Elderly

Forget Dogs...How About Therapy Llamas?

Taylor Quimby — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:46:48 +0000

There are many ways to ease the pangs of loneliness, illness, and old age –among them, spending time with a friendly animal companion. More than ten thousand animals are currently registered as care workers in the United States - only fourteen of them however, are llamas. I recently spoke with llama trainer Niki Kuklenski of J.N.K. Llamas about how this unusual animal is playing a role in human therapy.

Check out a video from Colors Magazine that shows Niki's llamas in action.

Sex And The Elderly

Rebecca Lavoie — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:06:45 +0000

According to a 2010 AARP survey, 85% of men and 61% of women over fifty said sex is important to their quality of life. This number, coupled with increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases among adults over fifty, clashes with our societal taboo surrounding the elderly libido. Jessica Gentile wrote about that conflict, and the value of embracing sexuality at all ages for an Atlantic piece called “The 87 Year Old Virgin.”

If I Could Save Time in a Bank....

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:48:53 +0000

A new project in Concord uses time as currency. As it turns out, this currency might be more valuable than money, but not nearly as taxable.

Oregon Emphasizes Choices At The End Of Life

Kristian Foden-Vencil — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:38:00 +0000

It turns out Americans facing death want something they also want in life: choice.

A two-page form created in Oregon is providing insight into how people want to be cared for at the end of their lives.

What Retirement? Seniors Are Getting Back To Work

Yuki Noguchi — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:19:00 +0000

At 75, many people imagine they'll be retired and spending their time playing cards or on a golf course. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of working seniors is actually on the rise. In fact, it's more than doubled since 1990.

Ella Washington decided to go back to work at 83. Today, she's a receptionist in training at a senior living home outside Washington, D.C. She's hoping it will be a stepping stone to a real job, which she's been looking for since 2005.

"People say, 'Why do you want to go out and work?' But my question is: Why sit at home?" Washington says.