A revealing new Harris Poll conducted by the firm Age Wave has confirmed substantial shifts in Americans’ perceptions of aging and longevity. Here are some key takeaways from the survey.  “OLD” ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE The survey found that 79% of adults 50+ think today’s older adults are more active, and 58% say they are more open-minded and curious compared with the previous generation.  Correspondingly, the definition of what’s considered “old” today is changing. The survey found that while age 60 was considered “old” in their grandparents’ time, now age 80 is the median age con ..read more

  There are 6.9 million Americans 65 or older currently living with Alzheimer’s, an increase of about 200,000 cases of the mind-robbing disease from 2023 and it has become a significant public health crisis. Another 5 million to 7 million adults have mild cognitive impairment, a set of early changes to memory and thinking that is linked to Alzheimer’s, according to an Alzheimer’s Association’s annual facts and figures report. The cost of care for the Alzheimer’s patients alone is projected to hit $360 billion in 2024. That is an increase of $15 billion from last year. Alzheimer’s ..read more

  Please join our Parenting Our Parents Founder, Jane Wolf Frances, in a conversation with her good friend and Founder of Creative Visions Foundation, Kathy Eldon, at the Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City, CA on Sunday, March 3, 2024 from 5:00PM – 6:00 PM. She will be reading from her memoir self-help book “Parenting Our Parents: Transforming the Challenge into a Journey of Love” and discussing how to recognize when it might be time to parent your parents and next steps. This conversation will include all of your Q&A’s. The book will be available on site for purchase ..read more

ParentingOurParents invites you to celebrate National Family Caregiver Month during this month of November.   One way to celebrate is to thank at least one (and maybe many more) family caregivers for their contributions to someone who is aging, ill, or disabled.   Another way to celebrate is to notice that we have become a nation of caregivers.  Currently there are 53 million Americans (out of 355) serving as family caregivers to a family member, friend, or neighbor. This work and the life challenges that the process of caregiving seems to require can be very affirmin ..read more

  What do we really mean when we speak about “mental health?” Do we mean that we never experience unpleasant emotions? Not to me. To me, a mental health professional for many decades, never experiencing unpleasant emotions could be seen as unhealthy, because there is loss, challenging work and relationships, upsetting world conditions – and to not feel those emotions would actually be unhealthy.   So, maybe “mental health” is being able to take our experiences – those we desired and those we never wanted to happen – and find a way to gain something/learn something from all of them ..read more

  Everyone who knows me personally hears me consistently describe the many virtues and joys of music. In dealing with older folks and especially those with dementia, it is particularly remarkable to see them light up and actively sing all the words of their favorite “old” tunes even when they no longer recognize their children.   Now we are learning the following fascinating scientific facts:   Music may improve our moods and mental health as much as exercise.   Those of us who love our music can attest to how listening to it – let alone singing and dancing to it or actual ..read more

  It’s natural to go through many physical changes with age. However, what doesn’t change is the need to maintain a healthy weight. Metabolism—or how the body converts food into energy—may slow down as we age, so older adults must adjust their diet or exercise to manage weight. Seniors may often become sedentary, leading to obesity, which has a 41.5% prevalence in adults over 60. Some may experience sudden and unintentional weight loss and malnutrition, so keeping an eye on lifestyle changes is crucial for healthy aging. It’s easier said than done to manage weight. Some may have difficul ..read more

  Smoking cigarettes can have many harmful effects on our bodies. The health risks associated with cigarette consumption are even worse for older adults. Recent findings from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease indicate that cigarette smoking is associated with poorer cognitive performance among people 60 years and older. This association is broadly the same whether or not individuals have hypertension or diabetes. As a result, researchers recommend promoting smoking cessation to preserve cognitive health among older adults. In this post, we’ll look at how you can help your ..read more

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Dear Friends of ParentingOurParents, I’ve never been a fan of New Years’ Resolutions. It always seemed too easy to miss that daily trip to the gym by January 10th and then it felt “downhill” from there. But I’ve long since enjoyed and recommended creating a list of New Years’ Aspirations/Inspirations. Here is one of those worth sharing with you and pondering with myself.   “You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.” – Abraham Maslow   What will you choose for yourself and your loved ones each day during 2023? What does “growth” look like for yo ..read more