Spotlight
Mask lessons were learned (and resisted) 102 years ago
The topic of masks and wearing them is hotly debated, often in retail chains as iPhone cameras roll. These videos have prompted questions: Was there resistance to masks during the 1918 pandemic? Did they work? How was mask-wearing enforced in the old days? Quick answers: Yes, there was resistance and defiance, masks worked to limit or stall the spread of disease, and mask-wearing was sometimes enforced with fines, arrests, jail time and, in at least one case, gunfire.
[continue reading...]
News
Today, thanks to extraordinary medical, demographic, and economic shifts, most of us will live unprecedentedly long lives. Consequently, the world is witnessing a powerful new version of retirement—the Third Age—driven by the power and needs of the massive Baby Boomer generation. Consumers over 50 now account for more than half of all spending and control
[more…]
The Pierce County Law Library, a particular hit with seniors at one of its sites, has received a national award for its “library within a library” collaboration with the Pierce County Library System (PCLS). The Excellence in Community Engagement Award is presented by the American Association of Law Libraries in recognition of efforts to educate
[more…]
Each year, thousands of educators, caregivers, health and aging professionals, and older adults across the country focus their efforts on one goal: preventing falls. Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources (ADR) is partnering with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Falls Free® Initiative to celebrate Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 22. This
[more…]
Mom never forgot us on her Alzheimer’s journey
We started to notice some changes in my mom’s behavior around eight years ago. She seemed sadder. She was usually pretty much an independent woman, strong and happy. She smiled at all people, and was a friendly and nice lady. My mom enjoyed travel very much. She loved the beach and her city Guadalajara (she lived between Seattle and Guadalajara). Suddenly, she seemed to be unhappy, and kept asking to go back to Mexico and would cry about it. My family thought that she just missed her hometown more than usual, so we thought it was normal.
Lifestyles
Any home can work for aging in place It may seem silly to start adapting your home in your fifties or sixties to make it more accessible and easier to navigate for someone who uses a walker, is in a wheelchair or cannot reach high shelves due to arthritis. Though, when you currently have none of these conditions, it is the right time
[more…]
Food
150 years of Campbell Soup Think back on some of your favorite family meals over the years and it’s likely that Campbell Soup Company played a role during those important moments around the table. An American icon, Campbell is celebrating its 150th anniversary. From tomato soup and grilled cheese on a cold day to green bean casserole, generations of home
[more…]
Adventures
Five low-cost alternatives to living in (and traveling from) the U.S. In ever-greater numbers, Americans are seeking guidance about where and how to move out of the U.S. Half a million have looked to New Zealand—but there are other easy, closer-to-home, lower-cost options that arguably make more sense. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 250,000 Americans have investigated moving to New Zealand, according
[more…]
Health & Fitness
What to ask before visit a nursing home As COVID-19 restrictions ease in Washington, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have resumed visits for families. Visits won’t be the same as before the pandemic, at least until the threat of coronavirus has passed. There may be limits on when, where, and for how long you can see loved ones, and distancing rules
[more…]
Personal Finance/Business
Pandemic hard financially for older adults living alone Financial hardships created or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic will be much worse for older Americans living alone and could force nearly 3 million of them into possible poverty or greater health risks, according to an organization that’s monitoring the issue. “Recent history shows us what happens to an already vulnerable population of older adults
[more…]
