I was settling in for a long travel day on an airplane — when I found myself in one of those unexpectedly meaningful conversations that remind me why I do this work.   The man sitting next to me was in his early 60s. He and his husband were heading to Burlington to explore whether […]

Reflecting on two decades of specializing in psychology with a focus on older adults has been an incredible journey, one that has imparted wisdom and insights I hold dear.   Today, I’m eager to share with you five life lessons that have not only shaped my professional path but also touched my personal life in […]

There’s more to aging well than diet and exercise.   Twenty years ago, I set out to build a career working with people living with life altering medical problems, many of whom were at the end of their life. People would often ask me: “Isn’t it depressing? How do you sleep at night?”   My […]

For many people living with Parkinson’s Disease, sexual functioning can change, but intimacy doesn’t have to. I was working with a 70-something husband and wife a few months ago. The wife was living Parkinson’s Disease and had extreme tremors in her arms and hands. Her tremors were very uncomfortable and extremely distressing to her. But […]

Assisted living and long-term care communities have a duty to ensure that residents’ rights of sexual autonomy and self-determination are honored and equally have a duty to protect residents from harm.   A sexual health policy helps to ensure that both standards are being met.     What is a sexual health policy? A sexual […]

Love, intimacy, and sexuality are important aspects for people living with dementia and their intimate partners.   A growing body of research tells us that the majority of older nursing home residents, including those with dementia disorders, continue to value intimacy1,2.   It’s time we shift the narrative about dementia and sexuality toward a more […]

People with dementia have rights, including the right to sexual expression. To understand sexual expression among people with dementia, we must become familiar with sexual expression among older adults in general. Sexual Expression in Older Adults Studies show that older adults continue to enjoy intimate relationships throughout their lives. Sexual health is an essential part […]

Have you been struggling to engage your sibling in your aging parent’s care? Perhaps you reach out and they don’t respond. Perhaps they refuse to help. In this article I answer a question from a caregiver on the issue of siblings refusing to help with aging parent’s care. You’ll learn The importance of family relationships […]

You may be surprised to hear that about half of today’s Veterans are 65 and older. If you’re caring for an aging Veteran, you may have many questions but not know where to start. Once you do get started, you might not know HOW TO ACTUALLY HAVE a conversation with your loved one about their […]

The idea of moving your aging parents in with you is complicated and if you’re facing this possibility AND you’re in a relationship, this can up the ante of complications. A few weeks ago, I was featured in the Chicago Tribune in an article that had to do with how to go about making the […]

The idea of moving your aging parents in with you is really complicated.  If you’re facing this possibility AND you’re in a relationship, this can up the ante of complications.   A few weeks ago, I was featured in the Chicago Tribune in an article that had to do with how to go about making the decision […]

  A few weeks ago, I was featured in the Chicago Tribune in an article that had to do with how to go about making the decision to move your aging parents in with you!   In today’s episode, I take it a step further and share tips for moving your aging parents (or in-laws) in with you […]