Parent Projects - Aging In America: Recent Episodes
Bina Colman
This podcast focuses on the issues that tend to push us into advocating for others working through the downsizing process; Distance, Disabilities, Debt, Divorce, Death and Decluttering.
Ryan Smith serves as Director of Communications and Government Relations. His team manages the marketing, social media, and customer experience for Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. They also manage a volunteer program that consists of 20 volunteers and a few therapy dogs. These volunteers are the frontline workers that help passengers as they arrive at the airport. Their therapy dog program is designed to help those passengers that may experience anxiety with flying or being in large crowds with lots of noise. Gateway Airport is unique in that they are a much smaller and more convenient airport than your regular large hub airport. Providing this Just Plane Easy experience is important for us as many of their passengers are flying for the first time. They also love giving tours of the airport to groups looking to learn about aviation, and school groups teaching about the various careers that are available at and around the airport.
Dr. Shad Marvasti, MD, MPH, is a Stanford-trained physician, medical educator, researcher, public speaker and author, and serves as the Director of Integrative Medicine at HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Shad is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and is proactively engaged in creating solutions to promote health and prevent the chronic diseases of our time.
Dr. Mia Chorney, DNP, FNPBC is a distinguished leader in the field of Women’s Heart Health, blending thirty years of comprehensive healthcare experience with an impressive depth of knowledge in cardiovascular care, genetics, menopause and artificial intelligence (AI); further, leading to a passion for precision medicine and women's health. With a doctorate and numerous accolades, including Summa Cum Laude, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society and the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, reflecting her dedication to academic excellence & honors society memberships.
Dr. Johanna Richey’s current practice is a mix of clinical and didactic teaching to students at Midwestern University and with residents across the country. She also coordinates and leads research projects on campus with her students and collaboratively with surgeons in their community. Dr. Johanna Richey’s current areas of interest include Medical Education, Podiatric Surgery, Foot and Ankle Trauma, Geriatrics, Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgery, Pediatrics, Sports Medicine, Regenerative Therapy, and Arthroscopy. When it comes to patient care, she wants to provide empathy and compassion with high-quality care that is centered in evidence-based medicine. Dr. Johanna Richey is inquisitive by nature and enjoys teaching both patients and students about the mechanics of the foot and how this leads to pathology and ultimately symptoms.
Leslie Moore is the Director of Desert Mission Adult Day Health Care for HonorHealth. Prior to joining Desert Mission in February 2023, she was the Lifestyle Manager for the Care Center at Vi at Grayhawk Continuing Care Retirement Community where she managed the bio-psycho-social well-being of the residents residing in the Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Memory Care units. Before joining Vi at Grayhawk in 2017, she spent 6 years working at Sojourner Center Domestic Violence Shelter in Phoenix as a Case Manager and then the Volunteer & Community Outreach Manager. Leslie was a part of the Strategic Planning Committee for Sojourner Center which involved researching and drafting of a grant proposal for the St. Luke’s Health Initiative for a Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic Violence Research and Treatment Clinic as well as a white paper addressing domestic violence and men.Leslie brings her diverse professional experiences to every new endeavor and finds that she is always learning something new each day, whether it was working with women and children who had experienced domestic abuse or providing life enrichment to seniors in various levels of care, especially with those experiencing dementia. Leslie found her experiences working with individuals that have probable traumatic brain injuries aides in program creation for individuals impacted by dementia. She continually seeks to create comprehensive, supportive, and innovative programs for individuals experiencing dementia and believes that continuing education builds and expands on relevant skills and knowledge.Leslie graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with the Science and Society designation and a Master of Science in Family and Human Development. She also is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, Certified Dementia Support Group Facilitator, and an Advanced Activity Professional - Board Certified.
Mary Brown-Edokpayi is a Colorado-based Supervising Attorney with Cameron Firm, PC. She represents clients nationwide and is passionate about her work. Before working at Cameron Firm, PC, Mrs. Brown-Edokpayi served as an Aviation Electronics Mate (AE) in the United States Navy. During her honorable service, she earned the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer.Following her military service, Mrs. Brown-Edokpayi worked as a public defender in Colorado. There, she represented veterans facing unjust criminal charges. After six years as a public defender, she practiced at a private firm in Bethesda, Maryland, where she battled before the Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims (CAVC). Her success led her to join the National Veteran Legal Services Program, which allowed her to focus her advocacy on veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) claims.As a veteran, she understands the unique challenges service members face when returning to civilian life. Mrs. Brown-Edokpayi has a wealth of experience dealing with CAVC benefits disputes and appeals and is prepared to assist you with any challenges you may face.
Heather has been working with veterinarians for over a decade and has the insight and knowledge of how pets/animals can bring joy and companionship to people who may be living alone and/or the elderly.
Joyce Petrowski is the Founder and Executive Director of the Arizona non-profit Resources & Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly (R.O.S.E.). Joyce is a public accountant by trade and an avid volunteer and philanthropist by calling, which brought her into the non-profit sector in 2014 when she recognized the need for public education on financial scams, especially those targeting the elderly. Today, she leads a team who share her calling and, together, through advocacy and education, they are on a mission to prevent financial exploitation and defrauding of the elderly. We’ll be discussing efforts to help you increase awareness of the current scams and how to respond if they strike your loved one, and then arm you with the right tools and resources to share with your friends and family.
Dr. Tiffany Pankow, MD, is a family medicine specialist in Phoenix, AZ, and has over 23 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from the University of Virginia, main campus, in 2000. Dr. Pankow is also chief of caregiver wellness and patient experience for HonorHealth, one of Arizona’s largest nonprofit healthcare systems serving a population of five million people in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Ashley is a third-generation funeral director and has worked in his family’s funeral home since he was in high school. He became a licensed funeral director in 1994. Ashley has been recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. In 2004, he was recognized as a Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). In 2013, he was among the first group of individuals in the country to be recognized as an NFDA Certified Crematory Operator (CCO).Ashley is a past president of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association. In 2009, he was named the Kansas Funeral Director of the Year. On a national level, Ashley served as the Kansas representative to the Policy Board of the National Funeral Directors Association, the largest association of funeral directors in the world. In 2011, he was elected by his peers to serve on the NFDA Board of Directors. In 2016, he became the 123rd President of the National Funeral Directors Association.Under Ashley’s leadership, Broadway Mortuary and its staff have been recognized multiple times by NFDA as a recipient of the prestigious Pursuit of Excellence Award. This award is presented to firms that exemplify a commitment to excellence and outstanding service to others. Broadway Mortuary is the only Wichita funeral home to have been inducted into the NFDA Hall of Excellence.
Carla Sutter holds her master's degree in social work and has spent her 30-year career working with organizations who are dedicated to helping clients and families care for themselves and others whose needs are changing due to age or illness. She is a subject matter expert on end-of-life tools and conversations. Her present work at Contexture and the Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry has her focused on engaging healthcare organizations, community agencies and Arizonans on enhancing goal concordant care through advance care planning conversations and the resulting advance directive documents.
On today’s show, we are talking to Aaron Guest. Aaron Guest is an interdisciplinary trained social-environmental gerontologist and Assistant Professor of Aging in the Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University. Dr. Guest is interested in the predominant social and environmental domains older adults live, and how knowledge can lead to increased understanding of and improvements in health. The scope of his research can be grouped into three overarching themes: Social & Built Environments Approaches to Reduce Health Inequities in Older Age.
Today, on the show, we again have Dr. Arianna Brandolini, a clinical psychologist who maintains a private practice in New York City. Her main areas of expertise include the assessment and treatment of individuals suffering from OCD, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders using cognitive behavioral therapy and other research-supported techniques. Dr. Brandolini also sees people for a variety of other issues, including adjustment to difficult life events, life transitions, challenging family dynamics, and relationship problems. Her main goal is to create a safe, supportive space where she can provide practical and effective treatment that is tailored to one’s specific needs. She is also a speaker and educator on mental health and is passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive.
Today on the show, we have clinical psychologist, speaker, educator, and mental health advocate, Dr. Arianna Brandolini. She has degrees from Harvard University and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Dr. Arianna resides in NYC where she has a private practice, and she is here with us for a conversation about processing grief and pain.
Today, we have neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Stern with us, sharing his lessons on losing capabilities and capacity while choosing to maintain vitality and purpose in life. Dr. Joseph Stern has decades of experience as a neurosurgeon, and wrote the book “Grief Connects Us”. Join us as we talk about grief and break down ways to tackle and understand grief.
Overture Home Care knows what it feels like to be worried about a loved one and to want your family to be safe and secure while giving them as much independence as possible. We are joined today by Denise Helms and Paige Wolk.
Denise Helms, RN, BSN, CDP, has over twenty five years of experience as a Registered Nurse. Mrs. Helms began caring for the elderly as a volunteer candy striper at a nursing home while still in middle school. When she reached high school, she became a nursing assistant and worked as such through college. The next logical step was to pursue a degree in nursing.
Paige Wolk, LBSW, CDP, has over twenty years of experience in the Senior Care Industry. She began her career as a Social Worker in a skilled nursing facility working with elderly, and found her passion. Mrs. Wolk has been active in the Social Work community, earning such distinctions as Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers and Social Worker of the Year by the Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare, Texas Chapter.
Matthew Claassen is considered a leading national expert on Medicare and is a distinguished member of the Forbes Business council, an invitation-only organization of business leaders. He and his team have received awards from many of the country’s largest insurance companies. His videos have become the most popular Medicare educational videos on YouTube with millions of views.
Today, we have neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Stern with us, sharing his lessons on losing capabilities and capacity while still choosing to maintain vitality and purpose in life.
Today, our Guest is Noelle Ghram, an Occupational Therapist with 23 years of experience working with trauma patients in hospitals, homes, rehabs, and skilled nursing facilities. She is currently working at a Level 1 Acute Care Trauma Center and has a passion for educating people and families about fall prevention.
Today, our Guest is Dr. Avigail Lev, a licensed clinical psychologist based in San Francisco, California. Her areas of specialty include ACT & Schema Therapy, Couples Therapy, and Personality Disorders, and has already co-authored 3 books on those subjects. Her goal as a therapist is to provide her patients with the tools to choose the actions and behaviors that express their deepest values. “In the face of distress or other challenges, living from your values will enable you to lead a meaningful life and to be the person you want to be.
The right Home Care provides freedom to live out the final years well, but the wrong care can be traumatic and financially devastating. Understand what to look for and what to avoid. Today, we are with Julio Briones of the Briones Consulting Group. Julio is a business consultant specializing in senior care business growth with a focus on strategic implementation. He works with senior care facilities as well as Home Care/Home Health and Hospice agencies to create custom strategies to enhance their offering, streamline their recruitment, retention, operations, and client service processes.
Today, we will be chatting with Adria Thompson, certified dementia practitioner, who creates practical and functional content for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's. She believes if we can better understand the reality in which individuals with dementia are living, we will better meet their needs with compassion and understanding.
Today, we are talking with Katie Skavrce, Communications Director at the Alzheimer's Association. There is hope for the future, and Katie is going to share with us some very easy, practical lifestyle interventions that clinical trials are proving to be working in helping slow the progress on cognitive decline, as well as some great advancement in medications.
Today, we are breaking down different types of fraud attacks and ways to be on guard against them, as well as tools to help you work through it if you have become a victim.
Michael Doring Connelly, a 40-plus-year healthcare veteran and former CEO of Mercy Health, details how senior citizens (and people with terminal diagnoses) can have more control and dignity in the final phases of their lives in his new book, The Journey’s End: An Investigation into Death and Dying in Modern America.
Steve Alfonsi is the franchise owner of ComForCare Home Care, along with the Founder and CEO of Vital Palliative and Royal Hospice. Steve grew up in a family where his father owned skilled nursing and rehab facilities in multiple States which gave him exposure to the Senior Care industry at an early age. In addition, Steve learned firsthand about caregiving by helping his mother who lost her battle to pancreatic cancer.Steve also has an abundance of business leadership experience working prior as a corporate executive that he utilizes and has enabled him to build a work culture and environment that provides quality service. He holds a master’s degree in economics and is an active member in many organizations, such as Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), and is also a Board Member of Arizona In-Home care Association (AZNHA).
Today our Guest is Traci Beagley. Traci Beagley is the Founder & CEO of Sunland Home Care and Medical. She is a 4th generation native to Mesa, Arizona. Her great-grandfather and grandfather, Joe and Ross Farnsworth, built the first 55+ active adult community in the East Valley in Arizona in 1958. Since then, her father, Craig Ahlstrom, Sr., has continued building several active adult communities in Mesa. Many of Traci’s memories growing up involve serving and working with seniors. She continues to follow in her family’s compassionate legacy.
Today’s Guest is Katie Brenneman, Katie Brenneman is the founder and president of Stronghold Financial. Stronghold Financial s a full-service wealth management and Medicaid planning firm driven by one focused goal – to help clients grow, protect and transfer all they have worked so hard to achieve. They continually establish themselves as a leader in the financial services community. They do this by providing the utmost in quality of financial services and products which cater to each client’s needs and interests.
Today’s Guest is Jan Dougherty Jan Dougherty, MS, RN, FAAN is a nurse leader, innovator, and noted dementia care expert. As a change agent, Jan has been advancing care for people living with Alzheimer's disease/related dementia and their family caregivers. Jan brings to her clients TravAlz innovation and expertise using dementia-friendly travel solutions. The results for the travel industry and family caregivers ensure successful, safe, and memorable travels.
Today’s guest is William Seippel, the CEO of Worth Point. WorthPoint Corporation is the largest resource for researching, valuing, and buying/selling antiques, art, and vintage collectibles. Our suite of offerings on WorthPoint.com includes a price guide for researching and valuing antiques, art, and collectibles; a resource gallery for identifying makers’ marks; and, a digital library of books from leading publishers on a wide range of collecting topics.
Michelle Riddle founded Complete Dignity in February 2015 with the purpose to assist, educate and navigate patients through the complicated and often intimidating world of healthcare. Michelle is a private, Board Certified Patient Advocate who serves families nationwide. She received her certificate in Patient Advocacy through the Cleveland State University School of Nursing. Michelle is also a member of The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates and a member of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants. She has been featured in Arizona Attorney Magazine-Expert Guide 2020 in the Medical-Legal Consulting, Patient Advocate, and Insurance Claims Analysis categories. She is the Founder and President of Arizona Associates of Patient Advocacy.
Do you know where your parents are going to go? Hospice, senior living communities can be tough to traverse, but our guest Sandra Dyk is an expert in guiding individuals to find their Alamo. Sandy Dyk. Sandy has over 30 years experience advocating professionally for families and leading organizations focused on Senior Living. She's also a Certified Dementia Practitioner & Champion. Sandy is Director of Operations and Development at All About You, a senior placement service local to Arizona. All About You has earned emerging business of the year from Queen Creek's Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Suarez is board certified in Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Care and Geriatrics. She recently completed a Healthcare MBA at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). She is the medical director of Traditions Health Hospice in Portland and Salem and is a palliative care consultant at OHSU Hillsboro. She is developing a home-based palliative care and chronic disease program that will launch by the first of the year. She has begun training as a Psilocybin Facilitator with the intention of helping terminally ill patients cope with existential pain and she is excited to see where this leads. Most important to Dr. Suarez is her art, travel experiences, her “boys”, Cooper, a mischievous little Yorkie, and Jack, her lounging-loving mixed Corgi, but mostly, her family, especially her grandson, Riker, the love of her life.
Do you know the brands Boost, Depends, Poise? Would you like to know more about these brands to help aid your aging loved ones? Today we are joined my Bianca Padilla, CEO of Carewell. Learn from her experiences in aiding her Grandmother and how it called to her to start one of the fastest growing Companies here in the US.
Today we are kicking off season 2 of our parent projects podcast and our guest is our senior moves manager, Lori English. Lori has been helping seniors with their moves for over 10 years. Her experience as a Senior Move Manager is invaluable and her perspectives, golden!
Our guest today, Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk has over twenty years of experience providing medical care to the elderly will be talking to us today about ways we can help our aging loved ones have a better quality of life. Dr Landsverk is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care Medicine. Dr Landsverk founded ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, a house calls practice, to address the challenging medical and behavioral issues often facing older patients and their families. Dr Landsverk was an assistant professor of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco, an adjunct professor of Medicine at Stanford University, as well as consultant to the San Francisco Elder Abuse Forensics Center and Hospice Medical Director.
Dealing with Debt. Howard Dvorkin is Chairman of debt.com, and founder of one of the most highly regarded credit counseling companies; he's a noted debt and credit expert in the United States and has played an instrumental role in drafting both State and Federal Legislation. He is a former consultant to the Board of Directors for the Association of Credit Counseling Professionals (ACCPros) and is the past president of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). Are your parents spending too much? It may be time to sit down with them but not at the dinner table, we discuss this and more to help you on your path of a Parent Project, on this episode of the Parent Projects Podcast. I'm Tony Siebers.
Join Col(R) Frank Milstead, former Director of Public Safety for the State of Arizona and career law enforcement officer as we talk about his Parent Project and how communication styles impact our projects.
Today I’m joined by Lin Sue Flood, Director of Community Engagement with Hospice of the Valley, and longtime newscaster for Channel 12News in Phoenix. We’re kicking off June's National Alzheiner's Awareness Month with a conversation about resources available to advocates and caretakers during the hospice stage of this disease and listening to how this critical service touched Lin Sue's life.