Other Side of 50

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

I was brought up in a household where we were taught to see the best in people. In most cases, giving folks the benefit of the doubt has served us well. However, based upon a recent experience my mother had, I think being a bit more cautious, especially as we [...]

Fifty-four years ago, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song “Eleanor Rigby,” signaling us to “look at all the lonely people.” Studies in the U.K. show that half a million people over the age of 60 spend every day alone. Today, scientists around the world are worried about the [...]

It has been eight months since I’ve seen my mother. I miss her tremendously, but I do not think at this point it is safe to travel 3,000 miles by plane and rental car. So I continue what I have been doing and make my morning phone call to my [...]

Due to COVID-19, my husband and I are at home a lot more these days. All that togetherness has given me time to reflect on how my husband and I manage change over time. Of course, marriage created modifications in my lifestyle right from the start. Following in my mother’s [...]

I think some of us are surprised by what has become most important to us as a society over these past four months. Take, for example, the most basic of our needs, something as simple as air and food. Pre-pandemic we may have been worried about air quality if it [...]

You are sitting in your favorite spot in your home—what do you have within arm’s reach? I recently polled my workmates and received a host of answers, including a computer or iPad, tissues, reading material, Sudoku or crossword puzzles, a pen, a notepad, the television remote, a beverage and, of [...]

My husband and I used to chuckle when my mother-in-law lived with us. She would set up shop inside our open garage with her cup of tea, our dog on a leash, her lawn chair, her Table-Mate tray table and a set of magazines. It did not matter that our [...]

Birthdays during the pandemic have certainly changed. Take, for example, a first birthday, when a child’s parents reflect on how quickly the year has gone. One-year-olds have achieved so much in their first year. They have developed their own personality and can really enjoy the excitement of a party just [...]

Before COVID-19, many of us over the age of 60 never regarded ourselves as “older adults” or as someone with an underlying medical condition. However, it didn’t take long for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and county public health officers to place new classifications on us once the [...]

With so many headlines, news stories and opinion pieces about the impact COVID-19 is having on an individual’s health and safety, as well as the health of our economy, it is hard not to feel we have enough information to form opinions. In many posts on Facebook and Nextdoor and [...]

Sometimes a crisis can connect a team in a way no other experience could. I am one member of a small team of non-furloughed employees working in the Senior Concerns office and responding to calls. The metaphor “band of brothers” keeps coming to mind. This historical phrase refers to a [...]