As the cost of health continues to increase, more and more people are looking for ways to meet those inevitable expenses. And as people age, the prospect of needing long-term care at home or in an institution, becomes more and more of a reality. Some startling statistics illustrate the need: According to the Department of […]
Updated August 2025 As I’ve said for years, the world is poised on the precipice of what could be called a demographic tsumani. Cogitate on these numbers for a moment: Obviously, these numbers have huge implications. I’ve been seeing projections like these looming for years, way back when I started my career in geriatrics in […]
Maybe it is denial. Maybe it is what has been called “anticipatory grief,” or a reluctance to think about losing a loved one. Or maybe it is something entirely different. But whatever the cause, the result is the same: Many families fail to deal with issues surrounding the end of life. In other words, neither […]
Updated August 2025 According to the Pew Research Center, 98% of Americans age 50–64 are online. Even more surprising, 90% of Americans 65 and older report that they use the internet, up from 63% ten years ago. How Seniors Use the Internet A 2025 report by AARP identifies the ways in which Americans who are […]
The Scenario Barbara is 78, in good health and a recent widow. For the last six years, her focus has been caring for her husband, who was seriously crippled by a combination of severe arthritis and stenosis, and then was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. After his death, her children worried that she could no […]
The 21st century has resulted in an unprecedented movement of older Americans toward aging alone. Some older adults embrace this trend to further their desire to age in place. For others, it is a matter of being able to afford to remain at home alone. In addition, having a broad variety of health care services […]
When parents are absent or unable to raise their children, grandparents are often the ones who step in. Raising a second generation brings many rewards, including the fulfillment of giving your grandkids a sense of security, developing a deeper relationship, and keeping the family together. It also comes with many challenges. No matter how much […]
Updated October 2025 For decades, Americans were told that alcohol consumption has both risks and benefits. One risk comes from the addictive properties of alcohol. In addition to the risk of becoming an alcoholic and the impact that addiction has on mental health, excessive alcohol consumption can cause liver failure, heart disease, pancreatitis, and other […]
This is a true story. The names are changed and the author, the daughter, chooses to remain anonymous. It happened many years ago, but the issues remain the same. At 72, Joan was an intelligent, accomplished woman who had suffered a stroke. She had trouble communicating, which frustrated her, but otherwise she was doing well. […]
The definition of family has been evolving for some time. In 1950, “nuclear” families, two-parent families with children, headed 78% of the nation’s households.1 The United States was primarily a Father Knows Best nation. As a result of the increase in divorce, separation, death, and live-in partners, today’s norm is a “blended” family, defined as […]