It Is Not "Normal" For Older Adults To Forget Things | JENNIFER SZAKALY

Download my free Well-Being Checklist and get 25 actionable steps to help you thrive in this next chapter of life. - https://bit.ly/43XCD0m In this episode, aging life care manager Jennifer Szakaly explains why the hardest conversations about aging tend to go better when families start them early, long before a crisis forces the issue. She shows how to reframe the dreaded "you need some help" talk so it invites compromise instead of triggering a fight over independence, and why safety and freedom are not actually opposites. Listeners learn what an aging life care manager really does, how solo agers and long distance families can build a support system before they need one, and how to notice cognitive changes without slipping into either fear or denial. Jennifer also walks through what it takes to make a home truly age friendly, how to navigate the maze of senior living options, and how to protect purpose and connection as a person's world gets smaller. It is a practical and reassuring roadmap for anyone who wants more options and less panic when the time comes to make decisions. Learn more about Jennifer Szakaly - https://caregivingcorner.com/ Helpful Links - Aging Life Care Association - AgingLifeCare.org CHAPTERS 00:00 The conversations you have now do matter 02:08 Why "you need some help" sounds like losing independence 03:06 Reframing the conversation so it opens up compromise 05:04 Safety and freedom are not opposite ends of a spectrum 07:07 What an aging life care manager actually does 10:17 Solo agers and planning ahead without a traditional support system 13:18 Long distance caregiving and the care manager as quarterback 16:01 Noticing cognitive changes before a diagnosis 18:15 Why memory loss is not a normal part of aging 21:17 Empowerment and the power of an objective third party 24:40 Why earlier conversations give you more options later 26:57 Making a home age friendly before a crisis hits 34:16 The Art of Purpose and finding meaning as the world gets smaller 37:20 Navigating the maze of senior living options 44:55 The one takeaway: start talking now Learn more about Dr. Corinne Auman Buy the Keenagers Book - https://amzn.to/4esquWm Check out my website - https://corinneauman.com/ Subscribe to my instagram -   / drcorinneauman   KEYWORDS aging life care manager aging life care management geriatric care manager family caregiving caregiver support aging well aging in place age friendly home home safety assessment CAPS certified aging in place specialist solo aging solo agers long distance caregiving dementia early signs of dementia cognitive decline memory changes brain health senior living options assisted living independent living continuing care retirement community 55 plus community downsizing senior housing aging parents talking to aging parents elder care planning care coordination Jennifer Szakaly Caregiving Corner Charlotte North Carolina Keen On Aging podcast