Human Values in Aging Newsletter   April 2024     Excerpted from the HVAN. Thank you, Dr. H.R. Moody, for editing these timely events related to aging! I plan on attending one or more of these events. See you there! AgeDoc   NO, AMERICANS DON’T GROW OLD “The persistent debate about Mr. Biden’s age represents a mass delusion that we are still a nation of the young. We have always liked to think of ourselves as the prototypical country of youth: a nation of plucky strivers, distinguished from the old country by our restless, creative spirit. Such a nation, we might ..read more

  Gerontologists, neurologists, and researchers know that social isolation is a risk factor for mental and physical decline among older adults. But why? The brain needs language to keep “firing” and stimulate neurocircuitry and neuropathways that keep the brain healthy, strong, and functioning at maximum capacity. Social isolation and disengagement lead to a type of mental stagnation. Excessive television viewing is passive engagement and has little brain stimulation. Older adults who spend more than 1.5 hours of watching television daily are at higher risk for dementia and health decl ..read more

                  Happy Belated Birthday, Dr. Harry “Rick” Moody! Excerpted from Values in Human Aging Newsletter, March, 2024 Rembrandt painted his self-portrait more often than any artist in history. In visual terms he told the story of aging for all times. See Rembrandt by Rembrandt: The Self-Portraits, by Pascal Bonafoux (Harry Abrams, 2019).   “This past month was my 79th birthday (don’t send cards; it’s over now). The same day I got a message from a group promoting positive aging (my word) greeting me as someone ..read more

  Adriane G. Berg of Ageless Travelers recently presented a webinar to the members of the International Federation on Aging titled, “Ageism in Tourism.” It was not only informative, but it brought to mind the issues I experienced on a recent two-week trip to Southern California. Before reading the rest of this article, please review this site which provides an overview of what she does. https://ifa.ngo/team/adriane-berg/ She is a veteran radio and TV host, an Emmy winner, and seasoned traveler. Adriane is on a quest to encourage older adults to travel and to reduce ageism in the touris ..read more

  In a recent online seminar with hoarding expert Dr. Catherine Ayres, I gained insights about hoarding among older adults, as this has only been identified as a diagnostic disorder five years ago. Before that, hoarding was classified as a type of “obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).” However, during the past few years, scientists and therapists have gained a clearer understanding of identification and treatment approaches. HGTV is now on their thirteenth season of “Hoarders,” a documentary featuring people with hoarding disorders. I have watched all of them. For the record, I am no ..read more

    Hi Readers, last month I participated in a health fair and had a box with a slot where caregivers could write out their experiences and lessons learned anonymously. Below is an excerpt of five people who contributed their advice on paper. Their experiences are varied and I think demonstrate the demands, frustrations, and reflections on family caregiving. AgeDoc   “I never knew it would be this hard on me. I’m 82. I have no time for myself and caring for my husband takes all of my time. I never sleep through the night. He doesn’t have dementia, he is just disabled and can ..read more

  Over lunch last October, my friend told me, “Hey, I got some good news last week. Social Security called me and said I am getting a raise and they needed to verify some things. So, I verified my social security number, they needed my mother’s maiden name, that sort of stuff. Isn’t that great? I get a raise!” My heart sank and I replied, “That was a scam! Social Security never calls on the phone. And you should never give anyone personal information. That was someone posing as an employee. You need to report it immediately.” Unfortunately, she did not believe me. My friend was adamant ..read more

Hi Readers, Every month I receive a newsletter from gerontologist Dr. Harry Moody chock full of valuable insights and happenings related to aging. This month, I decided to copy/paste the entire newsletter here. Yes, it is that good! If you like this free newsletter, consider subscribing via email.  Human Values in Aging Newsletter   December 2023   H.R. Moody, Editor   IN THIS ISSUE                 -Beauty and Age       &nb ..read more

  November is National Caregiver Month! To celebrate and show gratitude for our caregivers, I dedicate this blog post to you! First, I want to share some caregiver nomenclature to help everyone understand more about this role. Caregiver – A person providing care for another. Also known as care partner or care provider. Care Recipient – The person receiving care. Informal Caregivers – This means uncompensated or unpaid caregivers, which make up the bulk of caregiving roles. Most are spouses and a whopping 61% work outside the home while concurrently providing care. They are spouses, par ..read more

  Hi Readers, Caregiver dilemmas are far-reaching and in this post, I am focusing on caregiver stress and burnout. Rosalyn Carter is often quoted for her observation that “there are only four types of people in the world: (1) those who have been caregivers, (2) those who currently are caregivers, (3) those who will be caregivers, and (4) those who will need caregivers.”  This TED Talk is GREAT! https://www.ted.com/talks/linda_ercoli_self_care_for_caregivers Linda Ercoli, PhD, discusses caregiving dilemmas and coping. She created an easy to remember acronym that helps caregivers re ..read more