SeniorTruth

Question: My children want me to move into a retirement facility which I am resisting.  I’d rather not be with all of those old people.  Just the thought of it depresses me.   At 75, my children believe I am old, and quite honestly I resent it.  They suggest that my current car is the last [...]

Question: I am 81 years old and a full-time caregiver to my wife of the same age.  My sister is 90 and lives in her own home about 100 miles from me. Currently my brother, age 86, provides most of her care – cooking, doctor appointments, shopping, gardening and home maintenance.  He suffers from severe [...]

Question: I am a 64-year-old grandmother who adores her grandchildren ages 3 and 6. I enjoy giving them toys; unfortunately, they don’t seem to appreciate them. Thank-yous occur if they are repeatedly prompted by their parents. Yet the children expect something from me when I visit. Am I just dealing with a spoiled family?

Question: I have neighbors who are in their 60s and gay.  They talk about retirement and some of the problems they foresee.  I am just curious - are their issues different from heterosexual couples?    

Over the years I have received many questions about caregiving which resonate in the broadest sense.
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter reminds us why.  She said, “There are four kinds of people in this world:  Those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.” [...]

Question: I am 81 years old and never managed money. My late husband, a retired surgeon who passed away 10 years ago, made all the financial decisions in our 52-year marriage. Fortunately, my health has been good this past decade. Now I need some help with driving and tasks at home. My oldest son manages [...]

Question: I have a friend who is talking about her bucket list.  Exactly what is it and how do you create it?   I am 80 and expect to be around for a while. 

Question: My healthy and independent 86-year-old mother was in a car accident and is recovering at my home. Her arm is in a cast, which limits what she can do. She is still a bit unsteady on her feet and clearly cannot shop, cook, drive or navigate stairs on her own. My brother, who manages [...]

Question: My 83-year old mother took a serious fall in the street that landed her in the emergency ward, intensive care, the regular hospital and finally in rehabilitation.    She is a fiercely independent fabulous lady who walks two miles a day, takes classes at a university, drives and goes to movies, the ballet, museums and [...]

Question: I recently retired as an occupational therapist.  It’s work that I always have loved.  I now am a full time nanny to my darling baby granddaughter.  My daughter and her husband can afford child care but feel more comfortable with me.  I am just sorting out my own transition and really did not [...]