Senior Advocate

I recently heard a new term: micro-interactions. I was sharing with my co-worker the topic of my column that appeared last week on how to meet new people and make friends as an older adult. I shared the story of the 95-year-old man who enjoys conversations with the barista at the local coffee shop. [...]

Q:  I am unsure how to meet new people now that I am retired. Do you have any tips on how to make new friends as an older adult? A: Meeting new people and putting yourself out there to create relationships is easier for some than for others. When we have work and other [...]

Q: This will be the first Father’s Day since my dad passed away. How should I spend the day and support my mom through it? A: This will be the second Father’s Day since my father passed away. I had not discussed it ahead of time with my other family members; we all live [...]

Q:  I struggle to stay active and fit. What are some tips for getting my energy up as I age? A:  I imagine everyone has times when they struggle with their energy. We usually know what we should be doing, like getting exercise, eating healthy, and staying engaged. But doing those things at times [...]

Q:  What is this year’s theme for Older Americans Month? A:  Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by a federal agency, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in [...]

Q: My father passed away after a difficult time with dementia. People keep saying it was for the best because he is not suffering anymore, but it does not feel that way to me. How can I tell them to stop saying that? A: First of all, I am sorry for your loss, and [...]

Q: I am in the process of hiring a caregiver for my husband, who has dementia. How can I be sure they do the things that I want while they are working here? A: Setting expectations and creating task lists when hiring a caregiver is important and helpful. I often hear people frustrated that [...]

Q: What is an Adult Day Care Center? A: Adult Day Care programs are licensed care facilities that provide social and personal care services to adults during the day in a group setting. This means the person can live at home and go for part of the day to enjoy a social program where they [...]

Every year, Senior Concerns hosts a Caregiver Recognition Day event to honor family caregivers. As we prepare for this year’s event, I am again reminded of our community’s incredible strength and compassion. I often write about issues that family caregivers manage every day. While each person’s needs are unique, the caregiver community shares many [...]

I recently heard Doctor Karen Gorback talk about standing up to ageism. I have written about this topic before and felt it deserved more attention as it is an ongoing issue in our community. Dr. Gorback shared that it is important to recognize the problem, understand why it is dangerous to our physical and [...]