Posts Tagged With ‘ Aging ’

On Saturday, I received a strange email. It said it was from Gastro Health and a new lab result had been entered into my patient portal from my Gastro Health provider. To access my lab results, I was to go to my patient portal. I thought it was a scam. I haven’t had a test done recently related to my digestive system, and my doctor belongs to a practice called Gastroenterology Associates. The next day, I thought I’d write an article warning people about a possible scam. However, when I started doing research, I found that Gastro Health is a private equity firm that purchases the offices of... Continue Reading

We hear of ageism in the workplace. Older workers are laid off and when they seek new jobs, they are discriminated against in favor of younger, cheaper, less experienced workers. We hear of ageism in the media where elders are depicted as frail, impaired, dependent and in need of oh, so many medications. We do not see a lot if images of vital, healthy elders in print, film, or social media. But we don’t hear about the real issue of ageism from health care providers in medical care. It does exist, though it is hidden. You would only learn about it from an older person who may be frustrated by... Continue Reading

No. What ended on Thursday was the covid health emergency on public health and safety measures in the United States. In addition, the World Health Organization recently ended the covid related global health emergency. The U.S. ended the covid health emergency because Republicans would no longer support funding for it. What does the end of the public health emergency mean for you? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this list of changes: Vaccines will remain available. Access to covid-19 vaccines will generally not be affected for now. The U.S. government is currently distributing... Continue Reading

Photo: Andy Thornley Since I’m usually up late at night, I’ve come to love Stephen Colbert … and James Corden. Corden and his “The Late Late Show” team made me laugh. I truly thought Corden was funny. He was enthusiastic and upbeat, even during the pandemic. I looked forward to his show, as well as Colbert’s, to lighten up my life. I loved his “Carpool Karaoke,” the dates he arranged for staff members with audience members, and the program with Paul McCartney where they toured and sang in famous Beatles spots in London. Not my favorites were his “Dogs in Sunglasses,” “Spill... Continue Reading

Our government is currently focusing on the mental health of elders, particularly the loneliness they experience. For those with aging loved ones, pandemic related social isolation exacerbated what was already an underlying problem. Many elders do not have consistent, meaningful connections with enough others to prevent the sadness and hopelessness so many experience every day. The Face Of Social Isolation In reflecting on this, I am reminded of many lonely, isolated elders I visited long ago in my career as a public health nurse. My job involved going to the homes of those in my caseload, addressing... Continue Reading

Today’s my birthday. Yes, I do get a lot of “May the Fourth be with you” comments. I just shrug it off that my birthday, to some, is an unofficial Star Wars holiday. Since I’m an older adult, I’m thinking a lot today about friends and relatives that I’ve celebrated birthdays with in the past who are gone. My favorite birthdays? One definitely was a surprise birthday party I had when I was 14. I thought I might be having a surprise party because neither of my good friends, Verneta Harris or Betty Holmes, gave me a present during the day when we were at school. They usually did. So,... Continue Reading

There are plenty of aging parents out there making life difficult for their adult children, as we see from our experience working with elders’ families at AgingParents.com. A common problem for families happens when the one in charge of finances, typically the patriarch, develops cognitive impairment and can no longer safely manage the family trust and his own spending. Things can get financially dangerous. Case Study In this fact situation from a real case, we observed what it took to get the patriarch out of the position as trustee and to permit the successor, the adult daughter, to step in.... Continue Reading

When I worked at The Anchorage Times during the 1980s, I was fortunate to get my dream job writing a consumer action column. However, along with the job as columnist, I also had to be the religion editor. It meant that every week, I had to write a big feature article on religion along with compiling the Church Circuit, a listing of religious events in the anchorage area for that week. In 1986, I interviewed Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of ‘When Bad Things Happen to Good People,’ about his new book “When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough.” Kushner was coming to Anchorage to take... Continue Reading

Motherhood is a profound journey that goes beyond giving birth to human offspring. It encompasses an all-encompassing love, a nurturing spirit, and an unbreakable bond that transcends biology. As we delve into this expansive understanding, we must also consider a different kind of parenthood, particularly resonant among seniors—being a pet parent. Pets, whether they are dogs, cats, birds, or fish, often fill our lives with joy, purpose, and companionship. They become our silent confidants, our playful companions, and our loyal friends. They weave themselves into the fabric of our daily routine... Continue Reading

Seniors Tackling Tech Changes Like Champs! The click of a button, the scroll of a mouse, and the sound of an alert weren’t frequent in the past. However, these are now the beat of our digital lives. While the younger generation may be quick to adapt, our senior citizens, those 55 and older, frequently find themselves lost in a technological maze that is constantly evolving. But what’s this? They are rising to the occasion with style! 1. The Problem: Ever-Changing Digital Environments Let’s talk about Facebook, the well-known and adored social media platform. However, have you noticed how... Continue Reading