I went to the most amazing conference last week at St Thomas University, put on by Room 217 in partnership with the Atlantic Institute on Aging, Arpeggio Music Therapy, and Alzheimer Society N. B. It was on the therapeutic use of music for care giving, but also for personal wellness. Speakers ranged from the founder […]

Laughter is such good medicine. One “young” couple who lives at the nursing home where I work demonstrate that all the time. They both struggle with chronic illness that severely limits their independence, yet I frequently see them laughing together over a memory or a private joke. It makes us all smile to watch them, […]

There is nothing like a sound night’s sleep for starting the day off right. But is there anything more frustrating than lying awake, unable to turn off your mind, and knowing that your alarm will go off in a few short hours? I had one of those nights last night. I worked until 7 pm, […]

“Stay limber and loving and a little bit loony.” This was on the inside cover of my music book at choir practice last night. It made me smile. It was intended as advice for choir directors but it struck me as good counsel for getting old. I do pretty well in the loving and loony […]

This past fall I was privileged to be able to back pack the entire length of the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain, a distance of 800 km in 32 days. Dave and I had planned the trip intensely, paring down our back pack contents to the very minimum and making sure our equipment, especially […]

I gently turned her onto her side and tucked the quilts over her shoulders and under her chin. “May I give you a kiss goodnight?” I asked, looking deeply into her eyes. She nodded slightly and raised her pursed lips to touch them to my cheek. I returned the caress. She closed her eyes and […]

For all of the discussion about the care needs of an aging population, only 5% of people over the age of 65 actually require institutional care. But for those who do, a move to nursing home can shatter their self esteem, and disrupt cherished family relationships and social connections. Admission to a nursing home requires […]

Last week I discovered one of the benefits of old age—the luxury of being sick! I have had a sore throat—a really sore throat–for more than a week. Just a virus, I expect, nothing to worry about, but it put me in bed for three days. That’s a very unusual occurrence in any period of […]

This is the time of year for resolving to turn over a new leaf, to live healthier lives, to get our financial houses in order, or to mend broken relationships. Unfortunately, even with the best of intentions, most of our resolutions come to nothing as the year passes and life happens. Dave and I long […]

My kids are coming for Christmas. This year there are 2 little granddaughters to build the joy and excitement of the season, and 3 generations will share meals around our table. It will be a special time for us all to be together. Only a few decades ago, it was common place for extended family […]