Empowering Seniors

How TikTok’s Retirement House Is Aging Without Getting Old

With over 5 million followers on TikTok, Retirement House has officially gone viral, even if most of the account’s cast members didn’t know what the platform was when they got the gig.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Retirement House, a TikTok channel that features six septua- and octogenarians living in something like a parody of a content house for influencers, has taken social media by storm. The account posts a mix of content featuring its senior stars, from scripted sketches to viral dances, music video recreations, and other viral trends.

The idea for the channel came from two producers, Brandon Chase and Adi Azran, who are both in their mid-20s and are content makers at the youth-focused media brand Flighthouse.

“We’d never seen a show on TikTok with like, a cast of characters,” said Azran, who found inspiration when one night he scrolled across a video of someone’s grandma delivering a cheesy pickup line, which had 3 million views. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, what if the cast of characters was all senior citizens?’”

The content game

While the cast of Retirement House doesn’t actually live together in the Los Angeles residence where they shoot their videos, the cast and crew seems to always be having a great time

on set.

“We show up, we laugh for eight hours, then we go home,” said Gaylynn Baker, who plays Mabel. Baker, 86, is a dancer who has performed and taught all her life, and is now famous for dancing on top of tables in Retirement House videos. “How I got lucky enough for this to be one of my last chapters, I don’t even know,” she said.

the context behind what they’re parodying when they start shooting, but the producers try their best to make sure everyone is eventually in on the joke.

“Everything is done with such respect and such patience —we never have a problem with the generation gap,” said Patty Yulish, 82, who plays Bubbe and is known for her remarkable ability to do the splits. “We’ll go out to dinner with [Chase and Azran] and always have a great time.”

“No one on the cast is hard to get along with,” said Jerry Boyd (AKA Curtis), whose only acting credit before Retirement House was playing a pimp on an episode of Hawaii 5-0 about 50 years ago. “You might have a difference of opinion with someone, but we all get along like we’re siblings, and that’s great.”

The cast often doesn’t know

TikTok famous Retirement House’s videos do more than just entertain. They’re showing younger generations that getting older doesn’t mean you just have to take medication and sit in front of the TV. Laughing, playing, creating, finding your space in a community — these are things all people can and should do, regardless of age.

“There are so many ways the society we live in tries to convince us that we’re older,” Baker said. “Aging is wonderful and glorious and full of surprises — but don’t let them trick you into getting old!”

Written by Dustin Brennan Photo by Jenifer Becerra Radilla

Aging is wonderful and glorious and full of surprises — but don’t let them trick you into getting old!

The Best Aging Resource You’ve Never Heard Of

If aging well at home and in your community is your goal, then you need to know and connect to your local Area Agency on Aging.

Poll after poll shows that the goal of most older adults is to be able to age in place — in their own home and in their community. But to do so well, most will need some help along their aging journey.

Whether it’s staying healthy through exercise, fall prevention, or chronic disease management classes; getting help with meals, transportation, home repairs, or chores; learning more about Medicare options from an unbiased source; staying engaged to prevent social isolation and loneliness; or accessing a wide range of other community resources that promote optimal aging, your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) should be your first stop.

AAAs are the local leaders in aging well, providing a range of resources

and services to support aging with health, independence, and dignity — and they’re easy to find all across the country. AAAs also provide support to family caregivers with training and services to help them care for their loved ones. Supported by public funding, these agencies work with community partners to deliver programs and services that fit the unique needs of older adults and caregivers in their service area.

Long-time trusted community resources, this year marks the 50th anniversary of AAAs being created through the Older Americans Act, and it is also the 45th anniversary of Title VI Native American Aging Programs, which support elders living in Indian Country.

Optimal aging is a journey for us all, and AAA and Title VI programs can help you and your

family navigate it. So reach out and connect to your local AAA or other aging resources via the Eldercare Locator, a federally funded call center dedicated to connecting older adults and caregivers to resources on aging well in their states and communities, at 1-800-677-1116 or www.eldercare.acl.gov.

About USAging USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities.

Why Men’s Health Is More Than Medical Care

self-reliant, and socially connected.

WRITTEN BY Dr. Derek M. Griffith Director, Center for Men’s Health Equity, Georgetown University

If you ask a man if he is healthy or doing well, his answer will not typically reflect his number of medical diagnoses or medications. He will answer based on how he feels, if he feels he has purpose, if his physical or mental health is limiting what he can do, and if he can do things that are important to him for himself or his family.

Our prior research shows that men often use their younger selves to measure what they consider healthy. Aging men aspire to do things physically that they want to do, and to live the quality of life they have

grown accustomed to. We often forget to help men remember that taking medication and following lifestyle recommendations are keys to them feeling good and being able to do the things they enjoy.

Less stick, more carrot Aging men may use battles over medication, eating, sleep, and other seemingly basic things to maintain independence and selfreliance, especially after working and other ways of feeling useful are no longer parts of their lives. While it is common to try to motivate aging men by shaming,

guilting, and chastising them, it may be worth trying to motivate with “carrots rather than sticks.”

Ask and observe what things are important to aging men. Help connect their goals and ways of defining health to what they eat, if they take their medication, if they exercise, and other ways of caring for themselves. You may be surprised to learn that you get less resistance and more agreement if you try to understand how men think about their priorities and goals, and where health and health-promoting behaviors fit into that picture.

Getting older men to go to the doctor is important. Loved ones should focus on motivating men to be active,

WRITTEN BY Sandy Markwood CEO, USAging

How Meals on Wheels Is Helping Seniors Live Healthier Lives

Pulmonary Disease (COPD), diabetes, renal disorders, and chronic heart disease.

Similarly, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the Fresh Meals on Wheels service offers texturemodified meals for people with difficulty chewing and swallowing. The Mobile Meals on Wheels of Southern Arizona in Tucson offers an extensive range of meal options, including foods that are low in sodium, sugar, and/or calories, as well as vegetarian, gluten-free, and finely chopped options.

Ellie Hollander President and CEO, Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels serves 247 million meals to older adults each year. While these organizations are known for providing home-delivered meals to those in need, they offer much more than food.

“The meal is the entree to so many other services and connections,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America, the national organization leading a network of more than 5,000 independently run local food service providers.

This nationwide network provides tailored nutrition, social connection, safety, and more. They serve adults over age 60 who struggle to access and/or prepare healthy food to eat — whether that’s due to mobility challenges or other economic or social limitations. Those interested in receiving meals need to apply with their local provider. Depending on eligibility, the meals may be free or according to a sliding scale based on one’s ability to pay.

At a time when seniors don’t always know who to trust, they know they can depend on Meals on Wheels, which has had a quality reputation for more than 50 years.

Growing need

Currently, 8 out of 10 local Meals on Wheels programs are serving more meals than they did pre-pandemic

and demand is only expected to grow along with the booming senior population.

The number of seniors in America is anticipated to reach 93 million in the next decade, and 118 million by 2060. Food insecurity disproportionately affects older adults of color, and that population continues to increase, too.

Tailored approach

Meals on Wheels’ offerings aren’t one-size-fits-all, and that’s because the health and nutritional needs of meal recipients vary, especially as they age. With a belief in “food as medicine,” these communitybased programs can support general well-being, address chronic illnesses, and help older adults age successfully — all by providing age- and culturally-appropriate meals that are nutrient-dense, portion-controlled, and aligned with the most up-to-date dietary guidelines.

For older adults with chronic conditions, meals tailored to meet medical needs are often available.

For example, Meals on Wheels People in Portland, Oregon, offers medically tailored meals for adults with Chronic Obstructive

At the same time, Meals on Wheels services help prevent expensive healthcare costs. One year of Meals on Wheels — meals, safety checks, and socialization — costs roughly the same as one day in the hospital or 10 days in a nursing home.

Connection

Meals on Wheels is focused on empowering older adults, providing a solution to hunger and loneliness, and helping them live with dignity and respect.

Volunteers are trained to look out for seniors’ well-being, including safety issues around the home, assisting with pets as needed, and connecting seniors to services in the community.

Those who receive homedelivered meals appreciate the service, with 92% saying the meals help them live independently, 85% saying the services help them feel more secure, and 77% saying it helps improve their health.

Many seniors look forward to their Meals on Wheels delivery for more than food.

“It’s a reason to get up in the morning, knowing that someone’s going to come and bring your meal,” Hollander said. “For many, it might be the only person they see all week.”

Despite its prevalence and proven success, there are still older adults that cannot be reached due to funding not keeping pace with demand. Meals on Wheels America urges that individuals donate, speak out for the needs of seniors, and volunteer their time to ensure that no senior is forgotten.

Learn more about Meals on Wheels at mealsonwheels america.org

INTERVIEW WITH

WRITTEN BY Kristen Castillo

Photo courtesy of Meals on Wheels America

The Right Tools for Aging Independently

Everyone gets older. Maintaining independence and security is all about having the right tools and services.

The world’s population is aging, and the United States’ is no exception — nearly 17% of Americans are 65 or older, and many of us plan to age in place, staying in our beloved homes and communities for as long as possible.

The key to living independently no matter your age is having the necessary support. This can put a strain on your budget, and on the friends and family acting as your caregivers or support team, which makes identifying services and devices that can support you a crucial step in aging independently.

Maintaining control

An increasing number of older Americans are embracing devices and services designed to support us as we get older. For example, Lively, a health technology company, offers a broad range of devices and services that can help you manage your life and maintain control over your living situation.

There are three key things to look for when researching these tools:

Ease of use. Tools that are too complicated to learn or use aren’t really useful at all. That’s why Lively’s Jitterbug Smart3 phone features a large screen with a simplified navigation menu, robust voice-typing capabilities, and a prominent urgent response button for emergencies.

Accessibility. It’s key that you be able to access these tools in any way that’s convenient or necessary. That could mean using a voice interface on your phone, or accessing services through smart watches or home assistants like Amazon’s Alexa.

Reduction of burden. Technology is supposed to make lives easier — both yours and the people who love you. Having access to Lively’s Nurse On-Call service, for example, lets you handle day-to-day medical questions instead of burdening your caregivers.

Meeting a need

Lively is more than a cell phone provider, offering a range of services that make your life easier and give your loved ones peace of mind, helping you to maintain your independence. Some of those services include:

• Urgent response and medical support

that lets you summon help from highly trained agents or seek advice from a medical professional with the press of a button.

• The Lively Link App that keeps your loved ones updated about your health and safety automatically.

• Fall detection from a medical alert device that automatically sends help — because accidents happen to all of us, no matter our age.

• A personal operator, who can manage your schedule, and look up phone numbers and directions.

• Ride scheduling with Lively’s partner, Lyft, which can help you get to and from appointments.

The key takeaway is that these technological tools are all designed to enhance and support your independence no matter your state of health or mobility — without unduly burdening anyone else.

Many people resist the idea of needing any sort of emergency response or medical alert system because they worry it implies they can’t take care of themselves. But really, these services are as much about the peace of mind of your loved ones. You may never need to press an “urgent response” button on your phone, but knowing you have that capability can help everyone sleep soundly at night.

And what constitutes an emergency is unique to everyone. When faced with unexpected situations (locking yourself out of your house, losing a pet, wondering if what you’re smelling is a gas leak), being able to summon help instantly without sending a red alert tearing through your family’s phone network is both a blessing and key to an independent life.

Technology can enhance anyone’s life, but tools like Lively’s phones and service platform also offer something more: control and independence. As we get older, we need as much of both as we can get.

Written by Jeff Somers

Photo courtesy of Lively