. While families might threaten to take away an older adult's car keys, there are many strategies to help people drive safely as they age. Listen to learn about tools, devices, classes and strategies that enable older adults to maintain their independence while driving safely.
Lifelong learning is more than taking a class or reading a book. Lifelong learning is a guide and a strategy to age well with benefits for the mind, memory, physical health, social well being and builds community. Many studies show the importance and relevance of a quest for learning and curiosity at any age. In this episode of Aging Insights, Executive Director Cathy Rowe visits the OSHER Institute of Lifelong Learning at Rutgers University, also known as OLLI-RU. One of over 100 Osher Institute sites around the country, OLLI-RU is at the center of lifelong learning in New Jersey. With a new state of the art facility and a significant expansion and virtual learning under COVID disruptions, OLLI-RU offers hundreds of classes for older adults in New Jersey and beyond. Join us to visit the site as it re-opens, and meet Executive rector Megan Novak, and Program Coordinators Kristen Michaels and Rajini Kurian to learn about classes, opportunities and the community of these learners.
Its summer and the arts and cultural scene is back! Learn what is new and renewed in NJ and how our cultural community is open for visitors as well as volunteers. Join NJAAW's Executive Director Cathy Rowe as she talks to Lynne Toye, Executive Director, NJ Arts & Culture Renewal Fund at the Princeton Area Community Foundation and Julia Hain from the South Jersey Cultural Alliance to hear what is going on throughout the Garden State.
As we celebrate Pride Moth, we celebrate the progress made in recognizing the needs and ensuring the rights of LGBT people. But for many of our older adults, growing up as a gay or trans person was not easy. We have come a long way, but are were finished with the fight for LGBT+ rights? Join host Cathy Rowe and guest Amy Simon, CEO and Managing Partner of LGBT Senior Housing and Care to talk about how far we've come and where we go next in ensuring rights for our LGBT+ neighbors.
We have all heard that walking is good exercise at any age, but it can have multiple rewards for older adults such as improved cardiovascular health and bone density, lowering blood sugar, and positively impacting mental health. Meet the Freewalkers who have taken endurance walking to a whole new level as they walk across towns, across bridges, and across the state. Join Dr Cathy Rowe and some of Freewalkers' most active members to celebrate walking, its emotional and social benefits, and find inspiration for your next stroll.
April 16 is National Health Care Decisions Day? Have you determined your health care wishes? And have you shared them with those closest to you and your health care practitioners? In this podcast, host Dr. Cathy Rowe is joined by Tracy Grafton, a geriatric social worker and a board member of New Jersey’s Goals of Care Coalition, to discuss how advanced care planning helps your loved ones understand what you want when you can’t speak for yourself. Grafton also examines the various life stages of a typical older adult and explores the importance of advance care planning—and how to have the much-needed conversation with your loved ones.
How did The Garden State take care of the arts, one of its most prized sectors, during the COVID-19 shutdowns of 2020 and the gradual reopening efforts of 2021? In this podcast, Lynne Toye, the inaugural executive director of the NJ Arts and Culture Renewal Fund, joins host Dr. Cathy Rowe to detail what her group experienced in caring for the arts during the COVID years. Toye will also outline how listeners can get involved with the many kinds of art programs New Jersey offers. Plus, learn how the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund, established in 2020, has supported and strengthened the state’s arts, cultural and historical sector during and after COVID.
Meditation can inject far-reaching and long-lasting physical and psychological benefits into our daily lives. Advantages include decreased stress, improved brainpower, sharper focus and a calming effect on our minds. It’s something anyone can do. But not everyone knows how. In this short podcast, Mary Flett, anationally-acclaimed clinical psychologist and the executive director of the Center for Aging and Values in California, will teach you how to relax your mind and body into immersive awareness, gratitude and tranquility—in less than five minutes.
The painful reality is that older Americans, especially older women, are becoming “invisible” in today’s culture, says researcher Mary Flett, a clinical psychologist. “We can either feel bad about that or find ways to look at it, laugh at it and lighten up about it,” the author, blogger and one-time stand-up comic says. She can’t wait to show you how. In this podcast, Flett joins host Dr. Cathy Rowe to discuss the five pillars of aging, which will help you understand the tenets of aging with grace and finesse. Topics include how you can embrace change, access your strength, improve resilience, find more purpose and master emotional economics. Flett, the executive director of the Center for Aging and Values in California, recently published a three-book series titled “Aging with Finesse.” In addition, she will soon launch an online seminar detailing the five pillars of aging.
Physical therapy can play a significant role in helping you hit your highest fitness goals by soothing aches and pains and preventing further injury by maximizing your strength, mobility and function. But the best results require a detailed, individualized plan of care based on goals, injuries and needs. In this podcast, Jo Goldin, a physical therapist with the U.S. Tennis Association, will show you how you can get started, what physical therapy covers and how to choose the right physical therapist for you. Goldin, who has practiced in the U.S. and U.K. for 38 years, will also detail how physical therapists, unlike other fitness specialty professionals, have the education and state certification to: Diagnose injuries and develop a customized treatment plan to help you recover quicker. Focus on preventive care, which is especially helpful for older adults with chronic pain or limitations in movement because of an injury or arthritis. A bonus: Medicare covers physical therapy! Develop an exercise routine or a fitness plan that meets your goals, needs and lifestyle.
The painful reality is that older Americans, especially older women, are becoming “invisible” in today’s culture, says researcher Mary Flett, a clinical psychologist. “We can either feel bad about that or find ways to look at it, laugh at it and lighten up about it,” the author, blogger and one-time stand-up comic says. She can’t wait to show you how. In this podcast, Flett joins host Dr. Cathy Rowe to discuss the five pillars of aging, which will help you understand the tenets of aging with grace and finesse. Topics include how you can embrace change, access your strength, improve resilience, find more purpose and master emotional economics. Flett, the executive director of the Center for Aging and Values in California, recently published a three-book series titled “Aging with Finesse.” In addition, she will soon launch an online seminar detailing the five pillars of aging.
Discover how NJ took care of the arts during the COVID years (2020-2021) and learn how you can get involved with the many kinds of arts programs in The Garden State. Aging Insights TV host Cathy Rowe, DrPH, finds out the latest status on these sectors from Lynne Toye, inaugural Executive Director of the NJ Arts and Culture Renewal Fund. The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund (originally named the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund) was established in 2020 to ensure the survival, strength and sustainability of the state’s arts, cultural and historical sector during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund has awarded nearly $4 million to arts and cultural venues throughout NJ.
Meditation can inject far-reaching and long-lasting physical and psychological benefits into our daily lives. Advantages include decreased stress, improved brainpower, sharper focus and a calming effect on our minds. It’s something anyone can do. But not everyone knows how. In this short podcast, Mary Flett, a nationally-acclaimed clinical psychologist and the executive director of the Center for Aging and Values in California, will guide you through a short meditation to relax the mind and body into immersive awareness, gratitude, and tranquility—in less than five minutes.
Physical therapy can play a significant role in helping you hit your highest fitness goals by soothing aches and pains and preventing further injury by maximizing your strength, mobility and function. But the best results require a detailed, individualized plan of care based on goals, injuries and needs. In this podcast, Jo Goldin, a physical therapist with the U.S. Tennis Association, will show you how you can get started, what physical therapy covers and how to choose the right physical therapist for you. Goldin, who has practiced in the U.S. and U.K. for 38 years, will also detail how physical therapists, unlike other fitness specialty professionals, have the education and state certification to: Diagnose injuries and develop a customized treatment plan to help you recover quicker. Focus on preventive care, which is especially helpful for older adults with chronic pain or limitations in movement because of an injury or arthritis. A bonus: Medicare covers physical therapy! Develop an exercise routine or a fitness plan that meets your goals, needs and lifestyle.