When aging parents say, “I’m fine right here,” or “I don’t need help,” — what do you do next?
In this week’s episode of Aging Starts Now, host Debra King, Elder Care Coordinator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning, dives into one of the toughest family conversations: when loved ones resist the idea of moving to an assisted living community.
Joined by fellow elder care coordinator Pati Bedwell, Debra explores:
💬 Why older adults often resist assisted living
💬 How to start the conversation with empathy — not pressure
💬 The role of neutral professionals in easing tension
💬 Bridge steps families can take before making a big move
💬 Real success stories of families who found peace and balance
Whether you’re just beginning this journey or in the middle of difficult decisions, this episode offers compassionate, practical guidance to help you move forward — together.
All content for Aging Starts Now is the property of Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
When aging parents say, “I’m fine right here,” or “I don’t need help,” — what do you do next?
In this week’s episode of Aging Starts Now, host Debra King, Elder Care Coordinator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning, dives into one of the toughest family conversations: when loved ones resist the idea of moving to an assisted living community.
Joined by fellow elder care coordinator Pati Bedwell, Debra explores:
💬 Why older adults often resist assisted living
💬 How to start the conversation with empathy — not pressure
💬 The role of neutral professionals in easing tension
💬 Bridge steps families can take before making a big move
💬 Real success stories of families who found peace and balance
Whether you’re just beginning this journey or in the middle of difficult decisions, this episode offers compassionate, practical guidance to help you move forward — together.
When aging parents say, “I’m fine right here,” or “I don’t need help,” — what do you do next?
In this week’s episode of Aging Starts Now, host Debra King, Elder Care Coordinator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning, dives into one of the toughest family conversations: when loved ones resist the idea of moving to an assisted living community.
Joined by fellow elder care coordinator Pati Bedwell, Debra explores:
💬 Why older adults often resist assisted living
💬 How to start the conversation with empathy — not pressure
💬 The role of neutral professionals in easing tension
💬 Bridge steps families can take before making a big move
💬 Real success stories of families who found peace and balance
Whether you’re just beginning this journey or in the middle of difficult decisions, this episode offers compassionate, practical guidance to help you move forward — together.
Thinking about moving a parent into assisted living? You’re not alone — and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.
On the latest episode of Aging Starts Now, Elder Care Coordinators Pati Bedwell and Debra King share what to expect — emotionally, practically, and financially — so you can make confident, compassionate choices.
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone.
In this episode, Elder Care Coordinator Debra King. LCSW is joined by Keita Cole from the Tennessee Dementia Navigator Program — a powerful (and free) resource helping families across Tennessee find the support, guidance, and services they need.
💬 In this conversation, we cover:
✔️ What the Dementia Navigator Program is & how it works
✔️ Real ways it supports caregivers and individuals with dementia
✔️ How to access these services — and who qualifies
✔️ Why early connection to resources can change everything
If you or someone you love is facing the challenges of dementia, this episode is essential listening.
Scammers are getting smarter — but so are we.
In our latest episode, Elder Care Coordinator Debra King, LCSW of Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning sits down with Chris Ramage, Special Agent-in-Charge at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, to explore Safe Senior TN, a powerful initiative helping protect older adults from online and offline threats.
🎙️ Tune in to learn:
✅ The most common scams targeting seniors today
✅ Cell phone & email safety tips for older adults
✅ How to stay safe on social media
✅ Free education & resources available through Safe Senior TN
✅ How YOU can help spread awareness
Whether you're a senior, caregiver, or advocate — this episode is a must-listen.
Outreach coordinator Dana Hentschel is joined by Shelly Smitherman, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, to talk about the TBI Find App—a game-changing tool for families and caregivers of vulnerable adults across Tennessee.
If you care for someone with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another cognitive condition—you need to hear this.
Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis chats with Dr. Monica Crane about one of the most challenging and misunderstood forms of dementia. Dr. Crane will discuss:
🔹 The stages of Lewy Body Dementia
🔹 How symptoms can differ from Alzheimer’s
🔹 What families can expect — and how they can cope
🎧 If you or a loved one is facing this diagnosis, this episode is a must-listen.
Dr. Crane is a fellowship-trained geriatric medicine physician who is nationally recognized as an expert in multidisciplinary dementia care about the Lewy Body Dementia. Dr. Crane serves as Medical Director for Tennessee Memory Disorders Foundation and Clinic and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.
Who should you trust with your future? 🤔
Choosing the right attorney-in-fact, executor, or trustee is one of the most important — and emotional — parts of estate planning. Whether you have multiple children, no children, or a blended family, the decision isn't always clear.
🎙️ On this episode of Aging Starts Now, Outreach Coordinator Dana Hentschel and Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis break down how to make the best choice for your unique situation.
In this episode of Aging Starts Now, Elder Care Coordinator Deborah King talks with Tara Grimett from Personic Health about how advanced wound care—once limited to clinics—can now be provided in the comfort of your home. Learn who needs wound care, how referrals work, and what tools and technologies are used (like wound vacs and ultrasound mist machines). If you or a loved one is dealing with wounds that aren't healing, this episode could be life-changing.
🔗 Show notes & free elder law resources: www.tn-elderlaw.com
> Free Resources > Aging Starts Now
Palliative care doesn’t mean giving up. It means getting support—while continuing treatments like chemo, dialysis, or radiation. A lot of people think palliative care is the same as hospice. It’s not. Elder Care Coordinator Debra King dives into this topic with Shelby Kelley, a nurse practitioner of palliative care.
Are you or a loved one a veteran? 🪖
Do you know how to actually use the VA health care system?
VA-accredited attorney Chris Johnson joins public benefits specialist Tyler McCullar to explain how the VA health system works—and how veterans can access the benefits they’ve earned.
💡 Get clarity on:
✅ Who qualifies for VA health care
✅ What services are available
✅ Common myths that hold veterans back
Have you ever heard the term "life settlement" in the context of life insurance? Elder Care Coordinator Katlyn Green explores alternative sources of supplemental income for seniors with Rob Haynie, owner and Managing Director of Life Insurance Settlements—one of the leading life settlement brokers in the industry.
You have gone to an attorney and created a trust and now you can mark that off your list right? The question is have you funded your trust. Certified Elder Law Attorney Barbara McGinnis along with Attorney Chris Johnson talk about an the most important step in creating a trust, which is trust funding.
Do you have a will? What happens if you pass away before creating this document? Outreach Coordinator Dana Hentschel speaks with Attorney Josh Hunter about what happens if someone passes away and they never created an official will. Will a handwritten will work? What about verbal wishes? We discuss all of this in today's episode.
Have you thought about pre-planning your funeral? Few people do, but it can be a great relief for those left behind. Outreach Coordinator Dana Hentschel speaks with Elder Care Coordinator Katlyn Green about making final arrangements.
Are you afraid of your mom or dad experiencing a fall with no one there to help them? Or maybe you are afraid of falling yourself. Today we are talking about technology available offering peace of mind to families with these concerns. Debra King, a licensed clinical social worker and elder care coordinator at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law and Estate Planning speaks with David Vigerust with the Electronic Caregiver.
Do your parents need a little extra help around the house with cleaning or meals? Or maybe it is help with bathing and dressing? When you realize that help is needed, how do you go about getting that help? Pati Bedwell and Katlyn Green, elder care coordinators at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law and Estate Planning discuss where to begin in hiring the right caregiver for yourself or your loved one.
Do you or someone you love have Parkinson's disease? Elder Care Coordinator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Debra King speaks with Susan Belesi the Development Manager for the TN/KY Chapter of the Parkinson's Foundation.
Learn more by visiting their website - https://www.parkinson.org/tnky
Do you have a family? If the answer is yes, then you need estate planning documents. Outreach Coordinator Dana Hentschel chats with Certified Elder Law attorney Barbara McGinnis about what happens when tragedy strikes and there are no legal documents in place.
Do you have long-term care insurance? Are you saving it for an emergency? Pati Bedwell an elder care coordinator at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning speaks with senior care expert and long-term care advocate Debbie Miller about long-term care insurance and why you should use it before you lose it.
Do you know someone on dialysis? If you do, you know how time intensive it can be. Did you know that there are options to do this treatment at home? In this episode outreach coordinator Dana Hentschel speaks with Mary Teising, an independent consultant with over 25 years of experience in dialysis about how to navigate this journey.
When aging parents say, “I’m fine right here,” or “I don’t need help,” — what do you do next?
In this week’s episode of Aging Starts Now, host Debra King, Elder Care Coordinator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Johnson McGinnis Elder Care Law & Estate Planning, dives into one of the toughest family conversations: when loved ones resist the idea of moving to an assisted living community.
Joined by fellow elder care coordinator Pati Bedwell, Debra explores:
💬 Why older adults often resist assisted living
💬 How to start the conversation with empathy — not pressure
💬 The role of neutral professionals in easing tension
💬 Bridge steps families can take before making a big move
💬 Real success stories of families who found peace and balance
Whether you’re just beginning this journey or in the middle of difficult decisions, this episode offers compassionate, practical guidance to help you move forward — together.
