When a quarter of a country’s population is over 65, it gives us reason to pause and wonder whether they’ve learned anything special about the aging process. Japan has been making the news for a while with headlines about its rapidly aging population. In navigating this significant shift, the people of Japan have found ways […]
Continue ReadingMost of us pride ourselves on being independent, and this quality doesn’t usually change as one ages. If your loved one has looked after themselves their whole lives, they’re likely to want to continue doing so well into their senior years. Unfortunately, our bodies’ limitations don’t always allow us to fulfill our dreams. It can be […]
Continue ReadingA lot is said these days about 24/7 care for seniors, but what does the phrase actually mean? It could mean living the senior lives full-time in a nursing home, like the ones at which I used to work. It could mean hiring one or more home health aides to live or stay in the […]
Continue ReadingIf you want to grow old, you can — but you don’t have to. You can grow up and die, but you don’t have to grow old and die. — Aging in America Here’s some food for thought: what does it mean to have a good old age? When you envision your life in five […]
Continue ReadingI was once the Director of Social Services at a nursing home, and as such, handled a lot of discharge planning for patients. Many times seniors needed help after they went home from the sub-acute rehabilitation part of our facility. Well-meaning family members would frequently step in instead of hiring paid caregivers. Very often, this was […]
Continue Reading“Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long.” — Tuesdays With Morrie If you haven’t yet read or watched Tuesdays With Morrie, you’re in for a treat. Mitch Albom’s classic tale of growing old and finding meaning in life is full of inspirational goodies for our souls. For those unfamiliar with this true story, […]
Continue ReadingMy grown aunt was the youngest of four children, and as parents age, their care often falls to the youngest child. So my aunt ended up being the one to look after my elderly grandmother when she could no longer do so herself. My aunt never procured respite care, and eventually found a professional home […]
Continue ReadingYou’ve made sure your elderly loved one has a warm, safe roof over their heads, healthy and nourishing food, and maybe even a professional home care worker to look after them. You’ve done everything you can to ensure they live a long and comfortable life in their own home. But have you ever considered using […]
Continue ReadingGrow old with me! The best is yet to be. ? Robert Browning If we want to deepen our understanding of what it means to grow old in America, we need to look beyond both our country and the time in which we’re living. Learning how traditional societies in history have treated the aging process can help us to […]
Continue ReadingMy grandmother is the perfect target for a scam artist. Hard-of-hearing, nearsighted, mild-mannered, and open-hearted, I’m not ashamed to say she’s ripe pickings for a fraudster. Fortunately, she has a home health aide, as well as many friends and family members, who look out for her. However, if she didn’t, I don’t doubt she would’ve been […]
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