SENIOR WELL-BEING

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BY CATHLEEN FAVARO

Have you ever thought about how you want to age? Have you ever envisioned your life after retirement? I think most people know what they want for themselves & their families but tend to leave it to chance instead of executing a plan to create that reality. I have that vision and plan not just for myself, but for you as well.

You see, after my cancer diagnosis at the age of 31, my life changed. I left a flourishing career as a hairstylist in Saratoga Springs for the world of healthcare as an Occupational Therapist. I knew in my heart I wanted to experience all the inner workings of my new career path working with individuals from birth through death & I set out to find those experiences.

Over the years I witnessed some miracles as well as some very unfortunate stories and situations. The common thread throughout them was the unpreparedness for these storms and the lack of support in navigating through the rough and unfamiliar waters of healthcare in America. I also saw some groups less served by “the system” then others. As years went by, I was often asked, why isn’t this “out there” somewhere? Why don’t they tell you this stuff? I searched and found there wasn’t a resource out there. Of course, there is AARP, but that is broad and cumbersome website and if you found the information I am providing, it would not be from firsthand experiences and it would take significant time searching for. To understand more of what I am talking about, we should start at the beginning. What is Occupational Therapy? It is the only healthcare profession (spending category to insurance & facilities) that has been found to reduce hospital readmissions by decreasing a person’s risk of further or future injury. How? Because we treat the person. Occupational therapists consider the person, the activities they perform that are important to them, and the environment these activities are performed in. Our scope of practice covers everything from personal hygiene to sexuality and spirituality. It

is the profession of wholeness and if we can’t repair what no longer works in the body, how can we adapt to maintain independence in what matters most to each of us? As you can see, this holistic view of treating people and maintaining or gaining independence is a crucial part of living. The longer I worked in the clinical aspects of the adult and aging population, the more emotional shifts from hope to desperation I witnessed by misinformation and inexperience in this realm. I sought out educational opportunities to better serve those that appeared underserved. I earned certifications as a certified geriatric care professional, certified lymphedema therapist, and certified dementia practitioner. I also advocate for minorities whose needs may be unmet based on lack of understanding, language barriers, financial disadvantages, cultural difference, and so on. I am impassioned to educate people to better understand their health conditions in order to reduce the risk of complications and significant disability.

I have created Senior Well-Being

Solutions with the mission to guide people through creating their own personalized proactive plan for wellness while avoiding the healthcare pitfalls throughout the aging (and caregiving) process. “Don’t Let Your

Golden Years Tarnish!” because

I heard that the most frequently throughout my career-scoffing at

Golden Years while laid up in a rehabilitation facility or nursing home. Certainly, these facilities are necessary, but understanding how to navigate and advocate is a skill one best knows from being inside the inner walls. It is inevitable that someone will be injured or get sick and need assistance but being prepared for the “health storm” creates a sense of peace, preparedness, and often a faster discharge home.

Ten thousand people are turning 65 every day in America & 90% of them will require some form of assistance or support with no plan for who will help or who will pay for it. People assume

“Have you ever thought about how you want to age? Have you ever envisioned your life after retirement? ”

Medicare covers everything. My father is on a fixed income and asks me for guidance throughout the years. He has questioned what people who don’t have a family like his in their life. My sister, my daughter, and I all work in healthcare and able to provide support, but that is not common. My goal & my passion are to provide people with the same guidance and support I offer my own father.

I welcome the opportunity to partner here and provide value and insight in the months ahead. From technology to help you age in place and home improvements that will age with you without looking institutionalized to free self-care tips that you can do to keep your mind, body, and spirit healthy, there are many valuable things I want to share! I will mentor you through signing up for Medicare and understanding the differences in legal documentation you should have as you age. I look forward to this journey with you to be proactive instead of reactionary in an area we don’t like to think about, but all must deal with. In the end, we plan for everything from college and career to large purchases and vacations, and even retirement finances, but we tend to leave this area to chance. It’s my honor to walk beside each and every one of you to change that and plan for wellness.

Cathleen Favaro is a recognized and highly respected Occupational Therapist, Educator/Advocate, and Geriatric Care Specialist with a reputation for helping individuals and organizations create quick and sustainable results. An expert on aging & wellness, she is known for simplifying complex problems and creating actionable and effective solutions.

She is a wife, mother & grandmother who enjoys music, being outdoors, & entertaining. She is always giving and helping friends, her community, and her church. She founded Senior Well-Being Solutions to protect and advocate for her peers and the aging population that she frequently saw during troubling times. For more about Cathy visit www.seniorwellbeingsoutions.com.