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391 Maureen Rafa: Advocate for Compassionate Care for Older Adults

391 Maureen Rafa: Advocate for Compassionate Care for Older Adults

Author: Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau July 29, 2026 Duration: 29:01
Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined
SocietySociety & CultureBusinessCultureEntrepreneurshipJournalsPersonalScience

Drawing on decades of experience in psychiatric mental health and a wide range of health care settings, Maureen Rafa now runs her own business as an elder care coordinator. She also actively volunteers to improve coordinated care, build livable communities, and promote thoughtful end-of-life planning. In this conversation, she challenges common misconception about aging—from the fear of dementia to the expectation of simply “dying in one’s sleep”—and urges older adults, especially women, to recognize and confront the “rampant ageism” embedded in our society. Maureen encourages women to become informed self-advocates and models that philosophy in her own life. At 72, she has downsized to an independent-living community, planned financially for future care, and remains intentional about avoiding isolation.

“Always keep your female friends.” - Maureen Rafa

Connect with Maureen

Email: maureenrafa10@gmail.com

Maureen Rafa | LinkedIn

Women Over 70 Welcomes our Platinum Sponsor

AARP Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they wish to live as they age. With nearly 1.7 million members in Illinois, AARP volunteers advocate for better health, financial security, and stronger communities.

Visit AARP.org/IL to learn more.


Hosted by Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau, Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined turns the page on a well-worn cultural script. This is not a series about decline, but a collection of dialogues focused squarely on expansion. You’ll hear from women who are starting businesses, deepening their creative practices, forging new relationships, and confronting societal expectations with a refreshing blend of honesty and humor. These conversations, rooted in personal journals and lived expertise, delve into the practical and the profound-from the science of longevity to the personal journeys of resilience that define this chapter. The podcast moves beyond inspiration to offer tangible insight, framing the later decades as a time of active reinvention. Tune in for stories that replace stereotypes with specificity, and discover a community redefining what it means to grow older with purpose and curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined
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