Episode Details

Episode 101: “Why Time With Our Elders Matters” We say we “should” spend more time with our aging parents and elders — but life gets busy, visits get delayed, and loneliness quietly grows. In this episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley explore why time with seniors is far more than a nice gesture. It’s medicine: for their bodies and brains, for our own mental health, and for a culture that often sidelines older adults. Drawing on geriatric medicine, the psychology of aging, neuroscience, and social interaction research — plus wisdom from ancient traditions — they unpack how intergenerational connection protects against dementia, depression, and early mortality, while also deepening meaning, perspective, and resilience for younger generations. The episode closes with practical, doable ways to show up for the elders in your life — and what pitfalls to avoid so those interactions feel dignified, mutual, and genuinely life-giving.