The novel “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng keeps swirling in my mind these days because one of its basic themes is the conflict between rule followers and rule breakers that we see playing out in America today. The story features two main characters, both women. Elena has followed the rules her entire life and, [...]

I’m not sure anyone could have predicted what the beginning of 2021 would look like, particularly as we ushered out 2020 believing it was one of the most challenging years on record. And now, as our new year begins, we are seeing an unprecedented surge in COVID deaths, stoking our fears of an elderly loved [...]

There’s no debating that seniors are most at risk during this pandemic. While COVID-19 deaths have spanned all age groups, the hardest hit has been the 65-and-older population, which accounts for over 80% of the U.S. death toll from the disease. A friend offered her opinion that this pandemic may just be nature’s way of [...]

I’ve never enjoyed confrontation. I’m happiest when everyone is getting along and working toward a shared goal. And believe me, that happens a lot—although it’s hard to discern that if you scan the media these days. So many topics are polarizing. It’s hard to have a conversation without something coming up that causes angst. I [...]

What are our expectations when we visit our doctor? Do expectations differ with age? I pondered this question recently after an unsatisfactory visit to see a medical professional. Two years ago, I had a problem that landed me in the emergency room. A specialist physician was called in to perform an emergency procedure. I spent [...]

Many of us will be missing our loved ones this holiday season. In normal times, with busy schedules and families scattered across the country, holidays may be one of the few times families spend together. We look forward to these special occasions all year long. These visits help to strengthen our family bonds and keep [...]

Barbara’s parents, like many seniors in their 80s, are trying to keep from contracting COVID-19 by isolating at home. To keep fed, they signed up for the governor’s Great Plates program, which delivers two restaurant-quality meals per day; other groceries are ordered online by their daughter. In normal times, Barbara, who lives two hours away, [...]

As of September 2020, almost 13 million people in the United States were unemployed. Of course, a great deal of the job losses can be attributed to COVID. I’m sure any one of us, including me, can name multiple people we know who are out of work as a result of the pandemic; half our [...]

Why do seniors turn out to vote more than any other age group? Older adults, especially those that are no longer working, are particularly susceptible to changes in policy made by elected officials. A large percentage of their income and access to healthcare resources are tied to government programs. It also helps that seniors have [...]