COVID has moved from a central place in our lives to a risk that, while still important to heed, has moved out of the foreground. One thing we will not forget, however, is COVID’s toll on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, where the virus has killed more than 200,000 older Americans and staff. […]
When an aging parent is diagnosed with dementia of any kind, it can be devastating and confusing to the family. For some, there is denial: ”It’s not that bad, I don’t see anything wrong with her, and let’s just let things stay the same for now.” For others, there is overreacting and trying to push […]
Your aging parent may have demanded something from you long ago: “Promise you’ll never put me in a home!” And you may have promised that. Perhaps you never thought through the implications. For elders who saw what healthcare was like before Medicare in 1965, their fears are founded in what things looked like then: unregulated […]
Gertie is a sharp 89, with a history of being well organized in her life. She is widowed, and was living alone. During Covid, one of her four daughters and her husband moved in with her, a plan that was supposed to be temporary. Gertie needed a little help with shopping and transportation, as she […]
You may see some public notices from governments, nonprofit agencies and consumer organizations warning about increased scammer activity lately. There is a lot of focus on internet and phone scams — everything from fake threats to pay money or fake enticements to get a “deal” on something. People are shopping online and scammers are looking […]
The start line of the annual race in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, was crowded. A rain delay had participants just waiting. I looked over at a woman next to me, and said “hello”. She was friendly and we had a conversation. When the announcer asked who was celebrating a birthday, we both raised our […]
Just about everyone understands that our elders are at risk of health crises just because of age. Covid taught us a lot about emergencies from an unanticipated source. Most of us understand that our aging loved ones are vulnerable, especially those over 65 years old. Chronic medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease […]
Hearing loss is a common issue that many seniors face as they age. It can be difficult to admit that you are experiencing hearing loss, but it’s important to understand the impact it can have on your life and the treatment options available. In this article, we’ll cover three important things seniors need to know […]
Experiencing gradual vision loss as a senior is to be expected but there are steps you can take to slow down the decline. John, a 65-year-old retiree, was frustrated with the gradual decline in his eyesight. Every year at his annual eye exam, his doctor would inform him that there had been further deterioration in […]
Here’s the Podcast: I hope you enjoy listening! Laura Lyster-Mensh is a death doula who has proposed a unique idea to the Congressional Cemetery. She asked if she could be their death doula for a year and provide death education and awareness work to the community. To her surprise, they said yes! This opportunity has […]
