Other Side of 50

I think some of us are surprised by what has become most important to us as a society over these past four months. Take, for example, the most basic of our needs, something as simple as air and food. Pre-pandemic we may have been worried about air quality if it was allergy season, but now [...]

You are sitting in your favorite spot in your home—what do you have within arm’s reach? I recently polled my workmates and received a host of answers, including a computer or iPad, tissues, reading material, Sudoku or crossword puzzles, a pen, a notepad, the television remote, a beverage and, of course, a cellphone. As human [...]

My husband and I used to chuckle when my mother-in-law lived with us. She would set up shop inside our open garage with her cup of tea, our dog on a leash, her lawn chair, her Table-Mate tray table and a set of magazines. It did not matter that our backyard held lovely views of [...]

Birthdays during the pandemic have certainly changed. Take, for example, a first birthday, when a child’s parents reflect on how quickly the year has gone. One-year-olds have achieved so much in their first year. They have developed their own personality and can really enjoy the excitement of a party just for them. My great-nephew, Wyatt, [...]

Before COVID-19, many of us over the age of 60 never regarded ourselves as “older adults” or as someone with an underlying medical condition. However, it didn’t take long for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and county public health officers to place new classifications on us once the novel coronavirus arrived in the [...]

With so many headlines, news stories and opinion pieces about the impact COVID-19 is having on an individual’s health and safety, as well as the health of our economy, it is hard not to feel we have enough information to form opinions. In many posts on Facebook and Nextdoor and in letters to the editor, [...]

Sometimes a crisis can connect a team in a way no other experience could. I am one member of a small team of non-furloughed employees working in the Senior Concerns office and responding to calls. The metaphor “band of brothers” keeps coming to mind. This historical phrase refers to a diverse set of men who [...]

Lately a lot of people have been asking me how I’m doing. They know I work with seniors. I’ve been answering that question by simply saying we’re very busy. I’d like to elaborate, but the truth is, I’m having a hard time processing all I am feeling. There are a lot of challenging, and some [...]

For most of us, our daily lives have been disrupted by the novel coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shelter-in-place order. Work, social and family life has been upended in ways we may never have imagined. Life may feel unsettled as an air of uncertainty hangs over us. It’s natural to feel out of control given [...]

One of the first references to “getting old ain’t for sissies” was published in 1968. Fast-forward 52 years and whoever made the statement had no idea how true it would become. In a world where we’re experiencing exponential growth in the number of people who are over 80, little is being said about the impact [...]