What is your role at Aging Wisdom? Creative Engagement Specialist
What made you want to work in the field of aging?
I appreciate the accumulated wisdom and insights of older people, and I have always gravitated toward older adults, even when I was a kid. Growing up, my dad used to always point out how people were often dismissive of old people or talked to them like they were children. He helped me see that this bias was everywhere, and I didn’t want to be like that. From a young age, I sought out elders I could learn from, who I could look up to. I was drawn to the Creative Engagement position at Aging Wisdom because I wanted to be part of a team devoted to decreasing isolation and loneliness in older adults, while also encouraging the unique power and perspective that elderhood can bring.
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My friend Betsy Fitzgerald, care partner to a lung transplant survivor with metastatic cancer, recently shared an update: “I’ve been mending my life, Kintsugi, patching broken pieces together. It is not easy; some pieces are sharp edged, some not quite fitting, some missing. We do the best we can.”
Her role as a care partner comes with recognizing the need for self-care. And part of self-care has been acknowledging her need for “patching,” hence the Kintsugi reference.
Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that teaches us to repair the broken pieces, making us stronger and more resilient than before. It can symbolize hope, healing, and lead to a new kind of beauty. How might we apply the art of Kintsugi to the caregiver journey? …
Longevity might just be less about strong medicine and more about strong connection to others. Research shows that having meaningful social ties is a good predictor of living longer and better. Social connections can help protect your heart, sharpen your mind, and boost joy and resilience. On the other hand, loneliness and the resulting emotional pain can activate your body’s stress response, just like physical pain. Loneliness is also associated with a higher rate of illness and premature death. If you aim for long-term health and independence, nurturing connection is essential. …
If you are caring for someone living with a progressive condition or a change in health or cognition, you have likely heard the phrase person-centered care.
Person-centered care is the foundation of our Creative Engagement program, which is built on the core values of purpose, respect, and exquisite listening. A person-centered approach focuses on an individual’s preferences, goals, and needs. This approach makes sure that individuals living with dementia or other health changes can take part in what they value and enjoy.
We extend invitations to participate. We do not assume to know what our clients want, and we involve our clients in decision-making as we tailor projects and outings to their preferences. We ask for feedback. We observe body language and make eye contact. We allow for feelings to be expressed and then validate those feelings. …
Nearly one-third of adults who are 55 and older are aging solo, navigating aging without a life partner or children. Top of mind for many solo agers is who will advocate for them when they need assistance.
Proactive planning is essential. …
Exercise at this stage in life is less about pushing hard and more about protecting your independence and mobility. It’s about choosing the right kind of movement to support your energy, ease—and your joints. Being able to get up and down from the floor at age eighty doesn’t just happen. It takes intentional behavior now to meet your goals for later life. Regardless of whether you’ve always exercised or you’re just getting started, it’s never too late to review what you’re doing to keep your body moving. Even a few hours of activity a week can help keep your heart pumping, preserve muscle, and steady your balance. There are three key types of movement to incorporate in your life: …
What is your role at Aging Wisdom?
Creative Engagement Specialist
What made you want to work in the field of aging? …
It’s Falls Prevention Week, an opportunity to refresh our knowledge of falls risk and how best to prevent them.
Why is this important? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the most common reason for visits to the emergency department (ED), as well as the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for older Americans. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls.
This should give us all pause. …
Falls Prevention: Prioritize exercise, vision, and honest conversationsRead More »
Thanks to longer lifespans, retirement isn’t a short chapter. It might be close to a third of your life! It sounds so inviting: Life as a blank canvas, with long mornings, travel—a new kind of “freedom.” In fact, many retirees find that once the structure of work fades, they feel surprisingly unmoored. After decades of purpose-driven days, the stillness can feel disorienting. It is not uncommon for retirees to report feeling caught between relief and restlessness, and even some depression.
It helps, then, to reframe this life stage not as an end, but a beginning. Whether you’re retiring solo or with a partner, take time to reflect not just on what has been left behind, but on what you’d like to step toward. Think about what excites you, what gives your life meaning, and what might bring new connections. …