Families find many ways to share responsibilities with aging seniors
Families play many roles in the lives of seniors, from confidant and friend to caregiver. Many families experience several roles over time.
Families play many roles in the lives of seniors, from confidant and friend to caregiver. Many families experience several roles over time.
Josephine Oliver, 73, might be expected to relax after years of work. But she has little time for relaxing because she is busy caring for three grandchildren. Grandparents raising grandchildren is becoming more common, says a new report.
While most seniors desire to grow old in their own homes, the economy and declining health can make that harder, but resources do exist to help people.
The elderly are among the biggest users of emergency rooms. Some doctors say too little has been done to make their visits comfortable. One physician says the answer is to set aside space inside ERs to accommodate the growing number of seniors.
Sister Madelene Reiners has four big loves in her life: God, family, the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood and the St. Louis Cardinals. At 91, Reiners is considered an “oldest old,” or a senior age 85 to 95.
Dorothy Willis is part of a group of people 75 to 85 considered to be “old olds,” but after years of hard work and some heartache, she says these are her best days.
Tom Brady left life as a performance artist for the world of finance so that he could support his family. He feared aging stood between himself and a return to that art, but found, instead, a stronger voice than ever.
Aging isn’t what it used to be, especially as people live longer, and often healthier, lives. Demographers divide senior citizens into three groups: young olds (65-74); old olds (75-84); and the oldest olds (85-94).