Journey Ahead

Guest Joe Kalscheur discusses how planning for emergencies might look different for individuals with disabilities or people 50 and older. A disaster or emergency impacting your daily life can happen at anytime, sometimes without warning. Freezing temperatures, tornadoes, floods, fires, and other emergencies mean that everyone should have a plan in place. But if you’re 50 or older or have a disability, there are extra things you need to pay attention to. Thankfully, there are ways you can be prepared to respond safely and recover swiftly. Here to discuss how to plan is Joe Kalscheur, a public health specialist from the Eau Claire City-County Health Department.

As we brave the more serious sides of aging, it is important to incorporate ways to experience life’s lighter side to keep us balanced and be able to cope. In fact, laughter and a healthy dose of humor have been shown in studies to improve our physical, psychological, and social well-being. Tom Kidd of Balanced Wellness Services, a former health educator with approximately 30 years of teaching experience, sits down with Lisa Wells to discuss the benefits of finding humor and laughter later on in life.

Someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with some form of dementia every 65 seconds, and that number continues to grow as the population ages. Susan McFadden, co-founder of the Fox Valley Memory Project, sits down Lisa Wells to discuss how people with dementia and their loved ones can still experience joy with creativity and a shift in mindset. It’s not often we hear the words “joy” and “dementia” in the same sentence. Dementia is hard and affects not only the person but their care partner and families – making it easy to find the gloom and doom. In order to find the light, it takes a bit of creativity and a shift in thinking as it pertains to dementia care. Susan McFadden, co-founder of the Fox Valley Memory Project and professor emerita of psychology at UW-Oshkosh, sits down with Lisa Wells to discuss different approaches to dealing with dementia that can make the journey a little less despondent and a bit brighter – starting with something as simple as re-defining the dementia “patient.”

Guests Geri and Tamara discuss how having and maintaining strong friendships as we age, not only impact the quality of life, but enhances it. As we age, it can become more difficult to find friends and develop meaningful relationships due to moving away, widowhood, the death of a friend, caregiving, or finding time to sustain relationships. But as research suggests, having these meaningful relationships can help promote health. According to Mayo Clinic, adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and cognitive decline. In fact, studies have shown that older adults who have meaningful relationships and social support are likely to live longer than their peers with fewer connections. However, one in three adults say they lack regular companions, while one in four say they feel isolated from other people at least part of the time. In this episode, friends Geri Krause and Tamara Fanjoy sit down with Lisa to discuss benefits of maintaining strong friendships and offers advice on how to go about it.

According to the AARP, nearly 90% of adults age 50 and older – across all health status categories, incomes, and races – want to age in place and remain at home. In order to do so, some may consider using assistive technology (A.T.) to help facilitate independence at home. In this episode, Laura Plummer, the assistive technology program coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, sits down with host Lisa Wells to discuss assistive technology. From low-tech/no-tech devices like reachers and remote controls to high tech systems like smart home devices, Plummer offers a host of information and advice on how to maintain your independence during the later stages of life.

As we age, medical and psychological ailments can creep into our bodies. In this episode, Marilyn Skrivseth talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about Active Aging. Marilyn is an expert on Active Aging with over 50 years of experience working in fields related to health, wellness, physical activity and athletics. Active Aging, a concept designed by the World Health Organization, aims to ensure older adults enjoy a quality life despite age related limitations. Marilyn and Lisa discuss optimizing wellbeing on a physical, social and mental level as it relates to Active Aging.

It’s amazing how much stuff we collect over the years, but cleaning out the clutter can be so overwhelming—so where do we start? In this episode, Connie Kees from Consult an Organizer, discusses with Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center on the benefits of de-cluttering your home and gives resources and advice on how to even start.

Hippocrates said a long time ago, “all disease begin in the gut.” In this episode, Dr. Kristie Gering of Spero Wellness Clinic in Chippewa Falls talks with Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire about gut health and its connection to the brain and healthy aging. Gut bacteria and other microbes play a significant role in the body, from making vitamins to maintaining our immune system. Dr. Gering sits down with Wells to discuss maintaining optimal gut health and its connection to preventing cognitive decline and regaining optimal brain health.

We plan for many things in life—birthdays, weddings, vacations, and even groceries—but we typically don’t think about planning for aging. In this episode, Dementia Care Specialists, Trisha Witham from Barron, Rusk and Washburn Counties and Carla Berscheit from Chippewa and Dunn Counties, talk to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about creating a plan for aging well. Statistics state that about 60 percent of us will need care at some point in our lives. It is something we don’t want to think about but a reality we must face. Witham and Berscheit sit down with Wells to discuss the many factors that make planning ahead difficult and what we can do now to better prepare us for what happens after we retire—from tracking our health to having those conversations with our loved ones.

When our purpose is no longer defined by the roles we used to play, how do we find meaning in life? In this episode, Jean Jirovec, a retired marriage and family therapist with over 42 years of experience in the mental health field, discusses with Lisa Wells about the real affects of feeling the loss of purpose and meaning in the later years of life and how to address it. Studies suggests that a sense of purpose promotes healthy behaviors associated with physical and mental health. As we grow older, our sense of purpose and meaning may decrease. Jirovec offers a host of advice on combatting these feelings from resilience through connection and practicing healthy assertiveness to redefining roles to better suit us as we age.

Debra Hoffman, a retired associate nursing professor from UW-Eau Claire, talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about grief and loss as we age. Grief and loss are an inevitable part of life no matter our age, and as we get older, they become even more likely. In this episode, Debra Hoffman, a retired associate nursing professor from UW-Eau Claire, talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about grief and loss as we age. We lose more of the people we love as we grow older; however, grief is not reserved for just the loss of loved ones. Hoffman, whose expertise and passion focuses on hospice, palliative, and end-of-life care, sits down with Wells to discuss how we experience loss and loneliness differently in the later stages of life and gives advice on how to cope with losing things we take for granted.

Sleep is crucial for healthy living at any stage of life, but as our bodies change with age, so should the way we approach sleep. In this episode, Dr. Donn Dexter of Mayo Clinic Health System talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about sleep and aging well. Sleep disruption is associated with a number of health effects, Dr. Dexter says. As sleep architecture changes with age, different sleeping disorders become more prevalent, especially if those changes go unchecked. Dr. Dexter and Wells discuss the importance of sleep, sleeping disorders, and the different things we can do in the later stages of life to help get a good night’s sleep.

Resiliency is important to healthy aging, and older adults with higher resiliency have an improved quality of life and better mental health despite the adversities they face. In this episode, author and educator Ted Bowman, who specialists in grief, loss, and “honest hope,” talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about fostering resiliency. Resiliency, Bowman says, is not only about rebounding from setbacks, but about springing forward and adapting to changed circumstances. He encourages older people to examine their experiences to find examples of how they overcame setbacks earlier in life, and tap into some of the same skills. Bowman also discusses the dual process of grief and joy, the importance of building a team when faced with setbacks, and how to build a shelf full of resiliency tools.

How we approach dementia can have a major impact on how individuals live after they experience a diagnosis. As one of 6 million Americans with dementia, Russell Martoccio is determined to live life to the fullest. In 2016, he was diagnosed with Korsakoff syndrome, a dementia caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Since then, he has begun to write a monthly column about his experiences. In this episode, Russell talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the mental and physical impact of his diagnosis, how it has affected his daily life, how support groups and his faith have helped him, and the necessity of accepting change as a part of life.

Loneliness and social isolation can be a major concern for older adults, putting them at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other serious problems. In fact, one-quarter of adults 65 and older are classified as socially isolated. Life changes such as retirement and the death of a love done as well as factors like the COVID-19 pandemic can trigger loneliness. In this episode, author and retired chaplain Moria Kneer speaks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the difference between being alone and being lonely, the importance of identifying our underlying feelings, and strategies for reducing isolation as we grow older.

Guest: Dr. Tom Dow, Mindful Diagnostics & Therapeutics The statistics are troubling: Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and it cannot be prevent, slowed, or cured. One in nine people 65 and older have Alzheimer’s, and the share increases with age. However, medical science is advancing, and Eau Claire’s Dr. Tom Dow is exploring ways to identify the risks of Alzheimer’s disease early and to mitigate those risks. In this episode, Dr. Dow talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about Alzheimer’s disease, the factors that impact it, and an exciting vaccine study happening right here in Eau Claire.

Guest: Deputy Melissa Sommers, Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department Every year, millions of American seniors fall victims to financial scams, from telemarketing frauds to fake sweepstakes to home repair swindles. Criminals may gain seniors’ trust over the telephone or Internet and play on their victims’ fears and emotions. In this episode, Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Deputy Melissa Sommers talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the variety of scams that target seniors and how older folks, their families, and their caregivers can avoid being financial exploited.

Guest: Cathy Reitz, director, Stand in the Light Memory Choir. Music and singing are good for all of us, especially for people living with dementia: Research has shown that music can evoke memories and emotions even in people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Musician and educator Cathy Reitz is starting her sixth year directing the Stand in the Light Memory Choir in Eau Claire. In this episode, she talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the many – and sometimes unexpected – benefits music provides for the mind, body, and soul.

Guests: Anne Sadowska, occupational therapist, and Laura Hurd, speech-language pathologist Alzheimer’s and related dementia can’t be cured or reverse, but interventions like occupational and speech therapy may help people maintain their physical and mental abilities – and their independence. Host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County chats with two Chippewa Valley professionals – Anne Sadowska, an occupational therapist, and Laura Hurd, a speech-language pathologist – about the sometimes surprising ways their fields can help those living with dementia lead meaningful lives.

Healthy eating is important at any age, but it becomes even more important as we get older. Registered dietician Pam VanKampen chats with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about how our diet can keep our bodies and brains healthy, improve our moods, and boost our energy levels. VanKampen explains how we should find foods that nourish our bodies instead of vilifying “bad” foods.