[NEW EPISODE] How Has the Pandemic Affected the Mental Health of Older Adults?

Fridays 10:00am - 11:00am (EDT)

WHAT WILL THE AUDIENCE LEARN?

We believe that our families and communities are better off when mental healthcare is available at every age. However, older adults face multiple barriers to accessing treatment, including stigma, financial cost, transportation challenges, and language. Negative stereotypes are another barrier, as they teach us that depression is a normal part of aging and that older adults are unable to grow and change. We hope to draw the audience into a conversation about how mental healthcare can support the overall well-being of older adults and strengthen families and communities.

EPISODE SUMMARY:

About Nancy: Nancy Harvey, LMSW, has served as the chief executive of the Service Program for Older People (SPOP) in New York City since 1990. During her tenure, SPOP has grown from a neighborhood-based agency primarily serving homebound older adults to a regional resource for affordable mental healthcare for adults age 55 and older. A State University of New York system graduate, she holds a B.A. fromSUNY New Paltz and M.S.W. from SUNY Albany. She has been an advocate for increasing access to geriatric mental health care in the region and has developed outreach strategies in partnership with NYCAging, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Mount Sinai Health System, New York-Presbyterian

‍

Tune in for this sensible conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Show Notes

‍Segment 1

Tommy D sits down with Nancy Harvey who is the chief executive of the Service Program for Older People (SPOP) in New York City since 1990. Nancy discusses her journey to getting the position she currently serves as. She talks about what she studied and college and the people that drove her to become passionate in service for the older community. Tommy D discusses  how other countries value their seniors a lot more than we do here in the United States. 

Segment 2

Tommy D and Nancy discuss the organization and what some of their goals are. Nancy discusses how she developed some of these goals and how they are able to help older people. She discusses some of the partnerships she has developed to help bolster her organization. Tommy D discusses how important these partnerships are. 

Segment 3

Tommy D discusses how important it is to address mental health struggles for older people because it is usually overlooked in the media. Nancy discusses some of the programs in her organization. Nancy discusses telehealth and how important it is to her organization. Telehealth became more popular once COVID hit. Prior to COVID, telehealth was not covered by insurance.  ‍

‍Segment 4

Nancy discusses how she is able to recruit people into the organization. Nancy shouts out some of the events coming up for her organization. All the information is on her website. Nancy discusses her organization's goal to remove negative stereotypes revolving around aging. Tommy D stresses this point. Her website is SPOP.org. 

‍

Transcript

00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:05.599 so I want to say hello to you for a second. Good morning, Nancy Harvey, from Sp. OP. Good morning. How are you? Service program for older people? What's up?

00:21:53.930 --> 00:22:04.600 Tommy DiMisa: A, you know, from a mental health perspective, and I'm not going to claim to know that I know all the statistics. But there was this evolution in this country I may be on the planet, but in this country is how mental health

00:37:43.950 --> 00:38:04.630 Tommy DiMisa: after they are tremendous loss. so you know, we operate a number of different programs. And you know, I could go on about them. But I think, yeah, I'm I'm happy that you've highlighted our website. I want people to go to Sp, OP. Org. And it's not. It's not always common that you can get such a small URL like that. S. The op.org.

00:51:06.540 --> 00:51:18.099 Tommy DiMisa: All right. So Nancy, let's Let's get into that thing there, that that piece about how you know it's challenging to just to find staff in general, but even more in certain certain areas.

00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:23.629 Tommy DiMisa: and have experienced a longer dash than than those younger people. There's so much there, and I watch my own kids with with their grandparents, my my parents, and my wife's parents, and that that connection it's a different connection, and all those those cute phrases about grandparent be a grandparent is great because you get to bring them home and drop them off, and all that kind of stuff, but but it is a a different and unique relationship. I love, you know, and I I don't do it enough. But

00:11:04.920 --> 00:11:32.360 Tommy DiMisa: and I don't even know if any is actually a channel anymore. But it was called biography, and it was a great show, and I I do like to read, but I always find myself reading like professional development books, or but I do much. I I much rather either somebody read to me which doesn't happen as an adult all that much, but unless you use audible, and I love audible, but I like to to either be told the story or listen to a story or something like that. And I that is interesting to me. Because.

00:13:52.920 --> 00:14:10.689 Tommy DiMisa: and I miss them a lot, and I find I'm always drawn to. I I don't even want to see like seniors. I mean, my father is going to be 72 years old. He's I wouldn't even consider him a senior, you know. He runs his own business, shout out to pop up, thank you for the Italian Isis. You donate all the time to my nonprofit friends.

00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:29.279 Tommy DiMisa: and I would say the State of New York has incredible educational systems gang, and if you are and not just the State of New York, every State has great, you you know.

00:02:55.660 --> 00:03:14.970 Tommy DiMisa: and real human decency for each other, I think the world becomes a better place. Alright. So I was saying, the 4 million books I was making some text messages today where I was making some post this morning spoke to a great woman who was doing some really cool stuff in philanthropy here in Long Island, or, to come on all that we'll be talking about. I do want to make a shout out, really quick. The way that

00:03:24.170 --> 00:03:45.930 Tommy DiMisa: and since we've started the amount of boards in New York City have been involved. Nancy, was a semifinalist in in the process for the imagine awards, the finalists just came out. Nancy, I know you're going to be in the room with us, anyway, because we made sure that we have tickets for people. So unfortunately, you did not make it to the finals, and I hate to start a show that way. But I want to reference it because it's the importance of community.

00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:57.600 Tommy DiMisa: and that turned into a nonprofit organization that has now put 4 million books in the hands of children and adults who need books and hashtag. Let's figure out this literacy thing gang, because so many social results come out of not being able to read. And we don't have the time for now, although maybe when Nancy Harvey and I are talking about it will be relevant to the senior community like we're talking about right now, Nancy, I'm going to go on for 2 min.

00:06:52.590 --> 00:07:04.449 Tommy DiMisa: and that's really where I think a lot of what your success as an organization, certainly your success as a leader, because when I met with you and your team with regards to New York City. Imagine wars! it was all that

00:54:27.720 --> 00:54:56.310 Tommy DiMisa: and to stay in school. So this somebody who, sorry to interrupt this is somebody who's already been in your organization as a connection to the work, has a connection to this community, and then the organization says, and I will call it the Nancy Harvey initiative because I can, because I got a I got a little ego myself. It was a top, if I would call it the Tommy the initiative. But I I. So that initiative is focused on bringing people who are already in the work

00:29:43.690 --> 00:30:08.649 Tommy DiMisa: and we're really proud of that that we're able to make that accessible and and available to a broad population.

00:34:41.690 --> 00:34:56.310 Tommy DiMisa: As older adults who might be caring for a partner or another loved one, it gets even more challenging. And that's a strain on a mental health, you know. right? So there's so many things that are pulling. I mean, I know what it's like to be a 45 year old man

00:26:00.020 --> 00:26:10.740 Tommy DiMisa: Because they, your team kept saying to me, you know, Nancy created these relationships created this in in community stuff. What does that look like, can you talk to me like the footprint? What does that mean that you created this network?

00:06:16.990 --> 00:06:39.980 Tommy DiMisa: because you've been an advocate in increasing access to geriatric mental health care in this New York region and have developed outreach strategies in partnership with New York city aging the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, mount Sinai, New York Presbyterian Hospital Sage services which I hope we're going to get into sage later on, sage services and advocacy for glbt elders.

00:01:22.970 --> 00:01:33.419 Tommy DiMisa: book, 4 million Book. It was an idea that my friend Amy's, as he had many years ago, she was doing a book drive just for her local school that needed some books.

00:28:40.190 --> 00:29:02.310 Tommy DiMisa: But I guess we, since we've solved the mental health issue, we probably don't need to open any more satellites right? There's no more mental health challenge. I think this country well, I I obviously would go from there, Tommy D. But and the thing about it for me is that says you can continue to open up these satellites. And and you know I think one of the advantages is these are partnerships. So you know, I don't know how much to share. But I'll just say I think it's

00:30:09.090 --> 00:30:23.370 Tommy DiMisa: create, recreate the wheels, so to speak. But let me just leverage what you do best, and I'll give you the space you know, to do what you do best in, and then we'll collab, and we'll say, Well, this is working, and maybe this isn't working. Maybe we wow, that sounds like, you know.

00:50:47.370 --> 00:51:06.540 Tommy DiMisa: cut away on the on the back. Because and I had it. I had like a willy wonka like walking stick. Because why wouldn't you? I'm only going to get married once. And that was how that way text me for the pictures get that. Maybe I'll put one up on Instagram. How many do that Nyc. On Instagram is where you can find the picture of my wedding, apparently.

00:57:31.840 --> 00:57:56.970 Tommy DiMisa: Everybody right? Stay in your land, you the best your ability, and connect and refer out and then receive those referrals. Right back in the website is Sp, op.org. And I did mention Lauren block holes Alzheimer's dementia resource center. I'll share her information. You know the organization on Facebook in a second and then look to to connect with me. It's tummy d dot Nyc. On Instagram, and the whole thing, Nancy, anything you want to leave him with before we go.

00:47:39.650 --> 00:47:47.559 Tommy DiMisa: from a licensing perspective. And the whole thing. I think you know what I'm talking about. I'm sure your team knows what I'm talking about. So we come back. If we could talk about that, because I think that

00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:32.289 Tommy DiMisa: habits. What I'm sorry the the daily living abilities, right like, which they maybe never had to do before, and they have to learn some of these things as adults.

00:44:32.580 --> 00:45:01.340 Tommy DiMisa: Has that increase your capacity? I mean, if you say 20 to 25% of the people are in person, you know. Is that to say that as a result of telehealth being this asset can you see statistically that you're seeing more people and you are there specific numbers like, when you look at that, absolutely, we can see more people. I mean one of the models, and we'll probably go back to this. We were the first agency and one of a handful in New York that provided services and clients home. So prior to Covid.

00:56:48.860 --> 00:56:55.620 Tommy DiMisa: How does this relate quickly if you could, to cognitive issues and and mental health in that piece. I know I didn't give you a lot of

00:41:58.250 --> 00:42:06.830 Tommy DiMisa: How is that? And I'm looking at my notes. I'm totally stealing from something I wrote. So how does that also affect

00:02:05.810 --> 00:02:31.889 Tommy DiMisa: I am doing well, thank you. Happy to be here with you this morning. I'm happy to have you here. I'm fired up. I'm fired up. We got a lot to talk about. A lot to get into. One of my favorite topics to discuss is mental health, and and how we address it and how we end the stigma. We've been talking about that only since the beginning of the show. You know my second ever episode, Dr. Larry Grubler, transitional services for New York. Tsi. And why? He said to me, Tommy d. Because that's my name pizza timid.

00:07:51.750 --> 00:08:03.130 Tommy DiMisa: I don't think people just say, you know, kind of look down at a at a book, and they go. I'll do that, or I'll be there. There's usually a catalyst. There's something in their life that that kind of helps them on this journey. Can you? Can you start there?

00:42:42.900 --> 00:43:06.399 Tommy DiMisa: I guess my question is twofold is, how did this affect your staff during Covid like to tell health for them. and then also you know, what does that look like from the perspective of making their lifestyle better your employees and attracting people to the, to work

00:50:39.850 --> 00:50:47.369 Tommy DiMisa: I had a top hat on, and I had on what they call a morning suit, which is not like It's not tails, but it's like the

00:13:38.230 --> 00:13:52.919 Tommy DiMisa: I have this certain, like our kinship relationship. I freakin, love them, and they love me. They love their timey day like I, Nanny used to say, you lied up my life who knew I was gonna sing? I I do. But you know I used to sing that song to me.

00:33:24.330 --> 00:33:43.609 Tommy DiMisa: I have to be in focus. That's it. And just look, I'm fortunate enough to hang out with people who lead nonprofit organization to change the world. I could have said, you know, like, I'm the hedge fund sector, connector. But no, thank you. I want to be the nonprofit sector connected because I hang out with people, change the world and make it better place, and maybe someday, when they're talking about my dash.

00:03:45.930 --> 00:04:07.640 Tommy DiMisa: I I almost feel a little responsible that you're not a finalist, because I wrote the write up. So I feel like I didn't do a good job. So we're gonna show and prove why this organization and you as a leader from the purpose of seniors who have mental health issues from the network that you've created. And I talk about networking all the time, but a network from a different sense, a network of providers, hospitals.

00:04:20.790 --> 00:04:32.609 Tommy DiMisa: I I appreciate you coming on in the show today. I have a lot to talk about with you. As we talked about. There's a couple of things I got to. I got to sort of shout out right away when I looked at your bio

00:53:09.760 --> 00:53:37.200 Tommy DiMisa: I I know a lot of leaders in general. I'm I'm I shouldn't say in general, I I know a lot of nonprofit leaders are not so much about them, and are about my team and the organization. But you just brushed over something. Did you say the Board created this scholarship thing in your name? And you can. You pretend you're not talking about Nancy, or pretend you are not Nancy. And what does that actually mean, please? Well, I won't call it the Nancy Harvard laugh. I call it the Nh. Initiative, but it's

00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:20.979 Tommy DiMisa: I said a lot I'll try to say less, but I'd like you to take it away. Now, if you get Nancy Harvey CEO of

00:46:16.560 --> 00:46:41.499 Tommy DiMisa: I tell you, man, what I'm feeling low. A good old hog makes me feel better. I mean, like connection with people. I will tell you this, you know, which I think I share pretty openly, but like I didn't realize it, but early Covid, I was in some level of morning, and not to be funny and mock people who lost someone during Covid. But I was mourning my lifestyle, you know, like I was a guy who was on the road meeting to people 30, 40, 50 new people, new faces, right

00:47:23.490 --> 00:47:39.510 Tommy DiMisa: I think it's critically important to hit upon this piece that you and I have kind of flirted around this morning about. You know what the program that you have created as what I'll call a pipeline of bringing people into the work, you know.

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:54.099 Tommy DiMisa: I want to go and do some more service work in the senior community. And maybe that actually could be something where you and I will talk about today. So you gave us some background. We are going to go to a quick break, but when we come back I want you to just fill in how you get the spot, how you get to this organization? I mean, you've been leading this organization for a number of years. Now 1,990. Is that right? That's correct? Yeah. So what? The? So I want to know when we come back? Did you work here first? Did you have a experience somewhere else. Eventually meaning eventually meeting in this program. Today, we will get to

00:42:18.820 --> 00:42:41.719 Tommy DiMisa: I was gonna say, no one was going nowhere, but that wouldn't make sense, because I would say, everybody is going everywhere. But when we I I think of organizations like yours, and probably you'll correct me if I'm wrong. But I I don't think of options for community living there folks are in. This is not the services that you could provide from. They weren't necessarily like selling health benefits like I do that that could be done from, you know, from one's home? Right?

00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:18.820 Tommy DiMisa: I'm I'm kind of like setting this one up for it. But like, how is that? Also affected your staff? And and you know what it's been the ability to that's given. Certainly during Covid, when no, you know, not nobody was going anywhere, but

00:19:40.370 --> 00:19:59.239 Tommy DiMisa: If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this dash might only last a while. So when your eulogy is being read with all your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about you and how you lived.

00:30:46.760 --> 00:31:25.479 Tommy DiMisa: in in the sense of recruiting. And this is from a leadership perspective, really, how just straight up it is difficult recruiting individuals in general period. And the story, then how difficult it is recruiting to the non-profit sector. Okay, then how difficult it is recruiting people to the mental health. Okay? And then recruiting people into the geriatric mental health. So it's like smaller, smaller, smaller, smaller. So you have come up with a strategy and a philosophy and part of your culture as to sort of address some of that right? Alright. Let's talk about it. When we come back we'll leave them right on the cliff. This hangar. They're being focused right back.

00:23:00.890 --> 00:23:15.109 Tommy DiMisa: in July. It's HIV stigma awareness month shout out to options, you'll land in the team. So a bunch of them last week last Friday night at an event. But I I just it. It was like this thing where people had to learn the

00:38:29.250 --> 00:38:57.639 Tommy DiMisa: individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities often are unemployed, not because of lack of skill or ability, but rather for a lack of access, you know. So it they have so much to give, they just and and shout out to Winner Center for autism. Christine Ponzio will be on the show next week just I was out there scooping Italian Nic. With them. It was like 95 degrees. I mean, I was melting. The ice was melting. But no, I I I had a cooler. I didn't. I didn't have a freeze right? A cool. But I I will tell you this.

00:07:04.450 --> 00:07:12.899 Tommy DiMisa: it was. What you have to understand is, Nancy has created these relationships. What you have to understand is Nancy built this infrastructure and all these connections. So

00:33:43.680 --> 00:34:13.580 Tommy DiMisa: it'll be. Wow! He hung out with people, change the world. So I want to read this. I don't know if it's plagiarism. If you read something you wrote on your own radio show, but we'll just see how it works. One of the communities that is often is invisible, and whose mental health challenges are not adequately addressed, while it has an acute need is our aging population. And that's what we're talking about. And that's you know. That was from a conversation I had with Nancy Harvey and her team just a couple of weeks ago, and this organization is on the front lines, dealing with rather

00:36:57.710 --> 00:37:05.980 Tommy DiMisa: it's about bereavement, please. Yeah. So bereavement. I mean we. We operate with support program. So it's all volunteers

00:05:48.160 --> 00:06:16.620 Tommy DiMisa: It's not just the Bronx, and then Canada, although some of us downstate, it might act as if it is just the Bronx and the counter. But there is a beautiful other, many, many, many beautiful parts of New York City. Excuse me of New York State that don't involve the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, Nancy. So let's dive in. I have some background. We I just kind of goofed a little bit about the new Paul thing, Suny Albany. I I do want to read. But I want this to be your story. But I it is your story. But I want to read a little bit about about your background.

00:12:48.840 --> 00:13:17.930 Tommy DiMisa: It's poem by Linda Ellis, and I didn't know that either. But the Internet's a little slow here, but maybe if I get the poem. I'll read it to everybody. We come back. But the thing is, it refers to the dash between the person's date of birth and their date of death on their tune. Stone. Because isn't it really isn't the dash, everything. It's not what I got here. And when I left it's what is the story that happened in the middle, and I will do my best to read it for everybody potentially this morning, when we come back from a break.

00:05:07.710 --> 00:05:27.050 Tommy DiMisa: It's September 20 first, actually, 2 months from this morning will be 13 years without having to make a ble of light or any drinks in my body gang. So keep the keep up, you know, doing what you got to do to protect yourselves when that's important. But when it comes out of his name was Mickey, and we would take him up to the mountains, and I can't think I texted my wife. I can't think of the name of the mountain that we used to go up to

00:00:35.220 --> 00:00:58.709 Tommy DiMisa: it's your boy playing the P. Focus the name of show. I always got to try it. Force myself to say the name of the show, because I always start talking, and 2 min go by and people go. Where's this guy? And what are we doing, and why we together philanthropy and focus is the name of the show. My name is Tommy D, the nonprofit sector Connector. But that's what it's all about. I've been on 3 phone calls this morning already with different nonprofits and a bunch of text messages with different leaders and nonprofits.

00:56:39.640 --> 00:56:48.860 Tommy DiMisa: Last week I was with my friend Lauren Vlkos. At all time is the mentor resource center in Long Island, on Long Island. However, you say I've only been here 45 years. I think it's on Long Island.

00:47:48.230 --> 00:47:58.110 Tommy DiMisa: leaves a a roadmap for other organizations to be mindful and thoughtful about bringing people through the ranks to create

00:54:58.160 --> 00:55:20.360 Tommy DiMisa: level up. Career up right? Get the certification, get the degree that's that's P, that's really really important. So whatever you want to call it Nh initiative, or whatever you decide, the point is, it is important, and it's making a difference. I have another question to when we have no time left. So we got to make this fast. Is there any any events that are coming up that you want to shout out that we should be aware of?

00:47:04.980 --> 00:47:23.069 Tommy DiMisa: like just the, you know. That was the only interaction. But anyway, God, I can't believe that was a part of our life not too long ago. That was our life in this Covid era. All right. So to to move on because we could talk to that piece. I'll just kind of rant about it, but we won't. Now let's let's move on for a second. We're going to go. We're going to go to one last break we come back.

00:04:33.270 --> 00:04:58.519 Tommy DiMisa: My wife went to new pulse, and while my wife was in new polls, my cousin making and my Buddy Danny were at Marist. So we spent some time up there on the Hudson, you know, back and forth different sides. And I'm trying to think because you got your BA. At new pulse, right? And you got your masters of social work from sunny Albany. That is soon a new pulse. Everybody. I don't know Nancy about you, but we still go to the mountains up there, and at the time

00:03:14.970 --> 00:03:24.169 Tommy DiMisa: Nancy Harvey and I get to connect is because, since the inception of the New York City. Imagine awards I have been involved. I'm an old school, Long Island. Imagine awards, Guy.

00:55:45.350 --> 00:56:14.699 Tommy DiMisa: of the work we're doing to to comments. We want to make sure that people are rejecting negative stereotypes about aging, and that they're viewing each person as an individual, not an age. Those are 2 things. I want to get out there, 100% rejecting negative stereotypes. And you, each person as an individual, not their age. We would change most of the problems in this world if we just viewed individuals as individuals and stopped trying to put people into freaking groups. There's only one group.

00:18:19.010 --> 00:18:40.200 Tommy DiMisa: Oh, yeah, come through the stack, join me in the attic, but literally don't show up like, don't literally, my kids like to use that word literally like don't literally show up at the house and like climb up to there, somebody at it, because it's a good chance. I won't even be here. I'm not here all the time, although I act as if I am, here's the deal. I want to read something to you. I didn't plan this, so I'm just going to go with it.

00:30:23.370 --> 00:30:44.530 Tommy DiMisa: one plus one does not equal to when that one plus one. It's probably 2,700. I don't know it. It's about that sort of leveraging each other's best, and and then everybody better off for it. And ultimately the the community gets there. There's some things I want to talk about, you know, when we come back a little bit, you know the telehealth, and also want to talk about.

00:34:32.020 --> 00:34:41.180 Tommy DiMisa: partnership, romantic relationships, or even just friendships, as as a caregiver. Right? And we're whole, either going to be one, or we are one right? That's just how it is.

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:31.709 Tommy DiMisa: prior to you know, certain medications and prescription mets coming out onto the market Folks were for lack of a better way saying it. And I don't mean disrespect. We're in institutions. We're in hospitals, and they did not leave hospitals and and and then that all changed. So you know, it seems like your organization has been around to some of that into some of that history as well.

00:45:45.990 --> 00:46:11.289 Tommy DiMisa: prolonged isolation and increased substance use people who relapse a lot of relapse. You telling me that when we spoke offline, and and that to me is is to me it makes sense. Somebody who, you know, is quote unquote in recovery. I don't drink anymore, but you know, I think it's just in terms of when when folks get low and they're isolated, and they you know. What? What do they say?

00:34:56.310 --> 00:35:12.960 Tommy DiMisa: raising for children with my wife and running a business and all the other thing, and that is challenging. And when health starts to come in, you know, physical health starts to deteriorate that that makes another whole another challenge. So what I wanted to go into a little further about programs and things. And then we can talk about.

00:14:10.690 --> 00:14:30.830 Tommy DiMisa: Right? That's my dad, Ralph Sizes and Huntington, New York. But I I feel like just people of a different era, Nancy. I love connecting because I could just sit for days and listen, and I think in not to beat up on us as a society in the States here, because that's a real harsh generalization. But I will say this, I realize that other societies, I think.

00:10:52.390 --> 00:11:04.920 Tommy DiMisa: same thing. But what a cool thing! you know, because the the the obituary piece there, because it might have been like something where somebody go. Well, that's that's kind of morbid. Why does she want to? But it's it's there used to be a show on A and E,

00:10:29.280 --> 00:10:52.390 Tommy DiMisa: schools and colleges in their university system, and I would just encourage you to check out that stuff as a younger person or somebody is going back. I mean. I am pride on the cost of going back myself. There's actually a nonprofit program at Sunni, old West Per. So I'm going to go back to take a couple of courses, but I just encourage, you know, a great education at a much less of a cost. And shout out to the city schools as well. New York city schools can see

00:04:07.640 --> 00:04:20.789 Tommy DiMisa: senior community care centers in the community. And all this stuff. We're going to get into that today. but I did want to just reference that if it's not for tensorrini. And then the imagine awards you and I don't meet candidly that that's that's how it works. So

00:34:13.670 --> 00:34:31.619 Tommy DiMisa: serving, not dealing with, but serving individuals who are overcoming addiction, who have faced even more trauma as a good as they age often as they, as their health deteriorates, this becomes more challenging. And then I I was even thinking, you know, I think, in the terms of like

00:57:27.680 --> 00:57:31.840 Tommy DiMisa: skilled and working with this population. And that's what I figured you'd say, because that's what it is.

00:42:41.720 --> 00:42:42.700 Tommy DiMisa: So

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:57.709 Tommy DiMisa: so I did want to give a shout out to that program and also to a bereavement program which you have up here. Yeah. So again, just let me jump in 1 s. And so what I'm sharing, let's say, you found this as a podcast, only what I'd encourage you to do is I'm just sharing my screen and looking at some of the programs. But you would go to Sp. OP. Org, and then you would be on the programs. Tab, and you would see. That's what I'm sure if it folks who are.

00:21:31.550 --> 00:21:53.930 Tommy DiMisa: so so let me ask you this. So the organization was launched in 1,972, and it became independently corporate in 79, when the first agencies to focus on behavioral health needs of older adults as a national leader in the field. Now there's I can go on about awards with the organizations. One of things like that. What I really want to say is, we're talking about the now when we talk about the

00:07:21.070 --> 00:07:26.629 Tommy DiMisa: Spop, I want to get it right. Service program for other people. Or, as you say, Spot

00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:51.550 Tommy DiMisa: spot I like. I like acronyms. I'm big on acronyms. That's why, you know, I started doing a hashtag hashtag. Np, sc that stands for nonprofit sector connector. That's my new acronym. So take it away. What brought you to social work in general? Is there a story there and then? I'm sure there must be something that brings you to being involved in the geriatric community. What is the relationship to that? Because in my experience

00:46:41.500 --> 00:47:04.980 Tommy DiMisa: that fed my, that dopamine in my frame, or or created that don't mean I need it. And then I didn't have that. And I think that so it. Think of that in terms of of isolation for seniors or someone who's already experiencing some mental health issues. And now, phone and I don't have anybody. I mean, I don't want to go back to, you know. When we saw the grandmother, the grandfather looking out of the window of the of the the nursing home and all this stuff

00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:38.140 Tommy DiMisa: That's interesting to me. I think that draws you to. Obviously, as you talk about the work. I remember my grandparents man especially my mom's parents, my Nana and my pop, and I was like I'm the oldest grandson of 20 grandchildren on that side of the family. Yes, my cousin Mariah, and then me, and then a whole bunch of the rest of us. And you know.

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:11.720 Tommy DiMisa: the cost of you opening up the satellites as a nonprofit organization, as we know, a cost and expenses is always paramount, and in the discussion

00:18:40.240 --> 00:19:03.920 Tommy DiMisa: The dash I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end. He noted that first came to date of birth, and spoke of the following date with tears, but said, what mattered most of all was the dash between those years, for that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth, and now only those who love them know

00:56:14.780 --> 00:56:39.640 Tommy DiMisa: the human group, right? Like that's a great start dissecting it. Look at everybody as individuals, and maybe you'd be me saying the human group is wrong, right? So probably it's just right. You know, you got what I'm saying. Sorry. I'm a 45 year old man and most 45 year old, and and men are not going to do with what this guy does. So it's just different. So, individuals super super important. One last question before we go, and we got literally a minute to do it.

00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:42.270 Tommy DiMisa: the restaurant up there, too. We couldn't afford it. We were college kids. We couldn't afford the restaurant, but we would have sandwiches like, and we would see the restaurant like when we were up there on the waterfall, and stuff like that. What a beautiful part of New York and gang! Listen!

00:20:35.570 --> 00:20:59.180 Tommy DiMisa: their proceeds, their revenue, their profits rather to nonprofit organizations. It's a Merchant Processing Company. So you should know Mick will make that happen down the road. All right. Let's get back into this story at hand. So you've been you. You determined that this is the work you want to go into. Certainly on the administrative side was really what drew you? Why was that? Did you want to run business. Was that how you saw things talk to me about that?

00:05:42.430 --> 00:05:48.150 Tommy DiMisa: There are 5 boroughs of New York City. There are 2 2 counties out here on Long Island, but then there's a whole State.

00:25:09.690 --> 00:25:23.950 Tommy DiMisa: these are professionals. These are professionals, and they should be paid for their work. However, sometimes not. Everybody has the the resources to to go in those prices. So talk to me a little bit about not a little bit or a lot about. I mean the the the

00:39:11.050 --> 00:39:37.829 Tommy DiMisa: these seniors have so much more to give to. You know, people are going to live into their eighties and their nineties like, you're 65. Maybe that's just we're just getting warmed up, man, you know, like, there's a lot more to give. So you know whether it be giving through programs what bereavement or the pros program, or however they can give back and be be, you know, an asset to these communities. Then, yeah, we got to do that right? Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, it's interesting. You bring that up. But we stop. We

00:38:57.640 --> 00:39:10.220 Tommy DiMisa: they've now in their program, just being one year old, have helped 120 in adults, with intellectual development, with disabilities, get gainful employment right? My point of doing this parallel here at Nancy is.

00:54:56.310 --> 00:54:58.160 Tommy DiMisa: through and helping them

00:09:55.710 --> 00:10:20.160 Tommy DiMisa: to this day reading obituaries. Not that. Do you do this about people's lives and things that they have accomplished. I want I want to ask you about that, because let's let's talk about that for a second. I got to. We're going to come back to obituaries in a second, but I do feel like I need to make a shout out. So I'm a product of NASA Community College followed up. I graduated from Sunni, old Westbury, both of the State of New York system.

00:00:58.710 --> 00:01:22.599 Tommy DiMisa: Tommy, I need this relationship. Can you help? Can you connect us? And I would say, of course, that's what a nonprofit sector connector does shout out. I just put a post up on social media, because, there is a picture of me in the background on the Long Island Herald. So check out check me out on Linkedin and I put it up on Instagram time you ded in Onec. But my friends at book ferries out here on Long Island recently gave away their 4 million

00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:59.320 Tommy DiMisa: venerate and respect the wisdom of the elders more in my experience than I think we do here. That's just a comment. I don't want to argue anybody about it. It's just one man's commentary, a guy who spends his days in an attic. So yeah, if you know, if you don't like what I'm saying. Well, it's just one man's opinion in an attic, but I do think that we we could much have a much better focus on people's stories and the wisdom that that people live life

00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:52.590 Tommy DiMisa: visions. I know the gang of revisions and many other relationships, and I would ask you this like, I want to hear about you and your background. And eventually I want to get into. I wrote here partnerships and collaborations because that's where I live.

00:22:04.690 --> 00:22:06.980 Tommy DiMisa: was being handled, and how.

00:25:48.810 --> 00:25:59.810 Tommy DiMisa: was what you've created in community where, you know. And we could talk about telehealth, because I think it's important as well. Right? I know that's on your radar. But but also, what did it look like

00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:55.660 Tommy DiMisa: We all need support at different times, and I think, if we remember that as a society, as a human race, we also got to support the animals, but that's another show. I do. The professionals and animal ever show. But when we're talking about it we all need support at different times. We need to find love, we need to find compassion. I say, those 4 lads from Liverpool taught us all those years ago. All you need is love. Well, you need a couple of things, too, but I mean, if the baseline is love and compassion

00:50:14.850 --> 00:50:39.850 Tommy DiMisa: we are back, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages. What? You probably didn't know that I always wanted to be a game show host, or maybe a ringleader in a circus. So when I was a a no animal circus, no animal circus, I'm an animal advocate, so you know, none of the abused animals like maybe, like maybe the ringleader it's, sir, do solely, you know. I think it's how you say that works, or just. But listen I I had. When I got married

00:15:54.110 --> 00:16:13.660 Tommy DiMisa: we get programs. We'll get to your programs with to the impact. And we'll get to some kind of total stories because we're talking about stories. And that's what really, you know, sells if you will. And we're trying to sell the mission of your organization and and talk about how great it is. So if it's okay with you, we're gonna take a quick break. We come back. We will just continue this dialogue sounds good. We are right back.

00:04:58.520 --> 00:05:07.689 Tommy DiMisa: we had a little Chihuahua, and his name was Mickey, although his full name was nickel of light which would just tell you sort of what my era of that era of my life was like.

00:48:01.810 --> 00:48:14.620 Tommy DiMisa: We'll be right back to to close up philanthropy and focus. Because I always tell you this. We run out of time way before we run out of words, and you, if you hang out with me, you know that right back.

00:46:11.290 --> 00:46:16.559 Tommy DiMisa: What is the anecdote for? for depression connection?

00:47:58.800 --> 00:48:01.670 Tommy DiMisa: what it is we need leaders in this space. Is that fair?

00:19:18.020 --> 00:19:40.370 Tommy DiMisa: what matters is how we lived and loved, and how we spend our dash. So think about this. Long and hard. Are there things you'd like to change, for you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged to be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, and love people in our lives we've never loved before.

00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:17.279 Tommy DiMisa: what that little line is work for it might matter is not how much we own the cars, the house, the cash, although it does feel this is me. It does feel like that sometimes again, that is, that's not really worth anything.

00:25:23.950 --> 00:25:48.519 Tommy DiMisa: when I say community community that you develop because, you know, 24 satellite locations through Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn will get into all the collaboration. And you know the pros program and things like that which you know, personalize recovery, oriented services which we can talk about as well. I I just I feel like, and it could be because you and I and your team met a month ago, and I did a write up about this. And what really stood out for me

00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:48.839 Tommy DiMisa: where they've been, where they've got, you know, throughout their life.

00:24:56.670 --> 00:25:09.690 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. And I guess diversity of of economic situations right? Not. Everybody can afford resources to go see, you know. Now, I mean, if you see certain mental health, professional and pay out of pocket. You know

00:30:44.530 --> 00:30:46.209 Tommy DiMisa: you know what it's been like

00:20:12.590 --> 00:20:35.569 Tommy DiMisa: you know what something you said change something, I thought. And now now a bunch of people who never heard that poem. I've heard that phone for the first time. Shut up to make college. Yes, Mick, you did share on Facebook the correct. That is my dad's Ralph Italian. I. It's in Long Island. Love the Isis. Make it also share the website, make from a paid forward processing. Who's a good friend of me, a good friend of my show. There's a lot of work with nonprofits, Nancy. They give back

00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:57.309 Tommy DiMisa: you know, actually, I I don't know why this is coming up for me. But we go to Hershey sometimes, you know Hershey, Pennsylvania, and you know when you go to these towns like, if you stay at the Hershey resort or the Lodge. There's like this constant loop of the Milton Hershey story, right? And it's just a great. Any of those stories are great because it's someone's life story. So I talk to me, when did you decide? I'm gonna start reading obituaries? That's like, how did that happen?

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:24.380 Tommy DiMisa: you know, telehealth, and even how telehealth has been a boon. It's it's too recruiting. And this culture that you have of kind of bringing people through. How is that? So?

00:38:04.630 --> 00:38:29.249 Tommy DiMisa: you know. Something's coming up for me. I want to just put it out. There is, you know, I do a lot of work in the community of individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities, and it's an interest personally, and it's just a connection of you know of where my heart is in a lot of ways. and I think in terms of as you talk about this type of work and connections and relationships. You know, I. I find that in my experience, from a vocational perspective.

00:19:59.290 --> 00:20:12.589 Tommy DiMisa: Your dash, Linda Ellis, I don't know you, but I appreciate you. I literally have hair standing up on my arms right now. What a special phone. And, Nancy, that's how this show goes. We didn't put in that. We did not plan that. But that just comes up because

00:48:15.940 --> 00:48:26.659 What really drives success in business, introducing in tang. If I the show that explored the intangible assets that create value and growth. I'm Matthew asthma, your host and an attorney focused on innovation.

00:17:20.869 --> 00:17:31.629 What really drives success in business, introducing in tangible the show that explored the intangible assets that create value and growth. I'm Matthew as well on your host and an attorney focused on innovation.