All my life I have been surrounded by family and friends who have provided a web of respect, trust, belonging, and encouragement. They have listened to me, believed in me — they have cared about me. I have taken all of this for granted; it has been a normal part of my everyday life. Now, …
Imagine living in a community where: caring neighbors come together to address some of our nation’s most complex social challenges, those who are vulnerable are also valued community members who participate and contribute, and older adults find meaning and purpose in their daily lives, even at the end of life, through caring relationships and continuing …
My entire professional career, spanning four decades, has focused on working to understand and meet the needs of people I perceived to be less fortunate. I asked: What can I do to make a positive difference in their lives? As I reflect back on my career, I have come to understand how limiting this question …
Our society is not physically capable of providing a professional care environment for every future elder, nor would every elder want one. Nevertheless, as a society we have become increasingly reliant upon professional care and services to support us through all aspects of life and death. The result is that as we age many of …
