Growing Bolder Digital Digest Spring 2024

Hurdling Life’s Challenges

Kay Glynn is not afraid to fall because she knows she can get back up.

3 KEYS TO COMPRESSED MORBIDITY

WHAT’S NEW FOR THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

Kay Glynn, American Record Holder, W70-74 Pentathlon

Photo courtesy: Rob Jerome

Put one foot in front of the other. Literally.

We overcomplicate things, "Well, I need 30 minutes of exercise, 60 minutes, 90 minutes.” It's too complicated.

Just simply move, and once you start moving, don't stop.

– Colin Milner INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON ACTIVE AGING FOUNDER & CEO

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The Growing Bolder Podcast is a fast-paced, entertaining hour that will leave you excited about the possibilities in your life. Our guests include big-name celebrities, masters sports stars, active centenarians, rock stars, health, wellbeing and longevity experts and ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

Every episode of Growing Bolder will prove to you that it’s never too late to chase your dreams and create a life filled with passion, purpose and adventure.

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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jill Middleton

VICE PRESIDENT, VIDEO & AUDIO PRODUCTION Jason Morrow

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Lynne Mixson & Tim Killian

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Dunn

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tara Collingwood

GROWING BOLDER PRESS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Marc Middleton

GENERAL COUNSEL Michael Okaty, Foley & Lardner LLP

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Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Full Stream Ahead! We’ve Got Big News

For years we’ve published a print magazine, but rising paper, printing, and postage costs, along with a growing concern for the environment and changing consumer preferences, led to the pivot you’re now reading: Growing Bolder’s digital magazine. Digital allows us (and you!) to share the magazine and its message globally, embed videos, link to related content, and better serve our partners.

For years, our flagship TV show appeared on over 400 channels across the United States, but you could only watch it when it aired locally, and only if you had one of those channels. Just as we did with our print content, we’re making a major pivot with our video content. We’re embracing the growing opportunities of the digital age and moving Growing Bolder videos and shows to our own, free, streaming platform.

Watch.GrowingBolder.com is a Netflix-like site where we share Growing Bolder content as well as inspiring content from other producers. Unlike Netflix, it’s all free and can be watched by anyone, at any time.

Enjoy complete seasons of Growing Bolder, hear from the world's leading experts on active longevity, and be inspired by the stereotypesmashing stories of ordinary people who are rewriting the book on what's possible for all. Growing Bolder is now streaming on demand, 24/7. Watch.GrowingBolder.com

From the CEO

“Growing Bolder is now streaming on demand, 24/7. ”

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing

ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES ®

Teepa Snow

“Being of service makes my life worth living.”

When Teepa Snow was young her grandfather moved in with her family. There wasn’t really a name for his condition - he just needed help; just as Teepa’s younger sister did when she developed an inoperable brain tumor at 3 years old, resulting in severe developmental disabilities. As a teenager Teepa volunteered in a group to help her sister and other children like her, and she’s been helping people ever since.

Today Snow is one of the world’s leading advocates and educators for anyone living with dementia or other forms of brain changes. She’s committed to making life better for those undergoing any form of dementia, as well as those caring for them. Forty years of clinical and academic experience informs the work she does around the world with family members, at-home and clinical caregivers, and medical professionals to provide awareness, knowledge, and hands-on skills in dementia care. It’s work that gives her purpose and fuels her passion.

“The thing that surprises me is no matter how many people I work with, there's something unique about each individual in each situation, which is fun for me,” Snow said. “Now, I have a new synapse to form, and for me, that's where I really get my pleasure in the work I do…when I discover something and then I can say, ‘When you're working with Marc, try this, because this is something that I would not have thought, but that's sure enough what

worked. Isn't that weird?’ Now, we have a new way of trying to engage in something that makes sense to me at least. That's what's so exciting about this still to this day.”

In 2005 Teepa founded Positive Approach to Care (PAC), to offer educational training, services and products to families and professional care providers throughout the world, and to develop a more positive culture in dementia care. A culture that honors the dignity of those living with dementia and provides much needed support for those caring for them. Teepa emphasizes finding value instead of conflict in each moment, because the more moments of joy we can share together helps the brain health of both the patient and the caregiver.

PAC offers free video resources to their millions of followers on PAC’s YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and other online channels. Together, Teepa and those certified through PAC, have offered over 8,000 trainings and certifications around the world.

“Being of service makes my life worth living,” Snow said. “If I can't serve in some fashion that greater space, that greater situation, why bother? I've got to find the service. Even if that service is simply to be present and witness and hold space for someone, that for me is service. For me, that's why I'm here, is to provide that which people can benefit from and I can find joy in.”

Photo provided by Larry DeLucas

WATCH OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH TEEPA

Hurdling Life’s Challenges

Kay Glynn is not afraid to fall because she knows she can get back up.

Kay Glynn is a 70-year-old grandmother with eight grandchildren and a pole vaulting shed in her backyard.

Kay grew up in Iowa, where she set a state record in the long jump that wasn’t broken for 30 years. She still holds the Western Iowa high school record, more than 50 years after she first set it.

Kay stopped competing after high school but decades later learned about masters track and field from her daughter. “When I was 48, I was at the Iowa State Games to watch my daughter compete. And she said, ‘Look Mom, there's old people down there! You could do this.’ That's when I started.”

She didn’t just long jump. Kay took up pole vaulting, hurdling, and several other new events, and began setting national and world records. She was unbeatable for a

decade until hip dysplasia led to severe arthritis and boneon-bone contact so painful that she needed both hips resurfaced.

Recovery was slow, difficult, and painful, but within a year she was back on the track setting records. At age 68, she was inducted into the Masters Track & Field Hall of Fame. At 70, she set a new age-group world record in the pole vault and a new American record in the pentathlon -five events in one day: hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and the 800-meter run.

“Doctors have told me that athletes make the best rehabbing people,” she says. “We know what it's like to have to work, and we know that there's going to be light at the end of the tunnel. I just never give up. I just keep working at it.”

“I just never give up. I just keep working at it.”

- KAY GLYNN

Photos by Rob Jerome for Growing Bolder

And the work never stops. She even pole vaults in her unheated she shed in the dead of winter, when temperatures can dip into the teens. “When I go in there, my water bottle freezes,” Glynn shared.

Kay is not trying to defeat old age. She simply wants to feel as good as she can for as long as she can. “I started because it looked like it was fun. And I'm happy to say it's still fun, whether I win or lose. But I can't stop now because I know I won't feel good if I do. Even with all my mishaps, injuries and surgeries no doctor has ever said, ‘You need to slow down.’ They always tell me, ‘Keep doing what you're doing.’”

Kay likes the competition but loves the camaraderie in the community of fellow competitors. “We all are in the same boat. We're ageless and sexless. We're pole vaulters, hurdlers, and runners. We love to stick together, and we love to support each other.”

Kay Glynn may be the greatest, all-around over-70 female athlete who ever lived. That’s due in small part to her athletic ability and in large part to her ability to keep hurdling life’s never-ending obstacles. “I love the feeling of being healthy. And that's why, even when I'm tired and I don't want to do it that day, I still do something...because I know I'll feel better afterward.”

“I started because it looked like it was fun. And I'm happy to say it's still fun, whether I win or lose.”

- KAY GLYNN

What’s New for The National Senior Games

The Countdown is on for Des Moines!

The countdown is on for the 2025 National Senior Games! While thousands of athletes over the age of 50 have their eyes set on Des Moines, Iowa, there is still so much excitement in the year ahead in the world of masters athletics. Growing Bolder, the official media partner of the National Senior Games Association, is thrilled to bring you inside the action every day with the latest news and stories of inspiring masters athletes.

Inaugural National Senior Games Week

The NSGA, all the State Senior Games across the U.S., and Growing Bolder united to promote healthy lifestyles and active aging with the first ever National Senior Games Week!

The inaugural event, which took place from March 18th24th, showcased the life changing benefits that masters athletics can bring people of all ages, by sharing the stories of senior athletes who have found camaraderie, community and competition through organized sports.

Want to get caught up on the action? By searching the hashtag #NationalSeniorGamesWeek, you can view all of the video stories, written articles, memes, statistics, resources and more that were created during the inspirational week!

“We were thrilled to unite athletes, organizers and supporters around the country in spreading the word about the positive impacts of Senior Games,” said Susan Hlavacek, NSGA president & CEO. “Our voices are stronger together, and National Senior Games Week sent a resounding message that it’s never too late to get active, and there is a place for everyone in the Senior Games.”

A New Way to Watch

Growing Bolder is excited to announce a new way to watch award-winning video stories, documentaries, national specials and more, including a dedicated section all on masters athletes and the National Senior Games! It’s all streaming on demand, 24/7, for free! Sign up for free at Watch.GrowingBolder.com so you can be inspired by all our stories on athletes over the age of 50, just like DeEtte Sauer.

Now 82-years-old, DeEtte Sauer is a decorated masters swimmer, ranked number one in the entire world in the 200-meter butterfly in her age group. But it wasn't an easy path to the top of the podium. Talking through tears, Sauer reflected on her life changing journey with the National Senior Games, recounting how swimming saved her life.

New Sports on the Horizon

Growing Bolder has been proud to share stories of swimmers and sprinters, pickleball players, polevaulters and so much more with the world. For decades, athletes over the age of 50 have found community, camaraderie and competition in more than 20 total sports at the National Senior Games, and starting in 2025, there will be several new additions to the lineup.

The National Senior Games Association has announced five new sports and four new events in 2025:

The new competitions will be open to all participants ages 50 and above for the 2025 Games and will not require qualification at an NSGA-sanctioned Senior Games. Click here to learn more about these new additions.

Want to Age in Place? Make a Plan with Your Caring Transitions Team

What do you want your later years to look like?

Embracing a Growing Bolder attitude is key to making the rest of your life the best of your life. By looking at life through a prism of possibility, a world of opportunities unfolds in your later years – chances to try new things, make new friends, go new places, and pursue your passions.

It is never too late, or too early, to start crafting the life of your dreams for those years ahead. A large part of that equation is how you spend your time, but it’s just as important to consider where you will spend your time.

According to a recent healthy aging poll, 88% of Americans feel it is important to “age in place,” meaning to remain living independently, safely, and comfortably in their own home for as long as possible, as opposed to joining an institutional living setting.

While senior living communities do offer vast social, entertainment and health-related benefits, the National Council on Aging has outlined many key benefits to aging in place that reinforce why many Americans are interested in remaining in their own home:

• Maintain autonomy and independence

• Stay close to family and friends

• Continue your existing routines and community services

• Potential financial savings

To say that you want to age in place is one thing but making it a reality is another. There are several important factors and decisions to consider when preparing to age in place, and fortunately, you don’t have to navigate this path alone.

Caring Transitions is the nation’s largest and most trusted brand when it comes to navigating transitions later in life. They create individualized plans to meet your specific needs, handling everything from home decluttering and downsizing to complete moves to new communities. If you are considering aging in place, the experts at Caring Transitions can make your hopes become a reality.

Downsizing to Age in Place

One of the initial conversations to have when first thinking about the possibility of aging in place is the size of your home. The home you may have lived in for decades might not be a practical home for your future:

Signs That It’s Time To Downsize Your Home, According to Caring Transitions

• Maintaining and cleaning your home is becoming a difficult task due to its size.

• Your home has features that could make aging in place difficult, such as excess staircases, narrow hallways, high-maintenance landscaping and more.

• Your neighborhood no longer fits your lifestyle.

• Your monthly housing expenses are greater than 30% of your income.

• You don’t have much money left over after paying bills.

If any of these signs sound familiar, it may be time to think about your next life transition and how a smaller home could better fit your future life. The National Council on Aging advises a single-story, carpeted home that keeps falls prevention in mind. Location matters as well. Consider a home close to essential medical services, as well as social opportunities and community.

How a Caring Transitions Team Can Handle Your Downsize

Undergoing a downsize is a daunting task to tackle alone, so to seize the benefits of aging in place, utilize the services of your local Caring Transitions team, who have “been there and done that” for decades.

1. Having a Plan

Instead of venturing into the unknown, your Caring Transitions team will make an individualized plan for your downsize. They’ll create a timeline of when the work will occur, how it will happen, and when you can expect to be out and on your way.

2. Deciding What to Keep

It can be an emotional challenge to rid yourself of years of knick-knacks, family items and antiques. Caring Transitions knows that these items are more than just “things” – they hold precious memories. Their experts can help you decide what to keep and what to leave, and preserve the memories of your home to take with you.

3. Online Auction Platform and Estate Sales

One of the most important factors in downsizing is preserving your finances, especially when considering any future medical and living expenses as you age in place. Caring Transitions can give your bank a boost by hosting an estate sale for items you no longer need, and by selling through their online auction platform CTBIDS, you’ll access a national network of buyers interested in your antiques.

4. The Heavy Lifting

The team at Caring Transitions will handle the heavy lifting – literally. Their staff will perform all the physical labor of decluttering, securely packing, moving, unpacking, and organizing so you can sit back and focus on what really matters as you downsize. They’ll set your new home up exactly how you desire, so you can successfully transition to your new setting on day one.

There are more than 300 Caring Transitions franchises located across the country. To find the team nearest you, visit CaringTransitions.com

This article was created in partnership with our friends at Caring Transitions. To learn more about their total solution services visit CaringTransitions.com

Crustless Spring Quiche

Combine Fresh Spring Veggies + Protein for a Versatile Spring Dish

Tara Collingwood is a nationally known sports dietitian who has worked with countless Olympic, professional and collegiate organizations and competitive athletes to help them perform at their best. She has been quoted in more than 1500 publications and has appeared on hundreds of interviews on TV, radio, podcast, and stages across the country.

Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD,LD/N, ACSM-CPT

INGREDIENTS

Cooking spray

1 clove garlic, chopped

3/4 cup chopped raw asparagus

2 cups raw baby spinach

3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped

2/3 cup 2% milk

¼ cup half and half cream

½ cup egg whites

3 whole large eggs

¼ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/3 cup real bacon crumbles (or meatless alternative)

¾ cup Gruyère cheese, shredded

¼ cup Parmesan, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Prepare glass pie pan with cooking spray.

3. Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Spray with cooking spray. Add chopped garlic and asparagus. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add raw spinach and cook until wilted.

4. Spread vegetable mixture on bottom of pie pan and add chopped raw tomatoes. Set aside.

5. In a medium bowl, combine milk, half and half, egg whites, and seasoning. Whisk together.

6. Add bacon and cheeses to the mixture and stir until combined.

7. Pour egg and cheese mixture over the vegetables in the pie pan.

8. Bake 35-40 minutes until set.

9. Cut quiche into 6 pieces and serve hot.

NOTES:

1. You can substitute fat free half and half to reduce calories and fat.

2. Omit bacon or use meatless sausage alternative for a vegetarian option.

3. Serve with breakfast potatoes, whole grain toast, salad, or fruit.

4. Use cheddar, feta, or mozzarella cheeses to substitute for all, or a portion of, the Gruyère.

5. Quiche is versatile and can be served at breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

3 Keys to Compressed Morbidity

with Dr. Roger Landry

We all have more control over how we age than we realize. For years, it was commonly believed that living a long life was largely tied to having great genes. In other words, it took a lot of luck to make it to a ripe old age.

We now know that we have the ability to create that luck through the lifestyle we live and the daily choices we make – not when we’re old, but right now. In fact, 70 percent of how we age is determined by the choices we make every day. That means only 30 percent is determined by genes and as we get older, that number drops even further. Incredible work being done by people like Dr. Roger Landry drives home these statistics. He’s a preventive medicine physician who specializes in empowering older adults to maximize their unique skills and talents. He is a lecturer, researcher, consultant and author of “Live Long, Die Short: A Guide for Authentic Health and Successful Aging.”

So, what does it mean to “live long, die short?” In public health terms, this is referred to as “compressed morbidity,” or limiting the amount of time that we are sick or impaired at the end of life. At Growing Bolder’s “Launchpad to What’s Next Live,” Dr. Landry shared his keys to compressed morbidity to help audiences maximize the amount of healthy years ahead.

“Be the person that you were meant to be at this stage in your life,”

-DR. LANDRY

WATCH DR. LANDRY’S ENTIRE PRESENTATION

“We are creatures of movement, everything works better when we move. Start moving.”

-DR. LANDRY

Develop Physical and Mental Resilience

Growing Bolder doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges of aging. It means developing a positive mindset and making lifestyle changes to be prepared for them, so you can bounce back from setbacks and live the best life possible.

“How do we develop resilience?” Dr. Landry asked the crowd. “It's simple, it's lifestyle choices. We are creatures of movement, everything works better when we move. Start moving. In fact, sitting is the new smoking, according to research by the Mayo Clinic.”

While getting active can help our bodies get prepared to handle challenges, Dr. Landry expressed the importance of getting our minds ready, too.

“Learning new things leads to neuroplasticity, which allows us to rewire our brain,” Dr. Landry said. “We can rewire our brain when we need it, even if from injury, by learning. Doing things like eating with your opposite hand, learning a language or a craft, or just getting out of our comfort zone every now and then.”

Stay Socially Connected

to stay connected and not neglected. Social engagement can boost your immune system, helping the body fight off everything from common colds to cancer. Connecting with others eases anxiety and depression, boosts moods and increases mental health.

“You want some tips on how to make more connections?” Dr. Landry asked the crowd. “Have compassion for others and give up the need to be right.”

Find Purpose in Your Life

Purpose fuels the life force. It’s important to have something that gets us out of bed every morning. We need unfinished business. It’s common to hear about people passing away not long after retiring from a lengthy career or following the death of a spouse. That’s largely because the job or the relationship provided purpose.

Your purpose doesn’t have to be profound. It must simply move you to action. It could be in art, volunteering, entrepreneurship, music, sports or so much more.

“Be the person that you were meant to be at this stage in your life,” Dr. Landry urges. “Mary Oliver once wrote, ‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’ That’s a question for all of us to answer every day.”