People should embrace aging

I fell in love with New Hampshire in the late 1980s. I was a reluctant transplant, driving up Interstate 95 from my North End apartment in Boston, rolling my eyes at the alfalfa farm as I passed, noting I had 45 minutes to go before reaching the Seacoast.

It didn’t take long for me to realize all my preconceived notions of smallstate, small-town living were wrong.

My eyes were opened — to the physical beauty, the small, independently owned businesses and ease of living — and to the ability to make a difference. First as a volunteer, then board member, then board chair of CrossRoads House, I saw that, in this small state, we have the power and opportunity to change people’s lives.

For the past 14 years, I’ve been doing that full time, working for the River- Woods Group and educating people about continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). I have seen people make the tough decision to leave their much-loved house of 40 years and make their new home at RiverWoods, only to find renewed energy, new interests, friends and even romance. I have witnesses how these residents are living a more purposeful, connected and joyful life.

In the past few years, I have been pulled aside at almost every cocktail party or dinner party (pre-Covid), with questions from my peers: “I think my mom may need assisted living — what is that and how do I find a good one?” “My dad seems to be forgetting a lot lately — should I be worried?” The questions were wide-ranging, and not just about RiverWoods and CCRCs. But because of where I work, people came to me with their questions. So, even if I didn’t always know, I’d track down the answers for them.

The more this kept happening, the more I knew that for every question I got from a friend, there must be 100 others out there (I don’t have that many friends).

Aging has dramatically changed in a generation. There are more retirees than ever before, living longer than ever before, and seeking more options. The workforce is dwindling, and adult children, who married later and are raising kids later, are strapped for time and information on the new challenges of helping their older parents and loved ones. Aging looks very different now than it did in the 1950s.

Which is why I’ve created a podcast, “Seniority Authority,” that seeks to answer questions on aging, through interviews with experts from across the country on a variety of topics. My hope is that through this podcast, people will feel free to ask questions about any topic related to aging. I want to encourage more people to embrace aging, not close their minds to it.

The goal of Seniority Authority is to answer questions, fuel ideas and new ways of thinking about aging, and provide practical actionable information in each episode. We cover the waterfront — wellness, finance, insurance, brain health, social connections, downsizing and many other topics.

In some of my first episodes, I talk with Glen Campbell’s daughter Ashley, about what it was like to tour with her dad when he had Alzheimer’s. I chatted with Dr. Robert Waldinger on what Harvard learned in the world’s most comprehensive longitudinal study about what determines a long and happy life. I dig into problem-solving, even as it relates to the problems of aging, with the New York Times best-selling author Dan Heath of the Heath Brothers. I discuss tips from a Mayo Clinic professional on how to talk with your parents about aging. And so many more.

Do you have a question about aging? This podcast is fueled by curiosity and questions — send your questions to me at info@seniorityauthority.org. And together, we can get smarter about growing older.

Cathleen Toomey is vice president of marketing at RiverWoods Group, which operates the continuing care retirement communities RiverWoods Exeter, Riverwoods Durham and RiverWoods Manchester, formerly the Birch Hill Retirement Community. Her podcast, “Seniority Authority,” is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.