Seniors Junction Podcast

Scott McCorvie is the CEO of Vita Senior Living. He brings two decades of experience in senior living investment and operations and is extremely passionate about enhancing the senior living industry. More info - Junction is a Burlington, Ontario based startup, formed to prevent seniors isolation, mainly by offering 8-week (one session a week) hybrid courses, taught live, by experts. We believe in purposeful and learning-oriented retirement! More info - Merkley is the co-founder & COO of Seniors Junction. He is a Professor Emeritus from University of Ottawa. He has a PhD in History of Music from Harvard and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Credits: Music - Aaron Shandilya Audio & Video production - Namrata Bagaria (c) Healthy Skills Inc., 2022

Lewis (Lou) Poloniatio is a retired businessman in GTA. His serious leisure pursuits include biking, bridge and tennis. Seniors Junction is a Burlington, Ontario based startup, formed to prevent seniors isolation, mainly by offering 8-week (one session a week) online courses, taught live, by experts. We believe in purposeful and learning-oriented retirement! More info - Merkley is the co-founder & COO of Seniors Junction. He is a Professor Emeritus from University of Ottawa. He has a PhD in History of Music from Harvard and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Credits: Music - Aaron Shandilya Audio & Video production - Namrata Bagaria (c) Healthy Skills Inc., 2022

Paula Banno is an innovative leader and Director of Lifestyle at a large senior community in the US. We discuss with her how meaning and purpose need to be incorporated in the recreation activities in senior living. Seniors Junction is a Burlington, Ontario-based startup, formed to prevent retirement isolation and loneliness, mainly by offering lectures and excursions. We believe in purposeful and learning-oriented retirement! More info - Merkley is the co-founder & COO of Seniors Junction. He is a Professor Emeritus from the University of Ottawa. He has a Ph.D. in History of Music from Harvard and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Namrata Bagaria is co-founder & CEO of Seniors Junction. She is a physician with Masters in Public Health from Harvard. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Ottawa. She has 10+ years of experience in communities, health tech and startups. Credits: Music - Aaron Shandilya Audio & Video production - Namrata Bagaria (c) Healthy Skills Inc., 2022

Jaya Sonkar MD MPH is a rheumatologist, geriatrician, and internist based in Cypress Texas. She is the founder and president of JSR Heath ( She is UTMB Galveston Alumna, New York Medical College Alumna and Harvard Alumna. Link for today's discussion - Junction is a Burlington, Ontario based startup, formed to prevent retirement isolation and loneliness, mainly by offering lectures and excursions. We believe in purposeful and learning-oriented retirement! More info - Merkley is the co-founder & COO of Seniors Junction. He is a Professor Emeritus from University of Ottawa. He has a PhD in History of Music from Harvard and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Namrata Bagaria is co-founder & CEO of Seniors Junction. She is a physician with Masters in Public Health from Harvard. She is a PhD candidate at University of Ottawa. She has 10+ years experience in communities, health tech and startups. Credits: Music - Aaron Shandilya Audio & Video production - Namrata Bagaria (c) Healthy Skills Inc., 2022

Kathleen Vipond is a retired music teacher. After teaching high school, she has directed choirs, worked with charities, and participated in clubs. She teaches a low-impact aerobics class and she plays bridge seriously. Seniors Junction is a Burlington, Ontario based startup, formed to prevent seniors isolation, mainly by offering 8-week (one session a week) online courses, taught live, by experts. We believe in purposeful and learning-oriented retirement! More info - Merkley is the co-founder & COO of Seniors Junction. He is a Professor Emeritus from University of Ottawa. He has a PhD in History of Music from Harvard and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Credits: Music - Aaron Shandilya Audio & Video production - Namrata Bagaria Kathleen Vipond is a retired music teacher. After teaching high school, she has directed choirs, worked with charities, and participated in clubs. She teaches a low-impact aerobics class and she plays bridge seriously. Seniors Junction is a Burlington, Ontario based startup, formed to prevent seniors isolation, mainly by offering 8-week (one session a week) online courses, taught live, by experts. We believe in purposeful and learning-oriented retirement! More info - Merkley is the co-founder & COO of Seniors Junction. He is a Professor Emeritus from University of Ottawa. He has a PhD in History of Music from Harvard and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Credits: Music - Aaron Shandilya Audio & Video production - Namrata Bagaria (c) Healthy Skills Inc., 2022

Jean-François Pinsonnault lives in Maxville, Ontario. He is an Organizational Development practitioner, mediator, consultant, and coach with 45+ years of experience. The horrific impact of COVID-19 on residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities in Canada prompted Jean-François Pinsonnault to do something tangible to help. His new book "Ageing Safely in the Home of Your Choice" offers hundreds of ideas and tips to maximize safety and comfort. It builds on Jean-François' experience, sharing the lessons learned and helpful tips for seniors so that, like his mother, they can remain in the home of their choice. More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Our guest today is Jane Kuepfer, Schlegel Specialist in Spirituality and Aging, Spiritual Care Provider and Registered Psychotherapist. Her research areas are: Spirituality & Aging, spiritual care in residential care, spiritual resources, baby boomers More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Ron Baecker is Professor Emeritus in Computer Science from University of Toronto. He is the founder of Technologies for Aging Gracefully lab (TAG Lab), a world-class laboratory dedicated toward research for the journey through life. TAGlab works at the intersection of aging and technology, seeking to identify and address common issues of aging where technology can provide some benefit. At present he is the Founder and Chairman of get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Our guest today is Anna Hall, Founder of The Purpose Equation®. She believes that purpose is your reason to rise. Older adults are her purpose teachers. 20+ years in the senior living world, plus lots of research and experimentation with engagement frameworks, has gifted her perspectives on time and meaning. This is what inspired creation of the Purpose Equation®. More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Elana Kieffer is the Acting Director, Center for Healthy Aging at The New York Academy of Medicine. She is a values-driven professional with content expertise in aging services and nearly 15 years of experience in policymaking, healthcare innovation, affordable housing, database management, strategic planning, and operations management. She oversees updates and trainings for IMAGE:NYC, the Interactive Map of Aging, in partnership with the CUNY Mapping Service at the Center for Urban Research/CUNY Graduate Center. Link - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Abbie Richie is Tech Guru & CEO of Senior Savvy, Host of Tech Tuesday on Foresight TV. Senior Savvy specializes in providing one-on-one technical support and workshops for seniors. They relieve tech stress for seniors, so they can excel in today’s world. More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Dr. Deborah Morgan is a senior research officer in the Centre for Innovative Ageing. Her main research interests are loneliness and social isolation in later life. She sits on the Welsh Government Loneliness and Social Isolation Strategy Board, and is an advisory board member for the Public health Network Cymru. Deborah’s research has led to several invited national and international presentations, and she has made several appearances on radio and television. She is also a Tedx Swansea speaker. More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Ruta Pai is Engagement Director at Providence House Senior Living. She has a masters in clinical mental health therapy with dance/movement therapy. She shares with us how they are using engagement strategies to involve shut-in seniors after two years of COVID-19 restrictions. More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Our guest today is Scott Smith, National Director of Resident Programming at Five Star Senior Living. He is passionate about engaging older adults and doing things differently in senior living. He is a thought leader and advocate for older adults and for the use of technology in providing a person directed engagement experience. He has worked with with 16 communities across the US to ensure that the residents of the communities are receiving the best experience possible. More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Our guest today is Shana Anderson. She is a piano teacher based in Ottawa and has a Masters in Musicology from uOttawa. To get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Deepak Saini is a performance coach. He helps busy executives and entrepreneurs become high performers and maximize health, longevity and performance. He also offers a year long master class to help individuals create their personal Bluezone and be the best version of themselves. More info - get latest podcast updates subscribe to our newsletter - - Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Music - Aaron Shandilya Video Production - Namrata Bagaria

Our guests today are John E. Johnson, a retired lawyer, and Sabby Duthie, a former retirement-home owner. Their book, "Elder Abuse: You Have a Role to Play" is first-of-its-kind book undertakes the uncomfortable conversation that so many are unwilling to have — that elder abuse is widespread and very real. More info - Namrata Bagaria & Paul Merkley. Subscribe for latest podcasts on & Outro Music: Aaron Shandaliya Video editing: Aaryaman Chandgotia

Debbie Howard is Author, Speaker, Podcaster, Founder of Aging Matters International & TheCaregivingJourney.com. She is a former long distance and live-in family caregiver, who moved back to South Carolina when her Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, from Tokyo (where she had been living and working). Debbie’s first book came out in November 2018, available on Amazon and titled: The Caregiving Journey: Information. Guidance. Inspiration. Based on personal experience and interviews with over 200 caregivers representing a variety of conditions (i.e., natural aging, Alzheimer’s and dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, cancer, ALS and more), her book goes far beyond the basics of logistics, wills and funeral plans, helping caregivers navigate their caregiving experiences with better balance. Her second book - titled The Caregiving Crisis: What It Costs Your Business and How to Fix It - is due out in January 2022. Amidst the current focus on human capital management, DEI, and employee experience (encompassing productivity, retention, and even talent acquisition), Debbie’s book provides companies with practical ways forward for supporting their special segment of employee caregivers. Get the latest podcast updates by subscribing to our newsletter on

Joe Pohlen, Founder and Partner of Cardinal Senior Management has prospected and built a portfolio of multifamily, student housing and self-storage in West Michigan for the last 9 years. Cardinal Senior Management (CSM) is a regional operator of assisted living and personal care communities on the east coast. More info - the latest podcast updates by subscribing to our newsletter on Credits: Hosts: Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Intro & Outro Music: Aaron Shandilya Video Production: Aaryaman Chandgothia

Our guest today is Professor Denise Connelly, BScPT, MSc, PhD. She is Associate Dean (Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs), Faculty of Health Sciences. We discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the way we address care teams for older adults and how family members and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) have a vital role to play. Read more - and the latest podcast updates by subscribing to our newsletter on Credits: Hosts: Namrata Bagaria, Paul Merkley Intro & Outro Music: Aaron Shandilya Video Production: Aaryaman Chandgothia