Should anyone be held accountable for Sheila Nelson's death?
Sheila Nelson lived with painful rheumatoid arthritis. It eventually overtook every joint of her body, limiting her every movement, and requiring consistent, high level care. In this investigative piece, The Reporters Inc. details reports of severe neglect and abuse at the assisted living facility where Sheila lived and died.
(more)
Cure for the pandemic blues only a call away
Minnesota-based non-profit Little Brothers--Friends of The Elderly (LBFE) have created a safe and low-tech solution to address the COVID-exacerbated loneliness felt among older adults. They call it “Coffee Talk.” It’s a volunteer-staffed call-in program in which participants connect with a compassionate listener using a technology that they easily understand: their telephone.
(more)
No funding to combat critical shortage of personal care assistants for disabled
Even when she's getting her nails done, Michelle Lacy, who cerebral palsy, brings a personal care assistant with her. "Because I can't hold my hand still, having someone there is a comfort to me," she says. The Reporters Inc. investigates how a lack of funding has created a shortage in PCAs, leaving some people with disabilities unable to care for themselves.
(more)
We don’t seem to care about our older adults
Deb Taylor, the CEO of Senior Community Services, a nonprofit exclusively serving older adults, says there is an appalling reality in America: we don't care about our older adults.
(more)
Doctor compares "Obamacare" with "Trumpcare"; he says the differences are concerning
Patients are coming to Dr. Richard Weiner's clinic with a new worry. Instead of the typical cough or chest pain, they're concerned whether they can afford the trip to the hospital, let alone the care.
(more)
Why is it so difficult to value the elderly?
"We frequently hear about racism and sexism in our culture, but we hear little about another persistent 'ism': ageism," writes Deb Taylor. As our society grows older, Taylor says ageism--discrimination against people based on their age--remains a growing challenge and concern, particularly for older adults. She argues society needs to work harder to engender more positive views of senior citizens.
(more)
Middle-aged VP leaves corporate world to pursue acting
At age 52, Anthony Smith had achieved the brass ring: a top-level marketing executive position at one of the largest athletic wear companies in the world. He had what most would consider a dream life, author Vicki Kunkel writes. But Anthony felt unfulfilled. In Kunkel's new book she explains why Anthony and others are in search of a career second act.
(more)
'Some of us are ticked off '
Carol Larson is newly retired and already she is "ticked off" by the stubborn stereotypes foisted on her and other retirees. Stereotypes like retirees are old and decrepit, and "worst of all, that when a person retires we will never make another meaningful contribution to the world ever again," Larson writes. She says people have it all wrong.
(more)