Get Ready For Better Aging

08/20/2025

❓Have you ever looked at a loved one’s list of prescriptions and thought: “Is all of this really necessary?” I know I have!

Thank you, Dr. Nancy A Taylor PharmD, BCPA, CSA for a thought-provoking conversation on the way seniors are prescribed medication and how a health advocate plays a key role in this troubling landscape.

✨ From Overmedicated to Empowered: The Role of Patient Advocates ✨
💊 Managing medications can feel overwhelming for older adults and their families. In this episode of Get Ready for Better Aging, I sit down with Dr. Nancy Taylor, founder of TaylorMade Senior Advocacy and Consulting.
With decades of pharmacy experience and credentials as a Board-Certified Patient Advocate and Certified Senior Advisor, Dr. Taylor shares powerful insights on:
✅ How polypharmacy impacts seniors’ health & independence
✅ Why prescribing cascades happen (and how to stop them)
✅ The critical role advocates play in creating personalized healthcare action plans
✅ Practical strategies for adult children navigating caregiving & medications
If you’ve ever worried about a loved one’s prescriptions—or your own—this episode is packed with tools, strategies, and hope.
👉 Listen here: https://mindbodyspirit.fm/shows/get-ready-for-better-aging/
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07/01/2025

We've got a new episode highlighting VA Aid & Attendance and Veterans benefits. It's a great one, and our guest, VA Accredited Claims Agent, Sandy Messer, shared the dos and don'ts of how to qualify and when to file.

🎙️ New Episode Drop!
Second Retirement: How to Unlock VA Benefits Before It’s Too Late
What if the key to affording long-term care has been available all along—and you just didn’t know how to unlock it?
In this must-listen episode of Get Ready for Better Aging, host Jacqui Clark sits down with Sandy Messer, CEO of Long Term Assurance and one of only 200 VA-accredited civilian agents nationwide. Sandy unpacks the VA Aid and Attendance benefit—and why timing is everything.
You’ll learn:
✅ Who qualifies (more people than you think)
✅ What paperwork you really need
✅ How to protect assets across state lines
✅ When to consider Medicaid alongside VA benefits
From caregivers to adult children to veterans themselves, this episode is packed with actionable advice and peace-of-mind planning. Don’t wait for a crisis—start preparing for your “second retirement” today.
🎧 Listen now: https://megaphone.link/MBSLLC3951568496
&Attendance

06/12/2025

The road to staying independent often involves reliable transportation. Surprisingly, it’s frequently overlooked when planning to age in place and trying to remain independent. If you have or are caring for a loved one, odds are you’re often an on-demand taxi. More demanding than the soccer mom carpool. We unpack this and much more on today’s episode. Buckle up as we explore senior transportation!

🚗 Driven to Care: Why Transportation is the Missing Link in Aging at Home
What’s one of the most overlooked reasons older adults leave their homes before they’re truly ready?
Transportation.
In the latest episode of Get Ready for Better Aging, I sit down with Christine Lee, Certified Senior Advisor and CEO of Casa Companion Home Care and Transport Solutions. Christine shares how her journey—from culturally rooted home care to launching a full-scale transport service—is helping seniors, veterans, and adults with disabilities stay independent, mobile, and connected.
We talk about:
✅ Why lack of transport leads to premature moves to assisted living
✅ The real costs (and gaps) in non-emergency medical transport
✅ How thoughtful planning can turn mobility into dignity
🎧 Listen in and get ahead of the curve: https://megaphone.link/MBSLLC8948032119

05/27/2025

🎙️ New Episode Alert!
Redefining Retirement: Joy, Purpose & New Possibilities with Dr. Harry Agress, Jr.
What if retirement isn’t the end—but the start of your most meaningful chapter? 💫
Join Jacqui Clark and Dr. Harry Agress, Jr. as they explore how to turn your post-career years into a vibrant time of creativity, connection, and self-discovery. From improv and iPad art to TV cameos and children's books, Harry's journey proves it's never too late to try something new. 🙌
Learn about his “Four Freedoms,” the power of curiosity, and how Next Years, Best Years became both a book and a personal blueprint for reinvention.
✨ Whether you’re retired or just retirement-curious, this episode is your invitation to reimagine what’s next.
🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!
https://mindbodyspirit.fm/shows/get-ready-for-better-aging/

’tRetireFromLife

05/27/2025

My passion over the last decade has been about living and aging well. How we live in retirement is a significant factor in determining the quality of life. This is a fantastic show to help you jump-start a new way of thinking as you approach or begin your retirement years. Thank you, Dr Harry Agress, Jr. for providing us with this excellent roadmap to create the best retirement for ourselves.

🎙️ New Episode Alert!
Redefining Retirement: Joy, Purpose & New Possibilities with Dr. Harry Agress, Jr.
What if retirement isn’t the end—but the start of your most meaningful chapter? 💫
Join Jacqui Clark and Dr. Harry Agress, Jr. as they explore how to turn your post-career years into a vibrant time of creativity, connection, and self-discovery. From improv and iPad art to TV cameos and children's books, Harry's journey proves it's never too late to try something new. 🙌
Learn about his “Four Freedoms,” the power of curiosity, and how Next Years, Best Years became both a book and a personal blueprint for reinvention.
✨ Whether you’re retired or just retirement-curious, this episode is your invitation to reimagine what’s next.
🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!
https://mindbodyspirit.fm/shows/get-ready-for-better-aging/

’tRetireFromLife

05/08/2025

🎙️ New Podcast Drop! 🎙️
A Better Ending: How Death Doulas and Doctors Are Transforming End-of-Life Care
What if death didn’t have to be feared—or faced alone? In our latest episode, host Jacqui Clark sits down with Dr. Bob Uslander and death doula Lori Krause for a powerful conversation about reimagining the end of life with compassion, dignity, and true support.
💬 Discover how doctors and doulas are teaming up to provide the emotional, spiritual, and practical care that so many families need—but rarely receive. Whether you’re a caregiver, a professional in the field, or simply human, this episode offers insights, hope, and a fresh perspective on what it means to die well.
🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs this: https://mindbodyspirit.fm/shows/get-ready-for-better-aging/

04/22/2025

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jacqui-clark-07269237_getreadyforbetteraging-caregivingjourney-activity-7320462520522080256-ljDq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAfA3tYBYzqH0dkVgY0vEVq4YtvSSb6m0kw

June, thank you. We need more honest accounts, like yours, of being a caregiver to a loved one with dementia. We can’t move the needle of bringing better care and resources to both the patient and caregiver until we understand the journey. Your conversation won’t be forgotten, and neither will N...

03/18/2025

It must be Tuesday because we've got a fabulous new interview with Greg Hahn, RN from LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation on Get Ready for Better Aging!
We dispelled myths and urban legends about hospice, learned all about palliative care, and just had the best conversation! Thank you Greg!

🎙️ New Episode Alert!
✨ The Heart of Hospice & Palliative Care Work ✨
In this episode, host Jacqui Clark sits down with Greg Hahn of Lightbridge Hospice, a dedicated nurse and advocate in the field. With decades of experience, Greg breaks down the key differences between hospice and palliative care, dispels common fears, and shares moving stories—including a heartfelt tribute to veterans.
💡 What you'll learn:
✅ What hospice truly means & how it supports families
✅ How to choose the right hospice provider
✅ Medicare coverage & the importance of early intervention
Join us for this insightful and compassionate conversation about end-of-life care and the incredible people who make it possible.
https://mindbodyspirit.fm/shows/get-ready-for-better-aging/

03/05/2025

The day I me Diana Silva, aka “Molé Mama,” we were instant kindred—like two long-lost sisters picking up right where we left off after a long sojourn apart. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and we had so much to dish about.
Life doesn’t always unfold as expected, but Diana showed that no matter what lemons come our way, we can keep moving forward, create new opportunities, and build a better life.
She pivoted from a fantastic career in tech in Silicon Valley to becoming a chef and author without missing a beat—despite a pesky, critical AFIB condition that tried (and failed) to sideline her. Diana’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and, of course, a whole lot of heart. She’s doing everything a 62-year-old woman is not supposed to do, and I loved every minute of our conversation. I hope you do too!
https://mindbodyspirit.fm/shows/get-ready-for-better-aging/

🔥 New Episode Alert! 🔥
This week on the podcast, Jacqui Clark sits down with the incredible Diana Silva, aka Molé Mama! 🌮✨ From growing up on a dairy farm to conquering Silicon Valley, the Food Network, and the art of storytelling through food, Diana’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.
They’re dishing on:
🍲 The power of family recipes and culinary heritage
👩‍🦳 Embracing bold aging (yes to rocking that gray hair!)
❤️ Overcoming health challenges like AFib
🔄 Reinventing yourself at ANY age
This convo is packed with heart, humor, and a dash of spice—just like a perfect molé. 🌶️✨ Don’t miss it! Listen now! 🎧

01/21/2025

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Alert!
Today’s conversation is one you won’t want to miss. I sat down with Linda Jahnke of Jahnke Consulting to tackle a topic that affects so many, yet often flies under the radar: the challenges of getting Long-Term Care Insurance to pay.
In this episode, Linda and I dive deep into the frustrating realities policyholders face—why it’s so hard to access the benefits you’ve paid for, the heartbreaking impact on families, and most importantly, what you can do to navigate this overwhelming system.
Linda has spent over 14 years advocating for consumers, and her insights are truly eye-opening. From real-life stories to actionable tips, this conversation offers hope for those struggling to get the care they deserve.
🎧 Tune in now and join us in uncovering the truth behind the fine print. Let’s spread awareness and help more people take back control.

There is no manual on how to prepare for aging – where to live, medical care, enjoying life. Jacqui Clark is a Certified Senior Advisor and aging expert who guides us through the complex topics of aging. Her passion is to help people age well. She and other industry experts explore senior services...

01/23/2024

County down to our next issue of Aging Well Magazine (Spring 2024)!