There's no stopping 84 year old Hannah Alger. This Oakland, California senior community resident recently finished a 300 mile trek across the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Yet over the last six years, she has racked up thousands of miles on her hiking adventures. Beginning at the age of 78, Hannah caught the "hiking bug" and hasn't looked back since. "It's simple", she says. "There's nothing that I have to [...]
Denise Clark and her siblings were nearing retirement age themselves when their mother requested they subsidize her living expenses. Not to mention the non-essentials she was asking for. A new car loan and generous birthday gifts for extended family members were just a few. Clark recalls when her mother realized she was going to run out of money, she requested several hundred dollars per month from each child to maintain [...]
She started running regularly at the age of 100. And while 103 year old Julia Hawkins may not be as fast of a runner as she used to be, that doesn't stop her. She definitely still lived up to her nickname, "Hurricane", in the 2019 Senior Games. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Julia won two gold medals for running the 50 and 100 meter dash during these games. She may be [...]
97 year old Carl Reiner has been a comedic icon for more than 70 years. In 2017, he hosted an HBO documentary featuring him along with other famous people in their nineties. Among them was Mel Brooks, Dick Van Dyke, and actress Betty White. All of these celebrities have something very special in common. Their sense of humor. They truly believe that humor has enriched their lives and boosted their [...]
As Bette Davis simply stated, "Old age ain't no place for sissies". Similar to many other seniors, Jody Gastfriend's 90 year old mother knows this all too well. Living in a retirement community, she is frequently reminded of the fragility of aging. She lost her husband of many years to dementia. She has fallen and broken her femur twice, leaving her home bound for months. Additionally, she spent six months [...]
The holidays are a time of joy. Many people enjoy gatherings with friends and family, exchanging gifts, and other fun holiday traditions. However, the holidays can also be a time of stress, especially for seniors. Their exercise routines may be disrupted for shopping excursions. And special diets might be hard to follow due to big holiday meals. Furthermore, it can be exhausting for anyone. But when a senior has physical [...]
In 2015 at the age of 85, Joy Ryan had never traveled far from her quiet hometown of Duncan Falls, Ohio. She had never seen an ocean, desert, mountain, or major river. She had been widowed for 20 years and had never found any good way to see the world. However, this all changed drastically when she found an unusual adventure partner. Her grandson, Brad. The pair embarked on a [...]
At 97 years old, Professor John B. Goodenough is still filling the world with energy. Along with his two colleagues, he pioneered the lithium-ion battery in the 1970's. These are currently used in rechargeable devices like laptops and cellphones. This life-changing innovation made the German-born engineering professor officially the oldest person to win the Nobel Prize. Dallas News describes this extraordinary man. The Nobel Foundation even claims Goodenough and his [...]
The majority of older Americans hope to remain in their home as they age. While aging in place is not possible for everyone, it is entirely possible for some. However, safety should always remain the number one priority when assessing your needs. Maintaining home safety for seniors needs to be addressed early on. In order to remain at home as you age, there are likely modifications that need to take [...]
Liz O'Donnell was 47 when she became one of America's 34 million adults providing unpaid care for their aging relatives. She knew her generous employer would allow her the flexibility to take time away from work for this important task. Yet at the same time, she was the primary source of income for her family. Therefore, she knew she had to find a balance and make it work. Caring for [...]
