Suppose that someone asked you, “Where do you want to go home to tonight?” After they rule out an all-inclusive tropical island as an option, your response would likely be, “What do you mean, ‘Where do I want to go home to?’ I want to go home to my house.” It seems like a frivolous question. But it’s a serious question for a lot of aging adults, and most of them are likely to answer in the same way that you would.
When people step up and start talking, listening, and paying attention to the challenges that are easier to ignore, real change is already happening. The more hands and minds that get involved, the more we can do. Join us for AiA 2018, the Aging in America Conference, taking place at Hilton San Francisco Union Square Monday, March 26, through Thursday, March 29.
A question that everyone has when they are aging is: How do I navigate a world that is increasingly unfamiliar? How do I adjust to changes that happen so quickly? What skills do I need to stay in touch, stay vibrant, and stay part of this life?
Holly says she feels like a completely different person than she used to be, and she doesn’t even know who this new person is. Just a year ago, she was a full-time elementary school teacher while working toward her master’s in school administration. She rode her mountain bike on the weekends through the Big Basin Boulder Creek Loop and other South Bay Area trails with her riding group.
A nurse during the week and a family caregiver on the weekends, Jennifer was struggling with the work overload. She felt relief by blowing off some steam on Facebook, and it became a daily habit, sometimes even while she was spending time caring for her aging aunt. But when her aunt asked how the neighbor knew to call and offer help with the broken dishwasher, Jennifer began to realize just how small the world becomes under the umbrella of social media. Luckily, she hadn’t yet shared anything too personal, and it helped to remind her of the tricky balance caregivers need to find between responsible self-care and compassionate care of loved ones.
From where I live, roughly 2,500 miles away, I transmit my love and care for my aging parents. The space between breeds some heartache and guilt, but when I can focus on the progressive solutions, at least, I’m not inflating those feelings unnecessarily. I’m certainly most helpful to my parents when I can tap into the more positive feelings and actions.
To be able to see someone’s face from across the world is still truly remarkable, and nowhere is this more true than in a state of mourning. It wasn’t very long ago that the idea of video calls in a time of grief was impossible. I think back to when my dad was in the Navy in the early 50s, stationed in Okinawa. One day, he got a letter from home informing him that his oldest sister had died suddenly. She had a heart condition, and because of that she never wed. She was in her early 40s, and had moved past the years of her silent sadness to become a pillar of strength for her family, raising nieces and nephews—and her youngest, rowdiest brother—like her own. But then, her heart quit on her.
Planning ahead is in many ways a product of imagination. We have to see ourselves unmoored from the present where we live our lives, and take steps to make what seems like an impossibility happen. There are, of course, a million ways that fate or chance can whirlwind our lives in any careening direction, but doing things that take imagination—like saving money, taking care of our health, and maintaining friendships—can help to make the later stages of our lives vibrant and independent.
Technology has had a profound effect on medicine—and what’s most exciting is that we’ve only brushed the surface of what’s possible. Each day, more and more older adults are being helped by new tech developments—and when it comes to diseases like diabetes that rely on ongoing treatment, the benefits can make a big difference to your loved one’s health. Between glucose-monitoring apps, online pharmacies, and health check-ups done by video conference, your aging loved one has access to more support than ever before.
There’s no doubt that increasingly tech savvy older adults are spending more time in front of their computers. And this has its fair share of benefits: it allows your loved one greater access to information, online socialization, and medical resources. Yet sitting at the computer for too long can also cause unwanted health problems if they’re not careful.
Institute on Aging (IOA) CONNECT is your direct line to us and the starting point for help with your concerns about the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities. IOA CONNECT links you with our services, as well as community services available. Reach out to connect with us.
Phone: (415) 750 – 4111 | Fax: (415) 750 – 5338
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