In 2018, the Sacramento Bee published an article about two assisted living centers that abandoned residents during a raging fire in the wine country. At risk were 120 residents, many of whom were unable to walk without aid and were left behind locked doors. Thankfully, the residents’ relatives and first responders got everyone out alive. […]

This is a fact — most seniors absolutely love kids . . . me included. They just make you see the world from a different point of view. Since you’re reading this, you’ve probably guessed that I write for a living. For the past few years I’ve been writing for my hometown newspaper and for […]

What toys did you love when you were a child? Ask your elderly loved ones which ones they cherished! I was only five years old when I decided I wanted to be a princess. I thought about it a lot, especially after going to see Sleeping Beauty. I wanted to be that beautiful girl who […]

Only a few years ago, the Village Movement was hailed as a growing way to “help ease the challenge of caring for a rapidly aging population” by providing support and services that allow seniors to achieve what so many covet: the ability to live independently, to age in place. The Village concept is at the same […]

“Once you hit 80, it’s a whole new ball game,” – My mama (82). What changes have you seen in your life after 80, or your parents’ lives? Has it occurred to you that nothing seems normal? From my point of view, life after 80 becomes a series of ups and downs and all arounds. […]

“I just don’t understand anything about this world anymore,” My mama says. It’s no wonder older people spend a lot of time thinking about the way things used to be. Let’s face it; they have a lot more years behind them . . . happier years, than they do in front of them. Those years […]

Dehydration is one of the top reasons seniors end up at the doctor’s office. If you’re a senior, dehydration is an even higher liability for landing you in the hospital. Now is the time for all good seniors to drink more water! Of course, every body is different. Seniors with heart conditions need to follow […]

It’s important for all people, especially seniors, to find safe and effective ways to manage their medications. But people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia most often need special help. People who have mild dementia are often able to live on their own and function independently. But progressive cognitive losses affecting memory, attention, […]

What have you or your older loved one wanted to do before summer is over for another year? Oh, those bucket lists. Some of them can be daring but many of us just want simple pleasures. Our small town’s Chamber of Commerce hosted a Hot Air Balloon Festival. It was glorious! Huge balloons went up […]

While the benefits afforded by the Medicare and Medicaid programs are held dear by many seniors, the complications connected to them are not. And recent research reveals that consumers, particularly seniors with low incomes, are most often caught in the crossfire between the bureaucracies of healthcare providers and government agencies. As a result, they are […]