Journey Ahead features upbeat conversations with area experts on how you or your aging loved ones can live life to the fullest in the Chippewa Valley. Hosted by Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County, enjoy discussions focused on enhancing the quality life while aging, living with dementia, keeping our aging loved ones active and healthy, changing attitudes on aging, and many more insightful topics. Subscribe for free to always get the latest monthly episode.

Produced by Volume One

Podcast Episodes

Ep 24: Emergency Preparedness Later In Life

If something bad happens, do you know what to do? Joe Kalscheur, a public health specialist from the Eau Claire City-County Health Department, discusses with host Lisa Wells the different ways one can prepare for emergencies, from technological advancements to having conversations with one’s peer support system.

Friday, April 19

Ep 23: Benefits of Humor and Laughter as We Age

Research shows that, on average, children laugh 120 times a day while adults only laugh 17. Tom Kidd of Balanced Wellness Services sits down with Lisa Wells to discuss finding humor and laughter during the later stages of life and its benefits.

Friday, March 8

Ep 22: Experiencing Joy with Dementia

It’s not often we hear the words “joy” and “dementia” in the same sentence. Someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with some form of dementia every 65 seconds, and that number continues to grow as the population ages. Susan McFadden, -founder of the Fox Valley Memory Project, sits down Lisa Wells to...

Tuesday, February 6

Ep 21: Friendships as We Age

As we age, it can become more difficult to find friends and develop meaningful relationships due to moving away, widowhood, the death of a friend, caregiving, or finding time to sustain relationships. But as research suggests, having these meaningful relationships can help promote health ...

Thursday, January 4

Ep 20: Live Smart, Not Hard: Tools and Strategies for Making Life Easier

Laura Plummer, the assistive technology program coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, sits down with host Lisa Wells to discuss assistive technology. From low-tech/no-tech devices like reachers and remote controls to high tech systems like smart home devices, Plummer offers a host of information and advice on how to maintain your independence during the later stages of life.

Thursday, December 7

Ep 19: Active Aging

Marilyn Skirvseth, a retired physical and mental health professional with over 50 years of experience, discusses Active Aging with host Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County.

Thursday, March 30

Ep 18: Cleaning Out Clutter

Connie Kees from Consult an Organizer talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the benefits of de-cluttering your home and its affect on your personal well-being.

Monday, February 27

Ep 17: Gut Health

Dr. Kristie Gering of Spero Wellness Clinic talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about gut health and its connection to the brain and healthy aging.

Tuesday, January 31

Ep 16: Planning Ahead

Trisha Witham and Carla Berscheit, Dementia Care Specialists, sit down with Lisa Wells of Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County to discuss planning ahead for aging well.

Wednesday, December 21

Ep 15: Purposeful Living

Jean Jirovec, a retired marriage and family therapist, talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the sense of purpose and meaning in life as we get older.

Monday, November 28

Ep 14: Grief and Loss

In this episode, Debra Hoffman, a retired associate nursing professor from UW-Eau Claire, talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about grief and loss as we age.

Wednesday, October 26

Ep 13: Sleep and Aging

In this episode, Dr. Donn Dexter of Mayo Clinic Health System talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about sleep and aging well.

Tuesday, September 27

Ep 12: Resilience in Later Life

In this episode, author and educator Ted Bowman, who specializes in grief, loss, and “honest hope,” talks to host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about fostering resiliency.

Wednesday, February 16

Ep 11: Living Well With Dementia

In this episode, Russell Martoccio talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the mental and physical impact of his diagnosis, how it has affected his daily life, how support groups and his faith have helped him, and the necessity of accepting change as a part of life.

Thursday, January 13

Ep 10: Confronting the Causes of Loneliness, Guest: Moira Kneer

In this episode, author and retired chaplain Moria Kneer speaks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the difference between being alone and being lonely, the importance of identifying our underlying feelings, and strategies for reducing isolation as we grow older.

Wednesday, December 15

Ep 9: Confronting Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Dow talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about Alzheimer’s disease, the factors that impact it, and an exciting vaccine study happening right here in Eau Claire.

Tuesday, November 2

Ep 8: Staying Safe from Scams

Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Deputy Melissa Sommers talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the variety of scams that target seniors and how older folks, their families, and their caregivers can avoid being financial exploited.

Friday, October 1

Ep 7: Celebrating the Power of Music

Cathy Reitz talks with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about the many – and sometimes unexpected – benefits music provides for the mind, body, and soul.

Tuesday, September 7

Ep 6: Maintaining Mind and Body

Host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County chats with two Chippewa Valley professionals – Anne Sadowska, an occupational therapist, and Laura Hurd, a speech-language pathologist – about the sometimes surprising ways their fields can help those living with dementia lead meaningful lives.

Monday, August 9

Ep 5: Nourishing Our Bodies and Our Brains

Registered dietician Pam VanKampen chats with host Lisa Wells of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County about how our diet can keep our bodies and brains healthy, improve our moods, and boost our energy levels.

Friday, July 2