Growing Older Together | Facing Fears. Embracing Resilience.

Lourdes Valtierra Dirden
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Personal Journals
  • Weekly Series

Growing Older Together is a short-form podcast that explores the fears, turning points, and resilience of aging, with episodes under 15 minutes.  Season One: Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow, looks at how earlier experiences continue to shape who we become. Season Two: Finding Strength in Our Fears, shares stories about fears, how it shows up in everyday life, how it keeps us quiet, and what it takes to speak about it in later life.  From time to time, I share interviews with guests about their experiences of aging and the resilience they discovered along the way.  Let’s keep growing older and wiser together.

  1. Episode 1

    S2 EP 1 – Why Fear?

    Send us Fan Mail In the first episode of Season 2, Lourdes talks about fear and why it can stop us from speaking up, trying something new, or making decisions we want to make. She shares her own experience with fear of judgment and introduces Finding Strength in Our Fears, a season devoted to the fears that can become more noticeable as we get older. LET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 1 – Why Fear?

  2. Episode 2

    S2 EP 2 – Exploring The Fear of Aging

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 2, Lourdes looks at some of the concerns people may have about getting older, from maintaining independence to dealing with health changes and financial uncertainty. She talks about acknowledging those fears and taking practical steps to prepare for the issues that concern us most. RESOURCES Institute of Aging, https://www.ioaging.org/Season 1, Episode 12, 'New Hobbies and Skills,' https://www.buzzsprout.com/2291141/15035665 LET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 2 – Exploring The Fear of Aging

  3. Episode 3

    S2 EP 3 – Handling The Fear of Becoming A Burden

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 3, Lourdes discusses a fear many older adults may have: becoming dependent on other people or feeling like a burden to those they love. She talks about planning ahead, communicating openly, and understanding the options available when more support may be needed. RESOURCES California Department of Aging: https://aging.ca.gov/Programs_and_Services/ Eldercare Locator: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Resources/LearnMoreAbout/Support_Services.aspx# DEFINITIONS Healthcare Directive: A legal document that states a person's wishes about receiving medical care if that person is no longer able to make medical decisions because of a serious illness or injury. Power of Attorney: The Power of Attorney gives power to another person to act as an Agent when the Principal is unable to act for themselves—that power is generally limited to financial matters and that power can be terminated at will. Living Will: A written, legal document that spells out medical treatments you would and would not want to be used to keep you alive, as well as your preferences for other medical decisions, such as pain management or organ donation. In determining your wishes, think about your values. Vulnerable: A person who is weak and without protection, where may easily be hurt physically or emotionally. LET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 3 – Handling The Fear of Becoming A Burden

  4. Episode 4

    S2 EP 4 – Overcoming The Fear of Loneliness

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 4, Lourdes looks at the fear of loneliness and what can happen when we begin to feel cut off from other people. Through a listener’s story, she talks about companionship and the different ways people can begin rebuilding connection. RESOURCES  Pets as Companions Human Animal Bond Research Institute, https://habri.org/about/  Importance of Animals Tackling Loneliness One Pet at a Time, https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/the-importance-of-animals-tackling-loneliness-one-pet-at-a-time/Human Animal Interaction, https://www.waltham.com/news-events/human-animal-interaction/pets-loneliness-during-pandemicSenior Scam Alert U.S. Department of Justice’s Senior Scam Alert, https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/senior-scam-alert.Support Eldercare locator, 800-677-1116, https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Resources/Federal_Websites.aspx LET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 4 – Overcoming The Fear of Loneliness

  5. Episode 5

    S2 EP 5 – Confronting Health Anxieties

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 5, Lourdes looks at the fear and worry that can come with changes in our health as we age. Through a listener’s story, she talks about what health anxiety can feel like and shares ways to respond when those worries become difficult to manage. RESOURCES Steve Maraboli Website: https://stevemaraboli.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevemaraboli7 Simple Tips to Calm Health Anxieties https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S2Q4IPfo0ZDtU9l29okdjCSuJg2C6lMB/view?usp=sharingLET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 5 – Confronting Health Anxieties

  6. Episode 6

    S2 EP 6 – Addressing the Fear of Cognitive Decline

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 6, Lourdes discusses concerns about memory and cognitive decline that can become more noticeable as we age. She talks about misconceptions surrounding aging, the effect certain language can have on those fears, and simple ways to stay mentally engaged. RESOURCES  Harvard Health Publishing | Protecting Against Cognitive Decline, https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/protecting-against-cognitive-decline#National Center to Reframe Aging, https://www.reframingaging.org/National Institute on Aging, 10 Common Misconceptions about Aging, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/10-common-misconceptions-about-agingNational Institute on Aging, 12 Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/12-myths-about-alzheimers-diseaseLET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 6 – Addressing the Fear of Cognitive Decline

  7. Episode 7

    S2 EP 7 – Facing Financial Fears in Retirement

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 7, Lourdes talks about the financial fears that can come with retirement, including rising costs and the concern of outliving your savings. She looks at where these worries come from and discusses ways to better understand and prepare for the financial decisions that may come with retirement. RESOURCES  GLOBAL FINANCIAL LITERACY EXCELLENCE CENTER: https://gflec.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Anxiety-and-Stress-Report-GFLEC-FINRA-FINAL.pdf LOW-COST OR FREE FINANCIAL CONSULTATIONS:  The Financial Planning Association – Free services through their networks of certified financial planners, https://www.financialplanningassociation.org/advocacy/pro-bono-programNational Association of Personal Financial Advisors – Advisers Give Back | Certified Financial Planners who volunteer and offer free, personalized financial advice,   https://advisersgiveback.org/napfa/Free resources for consumers and families, https://www.napfa.org/free-resources-for-consumersSavvy Ladies – A nonprofit that provides free financial education and advice to women. They offer access to a network of financial advisors who can help with a variety of topics, from budgeting to investing and retirement planning​, https://www.savvyladies.org/free-financial-helpline/ELDERCARE LOCATOR: Find your community by entering your zip code or city and state, https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: https://www.ssa.gov/. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS:  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Serves as the official governmental agency offering financial advice on a variety of topics such as student debt, mortgages, and planning for retirement, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/  Tax Counseling for the Elderly: The IRS has a separate program for taxpayers age 60 and older that specializes in retirement-related issues unique to seniors, https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-counseling-for-the-elderly.LET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 7 – Facing Financial Fears in Retirement

  8. Episode 8

    S2 EP 8 – Whispers of Regret: Women Finding Peace in Silence

    Send us Fan Mail This episode contains explicit language and content. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 8, Lourdes speaks with Lilia about living with physical limitations, learning to prioritize her own well-being, and making decisions that allowed her to live more on her own terms. Lilia also talks about experiences she kept to herself for years and what it meant to finally share her story. RESOURCES Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), https://adaa.org/find-help-for/women/anxiety American Psychological Associatoin (APA), https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/women-stress LET'S STAY CONNECTED Find episodes, show notes, and more:  https://campsite.bio/dirdenblueprint Email: podcast@lourdesvaltierradirden.com Thank you for listening.

    S2 EP 8 – Whispers of Regret: Women Finding Peace in Silence
See All Season 2 (14)

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Growing Older Together is a short-form podcast that explores the fears, turning points, and resilience of aging, with episodes under 15 minutes.  Season One: Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow, looks at how earlier experiences continue to shape who we become. Season Two: Finding Strength in Our Fears, shares stories about fears, how it shows up in everyday life, how it keeps us quiet, and what it takes to speak about it in later life.  From time to time, I share interviews with guests about their experiences of aging and the resilience they discovered along the way.  Let’s keep growing older and wiser together.

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