Welcome to our Podcast, Aging Vibrantly: Conversations to Empower Seniors,
the show where we amplify the voices of seniors.
Join Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, and special guests as they share insights on topics of aging, abuse prevention including ageism, powers of attorney, seniors’ rights, frauds and scams, the importance of intergenerational connections, and having supportive conversations… and more! 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.
Season 2 : Supported with funding from HelpAge Canada
Season 1 : Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program
Watch and Listen to us on:
Episodes released every third Wednesday – Be sure to listen !
Senior Advisory Committee
The podcast was created with the support of a Senior Advisory Committee with members from across Canada. Members play a vital role in support the creation of the podcast, including co-hosting episodes, identifying themes and leaders to interview, recommend interview questions, provide feedback on podcast branding/marketing materials and assist in promoting the Podcast to seniors, provincial and regional network members, community partners and agencies.
Learn more about the members here.
Aging Vibrantly: Season 1 Takeaways & Resources
Episode 20 :
Men’s Sheds Canada: Community Friendships and Connections
In this episode of Aging Vibrantly we learn about the Men’s Sheds in Canada.
Men’s Sheds provide welcoming spaces where men – often older or retired – get together in their community to share experiences and skills, discover new interests, make new friends, support each other and contribute to their communities.
For many men, aging and retirement can lead to loneliness and a loss of purpose, but Men’s Sheds, a unique and growing movement, is addressing these issues among older men across Canada!
Episode 19 :
Dementia in Canada: Awareness, Risks and Reality: Part 2
Dementia significantly impacts the lives of many Canadians, particularly for older adults and their caregivers. Canadians of all ages need to be knowledgeable about dementia, have access to information and support to lower their risk and acknowledge their role in combating stigma surrounding dementia.
In this episode we are joined with 3 esteemed guests; Dr. Samir Sinha, Dr. Jane Rylett and Claire Webster, share their wealth of knowledge in research, policy and practice to help us better understand Dementia in Canada.
Episode 18 :
Dementia in Canada: Awareness, Risks and Reality: Part 1
Dementia significantly impacts the lives of many Canadians, particularly for older adults and their caregivers. Canadians of all ages need to be knowledgeable about dementia, have access to information and support to lower their risk and acknowledge their role in combating stigma surrounding dementia.
In this episode we are joined with 3 esteemed guests; Dr. Samir Sinha, Dr. Jane Rylett and Claire Webster, share their wealth of knowledge in research, policy and practice to help us better understand Dementia in Canada.
Episode 17 :
WISE : Age-Inclusive Workplaces
Our guest Carolynne Mahood, Founder of On Your Own Time, highlights an innovative program she founded, W.I.S.E. (Wisdom. Inclusivity. Synergy. Equity), a national Certification program, that combats ageism in the workplace and recognizes workplaces that actively support and retain experienced workers through inclusive, flexible, and age-positive practices.
This episode discusses why age diversity and inclusion in the workplace matters, experiences older workers are having when trying to find work, and how employers can be champions of age inclusion by becoming WISE Certified.
Our guest Carolynne Mahood, Founder of On Your Own Time, highlights an innovative program she founded, W.I.S.E. (Wisdom. Inclusivity. Synergy. Equity), a national Certification program, that combats ageism in the workplace and recognizes workplaces that actively support and retain experienced workers through inclusive, flexible, and age-positive practices.
This episode discusses why age diversity and inclusion in the workplace matters, experiences older workers are having when trying to find work, and how employers can be champions of age inclusion by becoming WISE Certified.
Episode 16 :
Wills and Navigating Undue Influence
In this episode of Aging Vibrantly, we demystify the world of wills and undue influence in estate planning. We speak to two lawyers, Joanna Weiss, and Emily Caza from Whaley Estate Litigation Partners (WEL Partners) to help us break down and clarify issues including: What exactly is a will, and why do you need one, what happens when you do not have a Will, the difference between a Will, Power of Attorney, Executor and Attorney, how to determine Capacity to make a will, and what 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.
Episode 15 :
A Friendly Voice: Just a phone call away
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. A Friendly Voice is available from 8 AM – 10 PM (ET), 7 days a week/365 days a year.
Episode 14 :
Building Bridges – Intergenerational Classrooms
This episode features 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.
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.
Listen now :
Episode 13 :
Kindness is Contagious: Standing up Against Senior Bullying
In this episode highlights a new program on standing up against senior bullying featuring guests, Dr. Kirsten Madsen and Liza Franses who provide in-depth background information on the development of Solutions: Everyone’s Business. Senior to Senior Anti-Bullying Toolkit. We are informed that this toolkit integrates communication styles for ethno-cultural communities, with the recognition of age and gender diversity using case scenarios and how the toolkit is currently being adapted older adults who are hard of hearing and/or have hearing impairments which include videos accompanied with ASL interpretation.
Listen now :
Episode 12 :
Preparing for Caregiving
Are you providing or receiving care? In this episode, we speak with Amy Coupal, CEO of Ontario Caregivers Organization (OCO) to learned about the amazing work the OCO conducts to support Ontario’s four million caregivers, who provide physical and/or emotional support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours.
Our discussion leads to understanding the current and future concerns and complexities, prospective caregivers are facing in Ontario and what may be needed support them, based on OCO’s recent Preparing to Care Report. We highlight the vast offerings OCO provides to caregivers, including OCO’s free online and group/individual counselling programs, peer support and ‘I am a caregiver Toolkit’, e-Learning and more!
Listen now :
Season 2
Episode 11 :
Transforming Care with a National Caregiver Strategy
We are excited to launch Season 2 of Aging Vibrantly with an inspiring leader who is committed to ‘making Canada the best place in the world to give and receive care!
Given 1 in 4 Canadians is a caregiver and the current situation facing caregivers, we engage with our guest,James Janeiro, Director of Policy and Government Relations for the Canadian Centre for Caregiver Excellence (CCCE), for an insightful conversation on the role of CCCE to support and empower caregivers and care providers across all ages and diverse communities and how to best address the growing demands on caregivers and the need for A National Caregivers Strategy for Canada.
Listen now :
Episode 10 :
Putting a stop to Frauds and Scams Targeting Seniors
In this episode we speak with Stephanie Senecal, the Senior Support Unit Coordinator from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, along with Karen Deredin and Bonnie Bednarik, who are senior volunteers at the CAFC, who share their wealth of information and their lived experience to help us gain a better understanding of how frauds happen and actions to take to prevent frauds and scams.
Every year, people of all ages fall victim to fraud. Data from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre shows that Canadians lost a staggering $638 million to fraud in 2024. Although scams can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time, we know that older people are being targeted more than others. According to the Government of Canada, fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians.
This episode focuses on increasing awareness of current scams, emergency scams and romance/friendship scams to provide tips on how to recognize the signs to protect against falling prey to scammers.
Listen now :
Episode 9 :
Bridging the Gap : Building Generational Connections
In this episode we explore intergenerational programs that promote understanding and mutual respect among generations, contribute to age friendly communities and have proven to work in addressing ageism. In fact, intergenerational programs are valued and celebrated across Canada and internationally with events held on Intergenerational Day in Canada each year on June 1 and during Global Intergenerational Week which is recognized this year from April 24 – 30, 2025.
Join us to listen to our senior expert on intergenerational learning, Sharon Mackenzie, an educator by profession and an advocate of intergenerational connections who shares her many experiences, including the creation of the Meadow School Project, as well as her research and knowledge and informs us why intergenerational connections benefit both youth and seniors.
Listen now :
Episode 8 :
Inspirations for Lifelong Learning
In this episode, our guest Olive Bryanton, is the epitome of the life-long learner. Motivated to learn with her unending curiosity and desire to advocate and improve the lives of older adults, we learn about her journey to going back to PEI University to complete her Phd. Floursishing from her research, peer mentoring endevours and organizational connections, led Olive to her current advocacy work in community and government, leadership roles on needs older women in rural areas and role model for other later life learners.
Listen now :
Episode 7 :
Coping with Grief and Loss in Later Life
We will talk about grief responses, healthy and unhealthy grieving as well as caring for yourself, caregivers and others as you move through loss and grieving.
On this episode of Aging Vibrantly there is a sensitivity warning, as we are covering material that may bring up strong emotions for some listeners. Our guest Jennifer McCrae, a Credentialed Thanatologist, Certified Grief and Loss Specialist and End of Life Doula. discusses death, loss and bereavement, types grief (complicated/anticipatory), communication and coping strategies for family, how to take care of others and ourselves during grief and ways of taking care of yourself while grieving.
Listen now :
Episode 6 :
How to Recognize and Prevent Elder Abuse
In this episode, our guest Dr. Gloria Gutman, a pioneer in the work of elder abuse prevention, provides us with a better understanding of elder abuse, how to look for warning signs, who is at risk, and actions we can all take to take to prevent and safeguard against abuse as well shares her insights on what is being done in Canada to raise awareness of this important health and social issue.
Listen now :
Épisode 5 :
Procuration – Considérations pratiques
Les gens pensent souvent qu’ils n’ont pas besoin d’une procuration; ils estiment que cela ne concerne que les personnes âgées. Pourtant, tout le monde devrait envisager d’en avoir une, surtout lorsqu’on est encore capable d’exprimer ses souhaits.
Nous allons discuter de ce qu’est une procuration, de ce qu’il faut savoir pour en choisir une, des rôles, responsabilités et obligations, des protections que vous pouvez mettre en place pour vous protéger, ainsi que des options à envisager si l’agent désigné n’agit pas dans votre meilleur intérêt.
À noter, chaque province et territoire dispose de législations spécifiques en matière de procuration. Aujourd’hui nous allons nous focaliser sur l’Ontario mais nous vous encourageons à vous renseigner sur votre propre juridiction si vous résidez ailleurs.
Invitée:
Me Jaëlle Bain, est une avocate bilingue du Centre d’information juridique de l’Ontario.
Me Kayla Cardinal Lafrance, est une avocate bilingue du Centre d’information juridique de l’Ontario.
Listen now :
Episode 4 :
Power of Attorney for Property: Best Practices and Practical Consideration
People often think they don’t need to have a Power of Attorney for Property, but in fact everyone should consider having one, especially when they are still capable of expressing their wishes.
In this episode, Power of Attorney for Property: Best Practices and Practical Considerations, our guest Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, engages with us in a lighthearted, yet serious discussion, on what you need to know about making a Power of Attorney (PoA).
Listen now :
Episode 3 :
Supportive Conversations
In Episode 3, our guest Margaret MacPherson, speaks on having Supportive Conversations with older adults in your family or community who you may be concerned about regarding their safety and well-being, or living at-risk of harm. Listen to learn about “SNCit”, a three step conversation framework that will inform and empower you to have supportive conversations and strategies on how to overcome the hesitation to ask questions and what to say when someone does not want help.
Listen now :
Episode 2 :
Part 2 : Rebelling Against #Ageism with Guest, Ashton Applewhite
In Episode 2 of our Rebelling Against Ageism Series, our guest Ashton Applewhite dives into how we internalize aging and explore the connection between ageism and elder abuse, tips for encouraging intergenerational conversations on aging and her advocacy work as co-founder the Old School Hub, and success stories of Ageism Campaigns, including Ageism Awareness Day, that are growing the conversation and resulting in positive changes in the social movement to dismantle ageism and embrace a world of all ages.
Listen now :
Episode 1 :
Part 1 : Rebelling Against #Ageism with Guest, Ashton Applewhite
In this inaugural episode, our guest, Ashton Applewhite, joins us for a lively discussion on Rebelling Against Ageism!
In Part 1 of our Rebelling Against Ageism Series, Ashton impartes her insights on defining ageism, its prevalence, impact and where it shows up in our lives from health, policy, and intergenerational dialogue. We learn to check our assumptions, and do our own self reflection of internal ageism. Ashton informs us of the challenges that lie ahead and to reframe how we Think, Feel and Act toward aging to dismantle the negative attitudes and behaviours. She welcomes people of all ages to learn about ageism and how to break down the barriers.
Ashton is an internationally recognized expert on ageism, and the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism.
