Getting older does not mean the end of learning, loving or living. According to our guests, we have entered the world of Super Aging, and our later years can be the most productive and fulfilling times of our lives. David Cravit and Larry Wolf, authors of Super Aging; Getting Older Without Getting Old, say that we can take control of our lives as we age by challenging the old view of aging and joining the latest cultural revolution. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

The state run guardianship/conservatorship program is largely unregulated and too often attractive to predators. Currently there are more than two million Americans, mostly seniors, who are under court control with unwanted and unnecessary restrictions that violate constitutionally protected rights . Created by the US government over 100 years ago to assist the most vulnerable, it is beneficial to some but impossible to escape. Our guest, journalist Diane Dimond, has written "We're Here To Help: When Guardianship Goes Wrong" and dissects this industry which profits off the confinement of others. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

The relationship between parents and adult children can be wonderful..."oh, my dad is my best friend," or it can still be hung up on the problems of the rebellious adolescent years. Whichever it is, many older parents today find themselves still parenting as their adult children move back home or struggle to find their own paths. Dr. Laurence Steinberg, a child psychologist and professor of psychology, has written You and Your Adult Child: How to Grow Together in Challenging Times. His advice for parents, grandparents and adult children recognizes how parenting styles have changed in the 21st century. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

Today's episode is about elder abuse, the intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates harm to a person over 60 years of age. This includes physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as neglect. Elder abuse is often underestimated because most of the cases are unreported. Victims often have to choose between reporting abuse and losing the caregiver they may depend on or trust. Our guest, Dr. Laura Mosqueda, has led landmark studies on markers of abuse and neglect, and established the first forensic center on elder abuse. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

There are so many scams around that it is hard to list them all...fake grandchildren asking for money, callers pretending to be your bank asking you to clarify information, computer scams, romance scams...and many of them go after older adults. They know many older people have assets, live alone, and are happy to have a conversation with a caller who "seems nice." Our guest, Jackie Wiley, of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation,tells us how to protect yourself from future scams and recognize the warning signs of all types of fraud. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

When we talk about successful aging, where to live often comes into the conversation. While most older adults say that they want to age in place, according to our guest, that is not always the best idea. Aging in place can mean isolation, an unhealthy atmosphere, and a reluctance to go out at all. Place matters. If you're aging in the right place, you'll be inspired to engage with your community, stay physically active, and be ready for new adventures. Our guest Ryan Frederick has been studying housing for years. His new book, “Right Place, Right Time: the Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Home for the Second Half of Life”, examines place as the key to successful aging. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

Because the transition to dying is a traumatic time for families and the dying person, a new kind of help has recently developed--the end of life doula. The doula assists in the dying process with emotional and physical support and preparation for what is to come. This is a different approach to care and our guest, Kris Kington Barker explains what a doula can do and when and why a dying person or family might choose one. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

No matter how old you are now, at some time in your life you have felt physical or emotional tension in your body and mind because of stress. There is good stress and bad stress, and our guest, Dr. Kerry Burnight, founder of The Gerontologist, a firm providing expertise on aging to businesses, tells us how to understand the causes of stress and how to deal with it. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

Forty-million Americans have surgery every year, sometimes with little time to prepare emotionally. Many feel anxious before surgery and the road to recovery is often painful and prolonged due to the anxiety. The older one is, the more likely one is to feel worried as well. This need not be so, according to our guest Julie Bailit, who consults patients prior to surgery. By using relaxation, calming messages and visualization to reduce anxiety, patients use less pain medication and heal faster. Her workshops, "Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster," are available online and in person in the Boston area. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.

Even though there are more older people than ever today, aging can be difficult. According to MT Connolly, author and MacArthur Genius award winner, it doesn’t have to be this hard. She believes that our society has failed to build the infrastructure we need to age well, and that we should all work to change the culture and embrace the many positive aspects of aging. Her book, The Measure of Our Age, examines the systems that have both helped and harmed us so we can embrace or avoid them as we age. Brought to you by https://nextvillagesf.org/ NEXT Village SF is a neighborhood nonprofit providing services and support that empowers members to live independently.