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Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors

Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors

By: Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
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 Welcome to the Aging Vibrantly podcast, where we amplify the voices of seniors who impart their expertise and wisdom, to enhance our understanding of aging issues and ways of living a safe and fulfilling life with respect and dignity. Join Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, and our special guests as they share insights about seniors’ rights, ageism, frauds and scams, powers of attorney, mental health and wellness, intergenerational connections, and dispel myths about aging. Each episode features an older adult who will impart their expertise and wisdom, to enhance our understanding of aging and living a full, safe and fulfilling life with respect and dignity. This podcast is produced and edited by Todd Miller of The Podcast Experts with the support of Lisa Widdifield, project coordinator. Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. Visit us at www.eapon.ca to learn more about prevention and how to support older adults who may be experiencing abuse.2024 Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Wills and Navigating Undue Influence

    Wills and Navigating Undue Influence
    Sep 25 2025
    On this episode of Aging Vibrantly, we demystify the world of wills and undue influence in estate planning. Understanding the legalities of a will, undue influence and court proceedings can be complex. So, we speak to two lawyers, Joanna Weiss, and Emily Caza from Whaley Estate Litigation Partners (WEL Partners) to help us break down these issues and to clarify the following issues: What exactly is a will, and why do you need oneWhat happens when you do not have a WillThe differences between a Will, Power of Attorney, Executor and AttorneyHaving Capacity to make a will, andWhat happens when a vulnerable person is secretly coerced or manipulated into changing their will, leaving behind a trail of hurt feelings, family and legal disputes? We explore these questions and dive into what undue influence is, the subtle and not-so-subtle signs that it may be happening, and how to recognize it and challenge it in court. In this lively discussion we equip you with the knowledge to help you feel empowered, and more informed about wills and estates. Until Next Time... Stay Vibrant! ______________________________ Episode Resources: WEL PARTNERS https://welpartners.com/ Wel Partner Resources: ‘A Lawyer's Duties and Obligations Where Capacity, Undue Influence and Vulnerability are at Issue in a Retainer’ by Kimberly A. Whaley and Kate Stephens, Volume 48, Issue 4, September 2018 https://welpartners.com/resources/WEL-The-Advocates-Quarterly-Volume-48-Issue-4-A-lawyers-duties-and-obligations.pdf Checking for Indicators of Undue Influence During Virtual/Digital (Video) Meetings - Lawyers’ Checklist https://welpartners.com/resources/WEL-Checklist-Undue-Influence-and-Video-Conferencing-2020.pdf Capacity Checklist https://welpartners.com/resources/WEL_CapacityChecklist_EstatePlanningContext.pdf Undue Influence in Estates and Related Matters Checklist https://welpartners.com/resources/WEL_Undue_Influence_Checklist.pdf Resolution of Estates and Trust Disputes: Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution in Canada” - Kimberly A. Whaley, The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, Oxford University Press, Trust & Trustees, February 2020 https://academic.oup.com/tandt/article/28/7/e8/5743469?guestAccessKey=55a98afc-8273-4742-be76-7ea41641c226&login=false Guides and Resource Tools A Guide for Assisting Persons in Vulnerable Situations - STEP Canada https://online.fliphtml5.com/zskjb/zjwz/#p=1 Estate planning and wills – Ontario Governmenthttps://www.ontario.ca/page/estate-planning-and-wills Law and legal matters https://www.ontario.ca/document/guide-programs-and-services-seniors/law-and-legal-matters Wills – Steps to Justice Your Guide to laws in Ontario https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/wills/ Wills and Powers of Attorney Resource Sheet https://cleoconnect.ca/resource/yourlegalrights/wills-and-powers-of-attorney-resource-sheet/ ______________________________ Guests: Joanna Weiss, Senior Litigation Associate at WEL Partners, wherein she primarily practices in the areas of will, estate and trust disputes, power of attorney disputes, and guardianship matters. Prior to joining WEL Partners, Joanna was a lawyer at boutique law firms that specialize in mental health litigation, estate, trust and capacity litigation, and professional negligence. Emily Caza, Lawyer at WEL Partners with experience in guardianship, capacity law, and estate litigation. Emily articled at the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, where she developed a strong interest in capacity and guardianship law and gained experience advocating for individuals lacking capacity. At Queen’s, worked as a caseworker at the Queen’s Elder Law Clinic, offering free legal services to low-income seniors and gaining insight into the unique legal challenges faced by elderly clients. ______________________________ CREDITS: This podcast is Funded with the support from HelpAge Canada. Co-host: Pauline Luening, Member of Aging Vibrantly Podcast Senior Advisory Committee Producer: Todd Miller, The Podcast ExpertsPodcast Coordinator: Lisa WiddifieldMusic: Redpath Audio ______________________________ Stay Connected : Don't forget, the best way to show your support and help us grow our Aging Vibrantly podcast, is to subscribe, like, share, rate and leave us a review Don't forget to also check out other episodes on EAPO's Youtube Channel or wherever you listen to your podcast. Be sure to check our website eapon.ca to learn more resources on abuse prevention and protecting the rights and dignity of older adults.
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • A Friendly Voice: Just a phone call away

    A Friendly Voice: Just a phone call away
    Sep 3 2025
    We all have a need for social connections, to talk to someone about our day, events in our lives, share stories or whatever is on our mind. Social connections, how we relate to and interact with others, are important to reduce social isolation and loneliness for all ages, but particularly for older adults as we age. In this Episode of Aging Vibrantly, we will talk with France Connor, Manager of 'A Friendly Voice', that provides a free call-in service for adults over 55 years old who live in Ontario or Atlantic Canada. When an older adult calls the toll free number at 1-855-892-9992 they will be greeted by a compassionate and caring volunteer who will listen to them. Each call may last up to 30 minutes and seniors can call as many as 3 times a day. A Friendly Voice is available from 8 AM - 10 PM (ET), 7 days a week/365 days a year. In this episode you will learn: How volunteers at A Friendly Voice are trained in having good listening skills, showing empathy and respect and to identify warning signs of abuse, neglect or fraud.Why maintaining connections can help older adults mitigate the negative impacts of isolation and loneliness, which are often associated with increased risks of poor health, depression, anxiety, elder abuse, disability and frailty.How keeping engaged with others can provide a sense of belonging, purpose, and even improve cognitive function and yes, age vibrantly!About the WHO (World Health Organization) recent study, that found 1 in 6 people on this planet feel lonely. In Canada, an estimated 1.6 million older Canadians feel lonely, which is almost one in five Canadian seniors aged 65 and older experiencing loneliness. Until next time - Stay Vibrant! ______________________________ References & Resources: A Friendly Voicehttps://afriendlyvoice.caToll-Free: 1-855-892-9992 From loneliness to social connection: charting a path to healthier societies. Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection/report Webinar Presentation at SAGE: A FRIENDLY VOICE Reducing loneliness and isolation one phone call at a time. Presented By: Kelly Dumas & France Connor. https://sagelink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kelly-Dumas.pdf Media Interviews A Friendly Voice on CTV (Oct. 2024) https://www.facebook.com/AFVCanada/videos/a-friendly-voice-on-ctv/927936622139014/ Age Friendly Thunder Bay - TV Show (Oct. 15, 2024) https://www.agefriendlythunderbay.ca/age-friendly-tv-show/v/episode-29-a-friendly-voice-program?categoryId=65411c2bb00d14145d2ba397 New phone line lends lonely seniors a friendly ear (Dec 4, 2018) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-seniors-line-phone-in-1.4937986 ______________________________ About Our Guest: France Connor has been with Rural Ottawa South Support Services (ROSSS) since 2019 as the Manager for A Friendly Voice. In her role, France manages a large team of trained volunteers, ensuring empathy, active listening, and cultural sensitivity, all while maintaining quality standards, and fostering a supportive environment for both the callers and volunteers. It is the personal connections and relationships she has developed with the callers who use the warm line that France finds the most rewarding. Knowing that she can make a positive change in a person’s day by simply saying, “Good morning, A Friendly Voice, this is France”, reaffirms the need and fills her heart with joy. ______________________________ Credits: Producer: Todd Miller, The Podcast ExpertsPodcast Coordinator: Lisa WiddifieldCo-Host: Sherry Baker, Member of Aging Vibrantly Podcast Advisory CommitteeOrginal Music: Redpath Audio We want to thank HelpAge Canada for their financial support to produce Season 2 of the Aging Vibrantly podcast. ______________________________ Share your Feedback and Keep Connected **Don't Forget to Subscribe, Share, Rate and Leave Us a Review wherever you get your podcast** Let us know if you enjoyed the podcast in the comments!! If you prefer to watch the interviews, full episodes are available on Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario’s YouTube Channel. Be sure to check our website, eapon.ca to learn more resources on abuse prevention and protecting the rights and dignity of older adults. Disclaimer:This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as constituting or implying endorsement by EAPO of any entity, product, service or organization mentioned, referenced, or linked
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    44 mins
  • Building Bridges: Intergenerational Classrooms

    Building Bridges: Intergenerational Classrooms
    Aug 20 2025
    We live in a society that is increasingly separating individuals into age-based groups, which can lead to limited interaction and the potential for negative stereotypes and discrimination, particularly towards older adults. So how can we best address this to build connections and relationships between age groups and generations. In this episode of Aging Vibrantly, host Raeann Rideout and co-host April Struthers, feature the University of Toronto’s Intergenerational Classroom, with guests Dr. Raza Mirza, professor and creator of the program, alongside with Florene Shuber a senior participant of the course, who is also a resident of Christie Gardens, a retirement and Long-term care home where the course is hosted. We explore a new and novel approach of Intergenerational Classrooms which breaks down barriers between generations, offers a safe space to discuss ageism and allows students to explore aging from a viewpoint that considers the perspectives of both older and younger generations. You will be inspired about the impacts this program has had on enriching the lives of students, seniors and teachers, opening doors for students to pursue careers in the field of aging, as well as the relationships that emerged through the intergenerational engagements and most impressive of all the transformational learning experiences. Learn more about how you can be part of joining the intergenerational network across the country. Until next time - Stay Vibrant! ______________________________ References & Resources: Intergenerational Classroom building bridges across generations. Presentation https://sagelink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dr.-Raza-Mirza.pdf Media Interviews New University of Toronto course is building bridges across generations. September 11, 2023 https://socialwork.utoronto.ca/news/building-bridges-across-generations/ This retirement home is redefining what it means to grow old. Globe and Mail Jan. 13, 2025. www.theglobeandmail.com/life/adv/article-this-retirement-home-is-redefining-what-it-means-to-grow-old/ An intergenerational classroom is bridging generation gaps. Toronto City News. Dec. 2023 https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2023/12/05/an-intergenerational-classroom-is-bridging-generation-gaps/Video Intergenerational classroom giving university students and seniors a unique learning experience. Nov. 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erBpyvnh4Qs&t=1s Other Programs: Intergenerational programs offer seniors and students ‘good medicine’. Canadian Affairs. June 5 2025 https://www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/06/05/intergenerational-classrooms-and-care-homes-offer-seniors-and-students-good-medicine/ TRENT UNIVERSITY - Intergenerational Classroom: A New Approach to Addressing Ageism. October, 2024 https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/university/1/1103531/intergenerational-classroom-a-new-approach-to-addressing-ageism.html#:~:text=October%201%2C%202024,t%20going%20to%20be%20enough.%22 Resources: Connecting generations: planning and implementing interventions for intergenerational contact. WHO October 2023 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240070264 This guide, developed for the campaign, builds on the evidence in the global report on ageism that interventions for intergenerational contact is one of three strategies that have been proven to work in addressing ageism, together with policy and law and educational interventions. Changing the Narrative: Ending Ageism Together On the same pAGE – intergenerational toolkit that brings people of all ages together to discuss their experiences with aging and ageism is an opportunity to find common ground. Intergenerational Conversations on Ageism. https://changingthenarrativeco.org/intergenerational-conversations/ https://changingthenarrativeco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Changing_the_Narrative_Intergenerational_Toolkit_2024.pdf Old School A Hub for Age Equity & Ageism Awareness online resources about ageism in multiple languages. https://oldschool.info/ ______________________________ About Our Guests: Dr. Raza Mirza is the director of National Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization with HelpAge Canada and Assistant Professor at University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash (IN WHEN TASH) Faculty of Social Work’s Institute for Life Course and Aging. His areas of expertise and teaching interests include medical decision-making, aging-in-place, and factors such as social isolation and loneliness influencing late-life social, mental and physical well-being. He was this year’s recipient of CanAge’s Dr. Elizabeth Podneiks Award for Elder Rights in Canada which he received at the National World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event. And most importantly and why we have Raza with us today, is he is responsible for designing and instructing a University Intergenerational Classroom that is hosted at Christie Gardens Residence in Toronto. Florene ...
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    47 mins
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