Unafraid of aging

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On June 25, 2012, The New York Times published Karen Pennar’s Unafraid of Aging, highlighting Dr. Linda P. Fried. It was the most recent installment in their series “Profiles in Science.” 

An epidemiologist and geriatrician, Dr. Fried, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, has focused her career on what she sees as the definitive challenge of the 21st century: embracing our transition to an “aging society”  in which, over the last century, our life expectancy has increased from fifty to eighty-plus years.

Pennar’s opening paragraph is the focus of today’s post:

“The signal public health achievement of the 20th century was the increase of the average human life span. Now, as that achievement helps raise the proportion of the aged around the world, what once seemed an unalloyed blessing is too often regarded as a burden — a financial burden, a health care burden, even a social burden.”

“It’s nuts,” said Dr. Linda P. Fried. “To assume defeat from what every one of us as individuals wants suggests we’re not asking the right questions.” She continues that findings from the science of aging should “reframe our understanding of the benefits and costs of aging.”

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Video

Dr. Linda P. Fried (Video by The New York Times06/25/2012)

Linda P. Fried: An interview with the geriatrician and dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University on preventing frailty and the transition to an aging society

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So how did we, as a society, grow to be so ambivalent towards growing older? Why do so many people seem to fear it? And what can we do to turn things around?

Not just to ameliorate that gnawing unease, but to begin to uncover, highlight, and advance the myriad benefits we, as a society, can reap from the huge jump we’ve achieved in average lifespan.

How can we support older adults in maintaining involvement in their communities post-retirement? There is so much to be gained, both by our aging population and society as a whole, if we can find positive ways to encourage lifelong engagement.

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 Dr. Fried has focused her career on what she considers to be the challenge of the 21st century: embracing our transition to an “aging society”  in which, over the last century, our life expectancy has increased from fifty to eighty-plus.

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Yes, it’s time to move: moving to a residential care community

But what kind of residential care community?

All of the options can be overwhelming.

For a long time I didn’t know the difference between, say, Memory Care and Assisted Living; I thought that they were just marketing terms.

They aren’t.

Many types of communities are specifically defined by each individual state, but this is an overview of some terms that you’re likely to hear.

Is it time to move?

Memory care. Assisted living. Nursing home. Continuing care retirement community. Skilled Nursing. Independent living. Residential care…the list goes on and on. Overwhelmed by endless options for eldercare communities, lots of us throw up our hands and avoid the topic until it’s absolutely necessary or just choose to muddle through on their own…even those who might be helped by residential care.

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Obviously the time for a big change lies somewhere between “sure, mom’s doing well” and “I just don’t know what to do!” But when? How do you know?

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Let’s look at how residential care decisions are made. I’d also like to learn about the decisions you’ve had to make early-on regarding future care options.

First off, I want to admit that, in the past, I’ve tended to support people living with symptoms of dementia living at home for as long as possible. To me, that meant someone would remain in her home until she had trouble with “Activities of Daily Life” (also sometimes called ADLs). That’s industry-speak for “things you do everyday”: getting dressed, using the restroom, eating, etc. Once she couldn’t take care of herself, then it’d be time to execute the back-up plan.