Topic: Aging

De-Clutter...De-Sooner, De-Better

For the person who is facing a move and needs to downsize or for anyone who has reached the point where there is just too much "stuff" in their lives, this article will speak to you...and provide tips on how to begin changing the way you live. A motivational speaker quoted in the article talks about expanding the definition of "tchotchkes," a Yiddish word for knicknacks, to mean "stuff that gets out of control" and can be anything, mental or physical, that is unneeded or unwanted (examples might be electronic equipment, people who are an emotional drain and don't bring joy.) An interesting outlook that may be worth considering.

Posted on May 2, 2012

Who Are You Calling Elderly?

Topics: Ageism, Aging

What should we call people age 65 and older? Are they “seniors,” "older adults," "the elderly?" The author of this article "unscientifically" interviewed professionals in the "aging" field to help clarify the word(s) to describe people of a certain age. Among those queried are Harry (Rick) Moody, 67, director of academic affairs for AARP, Jane Glen Haas, 74, nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist, and Dr. John Rowe, 67, chairman of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on an Aging Society. To weigh in on this touchy topic, check out the Philadelphia-based blog, Elder Chicks.

Posted on Apr 25, 2012

Being There for Those in Need

Topics: Aging, Civic Engagement, Health Care

For older adults living at home, the regular visits and help provided by Senior Companions can be what gets them up in the morning...and keeps them going. John Antsy, a 78-year-old, does his good deeds 20 hours a week as part of the federally-funded Senior Corps. Among Mr. Antsy's tasks are bringing one couple groceries and prescriptions, spending time with an isolated woman tethered to an oxygen tank, and providing respite for a caregiving wife. He is one of the 13,600 Senior Companions --all older than 55--who served nearly 61,000 clients nationally last year. More than 40 percent of the companions are over 74. To learn more about this stipended program, click here.

Posted on Apr 13, 2012

Caregiving: The "New Normal" for Boomers

Topics: Aging, Boomers, Caregiving

Trying to create the best possible quality of life for an aging relative is "the new normal" for 43.5 million Americans caring for someone older than 50, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. This comprehensive article addresses the issues that families face when a loved one begins to fail, the difficulties in finding the right kinds of care, and the questions that need to be asked by children to assess their parent's situation. Knowing about available resources and services for older adults is critical in dealing with the "new normal." To read more, click here.

Posted on Apr 11, 2012

Caregiving from Afar

Topics: Aging, Caregiving, Health

As lifespans lengthen and the number of older adults increases, there are many adult "children" who find themselves providing care for their parents from afar. The National Institute on Aging estimates that about 7 million Americans are long-distance caregivers. Some insist on daily phone calls or video chats to hear or see how their loved one is doing. Oftentimes, they find another relative or a paid caregiver they can trust who is closer and able to help with some tasks. This is an ongoing dilemma that plagues those who want to do their best for their parents while respecting the parents' desire to remain in their homes.

Posted on Feb 1, 2012

Aging Prisoners: A Growing Problem

Topics: Aging, Healthcare, Prisons

The number of Americans in prison older than 55 is growing faster than the group’s share of the population at large, and older prisoners are nine times more expensive to care for than younger inmates according to Human Rights Watch . Prison officials are scrambling to respond to the needs and vulnerabilities of older prisoners. They are constrained, however, by tightened budgets, prison architecture that is not designed for common age-related disabilities, and limited medical facilities and staff. This article makes the case for restructuring the prison system for older inmates.

Posted on Jan 30, 2012

Why Can't I Remember Names?

Topics: Aging, Well-being

All of us have dealt with the embarrassment of not remembering a person's name and fumbling through a conversation. Are you losing your memory? No. It has to do with names themselves and not impending senility. This article suggests that names are really "arbitary and meaningless" and need to be linked with something else to keep them in mind. Try joining a person's name with their occupation or thinking of something humorous or vivid when you meet. Repetition also works: if you repeat someone’s name back after introductions and use it at least once in conversation, it can can help fix it in your mind.

Posted on Jan 18, 2012

How Safe are Our Elders?

Topics: Aging, Safety

The subject of elder abuse is one that many of us don't like to address. But, with so many older adults living with family, in nursing homes, or other care facilities, there are many questions we need to ask to identify if an older person is experiencing physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, and even financial abuse. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), it is very difficult to know exactly how many victims of elder abuse there are each year. The best estimates range from 1 million to 2 million per year, but reporting rates are low. This article provides some of the ways abuse is occurring and offers prevention strategies that can help us confront this problem.

Posted on Jan 11, 2012

Old Hippies Returning to Communes

Topics: Aging, Communes, Housing

In the 1960s and 70s, living on a commune was a cool thing to do...for awhile. By the 80s, most had moved out of these "intentional communities" -- artists' collectives, religious communes, or self-help oriented communes -- got jobs and started anew. This Atlantic Monthly article follows one woman back to The Farm in Tennessee where she gave birth to her first child at 16 and is finalizing her return to the place she has always considered home. She is among a number of "hippies" taking the road back to a community that meets their needs again at this later stage in their lives.

Posted on Nov 26, 2011

David Brooks' Life Reports

Topics: Aging, Experience, Memories

Just before Thanksgiving, New York Times columnist David Brooks asked readers in their 70s to send him their thoughts about their lives...the good, the bad, and what happened in between. Among the extracted life lessons that Brooks shares are the positives of dividing your life into chapters, the negatives of rumination and self-obsession, and the realization that you can't control other people. This article is fascinating for readers of every age -- providing insights about life and lessons learned that might resonate for you.

Posted on Nov 26, 2011

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