Episode 39: Pain Management in Cancer Patients – New Technology!

When pain becomes part of a cancer diagnosis, quality of life can change dramatically. In this episode of the Team Senior Podcast, Jamie Callahan sits down once again with Dr. Sean Sills of Touchstone Interventional Pain Center to discuss modern, minimally invasive pain-management options that many patients and families don’t realize exist.

Dr. Sills explains how interventional pain management can help cancer patients—and others suffering from chronic or neuropathic pain—find meaningful relief when traditional medications are no longer enough. The conversation focuses on spinal cord stimulation, new advancements in technology, what the process looks like for patients, and who may be a good candidate.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What interventional pain management is and how it differs from traditional pain treatment
• How spinal cord stimulation works and why it’s changing pain care
• What cancer-related and diabetic neuropathy pain can feel like
• What the trial process looks like before permanent implantation
• Real-life success stories and quality-of-life improvements
• Risks, benefits, and long-term outcomes of this technology

Guest Information:
Dr. Sean Sills
Touchstone Interventional Pain Center
🌐 Website: https://www.touchstonepain.com

📞 Phone: 541-773-1435

As always, if you hear something in this episode and need help getting connected—or can’t remember who to call down the road—Team Senior is just a phone call away.

📞 Team Senior: 541-295-8230

Tune in for an important conversation about pain, dignity, and hope through modern medical innovation.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

In this episode of the Team Senior Podcast, Jamie Callahan sits down with Kathie Sauders of JOCO Vita, a trusted nonprofit providing IRS-certified, completely free tax preparation services to residents of Southern Oregon.

JOCO Vita has served Josephine County for decades, helping seniors, families, students, and low-income individuals file accurate tax returns while uncovering credits and refunds that are often missed by paid or big-box tax services.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Who qualifies for JOCO Vita’s free tax preparation services
• How JOCO Vita prepares 1,400+ tax returns each year
• Why JOCO Vita volunteers are IRS-certified at the advanced level
• Common tax credits people often overlook
• How amended returns can recover thousands of dollars
• JOCO Vita’s transition to 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
• Future goals, including expanded services and education

This is an essential episode for anyone looking to reduce tax stress, protect their income, or help a loved one navigate tax season with confidence.

Contact JOCO Vita

🌐 Website: www.jocovita.org

📞 Phone: 541-326-8182

Need help but don’t know where to start?

You can always reach Team Senior at 541-295-8230, and we’ll help connect you to the right resources.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

Episode 37

House Bill 3320: How Oregon Can Help Eliminate Medical Bills

Medical debt is one of the biggest financial stressors facing seniors and families—but a new Oregon law is quietly changing that.

In this episode of the Team Senior Podcast, Jamie Callahan sits down with Tesa Park of Park Health Insurance to break down House Bill 3320, a financial assistance program that went into effect in 2024 and applies to nonprofit hospitals across Oregon.

You’ll learn:

• What House Bill 3320 is and why it was created
• Who qualifies for free or deeply discounted hospital care
• How income and household size affect eligibility
• What to say when the hospital asks about financial assistance
• Why many medical bills can be reduced—or completely written off

If you or someone you love has ever worried about hospital bills, deductibles, or medical debt, this is essential information you don’t want to miss.

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

Episode 36 – Mobile Primary Care: The Only Home Health in Southern Oregon Offering This Service

In this episode of the Team Senior Podcast, Jamie Callahan sits down with Shermane Cura, Director of Provider Services at Riverside Home Health, to discuss a service that is transforming care for seniors in Southern Oregon: mobile primary care.

Riverside is currently the only home health organization in Southern Oregon offering primary care services that come directly to patients—whether they live in a private home, assisted living, memory care, or adult foster home. Shermane explains how this model eliminates the stress, confusion, and risks that often come with transporting seniors—especially those living with dementia—to traditional medical offices.

You’ll learn:

• What mobile primary care is and how it works
• How Riverside integrates home health, hospice, and provider services into one seamless continuum of care
• Why bedside primary care is especially beneficial for seniors with dementia or mobility challenges
• How these services help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations
• Why all services are covered by Medicare at no cost to the patient
• How clinicians can get involved in expanding this much-needed service

This episode is a must-listen for seniors, adult children, caregivers, and healthcare professionals looking for practical, compassionate solutions that improve quality of life and keep care where it belongs—at home.

📞 Riverside Home Health: 541-476-1583 (ext. 3)
🌐 Website: www.riversidehh.com

📞 Team Senior: 541-295-8230

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

Downsizing, Transitions & Senior Home Sales

with Launie Myers of Century 21 – The Dream Team**

In this episode, Jamie Callahan sits down with Launie Myers, a long-time real estate professional and former senior living director who has spent decades helping older adults navigate one of the most emotional and challenging transitions of aging: selling the family home and downsizing safely.

Launie brings a rare perspective—she’s a senior herself, she has worked inside retirement communities, and she understands the fears, financial realities, and family tensions that arise when it's time to move.

You’ll hear:

• Why seniors often struggle with downsizing—and the emotional weight of “a lifetime of possessions”
• The TRUE cost of aging in place when 24/7 caregiving is needed (often $25,000–$40,000 per month)
• Why pricing a home correctly from day one matters more than ever
• How isolation and safety risks drive seniors toward better housing solutions
• What family members often misunderstand—and how to avoid common pitfalls
• Real stories of seniors Launie has helped transition with dignity, compassion, and the right support
• The wraparound services she coordinates: cleaners, packers, movers, downsizing specialists, and more

Launie is part of Century 21’s “Dream Team,” one of the top-performing teams in the entire state of Oregon—and a trusted advocate for seniors facing major life changes.

📞 To contact Launie Myers: 541-315-3385
📧 LaunieMyers@gmail.com

📞 For Team Senior resources or placement help: 541-295-8230

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

In this episode, Jamie Callahan sits down with Jarrad and Tommy of Rogue Valley Mobility, a local company dedicated to helping people stay independent through safe, customized mobility equipment. What began as a passion for improving quality of life has grown into a full-service mobility provider serving homes, retirement communities, and assisted living facilities across Southern Oregon.

You’ll hear:

• The wide range of mobility tools available—from scooters and power chairs to lift chairs, ramps, and custom seating
• Why professional evaluation and fitting are essential (and why online bargain equipment often fails or becomes unsafe)
• How in-home service calls work, including repairs, battery replacements, and equipment assessments
• Budget-friendly options, including refurbished high-end units restored to “like new” condition
• Real stories of clients who regained freedom, social connection, and independence through the right mobility support

Rogue Valley Mobility believes mobility is dignity—and no one should feel stuck, isolated, or unsafe in their own home. Their hands-on, compassionate approach ensures people receive equipment that truly fits their needs.

📞 To learn more or schedule a service call: 541-660-3609
🌐 Visit: rvMobility.com

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

EPISODE 33 — Medicare Ratings: Why You Cannot Trust What’s Published (They’re TWO YEARS Old!)

Most families don’t know this—but the Medicare star ratings handed to you in the hospital are two years out of date. And those outdated numbers can dramatically impact the choices you make for skilled nursing, rehab, and home health care.

In this episode, Jamie Callahan sits down with Breann Drake, Regional Director of Business Development for Volare Health, to expose why these ratings don’t reflect real-time quality, what they actually measure, and how they can mislead families during critical decision-making moments.

Breann breaks down:
✔️ Why CMS star ratings lag two years behind real-world performance
✔️ What the ratings measure (hint: mostly paperwork—not care quality)
✔️ How outdated scores affect funding, staffing, and patient placement
✔️ Why “quality measures” on Medicare.gov tell the true story
✔️ How to evaluate a skilled nursing or home health provider the right way

If you have a loved one in the hospital—or expect to someday—this episode will help you make safer, smarter, informed care decisions.

🔎 Do your own research: Medicare.gov → Search facility → Scroll to Quality Measures

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/

For many seniors, the cost of housing has become the biggest barrier to aging safely and independently. Too often, people fall into the gap of earning too much for Medicaid but not enough to afford living alone.

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Toni Wallick, Program Coordinator for Home Share Oregon, to discuss a practical, affordable solution: home sharing.

Home Share Oregon helps homeowners rent out unused rooms and connects renters to safe, affordable housing—using a simple online matching platform (yes, almost like a “dating app” for roommates). It’s a powerful way to prevent homelessness, create companionship, and make staying in your home financially possible.

Toni walks us through:
• How the platform works
• How to create a profile—even if you're not tech-savvy
• Background checks, agreements, and safety steps
• What renters and homeowners see during the matching process
• Real success stories from right here in Oregon

If you're struggling with housing—or want to help someone who is—this episode is full of practical guidance and real hope.

🌐 Home Share Oregon: https://homeshareoregon.org

📞 Toni Wallick: 541-414-3156
📞 Team Senior: 541-295-8230

At Team Senior™, our mission is to guide you and support you through the maze of Southern Oregon Long-Term Care.

📞 For Team Senior resources, call: 541-295-8230

Or visit our website for more information: https://www.teamsenior.org/