Rock Your Retirement Show

Diane Valenti loves to travel and is especially enthusiastic about philanthropic and sustainable travel. She is the founder of Llama Expeditions, which gives private guided trips to South America. These trips are for the young at heart who looking for life changing perspectives. Oh, and for her 9-5 corporate job, she consults with Fortune 500 companies to design learning experiences that help employees reach their potential at work. In 2008 Diane and her father took a trip to Machu Pichu to fulfill one of his bucket list items. It was a magical experience that really moved her. Diane decided she wanted to create these experiences for others. With each tour she makes a donation, and she also gives the opportunity for her guests to donate. She chooses the organizations who get her philanthropic attention by researching them at Idealist.  Diane wants to leave a trace…but the right kind of trace. This is not what some people call “voluntourism”.  These groups are not painting walls, only for the next group to repaint them.  (Yes this happens!) These are trips where you really get to know the people.  And you get to see that your donation makes a difference. And that’s how you can participate in sustainable tourism.  It’s Philanthropic tourism at it’s best. Today’s Freebie:  The Traveler’s Guide to Changing the World which you can find by going to http://RockYourRetirement.com/Travel You can reach her at http://llamaexpeditions.com Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Why are life stories important? There are things in the world that most folks just don’t think about. Maybe till it is too late. Janella Hodgson records the life stories of people as they approach the end of their life. Maybe they are terminally ill, or maybe they are simply aged and worn out. She is a volunteer for Eastern Palliative Care, which is an organization that provides Palliative and Hospice services.  These include home and nursing care  to recording and transcribing the stories of people who have moved beyond medical help. People want their story told.  You’ll find out their motivation, their reactions, and why Janella wanted to be a voluntary biographer. You’ll find answers to the question “Why are life stories important?”. Interestingly, for the biographer a successful outcome for their work is not necessarily a published biography, nor is that the over-riding purpose of this program. But you are going to have to listen to the interview to sort that out. Eastern Palliative Care is always looking for more biographers. They provide effective guidelines and comprehensive training to their volunteers to ensure their clients are safe and respected. This is obviously not something that appeals to the masses, but if you are one of those special people with empathy and a few skills, you can find more information by clicking on the link below and working your way to ‘Volunteers’ which you will find under the ‘Supporting EPC’ tag in the menu. And as an aside, you may be able to contact a hospice or palliative care agency in your area to see if they are looking for volunteers to do this type of work where you live. What do you think about these types of programs?  Is this something you could do?  Have you told your story yet?  Did your loved one get to tell his life story?  Let us know in the comments below! Special Thanks to YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

I asked Karin to come on the show to talk to us about the documents we need to have a great retirement. Karin Schumacher has been an attorney since 2001. She is regarded as compassionate, accomplished, and dedicated at Elder Law & Advocacy, Legal Aid Society, and San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. She has effectively served over 12,000 clients. She talks about her grandfather who was a very “well to do” business owner. (He owned 3 auto supply stores). At the time he passed away in 1975, he had over ten million dollars. He wanted his children and his grandchildren to receive that. The problem was that unbeknownst to him, the Corporate Trustee he used, did not have his best interest at heart. All of his hard earned money had been squandered. Now in 1975, there was far less oversight on Corporate Trustees and a lot fewer regulations than there are now. Put these documents in place BEFORE they are needed. Also update or review them on a regular basis because life events and circumstances change frequently.” Karin goes over each of these in greater detail during the interview.  Below, is the list of documents we need to have a great retirement: * Advanced Healthcare Directive- This is basically your end of life wishes. It is a 55-page document that goes over your medical wishes should you become incapacitated. * Power of Attorney (Springing or Immediate) Springing POA- Only takes place upon incapacity. Immediate- Be cautious here because the moment you sign an immediate POA, the power goes to the agent. However, a POA is one of the documents we need to have a great retirement.  Kathe likes the Springing kind. * HIPAA Release (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) – Prohibits Healthcare providers from releasing information unless you have completed a HIPAA  release form. * Trust- If you own a home and or assets in California above $150,000 then a Trust will assist in avoiding probate. * Will – If you are distributing assets by other means and don’t own a home, then be sure to create a will. To get today’s Freebie, What Documents Do I Need Before I Become Incapacitated, go to http://rockyourretirement.com/Incapacitated Contact Information for Karin: www.AfsarEstatePlanning.com Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com *Rock your Retirement discusses retirement issues, but neither Rock Your Retirement nor Kathe Kline provides legal advice.  Please be sure to consult your own attorney.

If you go to sea at fifteen, by sixty five you will have seen and learned a few things. Rob Anderson certainly has. They didn’t talk about what Rob is doing in retirement. But they did have a hilarious discussion about his experiences as the Captain or First Mate of the various ships he has worked on. He tells of experiences like towing oil rigs, and doing duty as the medical officer.  There were burials at sea, and a story about what happens when you are shaving without any clothes on while travelling in rough seas. Henry challenges us to guess how that turned out. There were plenty of other stories but you know how colorful a captain of the ship can be, so Henry couldn’t air those stories.  Ha! In the later part of the show they talk about the times Rob was the Captain of the ship, “Sea Shepherd” and he was also captain of the ship the “Steve Irwin”. Sea Shepherd is the organization whose ships deliberately challenge the Japanese whaling fleet while they slaughter hundreds of whales in the name of scientific research. It was at this point that Rob became seriously serious. If you are interested in conservation on land or sea, then you can possibly work with Greenpeace.   Note:  We aren’t recommending them, we are just giving you the information!  You can also visit The Sea Shepherd website. You can get involved, donate, or purchase Sea Shepherd items. Rob mentions that you can go on board the “Steve Irwin” when it is in dock at Williamstown, talk to the folks, and maybe arrange to sail with them if appropriate.  (This is for you Aussies!  Can I call you Aussies?  I’m not sure of the protocol here.) Join the discussion below.  Let us know about your own ship activities and conservation efforts! Special Thanks for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

What are the 5 Golden Rules of Retirement you never knew? I talked with Bart Astor. Bart has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” PBS’s “MarketPlace,” Ric Edelman’s “The Truth About Money,” AARP Radio, “Two Boomer Babes,” and Boomer’s Rock radio. So as you can imagine, I was honored to have him on my show! Bart Astor is a recognized expert in life’s transitions and eldercare. He is the author of a plethora of books including AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life. This book does talk about money, but it also talks about health, work, lifestyle, and pursuing your dreams. And that’s what this show is about!  I wanted to find out what his 5 golden rules of retirement were… When we are working, and thinking about retirement, one of the issues we have to deal with is our ego. Our identity. Who are we? In Bart’s writings, he’s talked about 5 golden rules of retirement, or for setting the roadmap to what he calls a successful “Second Adulthood.”  Bart goes into more detail about this in the interview but… Those 5 golden rules of retirement are: * You get to choose your own goals * Most of what happens to us in our lives is not really a surprise * The level of your activity influences your choices (This includes mental and physical activity) * Quality of life is about retirement lifestyle * Don’t judge yourself Books * AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life: Smart Choices About Money, Health, Work, Lifestyle … and Pursuing Your Dreams * Graduate from College Debt-Free: Get Your Degree With Money In The Bank * Baby Boomers Guide to Caring for Aging Parents * What Can You Do with a Major in Biology? * How to Care for Your Aging Parents * CliffsNotes Understanding Life Insurance * KAPLAN YOU CAN AFFORD COLLEGE * The Official Guide to Financing Your MBA To get today’s Freebie, Level of Activity Scale, go to http://rockyourretirement.com/LevelOfActivity Contact information for Bart: Twitter: @bartastor  *  Email: Bart@BartAstor.com  *  Website: www.BartAstor.com Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes This post about retirement and Retirement Lifest...

The common belief is that artists have to starve for years before becoming successful. Agnes Parcesepe is living proof that it doesn’t have to be the case. She started painting young, and is still painting in retirement. Agnes talks about her progress from simply liking art in her youth, to taking up painting later in life. She then transitioned from student to teacher in a few short years. This artist has won a myriad of competitions, she’s had international exhibitions, and patrons have purchased her paintings purchased and hung them all round the world. Amazing stuff when you stop to think about it. She has a passion for creativity and painting, and love of the natural world. This is not to say she makes her living painting, because she doesn’t.  But that isn’t her objective anyway. The objective doesn’t have to be money when you are painting in retirement .  Agnes’  intense drive to improve and commitment to complete projects has funded her hobby and given her immeasurable satisfaction and a part income. Henry and Agnes discuss how to take YOU can take up painting in retirement.  They tell you what your first steps need to be, how and where to learn, and then how to become better known and how to market your works. You might ask…”What medium should I use”?  Agnes very strongly recommends experimenting with a wide variety of mediums to really establish which you like best and which one suits your style and subject matter. Painting in Retirement does not cost a lot to enter, and it is also relatively portable. Like photography or bird watching you can engage in painting or drawing at home, on holiday, in the city, in the country … anywhere. You can see Agnes’ works on her website at www.agili.com.au or contact her if you like at seahorse@agili.com.au At one point in the interview Henry and Agnes discuss a health related issue that Agnes has been overcoming with natural therapies. You can listen to the episode by clicking on the play button or subscribing on your smartphone. Join the conversation!  Tell us what you think in the comment box below! Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Today Gary Knight came on the show and told us about San Diego Futures Foundation (SFFF).  This organization helps seniors and low income individuals get computers at a reduced rate. SDFF also teaches their recipients how to use the technology, which is often a hurdle in their target populations. Gary Knight is the Executive Director of the San Diego Futures Foundation (SDFF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit established to improve lives in San Diego through technology. SDFF provides equipment, software, training, services, and technical support to San Diego nonprofits, small businesses, and disadvantaged residents.  SDFF is working to bridge the digital divide in San Diego, and helps low-income households, people with disabilities, and seniors. Prior to joining the San Diego Futures Foundation, Gary Knight was the president and chief executive officer of the San Diego North Economic Development Council.  The council is a coalition of public and private entities whose main objective is to attract, retain and develop business in North County. It has almost doubled its membership since Knight took over in 2004.  As president, Knight pushed for improved transportation options, greater educational opportunities, and reliable/affordable power supplies.  Gary also provided strong support for the proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad and the new Palomar Hospital in Escondido. Gary sits on a number of Boards, Committees, and Advisory Groups all across San Diego. The organization not only helps those over 65 (and on Medicare) or those people of any age who are on Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid) or Cal-Fresh (California’s version of Food Stamps) but it also helps anyone volunteer.  Seniors can get a computer for little to no cost and then learn how to use it.  SDFF gets seniors involved in technology. This Technology program works by partnering with: * Connect to Compete * Designed for kids who are on the Free Lunch program * Low-Cost Internet * Low-Cost Computers * Groups of people who want to volunteer by setting up computer labs at schools * SDFutures.org which is part of SDFF and provides computers and IT support to non-profits * Girls who Code, a school program that encourages girls to go into technology fields Are the computers FREE?  No, because of some issues in the past, the computers are not free. These high-end computers start at about $100.  Some people do get donated computers depending on the availability, need, and other factors.  These low cost and free computers help get seniors involved in technology. SDFF re-formats the donated computers according to Department of Defense Standards.  They also send unusable computers to a salvage company that meets their security and disposal requirements.  Additionally, their staff undergoes background checks.  Donors can feel good about donating their computers without having to worry about their data getting into the wrong hands. Hospital re-admittance rates are about 30% compared to only about 10% when the senior has something to look forward to.  Working on a project or volunteering gives them something to look forward to. Gary told us a retirement lifestyle story about a man who was in a wheelchair because of a leg amputation due to diabetes.  He rolled up to Gary and exclaimed, “You saved my life!”  That was interesting to Gary since he had never met him. He explained that he had received one of their computers at a very low point in his life (right after his amputation).  The gentleman had loved to work on cars and attend car shows before he lost his leg but was now confined to a wheelchair. By using the computer to join chat rooms and view car events online, he felt invigorated again with a newfound purpose in life.  By the time he met Gary, he had started a web site for car buffs where they shared stories that ma...

Des Easton loves Long Distance Motorcycle Riding! Traveling by motorcycle is fun, exhilarating but pretty energy zapping. Traveling hundreds of miles a day, day after day, sounds exhausting, But that is what retiree Des does .. for fun! Members of ‘Far Riders’ and the ‘Iron Butt’ groups set themselves challenges of long distance rides most bikers would not consider. But don’t get the idea that this is a dangerous undertaking. They plan and practice, sometimes for years, before attempting these feats, and travel strictly in accordance with the law and speed limits. Des explains the discipline and preparation which has allowed him to complete twenty thousand kilometers in twenty days. A challenge most of us wouldn’t even consider driving in a car. But he and his friends love it. He describes the routine required, from planning fuel stops to committing to a special diet. Your first thought may be .. “I bet they cheat,” but he nails that thought by explaining the protocols and confirmations riders have to complete for their trips to be formally recognized by their association. Long distance motorcycle riding is certainly not for every retiree, but if you are an experienced motorcyclist this is a new challenge, and a new group of slightly deranged fanatics you can hook up with. Even if you don’t ride, this is a great tale of courage and achievement. And Des tells a really gross story about one of his exploits!! Web sites mentioned in the interview: Far Riders website: www.farriders.com Iron Butt Association website: www.ironbutt.com Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Lorraine Ladish is a 21st Century Communicator, helping empower women and others to achieve their goals. She is the founder and CEO of Viva Fifty! a bilingual community that celebrates being over 50. She’s worked as an editor and social media coordinator for a number of online publications. Her next book on embracing age will be published by HarperCollins in 2017.  By choice, Lorraine always worked, but never on a payroll.  She thought everyone did what they loved. Her Dad wanted her to be a Marine Biologist because he thought it was stable and she’d make a lot of money.  Now she makes more staying at home than Marine Biologists do. Lorraine tries to inspire women to live their best life every day and to celebrate being over 50! She wants to inspire women who speak both English and Spanish to live their best lives. When you do something you are passionate about, it makes you feel purposeful, happy and helps to avoid a downhill spiral in retirement. The sections of her website are: * Mind * Body * Grace (Beauty) * Escape (what to do when you aren’t working) * Relationships It turns out English speakers are looking for beauty and Spanish speakers are looking for Relationships She caters to all types of people. There is no “one size fits all” for being over 50. * People are entering their 60s with young children * Some 50-year-old women are having children! * Some grandparents are raising grandchildren Lorraine gave some great advice: Do what you love. Spain has a caste system that is difficult to break.  She did it, and if Lorraine did it you can too!  Think of what you wish you had done or would do for free, for example, YOU could write a book. Think of the one thing you want to do, and then just do it!  You CAN love being over 50! Books:  Tu mejor edad: Para tener una vida extraordinaria (Spanish Edition) * ¡Emprende! De mamá sola y sin recursos a empresaria digital * Estoy Embarazada, Y Ahora Que?: Confidencias Para La Nueva Madre (Spanish Edition) * REACH! from single mom on welfare to digital entrepreneur * Miedo a Comer (Spanish Edition) * Diario del exito (Spanish Edition) * Volver a empezar (Coleccion Psicologia) (Spanish Edition) * 7 estrategias para sacar partido a los libros de autoayuda (Spanish Edition) *

When Robin retired, she knew she wanted to explore new fields and expand her horizons. She came across an opportunity to volunteer with troubled youth. You’ve probably never heard of an “Independent Visitor For Youth Justice”.  Henry certainly hadn’t before this show.  But Robin decided to take on that responsibility when she retired. When Henry went to interview Robin Turnbridge, they were initially going to discuss downsizing. Robin decided she would rather discuss her experience with Juvenile Justice and it became a wonderful topic of discussion. Robin intuitively knew that it was important to replace the routine of her working life with meaningful activity. Once a month, she goes to a Youth Justice Facility which are for teens who have committed serious crimes and are in custody. Robin goes into greater detail in the interview, but they talk with the teens, check in on them, and sometimes act as an advocate for the teens. Robin explains how she found this new role, what it entails, and why she loves it.  She has transitioned the experiences of her working life to use them in a different arena.  Brilliant! Henry and Robin also discuss: * What Robin did before retirement * How she planned for her retirement and what she thought she would be doing in retirement * Her Retirement Party (or farewell as they call it in Australia) which she says is very important * Other things she has been doing since her retirement besides working with troubled youth If you listen carefully, you’ll appreciate that this kind-hearted woman’s first priority is her family, and her second priority is her role giving to society through her involvement in juvenile justice. Leave a comment in the box below and let us know if there are avenues other than prison to try and rehabilitate troubled youth, or if you think that is an impossible dream. Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Caregiving is relentless. It is exhausting beyond belief and caregivers need a break. Adult Day Programs (AKA Adult Day Care) are a way for people to get a break.  They can drop their loved one off in a safe environment. I spoke with Lisa Tyburski from The Glenner Centers which offers Adult Day Programs AKA Adult Daycare Center from their 3 locations in San Diego. Lisa shared with me the powerful story about how The Glenner started. It was founded in 1982 by Dr. Glenner and his wife Joy. Dr. Glenner was a researcher at the UCSD school of medicine. He was working to advance research in the Alzheimer’s field. One night around midnight, he and his wife Joy received a phone call from the husband of one of Dr. Glenner’s Alzheimers patients. The husband, who had been a caregiver to his wife was frantic. He was absolutely at the end of his rope and he had a loaded gun in his hand. He was going to murder his wife and commit suicide. Dr. Glenner knew he needed to come up with a solution to help the caregivers. You can go to work, run errands, take a nap, or whatever you need to do to tend to the other areas of your life.  You know that your loved one is being taken care of. The Glenner Centers provides brain-stimulating activities. This can also help with sundowner’s syndrome in the evenings.  Some of these activities include: * Singing and music * Listening to and discussing current events * Animals brought in from the Humane Society * Socializing I had NO idea these places existed and I had to learn more. Have a care giver?  No problem, you can still use Adult Day Programs (AKA Adult Day Care). Things Lisa says you should look for when looking into an Adult Day Programs (AKA Adult Day Care): * Do they specialize in dementia if your loved one has dementia? * What is the staff to participant ratio? * How many total participants in the center on any given day. You may want to look for a smaller center for more personalized experience * Do they have a nurse on staff and ask if they can manage medications? If you would like to contact Lisa or The Glenner Centers you can email information@glenner.org or ltyburski@glenner.org and the website is www.glenner.org The freebie for this episode is ABC’s of Dementia which you can get by going to http://RockYourRetirement.com/abc Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Lesinda Tubalado who helps keep the website up to date * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook. This post on Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Alison Smith started looking into her family heritage and found some surprises. By doing some genealogy research she found out that one of her relatives was a bit of a ruffian way back, and another surprise was the amazing amount of information which is now readily available online. In days gone by you would have to write to get access to birth certificates, or copies of newspaper articles.  Now a couple of mouse clicks may get that information needed to find one’s family heritage. In this show Alison and Henry talk about her motivation for delving into the family background, how she went about it, and the resources she has found useful for locating information. This is called “Geneology” and seems to be all the rage, all around the world, not just in Australia. Alison talks about a couple of ways you can go about finding your family tree.  Some people want to find out about where their ancestors came from, and a little about their lives.  Others concentrate on just one or two family members, perhaps for the purpose of writing about them, or just for interest.  Both approaches can become equally addictive once you get in to the detective work. In Any regard, delving into one’s family heritage can be fun, and very informative as well. Below are some of the resources mentioned in the podcast : * The stories of older living relatives. * Old photographs. * Local libraries. * Historical societies and genealogical societies. * Cemeteries and gravestones. * History books of the period to provide context to the search. * The internet. Two sites Alison finds helpful are: * www.trove.nla.gov.au  is part of the National Library, has a massive archive of Australian newspapers. * www.ancestry.com.au can connect you to information and people from all round the world. Do you have resources we don’t have listed here?  Leave us a comment below if you have other resources which would be useful for people starting the search.  It would be very helpful! Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes! * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

You can attend a class from your living room and ask the professor questions! As I was interviewing these two, I said to myself, “OMG The Best Adult Learning EVER!” First a little about these two amazing ladies: Ellen Ervin and Lynne Beachner  As the former Director of WeMet Distance Learning Consortium, Ellen has worked in all aspects of technology.  Her passion is distance learning because she sees the power in helping organizations and people make connections around the world. Lynne has worked in education throughout her career in grades K-16 as a teacher/professor, a coordinator of instruction, a principal and an executive director.  She loves the curriculum and instruction side to education because that is where you engage students and create lifelong learners.  She received her Ph.D. from Kansas State University. Together Ellen and Lynne believe that it is just a matter of time until the world opens up to individuals communicating on a daily basis with museums, archives, health centers, historical societies, community and other groups both locally and internationally in an effort to continue learning and cooperate in projects that will help others. They want to do their part in supporting the inevitable.  The two of them formed the Senior Learning Network, providing interactive learning to senior centers and retirement communities.  Additionally, they have also formed Generations Learning, providing lifelong learning to individuals within their homes. We talked about their project and I learned: * How they started the organization over a cup of coffee and a cookie at Panera * A non-profit 501(c)3 organization that can accept donations * Why it’s so cool: * You can Follow photographers on their journeys through a walk in a park, down a canal in Venice, or on-site at a volcanic eruption * The teacher can show you artifacts or other things via the conferencing * YOU can listen, see, and ask questions in REAL TIME * Technology is similar to SKYPE, the moderator can see who is in the conference * If you have a large group, you can break up into small groups and have a small group discussion. Each person in the conference can have time to speak. * To join the class, all you have to do is click on a link. Then you can see and talk to the person or persons on the other line. * Not sure if the tech will work?  Test it before the meeting if you’d like. * Don’t want to be seen?  You can also turn your camera off if you don’t want others to see you. * You can make remarkable friendships all across the United States by attending the workshops. * No limit to location (i.e. they have had programs in Japan and Australia that went across the date line)  They even had an UNDERWATER DIVER conduct the class!  Uh…OMG the best adult learning EVER! * Many of their programs have been developed for students (K-12) but have been adapted for older adults. * How it works: * Provide educational video conferences from museums, presidential libraries, national parks businesses and individuals * We discussed the current (2017) fees for the program $40 per month for a senior center, unlimited programing * How you can get a free pilot * How it helps seniors * Create a lifeline for disabled and older adults in senior centers or those aging in place who feel disenfranchised from society. * Harness the talents of retired adults who can share interesting life stories, skills or talents * Provide well-rounded programming on health education, wellness, prevention, and care. * Provide support for business development and mentoring for those who want to reinvent themselves. * Create safe places where individuals can talk to one another to give and ge...

Henry interviews Ted Goodacre about his Retirement Lifestyle, which has a lot to do with Lawn Bowling: Listen to the show to learn how this natural entrepreneur took a wrong turn going home and it changed his life.  Ted tells us about intricacies of lawn bowling and how anyone with a bit of drive can create a lasting legacy. Ted is the last active foundation member of the Lismore Bowls Club, and in recent years has taken on the job of green-keeper.   He takes the game very seriously and is highly competitive.  In this interview he describes the game, the rules and traditions, the type of people involved, and strongly asserts that there are no performance enhancing drugs involved in the sport! Like many activities, we suspect lawn bowling becomes more and more addictive the longer you are involved.  It is a game which: * Can be just for fun and socialization * Bowlers can aim for the pennant competition * Doesn’t take a lot of money to get started * Women and men of all ages and abilities can play, even those with minor disabilities. If you think this is a sport which might interest you he recommends visiting a local club.  Chat with the members and see if its for you. * Henry searched “lawn bowls clubs Victoria” onand found http://www.getagameofbowls.com/clubsearch.php?   The same site also lists the clubs in the other Australian States. * Kathe searched “Lawn Bowling San Diego” and found http://www.sandiegolawnbowling.org/ Henry and Ted also spoke about the Lions Club.  This is an international service club open to both men and women.  Henry knows that his local Lions’ become involved in some excellent projects.  These ranged from providing specialist walking frames for disabled children, to cleaning up the roadsides of major highways.  In San Diego, CA, the Lions Clubs give free eyeglasses to children every year You can find Lions Clubs worldwide at:  https://directory.lionsclubs.org/ Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track * Les Briney who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific * Lesinda Tubalado who helps keep the website up to date * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU the listener for sharing on social media, and telling your friends about it This post on Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Michael’s mother had a stroke and could no longer care for herself, so Michael became her caregiver. He discovered the constant need to repeat care giving information to various caregivers so he ended up carrying a binder with him that contained his parent’s medical documents. During this period Michael’s company hired an Elder Family Resource person to help manage the complexities of her care. James, a longtime friend of Micheal’s, had a similar experience. His father developed sudden onset Parkinson’s after his mother passed away and so couldn’t care for himself. James lived far away, but his sisters lived near his dad. As his dad’s needs increased, it became increasingly difficult to manage the household and care giving information between siblings. Michael and James talked about their respective care giving challenges and the need for a way to store and share critical documents became obvious. This led to their forming ElderAdmin to fulfill this very important need. This service stores images of their documents, and you can access it anywhere!  OK…anywhere Internet can be accessed. Whether you use their program or not, you’ll need access to documents.  Some of the critical documents that are needed for care giving are: • Advanced Healthcare Directive • Power of Attorney • Will or Trust • Estate Planning Documents • List of Medications • Health Status • Insurance Documents • Financial Account Statements ElderAdmin can help take the headache out of keeping track of your parent’s medical documents: It is a membership plan that can be accessed via computer, tablet, or smartphone. There is a free service is for individuals.  If you need more than one person to be able to access the info, then you can get that for $9.50 per month (as of 3/2017) for unlimited access and storage. One of the great features of ElderAdmin is in the area of security. Whoever posts the document has ultimate control over who can and who can’t access particular sections containing information. Encryption with unique IDs and passwords protect your parent’s medical documents. Today’s Freebie is The Important Documents Checklist, and it can be found at http://RockYourRetirement.com/documents Website: www.ElderAdmin.com  Phone: 844-350-4582  Email: Contact@ElderAdmin.com Special Thanks to: * Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track * Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edit the show and makes me and my guests sound terrific * Lesinda Tubalado who helps keep the website up to date * Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays * YOU the listener for sharing on social media, and telling your friends about it This post on Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com ******************************************************************************* A little on their backgrounds: Michael Blevins Managing Director and Co-founder, Michael Blevins knows from personal experience the need for ElderAdmin’s unique services. Ongoing care for a mom afflicted with dementia led to his knowledge in the ever-changing health care procedures and programs, which makes him especially sensitive to ElderAdmin member needs. With over 32 years’ experience in performance management with nationally recognized financial institutions, including 10 years with a Fortune 500 company,