S10 E211 - Finding your Voice Later in Life

S10 E217 - Next Steps 4 Seniors

Navigating senior care be easier when you have the right support system by your side. In this heartfelt episode, host Wendy Jones welcomes longtime friend Kristi Kirschmann and Spiritual Support team leader Roz Burns to discuss the journey families face when caring for aging loved ones and the importance of supporting seniors both physically and spiritually. The conversation explores the mission of the Next Steps for Seniors Foundation and its Spiritual Support Team, which provides companionship, prayer, encouragement, and comfort to seniors after they move into care communities. Through powerful stories of faith, connection, and compassion, Wendy, Kristi, and Roz highlight the profound impact that emotional and spiritual support can have on seniors during life's later chapters. Whether you're caring for an aging parent, exploring senior living options, or looking for meaningful ways to serve your community, this episode offers hope, practical guidance, and inspiration. Key Highlights in this Episode: Navigating Dementia Care: Kristi shares the challenges her family faced as her mother's Lewy body dementia progressed and how professional placement guidance helped them make informed decisions. The Value of Senior Placement Services: Learn how placement specialists help families identify the right senior living communities based on care needs, finances, location, and personal preferences—at no cost to the family. Support Beyond the Move: The conversation emphasizes that care doesn't end once a senior moves into a community. Ongoing guidance and advocacy help families navigate changing care needs over time. The Spiritual Support Team: Roz explains how trained volunteers visit seniors, offer companionship, prayer, and meaningful conversations, helping reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. The Blanket Ministry: Hear touching stories about the Foundation's gift blankets, which provide comfort, connection, and a tangible reminder that seniors are cared for and valued. Finding Peace and Purpose: The team discusses the importance of helping seniors explore spiritual questions, strengthen their faith, and find assurance and comfort during later stages of life. Volunteer Opportunities: Learn how churches and community members can partner with the Next Steps for Seniors Foundation to serve seniors and make a lasting impact. Resources & How to Contact Next Steps for Seniors: Website: nextsteps4seniors.com [https://nextsteps4seniors.com/] Podcast Schedule: Tune in to Next Steps for Seniors with new episodes dropping twice a week at 7:00 AM! Every Tuesday: Educational and insightful content to help you navigate the practical steps of aging. Every Friday: Spiritual and emotional support to encourage your heart and mind. Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, IHeart Podcasts so you never miss an episode, and if you enjoyed today's show, please leave us a rating and review! Learn more : https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones [https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

S10 E216 - Encouraging Through Experience

Learn more : https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones [https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

S10 E213 - Mind in Motion

Can enhancing brain function actually help seniors improve mobility, memory, and overall quality of life? In this enlightening episode, host Wendy Jones sits down with Jennifer Krieter, a physical therapist and founder of Mind in Motion Performance Training, LLC. Jennifer shares her journey from traditional physical therapy to exploring applied and functional neurology. She reveals how simple sensory inputs—like smell, sight, and movement—can dramatically improve balance, posture, memory, and pain management for seniors. Through practical exercises and real-life examples, Jennifer demonstrates how leveraging neuroplasticity can empower seniors to regain independence and confidence in daily activities. Whether you’re a senior, caregiver, or someone interested in innovative health strategies, Jennifer explains how targeted brain-body exercises can enhance performance, reduce the fear of falling, and even restore skills thought lost with age. Key Highlights in this Episode: The Mind in Motion Approach: Jennifer explains functional and applied neurology, neuroplasticity, and how sensory inputs can be used to retrain the brain for improved movement and memory. Real-Life Transformations: Stories of clients—from an 81-year-old improving his mobility in minutes to individuals managing chronic pain and memory challenges—highlight the effectiveness of her methods. Practical Exercises for Seniors: Simple, at-home exercises using smell, eye movements, and sensory stimulation to improve spatial awareness, mobility, and memory retention. Innovative Pain Management: How targeted brain input can reduce or eliminate chronic pain, such as back pain from previous injuries or conditions like shingles. Memory Enhancement: Techniques that pair movement with recall exercises to help seniors strengthen memory and cognitive performance. Resources & How to Contact the Guest: * Visit Jennifer's Website: mindinmotionperform.com * Call: 248-670-3853 Podcast Schedule: Tune in to Next Steps for Seniors with new episodes dropping twice a week at 7:00 AM! Every Tuesday: Educational and insightful content to help you navigate the practical steps of aging. Every Friday: Spiritual and emotional support to encourage your heart and mind. Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, IHeart Podcasts so you never miss an episode, and if you enjoyed today's show, please leave us a rating and review! Learn more : https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones [https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

S10 E215 - The Spiritual Next Step

In this episode of Next Steps 4 Seniors: Conversations on Aging, host Wendy Jones sits down with Kristy Kirschmann and Roz Burns to discuss the vital work of the Next Steps for Seniors Foundation. While the business helps families with the logistics of senior living transitions, the foundation focuses on the most critical piece: spiritual care. Listen in to hear moving stories about how simple acts—like gifting a cozy blanket or singing a hymn—can bring immense comfort, peace, and spiritual connection to seniors facing difficult transitions. Key Takeaways: * The Three Pillars of Care: Assisting physically, supporting financially, and sharing spiritually. * The Blanket Ministry: How a simple gift opens the door to meaningful conversations about faith and eternity. * Transcending Decline: A touching testimony proving that spiritual connection and the love for Christ remain, even when memory and words fade. * Your Presence Matters: A passionate call to action to visit, call, and spend time with the seniors in your life. Connect with Us: Questions about navigating next steps with an elderly loved one? 📞 Call us at: 248-651-5010 Please share this episode with anyone who might be lonely and needs encouragement today! Learn more : https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones [https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

S10 E211 - Finding your Voice Later in Life

Can creativity actually help us heal from trauma and build a lasting legacy? In this inspiring episode, host Wendy Jones sits down with Sheryl Hawk, a retired music director of 41 years and the award-winning author of Piece by Piece: A Memoir of Survival, Resilience, and the Power of Creativity. Sheryl shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma and navigating life’s unexpected hardships—including her young son’s terrifying medical emergency. She reveals how a shattered LEGO Millennium Falcon became a beautiful metaphor for rebuilding life "piece by piece." Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, Sheryl explains how everyday acts of creativity from gardening to storytelling can trigger healing endorphins, combat stress, and even help stave off neurological conditions as we age. Tune in to learn how to reframe your past, find stillness in a busy world, and give yourself the ultimate permission to be creative. Key Highlights in this Episode: The Origin of Piece by Piece: The touching story of Sheryl’s son and how a shattered LEGO set taught her that broken pieces can always be rebuilt. Creativity as Healing: How engaging in creative acts (like music, decorating, or cooking) releases endorphins that counteract cortisol and support brain health. Reframing Trauma (PACE): Sheryl shares a thrilling story from the French Riviera to illustrate how trauma-induced traits, like hypervigilance, can be repurposed as life-saving strengths. Leaving a Legacy: Sheryl’s 15-year legislative advocacy journey in Hawaii for childhood trauma survivors and the special moment she shared with her grandson at the state capital. Everyday Creativity for Seniors: Practical, accessible ways to embrace creativity, such as raised container gardening and sharing stories of the past. Resources & How to Contact the Guest: Visit Sheryl's Website: SherylHauck.com [http://sherylhauck.com/]  Read the Book: Grab your copy of Cheryl’s International Impact Award-winning book, Piece by Piece: A Memoir of Survival, Resilience, and the Power of Creativity, available on her website and on Amazon. Podcast Schedule: Tune in to Next Steps for Seniors with new episodes dropping twice a week at 7:00 AM! Every Tuesday: Educational and insightful content to help you navigate the practical steps of aging. Every Friday: Spiritual and emotional support to encourage your heart and mind. Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, IHeart Podcasts so you never miss an episode, and if you enjoyed today's show, please leave us a rating and review! Learn more : https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones [https://omny.fm/shows/next-steps-4-seniors-with-wendy-jones] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.