Aging Unscripted

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, “The Fight for Funding: Seniors, Medicaid, and the Road Ahead,” we break down the complex world of Medicaid funding — what it means for older adults, senior living organizations, and all of us who care about the future of aging services. Hosts Jill Vitale-Aussem and Pam Sullivan sit down with Doug Farmer, President & CEO of the Colorado Healthcare Association to make sense of a challenging funding landscape in clear, everyday terms and share what each of us can do to advocate for change before the next legislative session. Join us for an empowering discussion about understanding the issues, taking action, and protecting the dignity and care of older adults.

Links and Resources:

The Empathy Project: Seniors in Crisis – Video explaining the real impact of Medicaid Cuts, please copy and share with friends, family, and lawmakers.

Find & Contact Your Lawmaker

Medicaid Counseling from the Colorado Gerontological Society

Colorado Healthcare Association

When Care Is on the Line: The Human Impact of Medicaid Cuts in Colorado (CLC blog)

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, we explore how grief weaves through every stage of life — not only after loss, but during moments of change and growth.

With the holidays approaching, hosts Jill Vitale-Aussem and Pam Sullivan sit down with Chaplain Robert Smith and Jenn Flaum from the HeartLight Foundation to discuss how to honor old traditions, create new ones, and find meaning amid both grief and gratitude. Join us for an honest, compassionate conversation about how aging invites us to hold joy and sorrow side by side.

Links and Resources:

HeartLight Center

Grief Support During the Holidays

• Grief support programs in Denver and Virtually
• HeartLight Highlight magazine that includes articles such as, “Why are the Holidays So Hard” and “How to have a discussion with family members,” along with memorial and ritual ideas

Creating a Better Experience when Dementia is Involved blog

The Immense Value of Holidays and Traditions to Your Well-Being blog

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, we talk with Cierra Olmstead of A Move Handled with Care about the emotional and practical realities of downsizing later in life. From knowing when it’s time to move to navigating the hardest conversations, this episode offers heartfelt insight and practical tips for turning a major life transition into a meaningful new beginning.

Links and Resources:

A Move Handled With Care

Having The Conversation blog

Could the later chapters of life be the most joyful of all? In this uplifting episode of Aging Unscripted, we chat with “Joy Seeker” and author Lisa Dimino White about how a positive mindset, everyday kindness, and small moments of delight can shape a more vibrant aging experience and according to studies, increase your lifespan by as much as seven and half years! Discover how to create your own “bursts of joy” and embrace happiness at any age.

Links & Resources:

The Joy Seeker

Bursting With Happiness Podcast

Lisa Dimino White Amazon Author Page

Assisted living, memory care, rehab, oh my! Join us on Aging Unscripted as we untangle the complex world of senior living with expert insights from Certified Senior Advisor Kelly Grace O’Connor. Understand the options and what getting help with the journey means—so you can move from overwhelmed to informed, one conversation at a time.

Links and Resources:

Kelly Grace O’Connor – LinkedIn Profile

Society of Certified Senior Advisors

Present Mind Counseling & Coaching

Having The Conversation blog

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, guest host Chaplain Services Director Robert Smith and retired Spiritual Director and author Jane Vennard explore aging as a spiritual practice.

They discuss how Western culture pushes us to deny aging, but through a spiritual lens, we find freedom, purpose, and celebration in the journey. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on embracing aging with mindfulness, grace, and deeper meaning.

Books that Jane Vennard finds useful:

Chittister, Joan, The Gift of Years: Growing Old Gracefully, Blue Bridge, 2010.

Iyer, Pico, The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere, Simon & Schuster, 2014.

Leland, John, Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018.

Singh, Kathleen Dowling, The Grace in Aging: Awaken as you Grow Older, Wisdom Publications, 2014.

Vennard, Jane, Fully Awake and Truly Alive: Spiritual Practices to Nurture Your Soul, Skylight Paths, 2013.

Spiritual Care in Senior Living Blog by Robert Smith

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, we challenge traditional views of dementia, shifting from a focus on decline to empowerment and support.

Hosts Jill Vitale-Aussem and Pam Sullivan welcome dementia educator Jessica Luh Kim and advocate Mary Beth Wighton, who is living well with dementia. Together, they explore how to foster true belonging and create a more inclusive, supportive world for those on the dementia journey.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation!

1. Dignity & Dementia: Carpe Diem by Mary Beth Wighton
2. Dementia Action Alliance
3. Living with Well Dementia Blog CLC

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, hosts Jill Vitale-Aussem and Pam Sullivan tackle the question: “To Dye or Not to Dye?”

Sharing personal, heartfelt, and humorous stories, they explore the emotional journey of embracing gray hair. From societal pressure to the freedom of authenticity, they discuss ageism, stereotypes, and the liberation of letting go of hair color.

Join us as we break free from expectations and celebrate the beauty of aging—gray and gorgeous!

Openly Gray Blog

Giving Gray Hair the Green Light Column

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, we explore how a culture of citizenship transforms senior living communities for residents, team members, and families alike.

Host Jill Vitale-Aussem welcomes Verna Cavey, an International Aging Advocate and resident of Clermont Park Senior Living in Denver, for an inspiring conversation about purpose, contribution, and shared responsibility.

Discover how embracing true citizenship creates a more fulfilling, engaged, and empowered senior living experience for all.

CLC Citizenship Model Blog

In this episode of Aging Unscripted, we explore how where you live shapes health, happiness, and longevity. It’s more than just your house—it’s about connection and quality of life. Hosts Jill Vitale-Aussem and Pam Sullivan welcome Ryan Fredrick, author of Right Place, Right Time, for an eye-opening discussion on the power of place in aging. Whether you’re considering a move or staying put, discover how your surroundings impact your well-being.

Ryan Frederick – Longevity & Place Expert
Here:  Home Of Place Planning