The Paid Leave Podcast

• Solo Agers Are Changing the Conversation About Aging Independently After 50

  There are over 17 million people over the age of 50 who are aging alone in our country, without a partner, children, or family involvement in their daily lives. Ther are at least 250 thousand solo agers in Connecticut. Connecticut Entrepreneur Jill Kovalich, is a solo ager herself, and she founded SoloAgersConnect.com to provide resources and a community for this demographic. Jill highlights the challenges solo agers face, such as financial planning, home safety, and mental health, emphasizing the importance of Connecticut's paid leave program, which allows caregivers to take time away from their jobs to help with serious health conditions of a loved one. For solo agers who are still working and will be possibly into their 70's, paid leave allows them to take time away from their job to take care of their own serious health conditions. Jill also notes the stigma around being a solo ager and the need for more support and resources to help them navigate aging independently. To get in touch with Jill go to, [email protected]. The Facebook page to find out about solo ager coffee hours and information go to, solo agers connect. For information or to apply for benefits please go to,  ctpaidleave.org.https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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• An Entrepreneur Says Paid Leave Supports Growing Families and Compassionate Businesses

  In this episode of The Paid leave Podcast, we connect a business and paid family leave. November is National Family Caregivers Month and National Family Health History Day is November 28. Here to talk about the importance of CT Paid Leave for bonding leave, mental health, caregiver leave and how it helps small businesses is Samatha Alzate, she is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Mindful Transformations LLC, a holistic group therapy practice based in Farmington and West Hartford, Connecticut. Her practice focuses on supporting individuals through life transitions, trauma recovery, and personal growth by blending traditional psychotherapy with mindfulness and integrative healing approaches.As a small business owner and mother, Samantha understands firsthand the importance of programs like CT Paid Leave. She brings both a clinical and personal perspective to conversations about balance, mental health, caregiving and the realities of running a practice while raising a family. Samantha is a big fan of CT Paid Leave, because she and her husband both used bonding leave when they added to their family with their third child. She said they both feel that it was the best time of their parenting experience. She also knows how important it is to her small business. She believes it helps her employees and creates a happy and healthy environment by offering them the paid leave benefits, which some have already taken. She says it helps her to retain quality employees. Samantha wrote and Op-ed piece about CT Paid Leave and said it was a lifeline for her and she is also in a CT Paid Leave commercial about the benefits to small business owners.To get in touch with Samantha Alzate and Mindful Transformations LLC go to Mindful Transformations LLC | Holistic Therapy in CT.To read the Op-ed piece Samantha Alzate wrote A Lifeline for New Parents and Small Businesses - CT ExaminerFor more information or to apply for benefits please go to CT Paid Leave.https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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• CT Comptroller Sean Scanlon on Building Family Fiscal Health and Policies

  In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon, talks about his office, caregiving and the sandwich generation, and other family friendly policies in the state. November happens to be National Family Caregiver Month.Comptroller Scanlon, talked about his role in improving state finances. Sean explains his role as the Comptroller, comparing it to a Chief Financial Officer, and details his responsibilities, including managing state finances, healthcare plans, and various programs like the flood program for Hartford residents and the MyCTSavings retirement plan for employees. He discusses the importance of caregiving and why policies like paid leave can help ease the burden on residents. Sean discusses his efforts to reform the MERS pension system. He highlights the importance of mental health parity and the Array RX drug discount card, giving discounts for medications. Sean emphasizes the need for fiscal responsibility to fund future programs and improve state affordability, aiming to make Connecticut a more attractive place to live and work, and how CT Paid Leave can help with that vision. Sean recounts how a book report on Bobby Kennedy inspired him to pursue a career in politics.For more information about the Comptroller's Office please go to Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller.For more information or to apply for benefits please go to CT Paid Leave.https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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• Osteoporosis Awareness and How to Strengthen Bone Health

  In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, I speak to a professional about osteoporosis and bone health. In October it is International Osteoporosis Day on October 20th, National Health Education Week October 21-25th, and is also International Day of Older Persons on October 1st. Two out of three women with postmenopausal osteoporosis will break a bone in their lifetime.I speak with Joan Doback, a certified Physician Assistant celebrating 36 years in the field. Doback, who works as a Bone Health Coordinator at the Connecticut Orthopedic Institute, explains the importance of bone health, particularly for women post-menopause. She highlights the significance of DEXA scans for diagnosing osteoporosis and osteopenia, and the role that lifestyle factors plays in bone health like diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol. She recommends weight-bearing exercises, resistance training, and balance exercises to improve bone density. Doback also discusses medical treatments for osteoporosis and the impact of fractures on caregivers of patients. She emphasized the importance that the Connecticut Paid Leave program is for caregivers. She says the good news is that Osteoporosis can be reversible. For more information on the Bridgeport Bone Health program at the CT Orthopedic Institute at St Vincent's Hospital: Bone Health Program | CT Orthopaedic Institute | St. Vincent’s Medical CenterFor Information or to apply for benefits please go to: ctpaidleave.orghttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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• A Study Shows How Paid Leave Policies Help Create Healthy Families and Communities

  On this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are talking about paid family leave policies and how they affect families and communities. Drexel University in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, has done a study called Making the Case for Paid Family Leave.  The study shows the benefits of taking time off for your own serious health condition or that of a loved one as well as taking pregnancy and bonding leave when adding to your family. Here to talk about this is Natalie Shaak, she is the Associate Director of Communication and Administration at the Center for Hunger Communities at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University.The study, which included a literature review and personal stories, highlights the physical and mental health benefits of paid leave, particularly for mothers and infants. It found that paid leave reduces postpartum depression, domestic violence, and stress, and improves child health outcomes. The conversation also touches on the challenges of implementing paid leave, including the need for inclusive policies that cover part-time and gig workers. They emphasize the importance of paid leave for workplace culture, recruitment, and retention, and advocate for a national program to ensure equitable access.To get in touch with Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health: About the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health | Drexel Dornsife School of Public HealthFor information or to apply for benefits go to: CT Paid Leavehttps://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_UShttps://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeavehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

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