as I too am middle-aged, I've struggled with this ... and had hoped you'd have gone instead from DECLAIMED to MEDICATED .. which might have led to MEDICATES ... then ESTIMATED .. ESTIMATES ...TEAMSTERS ...REMASTERS ...STREAMERS ..STREAMER..

DREAMERS ..REMARKED .. and we could have EMBARKED ...

but may there be no sadness of farewell, milord Alfred ... if we wind up with MIDDLE-AGED or MIDDLE EAR or a medieval MIDDLE AGES ... as I am stumped