Passions Project: Nick Scarpelli
Chicago Cubs fan Photographed at Central Baptist Village, Norridge Nick Scarpelli grew up on the North Side, cheering for the Chicago Cubs. He’s a lifelong, passionate fan who traces his love of baseball and the Cubs back to his father. Scarpelli fondly remembers how his dad would take him, his four brothers and his sister […]
Passions Project: Dean Banick
Zoo volunteer Photographed at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Dean Banick’s sweet smile hints at his passion for engaging with people and animals. Banick, who lives at The Admiral at the Lake in Chicago, has been a volunteer docent at the Lincoln Park Zoo for 21 years. After he retired from his career as a commercial […]
Photo Finish: Machiko Suzue
Ping-pong player Photographed at North Shore Senior Center, Northfield Wilmette resident Machiko Suzue may be quiet, but her competitive side comes out at the ping-pong table. Suzue skillfully handles the paddle, directing the ball to go to her opponent’s untended spot, with speed and precision. Every week, except during the coronavirus pandemic, she plays ping- […]
Shutting Out the Coronavirus Threat for Seniors in Continuing Care Communities
With tight restrictions in place at their continuing care retirement community, Tom and Janice Showler are getting on each other’s nerves. Most days, Tom, 76, likes to drive out of their community ― Asbury Springhill in Erie, Pennsylvania — to the store to pick up a few items. “If you follow the right protocols, the […]
Amid Pandemic, Programs Struggle to Reach Vulnerable Seniors Living at Home
This is the new reality as the COVID-19 virus barrels into communities across America. Older adults — the demographic group most at risk of dying if they become ill ― are being warned against going out and risking contagion.
Loss of balance could signal underlying medical condition
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My grandmother, who is 82, has no major health issues, but she’s become rather weak and frail over the past several years, and her balance isn’t very good. Several weeks ago, she fell in her bathroom. Although her injuries were minor, my family is worried. Is there something we can do to […]
Annuities that pay off for the sick
By Eleanor Laise, Kiplinger Retirement Report The vast majority of seniors don’t have long-term-care insurance. For all but the wealthiest, deteriorating health or an imminent need for care can raise real concerns about running out of money. One solution: a medically underwritten single-premium immediate annuity. Like traditional immediate annuities, these contracts offer a lifetime of […]
New options for seniors to get care at home
By Eleanor Laise, Kiplinger Retirement Report As Americans age and the need for long-term care grows, the options for providing it continue to evolve. An increasingly available choice: “continuing care at home” programs for seniors who want to stay in their own homes. These programs typically charge an up-front fee and monthly fees to cover […]
How stress affects seniors and how to manage it
Harvard Health Letters We all experience a little stress from time to time. It’s not so hard to handle when we’re young. But as we age, coping with stress isn’t as easy anymore. “We tend to have less resilience to stress, and older adults often find that stress affects them differently now,” says Michelle Dossett, […]
Childless seniors need to build a safety net
By Susan B. Garland, Kiplinger Retirement Report Childless and divorced, Linda Wiesman, 67, is apprehensive about her future. With two knee replacements, the retired accountant is having trouble negotiating the stairs in her three-story townhouse in Gaithersburg, Md. Wiesman says she and several friends who live in different cities have “seriously thought of communal living” […]