The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging (NCBA) developed the report “Stuck in the Middle” to address all aspects of obesity, including but not limited to causes, effects, statistical profiles, myths and misconceptions, public policy, ways to address obesity, resources for managing obesity, barriers to accessing a full continuum of care, and more. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, the report author and NCBA’s Director of Health Programs discuss key points from the report, whose target audience is the African American community, in which obesity occurs at an inordinately high rate. They share insights from the report that is written in laymen’s language in order to reach as broad an audience as possible, and they highlight why action is urgently needed to support African Americans to access the full spectrum of quality obesity care. Download the transcript Guests: Angie Boddie, MPS Director of Health Programs National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. Deborah Mathis Consultant/Communications Strategist National Caucus and Center on Black Aging Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America Support provided by Novo Nordisk

The Alter program is a nurse-led, dementia-friendly congregation program aimed at empowering African American churches to serve all members, including those living with dementia and their families. Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, developed the Alter program to increase dementia awareness; develop a supportive, faith-based dementia-friendly infrastructure; and create a community supporting the well-being of African Americans living with dementia and their families. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Epps shares insights into the Alter program and what inspired her to found the program. She also describes key components of the program and discusses the result of 10 years of working in the community and creating a faith network committed to developing dementia-friendly congregations. Download the transcript

Guest: Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN Associate Professor, tenured Director of Community & Research Engagement

Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America Support provided by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka.

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, our guest shares challenges and opportunities around brain health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. He provides insights into the Healthy Brain Initiative’s Road Map for Indian Country and discusses success stories with indigenous communities addressing dementia issues. Finally, he outlines research questions that need to be answered to successfully address brain health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Download the transcript

Guest: Michael Splaine Principal, Splaine Consulting Managing Partner, Recruitment Partners LLC

Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America

Support provided by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka.

Additional Resources:

• https://www.glitc.org/programs/aging-disability/publications-and-media/
• https://iasquared.org/brain-health/
• https://www.cdc.gov/aging/healthybrain/pdf/hbi-road-map-for-indian-country-508.pdf

The National Consumers League and National Council on Aging worked with health leaders and obesity specialists to establish a set of rights so people with obesity will be screened, diagnosed, counseled and effectively treated for their overweight and obesity based on medical treatment guidelines. During the Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, leaders from these two organizations discuss the impetus for and development of the Obesity Bill of Rights and discuss each of the eight rights included in it. They share what is next for their organizations around the Bill of Rights and share how others can join the movement to help ensure person-centered quality obesity care for adults living with the chronic disease of obesity. Download the transcript Guests: Dorothea K. Vafiadis, MS Senior Director, Center for Healthy Aging   Nancy Glick Director of Food and Nutrition Policy National Consumers League

Host:  Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America

Most individuals with dementia experience behavioral symptoms during their disease trajectory. These symptoms are troubling to the person living with dementia, their care partners, and others such as family members or those living in congregate living settings. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Emory Integrated Memory Care, shares her insights into the importance of detecting and addressing behavioral symptoms. She offers general strategies that care partners and others can take when interacting with someone with dementia, and she provides important insights into managing specific troubling behaviors. Download the transcript Guest: Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC Assistant Professor, tenure track Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Emory Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lily, Eisai, and Otsuka.

This Momentum Discussion podcast episode addresses the importance of physical activity for longevity and independence, challenges older adults may face when exercising and their solutions, and suggestions on how to get started with incorporating routine exercise into one’s life. Download the transcript Guests: Kathryn N. Porter Starr, PhD, MS, RDN Associate Professor, Duke University School of Medicine  Research Health Scientist, Durham VA Medical Center   Eric Levitan  Founder, CEO Vivo   Host:  Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances The Gerontological Society of America

This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk.

In this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, Dan Stewart, MSG, Long-Term Care Equality Index program co-lead and associate director of the Aging Equality Project at the HRC Foundation, discusses considerations aimed at ensuring equitable and person-centered care for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community and ensuring LGBTQ+ inclusion in the healthcare. He provides insights into unique challenges around brain health, dementia, and aging for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community and shares key insights into the combined challenges of being LGBTQ+ and having dementia. Download the transcript Guest:  Dan Stewart, MSG  Long-Term Care Equality Index Program Co-Lead  Associate Director of the Aging Equality Project  Human Rights Campaign Foundation Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances  The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lily, Eisai, and Otsuka.

Certain groups of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) develop dementia at rates similar to older adults in the general population. However, adults with certain conditions, such as Down syndrome, develop Alzheimer's disease at greater rates. During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, our guest discusses this issue and provides an overview of unique challenges in assessing for dementia in individuals with I/DD. She discusses strategies that primary care teams and others can use from the GSA publication, Addressing Brain Health in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities: A Companion to the KAER Toolkit for Primary Care Providers, to improve detection of dementia and care and services for adults with I/DD. Download the transcript Guest: Lisa Comes  Service and Support Advisor  Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE  Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Eisai.