Silver To Gold Strategies

2 Old Women Did What I Was Afraid To Do Today I rescued a hawk. I called Animal Control, and was referred to a non-profit wildlife rescue center. I drove the hawk to the center, where it is now being cared for. But I could not have done it without the help of two women, age 75+, in my neighborhood. Although I have captured injured birds in the past and taken them for rehabilitation, I was hesitant with a hawk. The woman at the non-profit rescue center was extremely firm about protecting myself. Fortunately, two "elderly" neighbors who had experience helping all kinds of injured wildlife over their lives, were willing to get the injured hawk into an animal carrier if I was willing to drive it 15 miles out to the rescue center. I would like to think that I would have done the whole thing if they had not been involved. I think so, but it would have been scary and nerve-wracking. This event is a simple illustration of why we need to value the experience that comes with age. We also need to value multigenerational relationships because we all bring something important to the table--we give and receive and we are all better for it. 🌟 What examples do you have to share? -of the power of age in your self or others? -of multiple generations helping each other? #ageispower #ageism #olderadult #multigenerational #elderly #valueoldage

I feel compelled to address the glaring omission in tonight's presidential debate. The candidates' silence on care and the broader caregiving crisis is not just disappointing—it's absolutely deafening. When asked about affordable care, we witnessed two men in their 80s engage in a five-minute exchange of insults, completely sidestepping the critical issue at hand. It's a stark reminder of how disconnected our political discourse is from the daily struggles of millions of Americans. There's an irony in this situation. Here we have two presidential candidates of an age where many of their peers are receiving care, yet they remain conspicuously quiet on a crisis unfolding in living rooms and hospital rooms across America. • 29 million Americans are part of the "sandwich generation," juggling eldercare and childcare responsibilities, while trying to manage their careers. • The economic and emotional toll on caregivers is enormous, with many leaving the workforce entirely. 💔 • We urgently need a national strategy for caregiving, including support for family caregivers and innovative technologies. The caregiving crisis is not a future problem—it's here, now, affecting millions of families. It's not a niche issue, but an "everyone issue." It's time for a national conversation on caregiving that transcends partisan politics. Our leaders must address this silent epidemic with the urgency it deserves. Caregiving is not just a policy issue—it's a moral imperative that defines us as a society. Let's demand better from our leaders.

Caregiving does not exist in isolation of the rest of life. It can be all consuming. Clearing out old photos, there are so many that document my mom's health issues over the 10 years I was her primary caregiver. High blood pressure, falls, hospitalizations, heart valve replacement, assistive devices, infections....and they are seen in the context of other aspects of my life: the business trips, graduations, leaking water pipes, other family members' illnesses and injuries. I was reminded of one time in particular, when I was truly alone and felt completely overwhelmed to the point of nausea. My husband was out of town on business, my son at college. My mother was in the hospital and my dog had an injury to his dew claw. The hospital and the vet were in opposite directions, each 25 minutes from my house. After having the vet check my dog's injury remotely, I tried to clean it and change the bandage twice a day. At one point, I chose being with my mother longer, or maybe she was having some tests, and somehow, this led to my not changing the dog's bandage and the injury becoming infected. It was so painful to know that choosing between the two of them had led to this. I then had to choose again: take my dog to the vet, or miss being in the hospital and advocating for my mom. And I was fortunate that work could take somewhat of a backseat during this brief period, as I have my own business. But whether self-employed or not, caregiving takes a toll on the caregiver, impacting their capacities at work and home, impacting every aspect of their lives. Our situation worked out well. Despite the distress it had caused me, my mom recovered, my dog recovered. But this illustrates the many painful choices, sometimes with significant consequences, that the 53 million family caregivers in our nation face regularly. How can you support a caregiver today? As a friend, a relative, a neighbor, a health care provider, an employer? My recommendation is to reach out an ask them what they need, and offer specific options of what you can do. What recommendations do you have? #familycaregiver #caregiving #homehealthcare #ltss #EAP #ltci