Woman, 101, Who’s Always Loved to Garden, Shares Her Longevity Tips

Ruta Hagmann says life is like a flower.

by Talia Wexler

“Thank you, dear Lord, I have another day.”

Ruta Hagmann has said those words every single morning for as long as she can remember. In July, she’ll turn 102.

For Hagmann, the morning mantra isn’t just habit — it’s philosophy. “Attitude is everything,” she tells TODAY.com.

Walking, eating balanced meals and taking supplements have always been essential to Hagmann’s routine. But the key to longevity, she says, is equally prioritizing a positive mindset.

Here’s what the centenarian has to say about living a long, happy and full life.

Ruta Hagmann will turn 102 years old in July 2026.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann

Stay Positive

Hagmann has lived through more than a century of change — but she doesn’t attribute her positivity to a life without hardship. Instead, it comes down to her perspective.

Hagmann was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924, and was raised on the West Coast in Southern California from age five onward. In 1944, she graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was a dedicated member of the Alpha Phi sorority.

After marrying David Hagmann, a Navy Lieutenant during World War II and fellow UCLA Bruin, the couple settled down in Orinda, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and raised three children.

Even when life got complicated, Hagmann still chose gratitude, she says.

“I’m just thankful for every day,” Hagmann says. “I don’t know what tomorrow brings, so I just appreciate what I have today.”

And for Hagmann, expressing that gratitude out loud and often is key. “I’m luckier than I thought I would be; I’m so fortunate,” she says.

Let Love Take Root

When Hagmann looks back on her life, the thing she’s proudest of is simple: “Having a wonderful marriage and children.”

In the home where they raised their children, her husband built Hagmann a greenhouse in the backyard for her to pursue her love of gardening. There, Hagmann cultivated her award-winning orchids —many of which her daughter, Valerie Nealis, 72, still cares for today.

Her husband also raised camellias alongside Hagmann’s orchids. For a time, he served as president of the Northern California Camellia Society and developed a hybrid of his very own: the award-winning “Ruta Hagmann” camellia.

Eventually, the greenhouse became more than a hobby space. It was a tangible expression of the couple’s love and care for one another.

Ruth Hagmann is known for her green thumb.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann

Through gardening, Hagmann also developed an important perspective on life, she says.

“(A plant) has its time just like we have our life, and (when) it’s time to go, and you have to let go and be grateful for the time you had,” she says.

That outlook helps her navigate both joy and grief, grounding her in appreciation for the time she shares with loved ones, even when it’s limited.

Ruth Hagmann's husband built her the greenhouse that fueled her love for gardening and flowers.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann

Commit to Community

Beyond her family, Hagmann has always felt a strong sense of responsibility to her community.

Ruth Hagmann partly credits community for her longevity.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann

“As my parents said, it was very important that you appreciate your community,” she says. “You’re fortunate enough to be there and contribute.”

Hagmann was involved in philanthropy as an Alpha Phi throughout college. Later, she became an avid fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital and organized events including fashion shows and dinners. Occasionally, Hagmann would even model in the shows herself, Nealis recalls.

In 1973, she received one of the Women of the Year awards from Children’s Hospital Branches, Inc. for her fundraising efforts for the Oakland branch.

In her seventies, Hagmann also found a way to channel her gardening skills into community service and stepped into the role of Orinda Garden Club president.

Looking back, she sees paying it forward as an important part of a life well lived.

“I just feel so blessed with all of the wonderful things that have happened to me during my life, and enabled me to participate and be a part of.” 

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Woman, 101, Who’s Always Loved to Garden, Shares Her Longevity Tips 

Man, 100, Who Loves to Dance and Just Attended His First Prom, Shares His 4 Simple Longevity Tips

Ray Svejnoha’s community surprised him with everything he needed for the high school milestone.

by Aryelle Siclait

When attending his first prom at age 100 last month, Ray Svejnoha noticed how differently teens dance these days.

“During my time, when we danced with a girl, we held her,” Svenjnoha tells TODAY.com. “They danced in a circle of about 20 people and jumped up and down like little bunnies.”

“And the noise, my God, I couldn’t recognize the songs at all, but that’s the way it is,” he laughs. It was one of the best nights of his life.

Svenjnoha is a resident at Independence Village of Naperville, a senior living facility in Illinois. He didn’t get to go to his prom. “I left for the service,” he recalls.

He was drafted into the Air Force during World War II with three months left in high school. Although he was able to graduate, he missed out on some milestones. He never thought much about having missed his prom, but six high school students — girls who volunteer at the senior living facility and teach residents how to use their smartphones — wanted to do something special for him.

They teamed up with Independence Village staff to surprise Svenjnoha with a prom night he’d never forget.

Teens who volunteered to teach seniors how to use their smartphones surprised 100-year-old Ray Svenjnoha by taking him to the prom since he missed his own.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha

Local businesses donated a trolley, flowers and styled Svenjnoha’s prom haircut. Everything, he says, was taken care of. “It was really great. It was one of the nicest things that’s happened.”

The night was an homage to Svenjnoha’s rich social life and his love of chit-chat — both of which he’s said have contributed to his long life. He spoke with TODAY.com as part of the Incredible Centenarians series to share some other secrets to his longevity.

Fall in Love

“I had a terrific marriage,” says Svenjnoha. “I brag about it constantly.”

He boasts of their teamwork, raising their two sons “who grew up to be great men,” how they instantly clicked when his sister introduced them, and how his wife would catch more fish than him, though she was less experienced at the sport — but “that was to be expected,” he says.

Before she died from cancer, she threatened Svenjnoha: She’d haunt him if he didn’t keep living, maintaining his friendships and relationships. So, he did.

Ray Svejnoha missed his prom because he was drafted into the Air Force.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha

Invest in Your Friendships

“It seems like I can make friends with anybody,” says Svenjnoha. “This is what God put me on this earth for.”

He plays bingo and bunco daily with his fellow residents and says hi to every new face.

Whatever programming the senior center has planned for the day, Svenjnoha says he’s game to interact with whoever’s there, approaching it all with positivity.

“If you’re going to be grouchy, don’t talk to me because I have no room for that,” he says. “I’ve got plenty of room to laugh and kid and do things like that and enjoy (myself).”

Do Work You’re Proud Of

Svenjnoha started training to be an electrician as a teen. His neighbor growing up enlisted the help of neighborhood kids interested in learning the trade. When his neighbor joined the local union, Svenjnoha joined, too. “This was my call,” says Svenjnoha.

Ray Svejnoha met his wife and worked as an electrician when he returned from the Air Force.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha

Move Your Body

Except for a recurring ache in his left leg, “I feel like a 20-year-old,” says Svenjnoha.

He’s tried various treatments to soothe the pain, but nothing helps. “I’ll just grin and bear it,” he says. He can’t give up movement, least of all dancing.

“Dancing was my best treat,” he says. “I used to love to dance.” And because it doesn’t happen too often these days, he’ll do it any chance he gets. Prom was his moment. “There were 25 girls in a circle, and we were dancing,” he recalls. “It was on TV, by God.”

His granddaughter in Anchorage, Alaska, called to tell him she’d spotted a clip of him on the dance floor captured by Naperville Community Television.

Independence Village of Naperville, the local Rotary Club and the high school students who got to know Ray Svejnoha had a trolley, flowers and Svejnoha's haircut gifted to him.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha

For 30 years, Svenjnoha taught swimming to children and adults with arthritis at the local pool. He swam with his kids in his backyard pool he’d invite the neighbors to use. He also took the neighborhood kids and his children fishing. And a friend taught him how to play tennis.

“I really enjoy that,” he says. 

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Man, 100, Who Loves to Dance and Just Attended His First Prom, Shares His 4 Simple Longevity Tips 

Caregiver’s innocent smile hid horrific abuse that was only exposed by TikTok

By Katie Jerkovich

A Southern California caregiver – tasked with caring for a family’s 80-year-old mom – will finally have her day in court, more than a year after dozens of videos posted on TikTok documented months of alleged horrific abuse.

During a hearing in Bakersfield this week, the judge denied a mental health diversion request by caregiver Julie Rothgeb after the terrible acts of her alleged abuse were exposed in more than 50 Ring videos posted on social media generating tens of millions of views.

Rothgeb is facing one misdemeanor count of assault and battery of elder or dependent adult abuse, according to documents obtained by The California Post.

A Southern California caregiver-tasked-with caring for a family’s 80-year-old mom will finally have to face trial. ABC23

Julie Rothgeb is facing one misdemeanor count of assault and battery.

Kern County DA said at the last court hearing, the judge dealt with the caregiver’s attorney’s mental health diversion filing in an effort to bypass trial and go straight to treatment. However, the judge ultimately denied it following the DA’s opposition.

The abuse includes allegations of “smacking” the elderly woman with a flyswatter, emotional, verbal and other physical abuse. There were also allegations that the caregiver forced the older woman to exercise for hours at a time while she was wearing weights on her ankles and wrists, 23ABC in Bakersfield reported. 

Windy Duenas, the victim’s daughter, called the wait for justice “frustrating” noting that “every time there was a court date it was continued.”

Windy Duenas, the victim’s daughter, called the wait for justice “frustrating” noting that “every time there was a court date it was continued.” TIKTOK/@windy_duenas1

“We just feel like there’s no rights for the victim and that everything about this case has been minimized down to nothing, and I have just lost faith in the justice system,” Duenas told the outlet.

“I am upset that we’re here. I am upset that these are the possibilities that are on the table for something so serious and with so much evidence.”

The family said when they first tried to pursue charges against Rothgeb the DA told the daughter there was insufficient evidence, according to the outlet.

“There’s over 50 videos that they had at the time of saying there wasn’t sufficient evidence,” Duenas previously said.

The abuse includes allegations of emotional, verbal and other physical abuse. TikTok/@Wendy_duenes1

A jury trial date has now been set for June 29, 2026. ABC23

In 2025, a new DA reversed course, citing more evidence obtained through additional videos and statements, opting to charge Rothgeb with a misdemeanor, per the report.

“And later, for the same evidence they had the first time, they now say it’s worth going in for a misdemeanor — when it meets all the elements of several felony charges,” Duenas said.

Jeremy Oliver with Kern County Adult and Aging Services said his department investigated thousands of cases of elder abuse last year with dozens more that he said go unreported, per the report.

A jury trial date has now been set for June 29, 2026.

The Post reached out to the county’s Adult and Aging services for further comment.  

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Caregiver’s innocent smile hid horrific abuse that was only exposed by TikTok 

Woman accused of stealing thousands from elderly man she was taking care of

by Alika Medina 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Albuquerque police say a 27-year-old woman stole $5,883 from a bedridden older man she was hired to care for.

Police say Gloria Flores faces fraud charges after investigators said she used the man’s credit card for charges at GEICO, Discount Tire and Albertsons.

Sally Linhart, the victim’s daughter, said she learned about the charges after her father’s landlord checked his mail when Flores stopped working in his apartment.

“She’d been using the credit card and the statements had been coming in the mail, so she was intercepting those.” said Linhart.

Linhart said she lives eight hours away in Oklahoma and said Flores admitted through text messages that she took the money.

“I’m going to give you this opportunity. Just admit what you’ve done, pay us back, and it’ll be a lesson learned for you,” said Linhart. However, Linhart said Flores wouldn’t do it.

Linhart said the case felt familiar because someone else stole from her father about three or four years ago and later paid the money back over about 12 months.

“I want to say, three or four years ago, and same thing happened. I contacted the girl, and I said, I know what you’ve done, and she said, please do not call the police. Please do not press charges. I will pay you back. And she did, and so she paid my father back over the course of about 12 months.” said Linhart.

New Mexico Aging Services says elder abuse can take different forms and says the number of cases is not going away.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says $55 million were lost to elder fraud scams in New Mexico in 2025. 

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Woman accused of stealing thousands from elderly man she was taking care of

Amato Bill Protecting Seniors and Veterans from Identity Theft Passes Senate

by Carmen Amato 

Legislation sponsored by Senator Carmen Amato, Jr. (R-Ocean) to increase criminal penalties for identity theft crimes committed against senior citizens and veterans was approved by the New Jersey Senate. Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre have introduced the companion bill, A-1749. 

S-1526 strengthens penalties for individuals who steal personal identifying information from these vulnerable populations or target records maintained by retirement communities, nursing homes, and veterans' facilities.

"Identity theft can devastate a person's finances, reputation, and sense of security, and seniors and veterans are often among the most vulnerable targets," said Senator Amato. "My legislative district is home to a large population of seniors who have worked their entire lives to build financial stability. They deserve stronger protections and the assurance that New Jersey's laws will hold criminals accountable when they prey on vulnerable residents."

Under the bill, identity theft offenses involving senior citizens or veterans would be elevated to higher-degree crimes, resulting in tougher penalties and longer potential prison sentences. The bill also increases penalties for individuals who unlawfully obtain, manufacture, or distribute personal identifying information taken from records maintained by retirement and long-term care facilities, as well as veterans' facilities. 

The legislation has bipartisan support with Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen, Passaic) as Second Prime Sponsor.

Read the full text of the bill online.

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Amato Bill Protecting Seniors and Veterans from Identity Theft Passes Senate  

Kaplan woman charged with 30 counts of exploiting the elderly

by Lilianna Badeaux

CROWLEY, LA. (KLFY) — Kaplan woman faces 30 counts of exploitation of an elderly man, police said.

Brittani Abshire, 39, of Kaplan was arrested and charged with 30 counts of exploitation of the infirm.

Police reported the elderly person, suffering with dementia, was under the care of Abshire. Evidence later revealed Abshire allegedly seized their assets and stole their money.

Abshire faced $100,000 bond and has been transported to the Acadia Parish Jail. 

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Kaplan woman charged with 30 counts of exploiting the elderly 

She trusted her financial advisor with everything. Then he stole $300K.

By Karin Price Mueller 

He promised to take care of her money.

Pay her bills.  

Help her with investments to make sure her money would last.

Instead, he siphoned more than $300,000 from the 90-year-old woman’s accounts. Rather than pay her bills, he used the funds to pay his own, prosecutors alleged.

What John Boston, once a legit financial advisor from Verona, did to his victim is a classic case of elder fraud.

He’s now facing five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000 after his convictions for theft, prosecutors said. Sentencing is later this summer.

“Cases like this demonstrate the devastating impact financial exploitation can have on older adults and their families,” Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Bernard Cooney said in a statement.

The Attorney General’s Office spotlighted the case last week in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

The victim was newly flush with cash after inheriting “substantial assets” when her brother died.

Prosecutors alleged Boston, 50, signed a contract with the victim to manage her assets and her financial affairs. He was indeed a registered financial adviser, but he never told his employer, and he never registered the woman as a client — as required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA.

He convinced the woman to give him a durable financial power of attorney, a document to grant permission to a trusted person to manage your money if you’re ever incapacitated and unable to make your own financial decisions.

Instead of working for her best interests, Boston took out funds through a series of ATM withdrawals, bank transfers and other transactions, prosecutors said. He diverted her Social Security benefits for his own personal use, they said.

It took less than two years.

Elder abuse can come in many forms, but we’re going to stick to financial exploitation here. It causes $28.3 billion in losses annually, a staggering number reported by the National Council on Aging. It defines elder abuse as “an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult.”

Elder financial abuse can happen to anybody, and it’s not only traditional scammers at work.

“Perpetrators can range from close family, extended family, caregiving staff, or strangers,” according to the New Jersey State Library. “They may take money without permission, fail to repay money they owe, charge too much for services, or not do what they were paid to do.”

Elder financial abuse is vastly underreported, the National Adult Protective Services Association said.

Only one in 44 cases is actually reported, it said, and 90% of cases involve family members or others who are trusted — like a trusted financial advisor.

People often don’t report financial losses from fraud because they’re embarrassed. We’ve seen that happen time and time again.

But you can help to protect your loved ones by looking out for some red flags. These 14 warning signs are offered by the American Bankers Association. Look out for:

1. Unusual activity in an older person’s bank accounts, including large, frequent or unexplained withdrawals
2. Changing from a basic account to one that offers more complicated services the customer does not fully understand or need
3. Withdrawals from bank accounts or transfers between accounts the customer cannot explain
4. A new “best friend” accompanying an older person to the bank
5. Sudden non-sufficient fund activity or unpaid bills
6. Closing CDs or accounts without regard to penalties
7. Uncharacteristic attempts to wire large sums of money
8. Suspicious signatures on checks, or outright forgery
9. Confusion, fear or lack of awareness on the part of an older customer
10. Checks written as “loans” or “gifts”
11. Bank statements that no longer go to the customer’s home
12. New powers of attorney the older person does not understand
13. A caretaker, relative or friend who suddenly begins conducting financial transactions on behalf of an older person without proper documentation
14. Altered wills and trusts

If you see something suspicious, you can report it to several different agencies.

Start with Adult Protective services at (855) TELL-APS, or you can see a list of county offices here.

For investment and banking scams, contact the state Bureau of Securities by phone at (866) I-Invest or email at njbos@dca.lps.state.nj.us. You can also file a complaint online.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit handles cases involving Medicaid recipients and fraud, theft, or abuse in health care settings. You can email NJMFCU@njdcj.org or call (609) 292-1272. The state Long-Term Care Ombudsman will handle exploitation in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Call 1-877-582-6995 or email ombudsman@ltco.nj.gov.

Let’s all work to help prevent fraud and take care of our loved ones and neighbors. 

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She trusted her financial advisor with everything. Then he stole $300K. 

Nursing home resident details nightmarish conditions

From complaints about being forced to lay in their own feces to serious medical mistakes, our I-Team investigation finds concerning conditions at Safire Care Rehabilitation Center in South Buffalo

Source:
Nursing home resident details nightmarish conditions 

Judge denies diversion request in Bakersfield elder abuse case

More than a year after the case went viral on TikTok, a judge denied a request for mental health diversion, keeping the criminal case against caregiver Julie Rothgeb on track through the court system.

By: Madi Vollmer

 

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — A high-profile Bakersfield elder abuse case that drew national attention is moving one step closer to trial after a judge denied a request for Mental Health Diversion.

The case involving caregiver Julie Rothgeb gained widespread attention after videos at the center of the investigation generated more than 43 million views on TikTok.

Rothgeb is charged with assault and battery involving an elderly person. Investigators allege she repeatedly yelled at the victim and used weights on the victim's wrists and ankles, forcing her to exercise for hours at a time.

During a June 10 hearing, Rothgeb's defense attorney requested Mental Health Diversion, a program that allows eligible defendants to receive treatment instead of proceeding through the traditional criminal court process. The Kern County District Attorney's Office opposed the request, and the judge ultimately denied it.

For Windy Duenas, the victim's daughter, the ruling marks a long-awaited step toward accountability after more than a year of legal developments surrounding the case. "It's frustrating, and every time there was a court date it was continued, and we just feel like there's no rights for the victim and that everything about this case has been minimized down to nothing, and I have just lost faith in the justice system," Duenas said.

Still, Duenas says she remains frustrated that elder abuse cases are not treated more seriously and believes crimes involving vulnerable older adults should carry stronger consequences. "I am upset that we're here. I am upset that these are the possibilities that are on the table for something so serious and with so much evidence," she said.

As the case moves forward, officials say elder abuse remains a significant issue throughout Kern County.

Jeremy Oliver with Kern County Adult and Aging Services says the department investigated roughly 7,000 reports last year alone. He added that for every reported case, many more likely go unreported. "With Kern County, we receive about 7,000 reports per year that we've investigated just from last year, and we know for every instance that's actually reported, there's about 24 instances that go unreported," Oliver said.

Duenas says that fear and a lack of confidence in the system can discourage victims and families from speaking up. "There are so many elderly people out there getting mistreated on a daily basis and nothing is being done. They're already scared to come forward and say anything, and then when they do, there's no protection set for them," she said.

I also reached out to the Public Defender's Office, which said the case has been reassigned to a new attorney. The office says the case remains scheduled for a jury trial on June 29, 2026, though that date could be continued to allow additional preparation and investigation, pending the court's approval.

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Judge denies diversion request in Bakersfield elder abuse case