Advocating for Older People through Grassroots Empowerment
October 7, 2024
Hosted by Ron Roel
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
As we kick off October with the United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons, it’s fitting that we begin the month with Maria Alvarez, an iconic leader who has been at the forefront of advocating for older Americans for more than 30 years. In today’s episode, Maria who is Executive Director of the New York Statewide Senior Action Council, explains the mission of her grassroots organization, which brings seniors together from across the state for self-empowerment and improvement of the quality of life for older New Yorkers and their families. She’ll explain why it’s critical to have consumer representation and involvement in public policy and why seniors are so vital to strengthening the fabric of our society. And Maria will offer her broad perspective as to what aging looks like in the years ahead, and how the Senior Action Council will continue to conduct its wide-ranging advocacy campaign for future generations.
45 Forward
Monday at 12 Noon Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
Thanks to advances in medicine and health, most of us are just at half-life when we reach our mid-40s, with many potentially productive years ahead. But there’s no road map to prepare us for this period. That’s where 45 Forward comes in.
My show provides you with strategies to shift the traditional waiting-for-retirement model to a journey of compelling life chapters. Each show tackles an aspect of health, finance, family and friends, housing, work and personal pursuits as part of an integrated plan. Experts discuss topics like revitalizing relationships, creating mini-retirements, managing the maze of technology, finding your next homestead and caring for aging parents.
The show instills confidence, and hopefully some comfort, amid the stresses permeating today’s society. Fear of the future is not knowing how to prepare for it. 45 Forward does not proffer prefabricated answers, but helps you shape your life amid the daily anxieties of our time.
Ron Roel
I’m a veteran journalist who spent a wide-ranging career covering business, politics and social issues, the last two decades focusing on the blend of diverse life skills I call successful aging.
I have written extensively on aging topics, spoken at conferences, radio and TV shows, and launched several entrepreneurial ventures, discovering along the way that the path to aging well also requires an unexpected entrepreneurial vision. I spent 20 years as a writer and editor at Long Island’s daily newspaper, Newsday, helping to found Act 2, a weekly section for 50-plus readers. I created Roelresources.com, a website offering practical advice and inspirational essays for people ages 40 and above. I have been a volunteer and consultant to AARP Long Island, writing articles, advocating for seniors, and developing action plans for the AARP Age-Friendly Communities initiative.
I am active in programs and organizations that support seniors, such as the National Aging In Place Council and the Senior Umbrella Network. I have developed a special expertise in family caregiving, as one of four brothers who took care of their mother for almost 25 years. I regularly collaborate with many professionals who provide services and support for older Americans, and I am completing a book for caregivers on Long Island, “The Caregiving Navigator/How to Plan, What to do, and Where to Turn When Caring for you Aging Loved Ones. And Yourself,” scheduled for publication in early 2021.
Episode Directory
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
- 10/28/2024: How to Identify and Prevent Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Listen Now
- 10/21/2024: A Substance Abuse Counselor’s Unique Approach to Recovery: S Listen Now
- 10/14/2024: The Benefits of Social Security & Medicare Planning—Together Listen Now
- 10/7/2024: Advocating for Older People through Grassroots Empowerment Listen Now
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