Aging Together // Unfiltered
TL;DR: A podcast for adult children of aging parents and family caregivers who want honest, no-fluff conversations about aging, care, and caregiving. We talk about what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change—without sugarcoating or euphemisms.
Aging Together // Unfiltered explores the real challenges and hard decisions families face as they support aging loved ones. Hosted by Dr. Pooja A. Patel—a double-board certified occupational therapist and gerontologist, and longtime caregiver advocate—this show moves beyond “proper” conversations and into the realities families are navigating every day.
After four seasons of carefully curated, polished discussions, this podcast is now intentionally unfiltered. Not for shock value, but because polite language hasn’t fixed broken systems—or made caregiving easier. Our elders and their families don’t need softer words. They need better care, clearer information, and honest conversations that lead to action.
Each episode features clinicians, caregivers, innovators, and leaders who bring both professional expertise and lived experience. Together, we dive into aging in America—what’s working, what’s failing, and where families are being left to figure things out on their own.
Topics include:
- Aging in place and long-term care options
- Care planning, transitions, and crisis moments
- Mental health, grief, and caregiver burnout
- Navigating healthcare systems and resources
- Advocacy, accountability, and better models of care
This podcast is for the sandwich generation, long-distance caregivers, aging adults planning ahead, and professionals working in aging and care who want the truth—not platitudes.
👉 Follow Aging Together // Unfiltered if you’re navigating aging parents, caregiving decisions, or a healthcare system that wasn’t built with families in mind—and you’re ready for real conversations, not polite ones.
🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
A production of Aging Together LLC.
Episodes
101 episodes
Can I Sue for This? Accountability In Nursing Homes
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Riz Ali discuss the complexities of personal injury law, particularly in the context of nursing homes. They explore the nuances of medical negligence, the importance of family advoc...
ADA Doesn't Help Everybody: How to Design Inclusive Spaces
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Francisco Lasta explore the complexities of accessibility, universal design, and inclusive design. They discuss the evolution of these concepts, the challenges faced in implementing...
Widowed at 33: The Caregiving, The Grief, & Everything in Between
SummaryThis conversation delves into the profound journey of caregiving, grief, and loss experienced by a young widow. The speaker shares her personal story of navigating the challenges of caregiving for her husband, diagnosed wi...
Home Modifications Are NOT A Weekend Project: The Reality of Aging in Place
Summary: In this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Dawn Heiderscheidt discuss the complexities of aging in place and the importance of proactive planning for home modifications. They explore the misconceptions surrounding home...
We're Guilt-Tripping Families Into Dementia Care: A Systems Issue
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Rachel Wiley discuss the systemic challenges in dementia care, emphasizing the unrealistic expectations placed on families and the inadequacies of memory care facilities. They explo...
Too Poor to Afford Care, Too Rich for Medicaid: The Forgotten Middle of Aging
SummaryIn this conversation, Pooja A. Patel and Dr. Brandy Archie discuss the challenges faced by the 'forgotten middle' in elder care, particularly regarding Medicare's limitations and the lack of resources available for those w...
When Care Is an Hour Away: The Reality of Aging in Rural America
In this episode, Dr. Pooja A. Patel and Dr. Sydney Marshman delve into the critical issue of healthcare access in rural communities, emphasizing how geographical location significantly impacts the quality of care individuals receive as they age...
Season 5 Trailer
We don’t need more polished narratives right now.We need honesty, especially in healthcare.Caregiving, aging, access to care, dementia, systems that fail quietly—these realities are already heavy. Sugarcoating them doesn’t protect an...
S4E20: Women's Health - Hormones, Fitness, & Recovery | Karlin Soelberg
SummaryIn this conversation, Karlin D. Soelberg shares her personal journey of navigating health challenges after turning 40, particularly focusing on her experience with hormonal changes and the difficulties in finding appropriate medi...
S4E19: Navigating Grief - from SIL to Mother to Husband | Leslie Frank
SummaryIn this conversation, Leslie Frank shares her extensive experience as a caregiver for her husband, mother, and sister-in-law, highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges of navigating long-term care. She discusses...
S4E18: Tech Tools to Support Elders | Alfred Poor, Health Tech Futurist
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel interviews Alfred Poor, a health tech futurist, about the intersection of health technology and aging. They discuss the evolution of health tech, the import...
S4E17: Cultural Perspective: Filial Piety & Remote Work | Vijay Sairam
SummaryIn this conversation, Vijay Sairam shares his transformative journey as a caregiver for his aging parents and how it shaped his mission to democratize access to remote jobs through his startup, Remote Job Central. He discusses th...
S4E16: The 8 Dimensions of Wealth(ness) | Jaelyn (Jae) Vickery, LSW, CFT
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel interviews Jaylen Vickery, a certified financial therapist, about the intersection of financial wellness and emotional health. They discuss the seven dimens...
S4E15: Grief & Strength: Raising Children while Losing a Spouse | Allyson Schrier, MFA
SummaryIn this conversation, Allison Schrier shares her profound journey as a caregiver for her husband, diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, while raising two children. She discusses the emotional turmoil of navigating grief,...
S4E14: Supportive Living Communities: Finding the Just-Right Fit for You | Dawn Marie Johnson
Summary: In this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel interviews Dawn Marie Johnson, a seasoned professional in the senior living industry. They discuss the evolution of supportive living options, the imp...
S4E13: Sandwich Generation Caregiving: A Story of Radical Acceptance | Amy Martin Quinn, MBA, BCPA
SummaryIn this conversation, Amy Martin Quinn shares her experiences as a communications executive turned patient advocate, navigating the complexities of the sandwich generation. She discusses her personal health challenges, the...
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S4E12: From Provider to Caregiver: Navigating Trauma & Compartmentalization | Lorna J. Hines, LCSW, ACSW
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel speaks with Reverend Lorna J. Hines, a licensed clinical social worker and caregiver, about her extensive experience in caregiving and the emotional toll it...
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S4E11: Navigating Family Dynamics: A Story of Elder Exploitation | Debora Pokallus
SummaryDeborah Pocalas shares her harrowing experience of elder exploitation involving her father, revealing the complexities of family dynamics, betrayal, and the emotional toll of caregiving. She discusses the discovery of thef...
S4E10: Integrative Dental Care for Older Adults | Dr. Joy Poskozim, DDS, FSCD, CDP
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Joy Poskozim discusses the critical importance of oral health for older adults, particularly those in nursing homes and receiving home care. She highlights the connection ...
S4E09: Caregiver Mastery: Finding Peace in the Chaos of Emotions | Rick Henkin
SummaryRick Henkin shares his personal journey as a caregiver for his wife Sonia, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He discusses the challenges of obtaining a diagnosis, the emotional toll on caregivers, and the importance of a...
S4E08: Skin Health through the Ages | Dr. Mary Alice Mina
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel and Dr. Mary Alice Mina discuss the importance of skin health as we age. They explore the concept of pro-aging versus anti-aging, emphasizing the need for p...
S4E07: "Boomers Booming": 10 Commandments for Seniors | H. Frances Reaves, Esq.
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, host Dr. Patel speaks with elder law attorney H. Frances Reeves about her journey as a caregiver for her parents, the challenges of navigating the medical industrial complex, ...
S4E06: Caregiving Beyond Life: One Woman's Journey of Caring for Her Late Husband's Mother | Alison Pena
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel interviews Allison Penna, a grief resilience coach, who shares her personal journey of caregiving and navigating grief after the loss of her husband. Alliso...
S4E04: End-of-Life Emotional Insurance Planning | Dr. Kim Harms, JD
SummaryIn this conversation, Dr. Kim Harms, an end-of-life expert, shares her personal journey through grief and the importance of legacy planning. She discusses the concept of emotional insurance, the significance of building em...
S4E04: When Care Meets Cost: A Daughter’s Guide to Balancing Aging & Affordability | Arvette M. Reid, AIF
SummaryIn this episode of the Aging Together podcast, Dr. Pooja A. Patel and Arvette M. Reid discuss the critical intersection of healthcare and financial planning for aging adults. Arvette shares her personal journey into elder ...
