Late-Life Love
If late-life love cannot make us invulnerable to everyday misfortunes, what conceivable purpose does it serve? What month is this, what year? It is the season of sorrow, the year of grieving. Old lovers know that love does not conquer all, that our intimacy cannot...
Fighting through the storm is worth it
My newly acquired caregiver role includes being chauffeur for Mom’s health appointments and evening social functions. Last night, I drove Mom to her 60th Nicholasville High School reunion (Jessamine County, Kentucky). Despite torrential thunderstorms, a tornado watch,...
Mind Over Body: A Psychiatrist Tells How To Tap Into Wisdom And Grow With Age
We’ve all seen it happen: An older friend or family member retires, is diagnosed with a serious illness or loses a spouse. Suddenly, this individual’s world is altered, sometimes seemingly beyond recognition. He has reached a fork in the road; will he get stuck or...
Don’t underestimate the power of caregivers
The first session at the Aging in America conference that I attended last week was titled, “Is family caregiving the next public health crisis?” I’m sure all of you can guess what the answer was: a resounding yes. After attending this year’s...
My sister made her end-of-life wishes clear. Then dementia took hold
Before my sister was struck by frontotemporal dementia, her wishes were very clear. No feeding tube or breathing machine if she became profoundly incapacitated, without the prospect of recovery. No aggressive life-sustaining measures. And she wanted to stay in her...
Why the Words Stick in My Throat: Talking about Aging
I’ve only just begun to think about, talk about, and write about aging. I’ve avoided the subject for some time Most people, I think, would respond by saying: Of course you don’t feel good about your body. That’s natural. Aging sucks. But does it? Or have we been...
Meet Bevel
I have just turned 79 but not in mind–that’s around 39–healthy, pretty strong, maybe a little on the stubborn side, I have a pretty good sense of humor (much needed). I live in Cape Town, South Africa in a retirement village, which bugs me a bit...
Channeling Martha Stewart: Getting Crafty with Caregiving
Now that he’s gone that rug is a warm reminder of the many quiet hours I spent with him, weaving strands of yarn to make a vibrant pattern representing innocence and beauty.
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