Helping Older Parents Move

Some ways to make it easier on everyone. >>More

We Joke About Forgetfulness

Seniors worry about memory loss. There are plenty of jokes about older people forgetting things. Actually, we do forget things but there are lots of reasons. >>More

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Pets For Seniors

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and the Pet

Staying in Our Own Homes

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink| 07.09.09

There is a new emphasis on staying in our own homes our entire lives. This requires some thought and planning. There are loads of resources. >>More

Sandwich Generation Is Really Two Generations

Ella Traver | ElderThink | 04.10.09

We tend to think of the "Sandwich Generation" as people in their 30s and 40s who are caring for aging parents and their own children.

There are also people in their 50s and 60s who are caring for their aging parents, grown children, and grandchildren.

And with current economic conditions, there are people in their 20s who have remained at home with their parents and they are all taking care of those who are unemployed.

Older family members are living longer and so they are needing care longer. It's a tremendous change for everyone.

Pets for Seniors

Ella Traver | ElderThink

Pets make us smile. They even make us laugh sometimes with their antics. Anyone ever see a great big dog stick her head under a chair during a thunderstorm?

New pages about pets for elders. How to choose one, how to give one, how to care, older pets, travel with pets...More>>

Ageism Can Be Painful

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink

In the grocery store where I shop, there is a card rack at the end of an aisle. On it is a selection of cards, meant to be humorous, with old and wrinkled people doing normal things such as wearing a swimsuit at the beach. The amazing part is that people who buy those cards as jokes will, themselves, be old wrinkled people wearing swimsuits at the beach. More>>

In Memory of Jack Horkheimer

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink | 8.25.10

stars

Jack Horkheimer introduced me to stargazing through his wonderful show on PBS. I will miss him. He produced this brief segment before he went to another place among the stars.

Helping Adult Children

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink | 07.10.09

In today's economic climate, many of us older folks are stepping up to help our adult children. We share our homes, care for grandchildren and "grandpets," and pay bills.

These changed circumstances can create emotional burdens because our lives change in so many ways. Our homes are no longer entirely our own if adult children have moved in with us. Often, we give financial support from resources we have carefully preserved for our retirement years. The greatest and least understood gift is our time and energy which we thought would be completely ours.

We love our children and grandchildren. We know they need our encouragement and support. So what are the best ways to give them what they need and retain some of our own selves in the process?

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