Other Side of 50

If you are internet savvy, you are mindful that you should not click on an email link from an unknown source. You are wary of online ads for items that are too good to be true, like that miracle anti-aging cure or the financial investment that will earn you millions overnight. You ignore email requests [...]

As much or more than they wish to remain in their homes as they age, today’s seniors wish to keep their ability to drive for as long as possible. This should come as no surprise to most adults. The capacity to drive represents their ability to enjoy out-of-home activities when they choose to, and that [...]

Along with buying a new home come mounds of paperwork that must be signed. Most of us review documents in detail for accuracy and completeness because we recognize that we’ll be held to their terms and conditions. Some even hire an attorney to triple-check everything. Do seniors or their loved ones take the same precautions [...]

My Grandma Ada lived for 100 years and five days. The most important lesson she taught me was the value of a goal and a purpose. Technically speaking, Ada was my step-grandmother. My maternal grandmother (Nonna) passed away suddenly in her 70s, and my grandfather (Nonno) briefly courted and then married Ada. Ada was a [...]

If soap operas taught me anything, it’s that bad choices result in bad outcomes. As a teenager, I’d arrive home from school just in time for “General Hospital.” I can still remember the lies of omission Luke made to Laura that destroyed their relationship. Or the many times Blackie would refuse help from others, causing [...]

If you’ve been reading how-to ideas on the Internet lately, you’ve probably come across the term “hack.” One definition of the word is a new technique that solves an old problem. Normally a hack is not an expected solution but something clever that gets the job done in a new and unique way—like taking a [...]

Whether through our own reminiscences or those of others, keeping alive the memory of a loved one who dies brings a sense of comfort. In a recent column I wrote about learning about the death of a dear high school friend a month after she passed away. I felt sad because I wasn’t there to [...]

Standing before you is a grayhaired man wearing clothes that could have come from a garage sale. Even with the aid of a walker, his gate is unsteady. He has difficulty hearing and shouts to ask others to repeat themselves. His eyes are dull and cloudy behind his smudged glasses. His voice is coarse and [...]

We all know that death is a part of life, but as a baby boomer today, it can uncover new emotions. I think my personal experience might reflect what some boomers are experiencing. While I’m blessed that my parents are still living, I’ve seen the loss of grandparents and my in-laws. And while there was [...]

For seniors trying to make their savings stretch, spending on home repairs or new appliances can cause a lot of anxiety. Many are concerned, sometimes rightfully, about whether they will outlive their money. But I’ve discovered other aging retirees—even those with an ample nest egg—who are simply too conservative when it comes to their finances, [...]