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Category Archives: Culture
The Disposable Elderly
Are you prejudiced against the elderly? Am I? We both would probably deny it. Our actual attitudes, though, would probably be revealed better by what we do than by what we say. Views of the elderly in America have always … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, Culture
Tagged attitudes, covid19, elderly, nursing homes, older adults, seniors
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Getting Past Professional Decline
Sometimes, articles addressed towards those in midlife contain insights that are pertinent as well to older adults. Such is the case with an article by Arthur C. Brooks in the July, 2019 Atlantic titled “Your professional decline is coming (much) … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche
Tagged aging, Arthur C. Brooks, elderly, fluid intelligence, midlife, older adults
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The Christian Communist
I’ve been writing recently about stuff–our tendency to acquire too many things, our difficulty letting go, our need to simplify as we get older. Recently I ran across a quote on possessions and spirituality by Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk. … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Spirit
Tagged Christianity, communism, faith, possessions, purpose, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton
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The Changed Lines of Generational Power
I have been reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, who is a surgeon, a staff writer for the New Yorker, and a Harvard Professor. He’s a busy guy! His book explores how medical advances have changed aging and death, not … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche, Relationships
Tagged adulthood, aging, Atul Gawande, elderly parents, older adults, seniors
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Living in an Age of Accumulation
George Carlin may be right about a house being a place to keep our stuff, but, nowadays, we’re less inclined to leave home in order to get more stuff. That’s because more stuff regularly appears magically on our doorsteps while … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche
Tagged consumerism, decluttering, faith, materialsim, older adults, simplification
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Seniors Without Savings
I’ve written previously about the difficulties faced by older adults who haven’t saved for retirement. For example, in this post from 2013 I wrote about the large numbers of Americans who will either have to delay retirement or work during … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Resources
Tagged affordable housing, aging, elderly, older adults, poverty, retirement
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An Art Show and an Old Friend’s Vocation
I recently went to an exhibit of paintings by Franklin D. Speyers, one of my college roommates. Frank currently has a show entitled “West of the Imagination” at the Center Art Gallery of Calvin College, the school where we both … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche, Spirit
Tagged aging, art, Charles Taylor, faith, Franklin D. Speyers, transcendence, Western art
1 Comment
“Touch Me”
There’s an interesting incident near the end of David Foster Wallace’s magnum opus Infinite Jest that says a lot about how humans treat each other. It’s the story of Barry Loach, the head trainer at Enfield Tennis Academy. Earlier, Barry’s … Continue reading
Relocating to a Retirement Community: “Settling In”
I recently read Richard Morgan’s 2006 book Settling In: My First Year in a Retirement Community. At age 74, Morgan, a retired Presbyterian minister, moved from Morgantown, North Carolina to a retirement community in Western Pennsylvania. He and his wife … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Relationships, Resources
Tagged aging, elderly, living arrangements, loss, older adults, regret, relocating, retirement communities
1 Comment
“Bring an Item That Holds Great Personal Value”
The psychology practice where I work part-time recently had a one day retreat. Everyone who attended was asked to bring a bag containing: 1) A favorite hat, scarf, or other personal item (tee shirt?) that you enjoy wearing 2) One … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche
Tagged aging, driving, health, mementos, older adults, reminiscence, valuables
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