Growing Older Alone

There is an aspect of aging that may get overlooked far too much.Solo Aging.Now, the simple definition of a solo ager is someone over 60 who lives alone – no spouse, no kids.It can also refer to an aging couple who live alone without children.The statistics are pretty stark: in the United States, more than a quarter of all adults 60 and older live alone. In Canada, the figure is 28%.And moving farther up the age ladder only increases those percentages.Given that women statistically live longer than men, it’s accurate to say that the majority of those living alone are women.Let’s add in the fact that loneliness is, according to the World Health Organization, an urgent public health priority. In fact, the WHO claims that 100 deaths EVERY HOUR occur around the world as a result of loneliness.This week, The Art 2 Aging digs into solo aging with Sara Zeff Geber, author of Essential Retirement Planning For Solo Agers. Sara offers advice and hope for those of us living alone.The Art 2 Aging is now available on YouTube as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and wherever podcasts can be heard. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

There are many older adults who are creative, have been creative all their lives in one way or another.The word ‘creative’ can have many meanings; if you’re great baker, you’re creative; if you are amazing at training animals, you’re creative; if you write, paint, or are a filmmaker, well, you’re pretty damn creative, too.Our guest this week falls into that last category.Wayne Lehrer, our resident New Age guy here at The Art 2 Aging has been creating all his life.But what he has been creating has varied as he has grown older. And, so, this week we explore how growing older can bring about changes not only in what we create but how the creative process shifts as we age. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

This is a re-edit of the original interview. No content has been removed.There is a growing trend among older adults over 60 to take a shot at becoming an entrepreneur.But why?Well, for many reasons, of course:· They have lost their sense of identity after being a professional ‘something’ for 40 years· They’re bored stiff being retired· They need to work to earn income because they don’t have enough in a retirement fund to see them “to the end”· They wake up in the mornings with an overwhelming feeling of uselessness and· They want to be part of something with othersYet many are held back by fear. What if I fail? What if my idea is crap? What if it’s hard work? And perhaps the biggest: I haven’t the foggiest idea how or where to begin.Fortunately, Mary Cronin, a professor at Boston College, has lots of suggestions.Mary has been teaching about start-ups and entrepreneurship for 30 years. But don’t think for a minute that she does so from an academic Ivory Tower.Mary has created a number of start-ups in leading edge areas involving the internet and mobile phones and has worn pretty much all the hats that an entrepreneur can wear.She has written best selling books about highly successful entrepreneurs who started with nothing.She knows her stuff, in other words.We are fortunate to have Mary J Cronin as our guest this week on The Art 2 Aging. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

Retirement is the topic this week on The Art 2 Aging’s feature podcast.Specifically, the financial aspects of retirement that many fail to take into consideration.Now, we have gone in depth in the past on what goes into a financial plan for retirement and it pretty much boils down to one thing: pay yourself first when you are a working stiff and invest wisely.That means a budget and a good dose of self discipline to stick to the plan as much as possible.But many of us know there’s much more to it than just saving and investing to reach some magic number; you have to consider long term healthcare costs, a retirement residence perhaps (very costly, these days); what it might take cost-wise, to stay in your own home as long as possible – those sorts of considerations.David Conti, a financial writer who spent years with Fidelity Investments, the enormous investment fund advisory with nearly $18 trillion in assets under its management (gee, almost as much as Elon Musk!).What David has done is to create something called the Retirement Fear Index which he updates each month to track changes in 10 different categories that directly impact retirement and retirement planning.David and I get pretty deep in discussing retirement and its surprising hidden costs and it’s a must-watch if you are close to or already in retirement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

“The Retirement Squeeze” is the topic this week on The Art 2 Aging’s feature podcast.That’s what our guest refers to as the financial aspects of retirement that many fail to take into consideration.Now, we have gone in depth in the past on what goes into a financial plan for retirement and it pretty much boils down to one thing: pay yourself first when you are a working stiff and invest wisely.That means having a budget and a good dose of self discipline to stick to the plan as much as possible.But many of us know there’s much more to it than just saving and investing to reach some magic number; you have to consider long term healthcare costs, a retirement residence perhaps (very costly, these days); what it might take cost-wise, to stay in your own home as long as possible – those sorts of elements.David Conti, a financial writer who spent years with Vanguard, the enormous investment fund advisory with more than $13 trillion in assets under its management (gee, almost as much as Elon Musk!) is our guest.What David has done is to create something called the Retirement Fear Index which he updates each month to track changes in 10 different categories that directly impact retirement and retirement planning.David and I get pretty deep in discussing retirement and its surprising hidden costs and it’s a must-watch if you are close to or already in retirement. Look for 10 Ways Your Retirement Can Mess Up in your inbox, Friday morning on The Art 2 Aging. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

When was the last time you saw a healthcare ad for older adults that actually spoke to you, that didn’t offend you by using demeaning, ageist language, or images?Probably not in a long time because those ads are few and far between.This week on The Art 2 Aging, a wide-ranging conversation with two marketing and advertising experts who were top of their field and who are still involved in the industry today.Dave McCaughan has been a frequent guest on the show and has done research most recently for the Global Wellness Institute on what aging means in different countries around the world. Dave also spent decades in market research for McCann Advertising.He’s joined by Jeremy Perrott, former Global Creative Director at McCann Health, who has created many ad campaigns that have won worldwide Clio awards – the advertising equivalent of Hollywood’s Oscars – along with many others.Under his leadership, McCann Health was recognized as the most creatively awarded healthcare network in the world, four years in a row.Together, Jeremy and Dave offer their opinions on why advertising keeps missing the mark when it comes to older adults and how ad agencies could make their messaging far more effective. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

Diet.Think about that word. It has two meanings, doesn’t it?The first one connotes trying to lose weight, as in “I have to go on a diet.”The second meaning relates to what we put in our mouths and stomachs three times a day, as in “My diet consists of healthy vegetables, lean meats and lots of protein.” Hopefully.Somehow, both meanings of the word ‘diet’ have come together into such things as the Scarsdale Diet, the Atkins Diet, the South Beach diet, etc.Each one favours certain foods and each one – if followed – claims some weight loss.As we age, our dietary needs change along with our bodies. And we need to be aware of this. Instead, many people fall into diet camps: the Keto camp, the Paleo camp, the Carnivore camp and so on.Dr. Richard Rocker, our guest this week on The Art 2 Aging, believes that ideology, rather than common sense, is leading many of us astray. Richard is an Integrative and Natural Medicine practitioner in Ireland who also holds certification as a blood chemistry analyst. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

Michael Whelan was working in his dream job at HBO when he was asked if he wanted to undertake an enormous challenge.His boss asked him to start The Golf Channel.Creating a television channel from nothing but an idea, hiring the various people needed - on-air talent, editors, camera operators, and so on - finding the physical space for studios, edit suites, green rooms, and developing the content for a 24/7 niche sports channel is a huge undertaking at the best of times.But Michael’s boss gave him an added task: do all that and do it in just five months.Now 70 years old, Michael Whelan reflects on the time when he was asked to do the near-impossible back in the mid 90s. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

This is an Encore PresentationFor most of the 20th century there existed a chasm between natural medicine and mainstream medicine, dominated as it is by the big pharmaceutical companies of the world.But two and a half decades into the 21st century that may be shifting. There is a growing willingness by general practitioners and specialists to take an unbiased look at how natural medicine can complement their own work, especially when there are more and more concrete examples of the effectiveness of natural medicine.Our guest this week on The Art 2 Aging is Amanda King, a doctor of natural medicine who works in the field of integrative oncology. What she can achieve with a cancer patient by taking a metabolic approach through diet is impressive. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe

When Scott Fulton was 40, he was active - sort of. He coached a lot of soccer and played golf.But he was overweight and out of shape.And, as so often happens in life - as if it was meant to - a chance invitation from a neighbour for a bike ride - changed Scott forever.Scott Fulton is the author of a best seller titled “Function” in which he lays out the link between health and longevity. “Well, obviously,” I can hear you thinking.Not so obvious. The link between health and longevity is far more than just diet or exercise, important as they are. To hear our original discussion about Scott’s book, click this link.But to hear Scott’s story which ultimately led to the creation of Function, listen to our conversation this week on The Art 2 Aging.Now available in video form on YouTube, Spotify and elsewhere! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theart2aging.substack.com/subscribe