Episode 16:7 Patrick Roden on his Labor of Love Helping Older Adults and their Aging Loved Ones

Patrick Roden, PhD, is the CEO of Aginginplace.com and author of Women, Aging & Myths: 10 Steps to Loving Your Long Life. Patrick talks about the free resources Aginginplace.com offers to support for older people and caregivers, how to change the narrative around aging, and the importance of lining up your tribe.

About Patrick

Patrick Roden Is a native of Oregon and spent the first years of his life crawling around the floors of a nursing home where his grandmother was head nurse. He feels this experience imprinted him and influenced his life's work. It was his "chance meeting" with 85-year-old marathon participant, Mavis Lindgren in 1992 that set Patrick on his current path. Acting as Mrs. Lindgren's medical escort for five marathons changed his view of what is possible in old age.

Patrick’s nursing career has spanned over three decades and includes ICU, CCU, Trauma Care, Inner-city Public Health, YMCA Cardiac Therapy Volunteer, and post-surgical recovery. In 2010 he was awarded The Lloydena Grimes Award for Excellence in Nursing from Linfield College School of Nursing (1st male ever to be awarded). He is a first-generation college graduate with a BS in Nursing, Masters in Adult Education and holds a Ph.D. in Gerontology. He is a Fielding University Creativity Longevity & Wisdom Fellow Human and Organization Development Scholarship recipient in recognition of scholarly contribution. Professional organizations include, The Oregon Nurse’s Association, Oregon Gerontological Association, American Society on Aging, and he is a Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS).

He is the creative force behind aginginplace.com, author of the new book, Women, Aging & Myths: 10 Steps to Loving Your Long Lie, and a new series of Journals, What I Want You to Know About Aging, an intergenerational conversation starter and keepsake.

Key Takeaways

• The “biomedicalization of aging” model views aging as a disease. Also called the “peak and decline model,” the focus is on pathology and assumes an individual has a few good years followed by a steep downward slide.
• Women, Aging & Myths: 10 Steps to Loving Your Long Life showcases women who are debunking aging myths. A chapter features Marianne Kilkenny who founded Women for Living in Community (WLIC) in 2007. WLIC has grown from an online website to a complete network of individuals, families, groups, and professionals, which focuses on the power of women as advocates and leaders for alternative housing choices.
• The narrative on aging needs to change. We are aged by culture not just biology. But we are aged by culture only if we agree to it.