Susan is getting burnt out trying to care for her 91 year old father.  She has a part-time job teaching and takes care of her two school-age grandchildren in the afternoons.  Her mother has been gone for three years and Dad is truly struggling to stay independent, and failing at that.  His neighbors and church friends are calling Susan almost

Nearly 1 in 10 American senior citizens are abused or neglected each year, yet only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse is brought to the attention of authorities, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Elder abuse can mean physical and psychological harm, but it also may manifest through financial exploitation and theft. The United Nations

//// By Susan Birenbaum LCSW, MBA, C-ASWCM //// People do not realize that suicide is a major problem in the elderly. Since Older Adults have so many medical issues, it is assumed that death is a result of co-morbidity rather than suicide. Albeit, our society does not value older adults as other cultures do. In fact, if you read statistics

“To write a letter is human, to receive a letter, divine” – Susan Lendroth Four years ago, I downsized. Living in an apartment house, I am now part of a community, not a formal one, but one with a passing hello in the lobby or weather conversation in the elevator. However, it was my relationship with our fifth-floor neighbor that

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched in 2006 on June 15th by the World Health Organization. Elder abuse is one of the most overlooked public health problems in the United States. Victims of abuse are three times more likely than those who weren’t mistreated to die prematurely. Learn how to identify those at risk and what to do if you

//// By: Lakelyn Hogan, MA, MBA, Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate //// Caring for a family member can require a lot of coordination. Often family caregivers are living day-to-day juggling their responsibilities of caregiving, work and family. Few have the time or make the time to stop and consider plans for the future. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has provided a bit of a

//// By: Harisa Paco, MSW, LICSW, CMC //// During March and April our whole world saw this pandemic wreak havoc on our lives. And yet, I’ve been amazed by creative ways that people have celebrated while social distancing. It feels like we’re constantly being bombarded by bad news, it’s tough to think about the current status of our cities, our

//// By: Annette Murphy, BA, MSW, C-ASWCM //// The challenges of COVID-19 and the fundamental change it’s bringing to caregiving and our healthcare system will be felt for years to come. Social isolation, hard to find supplies, and worry over the advisability of face-to-face medical visits are just some of the concerns of family and professional caregivers. The stark differences

//// By: Harisa Paco, MSW, CMC //// Our nation has been moving towards reopening and Memorial Day weekend saw record numbers of people heading out and maneuvering how to kick-off summer in a socially distant way. While social distancing will still be important, and even as salons and other places begin hanging up their “open” signs, it will be important