By Jim Selman | Bio
Tough times can bring out the best in people. In these days of financial, environmental and social challenges, more and more of us are stepping forward and asking “What can I do?” Wherever we look, people and organizations are taking on problems and working hard to create a better world. Older people are volunteering more that ever. From an eldering perspective, they want a chance to make a difference.
People have an extraordinary capacity to go beyond what is reasonable
By Kevin Brown | Bio
In my last post, I shared my observations concerning the ability of my mother-in-law to embrace change. This week I thought I would focus on the challenges faced by her primary caregiver, my wife. Rather than address the challenges in the relationship between adults and their aging parents, I will share some of the challenges caregivers (family or friends) increasingly face from healthcare providers. Some of these challenges may indeed be unique to our province and country of residence (Alberta, Canada), but surely some will exist in your community as well. One of the third-party challenges my wife faces in caring for her mother pertains to her mother’s doctor. My mother-in-law is 91 years of age and, not surprisingly, has a number of medical concerns. She is a diabetic, has a bladder that is tipped and does not fully drain (therefore she experiences periodic bladder infections), and while she can walk on her own, she does benefit from the use of a walker as her balance isn’t all it used to be.My wife books her mother’s medical appointments and shuttles her mom back and forth to her doctor. Recently, my wife picked her mom up to take her to the doctor to receive the results of some blood work as a result of a previous bladder infection. On the way to the doctor, her mother explained her toe was bleeding (not a good thing for a diabetic), and so upon arrival at the doctor’s office my wife asked them to check her mom’s foot. The response
By Jim Selman | Bio
There was a wonderful article in USA Today by our new First Lady extolling the importance of ‘youthful idealism’ in these uncertain times. I couldn’t agree with her more and am happy to see her taking on this kind of generational motivation as part of her platform on behalf of the new Administration. Her call brings to mind JFK’s challenge to our generation: “Ask
Richard and Louise Guy, a couple in their 90s who live in Calgary, Alberta will be celebrating this Earth Day by climbing the 802 steps of the Calgary Tower. These 91 and 92-year-old participants in the annual Alberta Wildnerness Association’s fundraiser (the Climb and Run for Wilderness) will be honoured by the organization this year with the establishment of the Richard Guy Award for Most Climbs by a Senior Male. Read more about their inspirational story.
Prepare to be touched, moved and inspired by this YouTube video of Susan Boyle singing on a British talent show.
Our blog posts are now featured in the seniors section of Alltop, an online magazine rack that brings together top news and information from across the internet. The Top Seniors News page aggregates news feeds from various sites and displays the five most recent items under each site’s name. Just click on any link, and you’ll be redirected to that item.
By Jim Selman | Bio
CNN.com and the other media are all reporting today the Obama administration’s and Eric Holder’s decision not to prosecute CIA and other intelligence officials for participation in torture that was authorized by officials in the Bush Administration and the Department of Justice. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations are crying for blood, claiming
By Jim Selman | Bio
For years I have thought that we should put a lot more effort into learning how to receive. I grew up with the idea that it is “better to give than receive” and have tried to live by that maxim to the best of my ability. This is not to say there haven’t been plenty of selfish moments along the way. But I am not talking about being selfish. I am talking about the value of being truly open to receiving what others wish to give—and not just material gifts—also things
By Kevin Brown | Bio
My lovely wife has spent her day=&0=&By Jim Selman | Bio
There was an interesting article in the New York Times on Generation OMG speculating on the impact of the current economic crunch on our younger generations. It compares some of the conventional wisdom about the impact of the “Great Depression” on our parents with views on how the “Great Recession” will affect our children. The conclusion is that nobody knows, although most believe that living in tough times does affect how people see the world and can forge a generation’s ‘way of being’.I am not sure I believe this—it is too deterministic and there are too many exceptions and generalizations to buy the theory. Nonetheless, it can be a useful inquiry.
My father is a conservative man who made practical choices throughout his life. He stayed in the military after WWII because it was a more reliable option than taking risks in the private sector, given his responsibility for raising a family. Was this a product of being a teenager in the Depression or a product