GSA Momentum Discussions

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, Cristine Gallagher, MPAff, Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) Coordinator, shares insights into the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge and BALANCE models and explains how these models expand access to anti-obesity medications for older adults. She offers practice advice for navigating the Bridge model for prescribers and older adults living with obesity. 

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This GSA Momentum Discussions podcast episode explores why nutrition is essential to healthy aging. The conversation examines age-related changes in appetite and nutrient needs, the risks of nutritional deficiencies as we age, and the role of diet and physical activity in preventing sarcopenia. It also highlights emerging research and practical strategies to help older adults maintain strength, function, and independence.

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During this Momentum Discussions podcast episode,  Dr. Bethea (Annie) Kleykamp of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Maryland Addiction Consultation Service  talks to us about opioid use among older adults. She explores the many reasons people use opioids, common misconceptions around opioid use and older adults, her very personal reason for researching this topic, and how each of us can play a role in ...

Amyloid-lowering monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, including mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia, have generated new excitement about the future of treatment for this progressive condition. These treatments aim to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease by tackling an underlying cause of the disease – not just managing its symptoms. The evidence shows that...

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, titled "Trends in Comprehensive Obesity Care for Women as They Age," a family medicine doctor and geriatrician with deep expertise in care of older adults with obesity reflects on the unique needs of older and aging women with obesity. She discusses key assessment principles that clinicians should consider when caring for women with obesity as they age, and she highlights the...

In this episode of GSA’s Momentum Discussions, sociologist Dr. Mindy Fried shares how caring for her father inspired her memoir Caring for Red and launched her into podcasting about aging and caregiving. She reflects on the emotional realities of caregiving, the complexities of assisted living, and the power of storytelling to build community and drive change.

Transcript

Speaker

Mindy Fried, MSW, PhD Principal, Arbor Consulti...

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, titled "Living Well with Dementia," three individuals living with dementia share personal insights into how they continue to lead meaningful, engaged lives after diagnosis. Through heartfelt reflections, they explore what “living well” truly means—from maintaining daily routines and adapting beloved hobbies to the critical role of peer support and the import...

In this GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast episode, members of the National Council of Dementia Minds reflect on their first year living with a dementia diagnosis. They speak candidly about the moment they received the diagnosis, the support they did—or didn’t—receive from their medical providers, and what has helped them adjust to this new chapter of life. Their lived experiences offer clear, actionable insights fo...

This GSA Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, the first of three episodes developed in collaboration with the National Council of Dementia Minds, highlights how receiving a timely diagnosis of dementia can positively impact overall well-being, relationships, and more. Our three guests who live with dementia offer honest reflections and practical advice for healthcare professionals and the public, emphasizing how early recognition o...

During this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Jim Mangi reflects on being the loving and selfless caregiver for his wife, Kathleen, whose 17-year journey with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease ended in December 2024. Jim is a Vietnam veteran, author, retired business owner, and an environmental scientist with a PhD in Ecology – none of which prepared him to be a caregiver. Inspired by his wife’s grace during he...

In this Momentum Discussions Podcast episode, Joseph Sapone reflects on his weight journey. He provides us with unique perspectives of an older adult who has lived in a larger body size for most of his adult life. He shares how stigma and bias have affected him in his personal and professional life as well as in healthcare and other settings. Joe discusses how a comprehensive approach to obesity management has helped him to achieve...

In this Momentum Discussions Podcast episode, obesity advocate Ted Kyle shares a bit about his personal history with obesity and how this influenced his vital work as an advocate. He discusses his perspectives on how false beliefs and outdated paradigms, along with stigma and bias, negatively affect individuals living with obesity. Finally, he explains that good obesity care requires access to the full range of obesity care tools, ...

During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, GSA VP Lisa McGuire and TIAA Institute Head Surya Kolluri discuss how rapid transformations in our society are impacting trends in higher education. With life expectancy rising by 17 years since the Social Security program debuted in the United States nearly 90 years ago, tremendous opportunities have arisen on many fronts, including in higher education. The podcast also addresses so...

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Armen J. Moughamian, a neurologist who cares for people with neurodegenerative brain illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, explains anti-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. He describes who may benefit from these therapies, discusses their efficacy and safety, and explains the importance of early detection of cogn...

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. John A. Batsis, co-convener of the GSA Obesity and Aging Interest Group, describes exciting findings about how obesity management medications positively impact a variety of major medical conditions. He also describes the unique needs of older adults with obesity and highlights the need for evidence-based, team-based care for them. 

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Speaker

John Batsis, MD...

The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation demonstration model that launched on July 1, 2024. The model focuses on comprehensive, coordinated dementia care and aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia, reduce strain on their unpaid caregivers, and enable people with dementia to remain in their homes and communities. During this Momentum Discussio...

Younger-onset dementia is diagnosed when a person under 65 develops dementia; some people are diagnosed even as young as their 30s or 40s. People with younger-onset dementia and their families have unique needs, particularly when the family includes children, teens, or young adults. Lorenzo’s House empowers young people and their families walking with younger-onset dementia through an array of holistic support–shifting ...

During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, GSA CEO James Appleby and VP for Policy and Professional Affairs, Patricia D’Antonio, discuss the importance of older adults having access to and receiving age-appropriate vaccines. They describe the positive economic impact of being immunized, such as avoiding illness and maintaining work schedules and social engagements, avoiding co-morbid long-term illnesses and hospitalizat...

During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, our panelists identify strategies to increase the vaccination rates of older adults in 2024. They address the collaborative efforts healthcare teams can implement to champion adult vaccinations, how to ignite urgency and awareness of the importance of getting age appropriate vaccinations among both the public and healthcare providers, how to break through vaccine misinformation and h...