Solo Aging - Live and Interactive Discussion with Carol Marak - Author, Solo and Smart

Studies show that 22 percent of Americans age 65+ are at risk for becoming “solo agers” or "elder orphans". 

Carol Marak - Author, Solo and Smart A noted speaker on topics related to aging alone and planning for solo aging in the years ahead, which include creating social support and connection, building community, and discovering new possibilities on aging alone, the kind that assist older adults to thrive.

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Chat Transcript

12:05:50     From  Robyn Hall : I'm Robyn Hall with Fairfax County Housing & Community Development. I'm a Service Coordinator with the PROGRESS Center. Majority of my clients are elderly.

12:06:25     From  Sherry Shultz : Hello!  Sherry Shultz with DwellAssured.  667-217-6563. Helping older adults thrive while aging at home.

12:06:50     From  Amy O'Donnell : Hi everyone! Amy O’Donnell, Magic Maker Solutions, Home of the Ultimate Fresh Start & Wishes Granted, Organizing/Productivity Consulting, Complete Rightsizing & Moving Coordination, Project Management & Lifestyle Maintenance. Complimentary 15-minute phone consults, DMV and beyond, magicmakersolutions.com, info@magicmakersolutions.com, 301.291.5767

12:08:55     From  Adriana Carr : Good afternoon - Adriana Carr - Senior Life Enrichment Consultants - non-medical personal care with a focus on socialization and enrichment.  Serving the NoVa (Fairfax, Arlington, Fall Church, Vienna) region.

12:09:40     From  Kathy Pechan   to   Hosts and panelists : Good afternoon, I am Kathy PEchan

12:11:07     From  Jennifer Brown : Hi... I am solo aging!  Jennifer Brown - Seabury Care Management - 202-364-0020  - jmbrown@seaburyresources.org

12:12:20     From  Kathy Pechan : Good afternoon, I am Kathy Pechan, caring connection.health, I am a mental health therapist and I am paneled with Medicare.

12:13:15     From  Olive Freeman : Hello everyone, Olive Freeman, Senior Care Management Advocate

12:14:00     From  Joe Sperling : Great afternoon to all.  To maintain choices, control and dignity when care is needed, we need to PLAN and PREPARE with Long-Term Care coverage.  Don't wait until it's too late.  Do so while you're relatively healthy.  Call me:  Joe Sperling - 301-980-8869. Email me:  joe@joesperlinginsurance.com.  I can help you learn about available options.

12:14:08     From  Marcy Silver : Hi everyone! Marcy Silver - Visiting Angels of Pikesville. We're an award winning, locally owned and operated provider of home care. Families in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Carroll County have come to know and love the compassionate assistance provided by our Certified Nursing Assistants.

12:15:18     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : https://carolmarak.com/

12:16:47     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Kathy Pechan to All Panelists:  12:09 PM

Good afternoon, I am Kathy PEchan

12:20:27     From  Adriana Carr : Health & Exercise/Fitness equal each other which is true. The two are very related.

12:21:09     From  Susan Kousek : Except for those of us who hate to exercise, but are still blessed with good health. :-)

12:21:41     From  Olive Freeman : From Olive Freeman, Thanks,  I really appreciate your professional experience and presence on today.

12:22:11     From  Holly Cameron   to   Hosts and panelists : Carol, I think  your earrings are bumping up against your AirPods and causing clicking noises. It actually sounds like typing.

12:22:22     From  Adriana Carr : Good point Susan Kousek! :-)

12:22:33     From  Olive Freeman : From Olive, this webinar is right on point.

12:22:53     From  Jim Bland : Hi everyone...Jim Bland with Seniors Home Services. We provide several technologies and products that support Solo Aging. We are a national company, headquartered in Annapolis Maryland, providing various types of technologies including Artificial Intelligence driven in home fall prevention and detection sensors supported by live 24/7 remote care coordinators, all types of accessible home modifications, state of the art indoor air quality purification equipment, and a unique program that actually turns back the clock for seniors as to preventing or reversing decreases in cognition, memory, balance, and motor skills. 

Our products and services are available nationwide and significantly improve the lives of seniors and their families allowing seniors to remain independently in their homes for as long as possible, as safely as possible. www.seniorshomeservices.com I  can be reached by email at jbland@seniorshomeservices.com and by phone at 410-610-6937

12:23:04     From  Keisha Toussaint : Good afternoon everyone 

Keisha Toussaint Mc Mayo

Family Support Worker II

Prince George's County Department of Social Services 

Keisha.toussaint@maryland.gov

12:23:13     From  Peggy Floria : It is unwise to make assumptions about who will support you, and far better to plan assuming you will be a solo ager.

12:24:45     From  Robin Mooney   to   Hosts and panelists : Hi Everyone.  Robin Mooney, Executive Director - Home With You Senior Care - we provide in-home caregivers. http://homewithyou.net 410-756-0959.  This is an excellent subject - thank you so much for this topic today.

12:26:28     From  Peggy Floria : Retirement Transitions Coaches work with clients to help them find Meaning and Purpose in their lives.  Meaning and Purpose comes up in every conversation I have with clients.

12:27:53     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : The Aging and Alone Care Needs and Preferences https://caregiver.com/articles/aging-and-alone-care/#:~:text=The research study, Elder Orphans,for as long as possible.

12:28:51     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Elder Orphans Hiding in Plain Sight: A Growing Vulnerable Population https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27843450/

12:29:11     From  Mary Moeder : Hi everyone,  Mary Moeder with Byrd & Byrd, LLC Attorneys at Law.  mmoeder@ByrdandByrd.com

12:30:19     From  Karen McKinney   to   Hosts and panelists : I agree, I like Solo Aging much better than Elder Orphan which is a depressing thought!

12:30:19     From  Lory Smeltzer : Lory Smeltzer, MPH, CMC Certified Case Manager owner of Advanced Senior Solutions Aging Life Care Management agency in West Tampa Bay FL.

12:30:44     From  Mary Darne : I agree- thanks, Steve!

12:30:53     From  Olive Freeman : From Olive Freeman, I agree with you Steve! Solo Aging is the proper term

12:31:25     From  Audra Backaitis : My blog, as a childless person, is Babyless Boomer!

12:31:37     From  Lory Smeltzer : Never liked term Elder Orphans, sounds so sad. Like Solo Aging.

12:31:38     From  Robert Coulson : As a retirement life coach, I train and coach on interdependency vs independence.  A support resource is the National Council on Aging (NCOA) conducts Aging Mastery Course and has an Aging Well Planner on their website.

12:32:46     From  Jennifer Hammer   to   Hosts and panelists : Solo Ager is great!  I'd a:)lso like to offer up 'open nester' v. 'empty nester' for those of us who no longer have the kids at home with us!  My life has definitely opened up in great ways.

12:33:30     From  Jennifer Hammer : Solo Ager is great!  I'd also like to offer up 'open nester' v. 'empty nester' for those of us who no longer have the kids at home with us!  My life has definitely opened up in great ways.

12:33:53     From  Peggy Floria : If you know someone who would like to create a successful retirement life, please have them seek out the resources of a Certified Retirement Transitions Coach.  I can be reached at:

12:34:13     From  Peggy Floria : Peggy@intentionalcoachingandconsulting.com; 703-259-8347

12:34:52     From  Robert Coulson : FYI Several large "Elder Orphan" groups are on Facebook.

12:35:22     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Carol Marak <carebuzz@gmail.com>

12:36:32     From  Mary Moeder : Byrd & Byrd has addressed this topic often and before it has been known. Many solo aging people have use our Elder Law services. We have had to be advocates for some and do hand holding. I'm so glad you are talking about this as many of the people coming to us too late. Get your plan started early.

12:38:44     From  Lory Smeltzer : As a Certified Aging Life Care Manager there are many of us across the country who will be Power of Attorney and/or Health Care Surrogate. Relying on friends changes the friend dynamic.

12:38:52     From  Lory Smeltzer : www.aginglifecare.org

12:39:15     From  Peggy Floria : Friends could act as a POA for you--in fact, they're better than having siblings or children do so in order to avoid emotional conflict of interest.  

12:40:41     From  Jane Doebudget   to   Hosts and panelists : It is a big ask of either friends or family

12:40:43     From  Irene Rutter   to   Hosts and panelists : Are there any solo agers in the Kensington/Wheaton area of Montgomery county, MD., who would like to start/join a group that supports each other in dealing with this issue.

12:40:47     From  Susan Kousek : Do you need to name the person overseeing the power of attorney in the formal document?

12:40:53     From  Karen McKinney   to   Hosts and panelists : I have the same problem as Mary but my close friends have settled their parents estates and were stressed by it. So is a lawyer a good choice to do this or is there a better option?

12:40:55     From  Kitty Russell   to   Hosts and panelists : seems to me it would be good to have someone the next generation down so they have a good chance of surviving me

12:40:56     From  Peggy Floria : Yes.

12:40:56     From  Lory Smeltzer : When I'm appointed as a DPOA or Health Care Surrogate, I always make sure there's an attorney and accountant that oversees what I do. Having a team and tier of oversight is very important.

12:41:17     From  Mary Moeder : Yes! We always ask that you have a back up person or people. You never know when something will happen to one of your POA.

12:41:31     From  Irene Rutter   to   Hosts and panelists : If so, just call me,  Irene  301-962-4208  Kensington.

12:42:25     From  mary busse   to   Hosts and panelists : Friends have died or aged out of possibility.

12:42:48     From  Peggy Floria : It IS a big ask...and it's why you have that conversation with friends to get them to understand what it entails.

12:42:50     From  Sherry Shultz   to   Hosts and panelists : As a couple with no children, we have a combination of a sibling and nephew handling our matters.  We seemed an attorney that helped us with all the estate matters for health, financials and death wishes.  This is key to our mental health now in our late 50’s.   It is never to early to plan for the aging well circular!  Thank you, Carol

12:43:15     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Irene Rutter to All Panelists:  12:40 PM

Are there any solo agers in the Kensington/Wheaton area of Montgomery county, MD., who would like to start/join a group that supports each other in dealing with this issue.

12:43:15     From  Peggy Floria : Always have a back up POA person in the event that the person you designate is no longer able to support your wishes.

12:43:42     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Irene Rutter to All Panelists:  12:41 PM

If so, just call me,  Irene  301-962-4208  Kensington.

12:43:59     From  Peggy Floria : I have it in my will that they get a fee in exchange for doing the work for me.

12:44:18     From  Peggy Floria : They certainly will have earned it.

12:44:41     From  Stephanie Swerdlow : As an Aging Life Care Professional, I see this as a forever commitment and personally our lives and businesses change and we do not take on that responsibility

12:47:43     From  Mary Moeder : A Trust can solve many issues, but there are so many different questions to ask when setting up your documents to address all issues. Byrd & Byrd take time and ask many questions and talk about different scenarios.

12:49:07     From  Eileen Caroscio RN MSN   to   Hosts and panelists : I would like to learn more about trusts

12:49:21     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Eileen Caroscio RN MSN to All Panelists:  12:49 PM

I would like to learn more about trusts

12:52:40     From  Peggy Floria : I think the pandemic forced people to look at their lives and make real changes--to create greater connection, to question whether the way they've worked still works for them now, and to make a commitment to themselves around what matters to them.

12:56:03     From  Mary Darne : So would we!

12:56:11     From  Peggy Floria : YES

12:56:15     From  Susan Kousek : Yes.

12:56:18     From  Adriana Carr : yes

12:56:18     From  Kitty Russell   to   Hosts and panelists : yes yes yes

12:56:23     From  Michele Higgs   to   Hosts and panelists : Yes!

12:56:23     From  Robyn Hall : yes

12:56:26     From  Mary Moeder : Mary Moeder www.ByrdandByrd.com 14300 Gallant Fox Lane, #120, Bowie, MD 20715  301-466-8586

12:56:27     From  Jim Bland : Yes...Workshop would be great!!!

12:56:35     From  Robin Mooney   to   Hosts and panelists : Yes, absolutely!!

12:56:50     From  Mary Lynn Baldwin   to   Hosts and panelists : yes on the workshop, please

12:57:11     From  Mary Moeder : Byrd & Byrd would talk to you and everyone Steve.

12:58:52     From  Catherine Murray : Housing update: I'm moving in with my 70 year old brother in law, (his wife/my sister deceased 12 years ago, kids off to college this weekend) lower level studio in his home. He does not want to live alone. It's all working out. Thanks, Catherine at Get A Grip

12:59:45     From  Mary Moeder : You Enlightened many people!

12:59:46     From  Susan Kousek : Very helpful! Thank you for providing this forum for discussion. Looking forward to the workshop.

13:00:05     From  Amy O'Donnell : Important for all ages…looking forward to the workshop and continuing the conversation!

13:00:08     From  Mary Darne : That hour really flew by!  Consider it Part 1.

13:00:11     From  Sally Jones   to   Hosts and panelists : Yes thanks, I will rewatch the recording! Great job to all!

13:00:15     From  Myriam Lechuga : Looking forward to the workshop

13:00:19     From  Sherry Shultz : Thank you so much about this important subject for solo and duo agers

13:00:39     From  Natasha Thomsen : Great stuff!

13:00:50     From  Judi Epstein   to   Hosts and panelists : Thanks so much. This a much needed topic. We should be including the value of neighborhood villages.

13:00:51     From  Olive Freeman : Thanks Steve and Carol. Very well needed knowledge and informative