Other Side of 50

Right now I’m aware of several neighbors dealing with the sudden health crises of aging loved ones. Once the short-term crisis is dealt with, they will have to decide where to turn next. I have seen queries about these types of choices on Nextdoor. And while I love Nextdoor for restaurant recommendations and learning about [...]

My husband keeps asking me why I cry at the drop of a hat lately.  I have always been prone to tears when really stressed or when something touches my heart. And I guess that is exactly why I’m crying these days. For the past three months, my staff and I at Senior Concerns have [...]

I think I’ve been under some misguided notion that life will get easier as time goes by—at least when it comes to the things I’ve been doing for years. I’ve been in the workplace for over 44 years, and a homeowner for over 35. That’s a lot of time to repeat activities, learn the ropes [...]

Recently I noticed the ATM in my grocery store had been removed. I was a bit baffled by the decision, and a bit annoyed. The location was convenient. I could combine my shopping trip with banking. One stop, two chores accomplished. What I did not think about at the time is the safety and security [...]

I’m hoping my cousin gets the healing she needs this month. Almost a year after her brother David passed away, she is having a celebration of life for him. I wrote about Janet in January 2020 in a column titled “A life is changed in the blink of an eye.” Janet had come to help [...]

After months and months of pandemic public health restrictions, stay-home orders and phased reopenings, the governor lifted the restrictions June 15 and we should come much closer to “normal” soon. As I check in with my own feelings about this transition, the two words that comes to mind for me are anticipation and anxiety. I [...]

Like many, I entered the role of caregiver without any preparation. My husband and I began caring for our elderly neighbors, Fred and Hildy. Over time we were dealing with a dizzying array of doctor visits, personal care needs, and physical and cognitive health issues without any of their family to lean on. I had [...]

Wanda takes pride in the care she provides to her husband, Jim, as he goes through his journey with dementia. Before COVID, Jim attended the Senior Concerns Adult Day Program. Wanda felt his weekday presence there helped slow the progression of the disease as he engaged in conversation, activities, meals and exercise with others in [...]

Silent whispers from our body come in many forms and may include aches or pains, emotions, gut feelings or just a sense that something is off. It’s easy to ignore these signs, but by doing so we may be jolted to attention when, at last, our body screams. Case in point. My Auntie Jean had [...]

I’ve been looking through an ethical lens at some of the COVID-era choices people make. Have you ever heard the statement, “Do the right thing even when no one else is watching?” That is a statement about ethics. Ethics are moral principles that govern a person’s behavior; they suggest we do the right thing even [...]