Telesummit to explore senior living options

Have you considered where you'll live as you grow older? Maybe your parents are exploring their options right now. Next week, Choices: Senior Living Options, a four-part telesummit will be hosted by Dale Carter of Transition Aging Parents.

Taking place at 8pm Eastern time November 2-5, the telesummit will feature experts discussing one of four senior living options:

Monday, November 2 - Aging in Place
Mark Hager, Co-owner of Age in Place Networks, LLC

Tuesday, November 3 - Continuing Care Retirement Community
Jill Gilbert, Vice President, Caring.com and founder The Gilbert Guide

Wednesday, November 4 - Assisted Living
Lisa Sneddon, Founder, Senior Living Experts

Thursday, November 5 - Nursing Home
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, PhD, Nursing home psychologist

Each expert will answer questions include:

• What is this living option? Why would someone choose this option over one of the others?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of making this choice?
• After we make this choice, how do we find the right place?
• What's the cost and how do we pay for it? Where can we get financial help?
• How can I best help transition my aging parent to this new type of living situation?
• How will I know when it's time to make a change to another option?

Participation in the telesummit is free. Attend all four discussions or just one. For more details and to reserve your spot, click here.

Mrs. Brady goes technical

Maybe you've been on the receiving end of one these calls or maybe you're the caller:

Mother: "Hi. I'm having trouble with my computer. Can you help me?"

Adult Child: "Ok. I live 3 hours away and can't see your computer, but I'll do my best. What's up?"

Mother: "Well, Jane sent me a picture in my e-mail and I clicked 'download' but it doesn't come up. I can't see it."

Adult Child: "Where did you download it to?"

Mother: "What do you mean? To my computer, of course."

Adult Child: "Ok. But what folder?"

Mother: "What 'what folder' ? I just clicked download..."

You know how it goes from there. Mother gets frustrated because all she wants is to see the picture. Adult child might get exasperated because clearly they are not talking the same language. What's an older adult or an adult child to do?

Mrs. Brady to the rescue! Florence Henderson, forever etched in our collective memory as Carol Brady of The Brady Bunch fame, recently launched the FloH Club, a tech-support hotline for older adults who want to connect with others using the Web, smart phones and other technology, but aren’t exactly sure how.

The cost of the service is $25/month with small discounts for purchasing six or 12 months at a time. The FloH Club also offers a one-time "Empowerment Service" for coaching on one topic, such as how to use e-mail or how to Skype, for $50. Visit the site to sign up for a free monthly e-newsletter that covers tech topics for older adults.

With the holidays just around the corner, an annual membership would make a great gift for an older loved one who wants to go virtual, but needs a little tech support.

All Things Aging makes list of top 45 senior/boomer blogs on Twitter!

Woohoo! Well, this is a fine way to start off the week. All Things Aging made the list of "Top 45 Senior and Boomer Blogs on Twitter" at Seniors for Living.

We're in great company with sites including Transition Aging Parents, Carebuzz and The Gilbert Guide. The article gives both the Twitter names and the URL for each blog.

Check out the entire list here. Lots of good stuff there!

Two films address issues of aging

In Indianapolis each October, the Heartland Film Festival showcases inspiring independent films from around the world. Each of the nearly 50 films to be screened at Heartland this year was selected for its artistic expression of hope and respect for the positive values of life.

One of the films selected this year is "Another Harvest Moon," starring such Hollywood heavy hitters as Ernest Borgnine, Piper Laurie, Anne Meara, Doris Roberts, Richard Schiff and Cybill Shepherd. The Heartland Festival Guide describes the film as:


A tender drama about four elderly Americans coping with life in a nursing home. Frank, Ella, Alice and June gather each morning for a game of cards. They have become a family to one another. One morning Frank reveals to Ella that he can no longer remember his wife's face and that he doesn't want to live to endure another debilitating stroke. As Frank ponders his decision and his next move, his friends and family must confront their own feelings about faith, dignity and our obligations to our loved ones.

"Another Harvest Moon," which has been screened at several other film festivals, will be shown four times at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis. Click here for show dates and times.

A documentary about aging will make its public debut at the Indiana Collaborative Conference on Aging on November 10, 2009.

"When Did I Get Old: Reflections on Aging Today" provides examples of aging that cause us to examine assumptions, explore possibilities and make plans for personal and community action. It was developed by WFYI Productions under the guidance of the Center for Aging & Community at the University of Indianapolis and the Center On Aging and Community at Indiana University.

Though the film uses examples and aging experts from Indiana, the questions it raises are relevant to communities throughout the U.S. The collaborators of the documentary have also produced a discussion guide that will allow community groups to thoughtfully consider the subjects of perceptions, purpose, place and preparation as they relate to aging.

For more information about "When Did I Get Old: Reflections on Aging Today," including how you can arrange for a viewing for your community or group, please call the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community at (317) 791-5930.

Breaking the "little old lady" stereotype

I know this is a commercial to promote Boy Scouts, but I love what it also says about "the little old lady" who needs help crossing. She obviously loves adventure!

Now, I understand that this is a commercial. It was scripted. But there are plenty of older adults who live life with similar gusto. Former President George H. Bush celebrated both his 75th and 85th birthdays by skydiving.

Indianapolis-based charity Never Too Late, which grants wishes to seniors, has fulfilled requests that range from racing around the famed Indianapolis 500 track to tooling around town on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The organization Elderhostel offers adventure trips that include hiking, backpacking and canyoneering.

Of course, not every older adult wishes to jump from an airplane or race at excessive speeds. But I think the more images in the media that show our elders active and enjoying life, the better.


Amy Magan
Communications Manager