Feeling down? You’re not alone!
The mantra of COVID-19 has been: We’re in this together, separately. This statement also perfectly describes our collective feelings of fear and despair. But these feelings are magnified amongst seniors.
Reach out to the older adults in your life during the COVID-19 pandemic
While Philadelphia remains under stay-at-home orders, it is important to stay connected to older adults as it is estimated that between 36% and 42% of all people age 60 and older live alone in the city. During this time, PCA is urging family members and friends to check in with older adults regularly.
‘Homing’ memoir details healing, forgiveness that comes with age
A son needs most of his lifetime to unravel, then free himself from, the mysteries of his mother’s demise.]
Use these tips to secure your mental health
If you are 60 or older, know that according to the World Health Organization, you are among a group of aging adults that will double in proportion over the next 30 years. In fact, this amazing evolution of the world’s senior population has already started and continues to climb. In 2015, seniors accounted for only […]
Column: Mental health care is necessary, underutilized health care service
We all struggle from time to time – no matter our age, financial status, ethnic background or religion. Why isn’t our usual approach to treating mental wellness the same as it is for physical wellness?
Artist shares gift with nursing home residents
By Barbara Sherf
When Anthe Capitan-Valais was a little girl, she used to wait for the deliveries of her father’s laundered shirts so she could draw pictures on the cardboard forms included with each fresh batch.
Her father wore a button-down shirt and tie every day for his job as a high school principal. Capitan-Valais looked forward to recovering and using the blank slates of cardboard. “I was given paint-by-numbers kits, but I really didn’t like staying in the lines,” says the Flourtown artist, now 65. “I liked to draw free-form and still do.”
The art of conversation: Ways to connect more meaningfully with others
By Beth Goldner
Talking can help you connect more meaningfully with others and support your health and well-being. While digital communications may be easier and more comfortable than conversing for some people, it is worth the effort to participate in regular verbal conversations. Read on for tips to help you make the process easier and more enjoyable.
Unhappy holidays: When you’re teary instead of merry
By Constance Garcia-Barrio
For many of us – whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa –the December holidays don’t come with a Hallmark halo, but rather a gauntlet of potential problems. The passing years may have left us divorced or widowed, like me, or with family members living at a distance. We may also wrestle with thorny relationships and grief. However, we can take steps to navigate the season’s rough spots, go beyond a mask of merriment and find true peace.
Emotional intelligence can increase with age
By Michael Hanisco
Despite popular notions of seniors being stubborn or set in their ways, evidence suggests that we may actually gain in skills known as “emotional intelligence” as we age. October was designated as Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month by the nonprofit Emotional Intelligence Institute to improve emotional literacy, communication and mindfulness.