Older adults often say they want to stay in their own homes as long as they can. We describe such thinking as aging in place — defined as living in the home and community of your choice as you age. It is a place where one feels safe has the ability to control and enjoy life experiences.

As a child, I had freckles on my nose and cheeks. My body was not covered in freckles like some of my childhood friends, but I didn’t like that I had freckles anywhere on my body. My distain for my freckles was well known to my family.

The Elder Index, developed by researchers at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, shows that nearly 5 million older women living alone, 2 million older men living alone, and more than 2 million older couples have incomes that make them economically insecure.

In April FEMA began disbursing $2 billion — $9,000 per funeral — in funeral reimbursement. The money also covers cremation without other services. If the family incurs cemetery or memorial-related costs, FEMA’s funeral assistance will not fully cover those.

Later life is a time of reassessment and reflection. What sense do we make of the lives we have lived? How do we come to terms with illness and death? What do we want to give to others as we grow older?

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon…In old age they still produce fruit, they are always green and full of sap” (Psalm 92:12,14). Some studies indicate that ageism is decreasing in our society and we’re headed toward a more inclusive view of aging. They also indicate that age stigma is getting reduced, citing …

By Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., director, ENCORE Ministry Recently, when I was consulting with a local church in my role as director of ENCORE Ministry, I was approached by an older woman with a big smile on her face. She said that she was looking forward to my visit with leaders of the older adult ministry in her church. …

Abuse can happen to any older person. This new infographic from the National Institute on Aging at NIH describes the different types of abuse, how to recognize the signs, and where to get help.