Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/  

https://www.facebook.com/Zemplee

Thursday May 07, 2026

Tech + Care Coordination: Zemplee & Friends Life Care Study

Thursday May 07, 2026

In this Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR® episode we welcome Mike Liskai, Director of Program Operations at Zemplee and Beth Morley, Care Coordinator at Friends Life Care. This episode explores the impact of Zemplee's passive AI monitoring system in the homes of at-risk Friends Life Care members, highlighting how non-intrusive sensors and data-driven alerts support independence, safety, and peace of mind. Hear firsthand experiences from the Friends Life Care pilot study, learn about the balance between technology and human touch in care coordination, and discover innovations on the horizon for aging in place.

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #Zemplee #AgeTech #CareCoordination #HomeSafety

Resources:

https://zemplee.com/

https://www.instagram.com/zemplee_inc/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/zemplee/

https://www.youtube.com/@zemplee6567

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-liskai/

https://www.friendslifecare.org/about-us/care-coordinators/beth-morley/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-morley-msw-cdp-flc-cca-9749b8109/

Friends Life Care:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/  

https://historicfairhill.com/

Wednesday Apr 22, 2026

Turning Pages, Changing Lives: Historic Fair Hill’s Literacy Mission

Wednesday Apr 22, 2026

In this episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we explore the powerful connection between community engagement and vibrant aging with guests Kerry Roeder, Executive Director of Historic Fair Hill, and Jean Hurd, a Friends Life Care member and dedicated volunteer.

Located in North Philadelphia, Historic Fair Hill is a Quaker burial ground turned community hub, where literacy, green space, and social impact come together. Kerry and Jean share how the organization is addressing a local literacy crisis by reopening school libraries, supporting students through Reading Buddies, and creating meaningful opportunities for volunteers of all ages to make a difference.

Jean offers a firsthand perspective on how volunteering has shaped her own sense of purpose, while Kerry highlights the lasting impact older adults can have as mentors, role models, and advocates for the next generation.

Together, this conversation highlights how staying engaged, giving back, and building intergenerational connections can bring purpose, joy, and momentum to the aging journey.

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #HistoricFairHill #Community #EarlyLiteracy #Greening #OlderAdults #Volunteer

Resources:

info@historicfairhill.com

https://www.instagram.com/historic_fh/

https://historicfairhill.com/news/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-roeder-8978b71b/

https://www.paliteracy.org/

https://www.readby4th.org/

https://www.restorephillylibrarians.org/

Friends Life Care:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/

https://www.amtamassage.org/

Thursday Apr 09, 2026

Feel Better, Move Better: Why Massage Matters as We Age

Thursday Apr 09, 2026

In this episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we're joined by Caróle Sinclair-Thompson, a massage therapist with nearly four decades of experience, to explore the role of therapeutic massage in the aging journey. From her unexpected path from New Zealand to Pennsylvania, Caróle shares how her passion for the mind-body connection has shaped a career focused on helping people feel better, move better, and reconnect with themselves.

As Caróle beautifully puts it, "Massage is an in the moment experience," a reminder of the importance of slowing down and tuning into your body. Together, we discuss the most common challenges older adults face, including chronic pain, stiffness, poor circulation, and stress, and how massage can support both physical and emotional well-being. She explains different massage techniques, the science behind their benefits, and why massage should be viewed not as a luxury, but as an important part of overall health and self-care.

The conversation also highlights the deeper impact of touch, from reducing anxiety and improving body awareness to offering comfort in later stages of life. Caróle shares meaningful stories from her long-standing practice, illustrating how personalized care, trust, and human connection can make a lasting difference.

Whether you're new to massage or considering how to support your well-being as you age, this episode offers thoughtful insights and practical guidance to help you feel more at home in your body.

Resources:
Caróle's email: carsinthom@aol.com

Caróle's phone number: 267-879-9109

Friends Life Care:
https://www.friendslifecare.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/

https://elevateaging.com/

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #VibrantAging #MassageTherapy #MindBodyConnection #SelfCareAtAnyAge #WellnessAsWeAge

Thursday Mar 26, 2026

What Caregiving Teaches Us About Aging Well

Thursday Mar 26, 2026

In this episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we're joined by Karen Hirst, an occupational therapist in long-term care and the founder of Elevate Aging.

Karen shares her personal journey from working with older adults across the continuum of care to becoming a caregiver for her own mother as she experienced cognitive decline. She opens up about the emotional complexity of recognizing changes in a loved one, navigating difficult family conversations, and doing everything possible to support her mom at home before ultimately transitioning her into a nursing home where Karen herself worked.

Through this experience, Karen gained a new perspective on caregiving, advocacy, and the importance of building trust with care teams. She also reflects on loss, including the passing of both her mother and brother within a short time, and how those experiences reshaped her outlook on life, relationships, and purpose.

Inspired by her journey, Karen created Elevate Aging to help others feel empowered in their own aging process. She shares insights on brain health, holistic approaches to wellness, and the role of lifestyle choices, meaningful activity, and lifelong learning in supporting vibrant aging.

This episode offers thoughtful guidance for caregivers, encouragement for those navigating change, and a reminder that even in life's most challenging moments, growth, connection, and purpose are still possible.

Resources:

https://elevateaging.com/product/rewiring-life/

https://www.instagram.com/elevate.aging

Friends Life Care:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/

Resources:  
https://agatheringofminds.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-hart-ctrs-dcp-dma-9b87886b/
https://www.aliveinside.us/
https://shop.ouisi.co/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLnGxxa0GT8&list=PLkXUSD3jJC9GpImwmpRe2LYtCLm5gEZik&index=4

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #VibrantAging #ElevateAging #CaregivingJourney #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #BrainHealth #HolisticWellness #GriefAndHealing #FindingPurpose

Wednesday Mar 11, 2026

How to Communicate and Connect with Loved Ones Facing Memory Loss

Wednesday Mar 11, 2026

In this episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we speak with Vicky Hart, founder of A Gathering of Minds, about how families can stay meaningfully connected with loved ones experiencing memory loss.

Drawing on her personal experience supporting her father through dementia and her background in music, Vicky shares practical strategies for communicating with someone whose cognition is changing. She explains why shifting from fact-based conversations to emotion-based connection can reduce frustration and help create moments of joy, curiosity, and engagement.

Vicky offers simple ways care partners can foster connection through music, humor, shared interests, and intentional time together. She also shares how her program, A Gathering of Minds, creates opportunities for people with cognitive impairment to stay socially and intellectually engaged.

This episode offers compassionate insights and practical ideas for anyone supporting a loved one through memory loss.

Friends Life Care:
https://www.friendslifecare.org/     
https://www.facebook.com/friendslifecare/     
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/  
https://www.instagram.com/friendslifecare/    

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #VibrantAging #DementiaCare #MemoryLoss #CarePartners #CaregivingSupport #AlzheimersAwareness #BrainHealth #ConnectionMatters

Wednesday Feb 25, 2026

Exploring Vestibular and Pelvic Floor PT with FYZICAL

Wednesday Feb 25, 2026

In this episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we welcome back Darshan Bhatt, PT, MS, DPT, MBA, President of FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in Spring House, PA, along with Kelsey Jachimowicz, PT, DPT, Clinical Director and Certified Vestibular & Balance Physical Therapist.

Together, they explore two specialized areas of physical therapy that can significantly impact quality of life: vestibular rehabilitation and pelvic floor therapy. We discuss the difference between dizziness and vertigo, how balance disorders are properly assessed, and why pelvic floor health matters for both women and men, especially as we age.

At the end of the episode, Darshan and Kelsey take us on a behind-the-scenes tour of their Spring House center, showcasing the specialized balance equipment, private treatment rooms, and innovative technology that support personalized, medically based care. If you'd like to watch the tour portion of this episode, you can find the video version here.

If you've experienced balance challenges, falls, or pelvic floor concerns, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and a closer look at how targeted physical therapy can restore confidence and independence.

Resources:
https://www.fyzical.com/spring-house-pa
https://namasterehab.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan-bhatt-326769a6/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-jachimowicz-pt-dpt-286b57139/

Friends Life Care:
https://www.friendslifecare.org/   
https://www.facebook.com/friendslifecare/   
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/  
https://www.instagram.com/friendslifecare/

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #VibrantAging #FYZICALTherapyandBalanceCenters #PhysicalTherapy #VestibularRehab #BalanceHealth #FallPrevention #PelvicFloorHealth #DizzinessRelief #VertigoSupport #CoreStrength #SpringHousePA

Thursday Feb 05, 2026

Facing Mortality: Finding Meaning, Peace, and Ongoing Connection

Thursday Feb 05, 2026

In this reflective episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we're joined by Patti Nesbitt, retired hospice and palliative care nurse, and Eileen Stanzione, PhD, clinical social worker and grief counselor, for a compassionate conversation about mortality, dying, grief, and what continues after death.

Through a Quaker lens grounded in listening, presence, and love, Patti and Eileen share personal experiences and professional insights from decades of accompanying individuals and families at the end of life. Together, they explore what it means to face mortality with honesty rather than fear, how spiritual beliefs and nature's cycles can bring comfort, and why talking openly about death can help us live more fully.

The conversation also delves into grief as a deeply personal process with no timetable, offering gentle guidance on how to support ourselves and others after a loved one dies. From meaningful rituals and legacy practices to ongoing connections that endure beyond physical death, this episode invites listeners to consider how love, memory, and relationship continue.

Listeners will also hear reflections on "befriending mortality," the role of hospice care, the importance of courageous conversations, and Quaker-style queries that encourage thoughtful self-exploration around aging, loss, and connection.

This episode offers a reassuring and human approach to life's most tender transitions, reminding us that while death is universal, no one has to face it alone.

Resources:

https://www.bym-rsf.org/

https://www.facebook.com/BYMQuakers/

https://quakerbooks.org/products/a-tender-time

Friends Life Care:

https://www.friendslifecare.org/

https://www.facebook.com/friendslifecare/

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/

https://www.instagram.com/friendslifecare/

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #VibrantAging #FacingMortality #EndOfLifeCare #GriefSupport #LivingWithLoss #DeathAndDying #HospiceCare #Bereavement #QuakerValues

Thursday Jan 22, 2026

Inside Senior Living: Exploring Options with The Hickman

Thursday Jan 22, 2026

In this episode of Honestly Aging, we're on-site at The Hickman, a warm and vibrant senior living community in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Together with three members of The Hickman's team, we explore the many senior living options available today and how to think through which choices may be the right fit as needs and priorities change over time.

Our conversation begins with an overview of The Hickman's on-site offerings, including Personal Care, Memory Care, and Respite Care. From there, we broaden the discussion to look at the full landscape of senior living and care options, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Adult Day Programs, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (also known as Life Plan Communities).

We also discuss alternatives for those who wish to remain at home as they age, including continuing care at home models like Friends Life Care, which provide care coordination, wellness programs, home assessments, concierge services, and financial protection designed to support aging in place.

Beyond care models, this episode highlights what makes The Hickman truly special. The team shares how the community’s history and Quaker values shape daily life, guide compassionate care, and foster an inclusive, purpose-driven environment for residents of all backgrounds. We talk about supporting joy, connection, and meaning, navigating serious illness and advanced care needs, integrating hospice services, and helping families make thoughtful decisions as circumstances evolve.

We wrap up with guidance for listeners who want to learn more or explore The Hickman in person followed by a guided tour of the community.

Tour highlights include:

Studio Apartment

One-Bedroom apartment

Dining

Activity room

Creative arts studio

Darlington memory care garden

Whether you're beginning to think about senior living or actively planning next steps, this episode offers clarity, perspective, and reassurance that there are many paths to aging well.

Resources:

https://www.thehickman.org/

https://www.facebook.com/HickmanFriends/

https://www.instagram.com/hickmanfriendswc/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/thehickmanfriendswc/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-kelly-lpn-pcha-cpasrm-624a80b0/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-abbonizio-pcha-mba-4613a052/

Friends Life Care:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/ https://www.instagram.com/friendslifecare/

#HonestlyAging #FriendsLifeCare #VigR #Podcast #VibrantAging #SeniorLiving #QuakerValues #TheHickman #IndependentLiving #AssistedLiving #SkilledNursing #AdultDay #CCRC #AgeinPlace

Wednesday Dec 31, 2025

When Dementia Comes Early: The Truth About Frontotemporal Degeneration

Wednesday Dec 31, 2025

Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) is a lesser-known form of dementia that often affects people in their 40s and 50s, bringing profound changes in behavior, personality, and language.

In this episode of Honestly Aging by Friends Life Care VigR®, we're joined by Esther Kane, Support & Education Director at The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), and Liz Zadnik, an AFTD Ambassador for Pennsylvania whose mother was diagnosed with FTD.

Together, they explore:

What Frontotemporal Degeneration is and how it differs from other dementias

Who is typically affected, and the early warning signs families may notice

The emotional and practical challenges of receiving an FTD diagnosis

Current treatment options and what families can do if they suspect symptoms

How AFTD supports individuals, families, and care partners through education, resources, and connection

Liz also shares her family's personal journey with FTD and how her work as an ambassador helps ensure others feel less alone. Esther offers expert insight into navigating diagnosis, building a support team, and finding reliable resources.

This conversation is an honest, compassionate look at what it means when dementia comes early, and where hope, support, and understanding can be found.

Resources:

https://www.theaftd.org/

1-800-507-7222

info@theaftd.org

https://www.theaftd.org/find-support/

https://www.theaftd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Persons-with-FTD-3.2025.pdf

https://ftdregistry.org/

https://www.pennftdcenter.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-kane-msn-rn-cdp-2237577b/

https://www.theaftd.org/about-us/aftd-ambassadors/

https://www.facebook.com/TheAFTD/

https://www.threads.com/@theaftd

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAFTDorg

https://x.com/AFTDHope

https://www.instagram.com/theaftd/

https://www.tiktok.com/@theaftd

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-association-for-frontotemporal-degeneration/

Friends Life Care:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/friends-life-care-/