Episode #138: "I Have SOMETHING To Say" with special guest, Vimarie Monopoli

<p class="x_MsoNormal">Time is unforgiving. It passes swiftly and with each day we age, becoming part of one of the fastest-growing population segments in the U.S.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, I talk with my dear friend Vimarie Monopoli, Director of Development at Age Matters in Brevard, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping mitigate the challenges faced by people 60+ in Brevard County (Florida) with the goal of <span data-ogsc= "black">supporting independence, health, safety and quality of life.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-ogsc="black">As a fierce advocate for all things good, Vimarie points out that in the next 20 years close to one-third of our population will be seniors and that among the many issues that come along with aging, two standouts are hunger and isolation.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-ogsc="black">“One in five senior adults say that they feel lonely,” she states adding that we are having fewer children and we don’t necessarily live close to them once they leave home.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal"><span data-ogsc="black">This poses serious challenges that require all-hands-on deck to address. Following are some key takeaways from our conversation:</span></p> <ol start="1" type="1"> <li class="x_MsoListParagraph" data-ogsc="black">Plan ahead of time with your family what living as an older adult looks like for you and your loved ones – the who, when, what, where, and how of caregiving.</li> <li class="x_MsoListParagraph" data-ogsc="black">Expose children/youth to opportunities to visit and help elders in the community to create a better support system as a collective and inclusive society. Developing understanding, empathy, and a realization at a young age that we are all heading to becoming seniors might help us in the future.</li> <li class="x_MsoListParagraph" data-ogsc="black">Donate money at the local level to organizations that are directly impacting the lives of people who are aging and are homebound sufferi