Dear %$firstname$%,
Which Pathway for Aging Will You Choose?
by Jeannie Krause-Taylor, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
The Social Workers at Pathways for Aging see older adults in a wide variety of settings with varying degrees of happiness and satisfaction with life. We work to help people to have the highest quality of life possible, considering their situation and limitations. It has also led us to consider how all of us are anticipating living well into our 80s or 90s. How do we see ourselves at that age? How will others see us? Will we be happy?
Thanks to modern medicine we are living longer, but we are also sicker or disabled longer. We are more likely to die of a chronic illness than an acute illness. As more and more of the population lives longer, we need to begin to address how we can be happy in the aging process.
Most of us want to live a long life, yet historically American Society has portrayed "aging" as something to fear and avoid. You need only turn on your television to see the ads for all the anti-aging products - skin care, Botox, graying hair, arthritis, numerous medications for a variety of ailments. A group of researchers at Yale found that the more, older adults watch television, the more negative their views of aging. With the high value our society places on appearance, this was even more apparent for older women, than men.
The good news is that in April 2008, the National Institutes of Health released a report, indicating that surveys of Americans taken since 1972, suggest that many older people are quite happy and in general much happier than young people, despite facing health problems and the loss of friends and family.
Many of the older adults referred to Pathways for Aging are depressed or anxious and suffer from low self-esteem. Often they confide they feel useless and their life lacks purpose. While we work with them to help them recognize and appreciate their strengths, finding a purposeful activity can add new meaning to life. Even older adults, who reside in nursing homes, may be able to contribute through volunteering. We have helped clients by finding them projects ranging from folding brochures, delivering mail in the facility, to volunteering at the Alzheimer's Association.
One nursing home truly saw the value of this. There, I saw the perfect example of the importance of productive aging in an 82year-old woman who read a story each week at the employee daycare center, which is located in the facililty. She spent considerable time and effort choosing the story she would read to the children. Her delivery was quite animated and the children loved her, and she loved them. This simple activity was the highlight of her week. By giving of herself, she truly was helping herself.
So, how will you age? There is growing literature and research in the areas of positive aging, productive aging and civic engagement - people are exploring second careers that are service-oriented, or volunteering. Many Baby Boomers, are not seeking traditional retirement, but are looking for ways to remain active and engaged in life, which should help them to truly make their Golden Years - Golden!
So we ask - How will you age? How will you retire? Which pathway for aging will you follow?
Website Tip of the Month
The following websites offer some creative ideas of how to plan for a happy and productive retirement......
www.experiencecorps.org
www.encore.org
www.civicventures.org
www.retireeworkforce.com
Get to know our team.....
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Melanie Maynor, MSW, LCSW, joined Pathways for Aging in 2006.
At Washington University, my social work concentration was geriatrics. My first job out of school was in a gero-psych day program. I discovered my two passions in social work. I love working with older folks and hearing their stories. Much of my career has been in work with long-term psychiatric patients. I really enjoy being out and visiting people in their homes. Pathways for Aging provides me the opportunity to do all of the things that I love.
I often think that the elderly are experiencing more change than any other time in life. They are losing their homes, friends, spouses, independence, physical abilities, etc. It is a time where they need a tremendous about of support. It is a pleasure to hear their stories and help them process all the changes that are happening in their lives.
Outside of work, I am married with two children 5 and 3. We enjoy playing in the park, riding bikes and hopefully swimming when it warms up. I love to sew and read. Pathways for Aging allows me to work part-time and spend the rest of the week at home with my family. Working for Pathways for Aging, provides me so much joy and I believe it is so important to be able to take counseling right to the door of so many of our clients who would not be able to go out for services. |
Recent Posts on Our Blog
Older Americans Month May, 2008 Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities
I found this great article on Administration for Aging's website, which I want to share with you! I think it pretty much says it all - I especially appreciate the proactive focus on positive and healthy aging - instead of just reacting to problems. [more...]
Please Contact Us
Call us today at 314.361.3530 if you or a friend or family member needs help with an older adult.
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Pathways for Aging, Inc.
Helping you help the older adults
in your life.
Contact us at 314.361.3530
or e-mail us here.
Geriatric Care Management Psychotherapy
6614 Clayton Road, #235
St. Louis, Missouri 63117
How We Can Help
Personalized Care Management from the staff at Pathways for Aging provides:
Customized information about community resources to meet the needs of your loved one.
Peace of mind if you are separated from your loved one by geography or by a vacation or business trip.
Someone to act as your eyes and ears, and troubleshoots problems before they become crises.
A supportive advocate if you need to make life-altering decisions which impact quality-of-life, such as medical decisions, whether your loved one is able to continue independent living, when is it time to consider alternative housing, etc.
A professional to help with strained family relationships and negotiating difficult decisions.
Call us today at 314.361.3530 to see how we can help you. |
