Seniors Coping With Loss
February 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Once again, the NY Times has generated a thoughtful article in their health section, The New Old Age. Seniors deal with loss on many levels, not the least of which is the passing of their friends and contemporaries–a type of survivor guilt, if you will. Paula Span explores the topic in her touching post “Words for Seniors Facing Loss.”
Memoir Contest
January 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment
In the quest to find a literary agent I have run across a creative opportunity offered by Chuck Sambuchino of the Guide to Literary Agents. January’s contest is for memoirs and narrative non-fiction, details available on his blog. Much appreciated, Chuck!
A Youthful Spirit
November 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Enjoy this spontaneous exhibition in the lobby of the Mayo Clinic by an older couple celebrating life to the fullest.
Mayo Clinic Atrium Piano Players
Navigating the Maze of Elder Affairs
September 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Many of my friends and I seem to be learning a lot about things we’d rather not know. Those of us involved with family and friends who are going through the aging process face issues regarding health, housing and financial matters on an entirely new level. Where can one turn for accurate and useful information?
The internet is a wonderful tool but Googling your way through serious issues is a challenge all its own. How do you know that the websites you’re reading are legitimate? Reading between the lines of many online venues I find that much of the information presented for geriatric support is actually more business advertising than advice. Paid advice seems relatively easy to locate - whether the provider is reliable, professional and honest is harder to determine.
From recent experience, I can suggest that an excellent place for anyone looking for elder care information is your local Council on Aging. The National Council on Aging is a good place to start. Look to your local agency for guidance on where to turn for legal, housing and health care information in your area.
A Father’s Day Wish
June 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment
He is does not initiate conversation anymore; as often as not, he sits quietly and alone. He goes to bed early - too early - as if he is tired. Perhaps he is only bored - or frustrated.
This recent Father’s Day, I returned to my parents’ house after a lovely day of dining and touring with my folks. My brother, who now shares our original childhood home with our parents, was working on his daughter’s car in the driveway. “Need help with anything?” my father asked of my brother, with a wistful tone to the inquiry. I could see how much he would have loved to assist, if only his wasted eyesight would allow him to see better, and his beleaguered body had better balance and strength. The will was there - so evidently there - but the “way” was not. I wished that my father could again be the “master of all” that I once believed him to be.
As difficult as the aging process is for anyone, some studies are showing that it is generally more psychologically challenging for men . Essentially, it’s the old “they refuse to ask for directions” thing.
Make every day Father’s Day; pay attention to his needs - even if he wont ask for your help, he might appreciate your time and effort.
Timeless Memories
May 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment
In the end, is is refreshing to know that life isn’t always about the money. For every horror story one hears about familial rancor over inheritance issues, one can find balance in another heartfelt lesson about the little things that mean the most.
Enjoy this lovely, touching, article on a daughter’s realization about what really matters.
Slow Medicine for a Timely End of Life
May 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I recently had a discussion with an acquaintance who is an EMT rescue worker. He and his colleagues had gone out on a local call to a home where they knew the resident had a “do not resuscitate” order on file. What a conflict to deal with, knowing an elder’s wishes but having a frantic family pressing you to “do something now!” In the midst of a medical crisis, the personal wishes of a loved one many sometimes be overlooked or misrepresented, even with the best of intentions.
Elders and their families need to be candid in their discussions regarding daily and emergency care. The NY Times has published a great article about one community that is practicing “slow medicine,” with the hope that its residents will avoid the pitfalls of “death by intensive care.”