Young and middle aged adults often dream of the day they can finally retire. They sometimes live with the notion that retirement will be far easier than a career-focused lifestyle. While it sounds amazing to not have to work and be able to do what you want, it's not always that easy. Retirement sounds wonderful in theory, and it certainly can be some of the best years of your life. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
What do you hope to accomplish after retirement? We would be surprised if your answer was to become a hip-hop artist. But that is exactly the goal that 72 year old Chicago resident Arthur Dubois had in mind. When he walked into Haven Studio, the owner didn't know what to expect. After all, Haven Studio is a music mentoring program for young aspiring musicians. Yet Dubios promised he was young [...]
Similar to many older adults, Peggy Wheatcroft wasn't too excited about turning 80. When asked if she wanted an 80th birthday party, she declined. She didn't want to be in the spotlight. Suddenly, she had a six decade old memory pop into her head. In the 1950's on her friend's 21st birthday, she gave her mom 21 roses. Instead of waiting for someone to give her a gift, this friend [...]
Many seniors are happy to just lead moderately active lives. But not 84 year old Dale Sanders. "Greybeard" (the trail name Sanders uses) successfully completed one of the world's most iconic hiking trails after a seven month long trek when he was 82. The Appalachian Trail is no picnic. With a distance of 2,190 miles of terrain, this would be an incredible feat for someone of any age. But at [...]
We often look to the basics when it comes to dementia. For example, pharmaceuticals, memory facilities, and caregivers. These are all critical pieces to the challenges of managing dementia symptoms. But sometimes it's necessary to think outside the box. What if we fully immersed dementia patients in an interactive experience aimed at sparking memories from their distant past? In a suburb of San Diego, California, this very idea has become [...]
The paradox of life is that the longer we live, the more death will become a part of our lives. As we age, we will likely lose and grieve the loss of people we love. Coping with the loss of friends and family can be one of the most challenging parts of our increased longevity. Whether the loss is due to an accident, illness, or simply old age, it can [...]
