Enacted in 2017, Hawaii’s Kapuna Caregivers Act may be a model for other states that want to help unpaid family caregivers. The Hawaiian word kapuna has multiple meanings but is commonly used to describe an elder or grandparent. In some contexts, the word also means “ancestor” or “source” and implies that members of earlier generations […]
Therapy animals have been well-documented anxiety relievers for the sick, stressed and elderly. But the services these animals provide have limits. For example, therapy animals are mostly brought in by handlers, and so aren’t available in the night when patients are restless. They also need bathroom breaks, to be fed, walked, and to get out […]
Dance floors, deep sea diving and world-class museums are all part of the retirement plan for residents of Legacy Willow Bend. The men and women at this senior care center aren’t wealthy jetsetters. They’re participating in a virtual reality program. The Dallas-based virtual reality company, Mynd VR, is providing content made specifically to entertain and […]
The Jetsons predicted flying cars for the 21st century, and while we’re not quite there yet, their predictions about robots in the home is on the verge of coming true. Last month, nearly a hundred people convened in Singapore for the MIT & Segway hackathon to figure out just how robots can be used to help […]
College campuses are hubs for innovation, arts, culture and athletics. And when looking back, alumni regularly refer to their university years as some of their best — partly due to their access to a community of higher learning and culture. So, could college campuses also be the ideal place to spend your golden years? Increasingly, […]
Society devotes substantial resources to helping working mothers find a work-life balance as they transition between their family obligations and the workforce. But what about the staggering 37 million unpaid eldercare providers in the United States, a majority of whom are women? When they transition into family caregiving — often whilst balancing work, children and […]
The holidays are for family and friends, but it’s also the season of giving. During this time, though, many of the elderly within our communities are left without friends and family to lean on, or gifts to unwrap. To combat this and spread holiday cheer, organizations and grassroots efforts are popping up around the country […]
A wonderful match has been made between kittens and a community of elderly people in an Arizona senior living center. Rebecca Hamilton, the health service director at Catalina Springs in Arizona, is also a committed foster parent to animals in her community. Her love for the volunteer job got her thinking — why not pair […]
A new study, relying on Census Bureau data from all 50 states, shows that Social Security checks are an essential lifeline for millions of Americans. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) released a report which shows that government checks lifted over 16.5 million elderly Americans out of poverty in 2022. The same study […]