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Tag Archives: elderly
Caregiver Vigilance
I wrote in September about my 91-year-old mom’s fall and subsequent hospitalization. She suffered two compression fractures in her back, causing her a good deal of pain and significantly limiting her ability to do things for herself. After she left … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving
Tagged aging, disability, elderly, elderly parents, older adults, rehabilitation, seniors
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True Solitude
In his book New Seeds of Contemplation, Trappist monk Thomas Merton wrote of the spiritual benefits of solitude. He notes, though, that not everything that looks like solitude is genuine: “There is not true solitude except interior solitude.” Just getting … Continue reading
“You Don’t Really Start Getting Old Until You Stop Learning”
In the June 5 issue of Time magazine, Bill Gates was interviewed about the books that have influenced him. I was struck by one of his comments: “You don’t really start getting old until you stop learning.” Is that true? … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche
Tagged aging, Bill Gates, elderly, learning, maturity, older adults, wisdom
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Healthcare Decisions for Our Parents and Us
In a recent New York Times article, Dr. Mikkael A. Sekeres, a cancer specialist. told of his first meeting with a 97 year-old patient. The elderly man had recently moved into an assisted living facility in Cleveland in order to … Continue reading
Posted in Body, caregiving, Relationships
Tagged aging, cancer, elderly, elderly parents, Family, health, medical decisions, parents, respect
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Relocating to a Retirement Community: A New Life
I wrote recently about the first part of Richard L. Morgan’s book Settling In: My First Year in a Retirement Community. Morgan was initially enthusiastic about moving to a retirement community near his daughter, but after a month or so … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche, Relationships
Tagged aging, dementia, discernment, elderly, faith, independent living, nursing homes, older adults, purpose, retirement
2 Comments
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
Getting Ready to Retire: Finding Yourself
Next Avenue recently published an article by Bart Astor, a writer specializing in life transitions, titled “When will you be ready to call it quits?” After talking to numerous retirees, Astor concluded that the following factors played into their decisions … Continue reading
A Wineskin in the Smoke
I had surgery a week ago. I had only undergone surgery under general anesthetic once before, an outpatient surgery about fifteen years ago. This time, I had a cancerous body part removed, meaning I was unconscious for longer than during … Continue reading
Posted in Body, Spirit
Tagged aging, cancer, Christianity, elderly, faith, God, surgery
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Thinking About Cancer: Metaphors
I’ve been blogging recently about cancer. This topic has been on my mind since I am about to have my cancerous prostate removed. One thing I have been reflecting on is culture’s dominant metaphor for dealing with life-threatening illness. I’m … Continue reading
Identity, Purpose, and Belonging in Retirement
Older workers preparing for retirement (or those, like me, part way through the process) deal not only with logistics and practical questions, but also with questions regarding how to live our lives. Three sets of issues that retirees face–issues of … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche, Relationships
Tagged adulthood, aging, elderly, identity, retirement, seniors, values
4 Comments
Beyond Halfway 