Watching your parents age can bring a complex mix of emotions: gratitude, anxiety, love, and uncertainty all rolled into one. For many adult children, especially those in the "sandwich generation" who are simultaneously raising children and trying to offer various types of support for aging parents, this period can be particularly overwhelming. While the road [...]
In last week’s post, we wrote about a recent study that emphasized the importance of social engagement in helping older adults remain happy and healthy as they age. That same research also revealed a huge majority of survey respondents said they want to live in their own home, though not all are able to. There [...]
We’ve all heard a lot of news stories lately related to the various generations of Americans — the Baby Boomers, the Millennials, the latest Alpha Generation, and so forth. However, many members of Gen X — those Americans born between 1965 and 1980 — have been dubbed with a second moniker — the “Sandwich Generation” [...]
This past week, I was honored to speak to a great group of residents and prospects at Freedom Pointe at The Villages, a beautiful continuing care retirement community (CCRC, also called a life plan community) in Florida. After my presentation, I talked with a gentleman who is a resident of the community. He made two [...]
There was an article posted recently on CNN.com about the challenges some adult children have when initiating a conversation with aging parents about their future. The article notes the reluctance of many older people to have “the talk” and plan for the “what ifs” that come with their mortality. Oftentimes, the article explains, people prefer [...]
I read a really interesting article this past week that was published a few years ago on Senior Housing News. The article discusses how senior living communities’ dining programs are closely tied to move-ins, especially as it relates to memory care communities. What I found particularly interesting about this article was its focus on generational [...]
As summer approaches and more and more Americans are fully vaccinated, we are seeing a sharp increase in the number of people who are travelling to see family, some of whom haven’t seen one another in well over a year. With these reunions, adult children may be confronted with an unwelcome reality: Their elderly parents’ [...]
In the United States, more and more people are taking on the role of caregiver to an aging loved one. In fact, a 2015 study by The National Alliance for Caregiving revealed that over 34 million adults are serving as a caregiver for a senior. Most caregivers are female (60 percent), and they are 49 [...]
Last week I had the pleasure of speaking to a large group of prospective residents at a life plan community (also called a continuing care retirement community, or CCRC) in Phoenix, Arizona. Following the presentation, a couple from the audience came up and spoke with me. I could see right away that they were considerably [...]
As you may know, I travel across the country frequently, speaking to senior adults who are considering a move to a CCRC (continuing care retirement community, aka life plan community). In the course of my travels, I am fortunate to be able to meet a fascinating array of people, many of whom have insightful stories [...]
