Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem. A name synonymous with the women’s liberation movement. A woman who put feminism into the mainstream of American culture. A woman who gave other women a voice, a way to say, “I am woman, hear me roar!” (To borrow from Helen Reddy)

Gloria Steinem is 82. Ms. (she gave us that too) Steinem is as vital as ever. She most certainly has not retired as an activist. She recently published another book, My Life on the Road, about her travels. She continues to be a true force in the community. A consummate New Yorker, Ms. Steinem is currently working to transform the former Bayview Correctional Facility in Manhattan into a hub for organizations serving girls and women.

To give you a typical day I must quote the recent NYT article, lest I miss something. “She had things to do. There was a Yazidi woman, Nadia Murad Basee Taha, who was trafficked by the Islamic State, to interview for Viceland, and a promo for a Ms. Foundation fund-raiser to tape. She had to prepare for a talk at the United Jewish Appeal and a local news segment about the Women’s Media Center. She continued on her way.” *

We can all still take inspiration from Gloria Steinem. As ever, she is a remarkable woman doing remarkable work. Perhaps, your brand of remarkable isn't creating a revolution, starting organizations, or even writing bestsellers, but no matter your age you can definitely make a difference. You can volunteer, find ways for your company to give back to the community, or perhaps you want to see if you can work with Ms. Steinem in her new girl’s and women’s center. Like Ms. Steinem, you keep going.

* New York Times, October 9, 2016, on page MB1 of the New York edition with the headline: Gloria Steinem Never Stops. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/nyregion/gloria-steinem-feminist.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=2

National Family Caregivers Month

It would be remiss of me to let November slip by without recognizing National Family Caregivers Month. It's a time to honor and thank all family caregivers who, as President Obama wrote in his proclamation, “are the humble heroes who do so much to keep our families and communities strong.” This year's theme is Take Care to Give Care, and it's designed to remind caregivers to take care of themselves so that they can successfully care for their loved one (or neighbor). 

The National Family Caregivers Association runs an excellent website, Caregiver Action Network, www.caregiveraction.org. This site helps all caregivers. So, you may want to pass on this information to a friend in need of support in their caregiving efforts. 

I particularly like these ten tips which the site lays out for us:

10 Tips for Family Caregivers

1. Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!

2. Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.

3. Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.

4. Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.

5. Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.

6. Watch out for signs of depression and don't delay getting professional help when you need it.

7. Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.

8. Organize medical information so it's up to date and easy to find.

9. Make sure legal documents are in order.

10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

There's also a Family Caregiver Toolbox with many links to other sites, and even a special section on coping with Alzheimer's Disease. 

Retiring, Not!

People are working longer, later into their senior years. I could find you the statistics, but you've heard it and you've seen it. For example, there’s the receptionist at your doctor who has been there for decades, well even your doctor is growing old with you.

It's not just what They say, that 70 is the new 60, 60 is the new 50, etc.  People are living longer, yes, but they also feel as if they're not ready to retire. They're vital, healthy, sharp-minded and the stereotypical image of sitting around on the front porch rocking chair with a blanket on their lap just isn't appealing. Then, there's the fact that many people have to work, there are too many financial burdens to be able to live off of Social Security or maybe that pension.

Two recent articles in The New York Times demonstrated the kinds of work that's out there for “retirees.” One article featured a man whose was a hospital maintenance man, someone who had climbed the ranks to manager, who finally found that work was just too hard on his aging body. He became the concierge. Nobody knew the building better than him! [Too Old for Hard Labor, but Still on the Job, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/13/your-money/too-old-for-hard-labor-but-still-on-the-job.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fretiring] The other article featured a man whose heart attack caused him to slow down and he found a mentoring program that taught new technologies. He started his own business and created an interactive game to be used at a place he had loved as a child, Harper's Ferry Historical Site. He gets to make his own hours! [Older Entrepreneurs Take on the Concrete Ceiling, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/10/your-money/older-entrepreneurs-take-on-the-concrete-ceiling.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fretiring]

Both articles show that you can create a new life for yourself. These men channeled their previous skills into a new job. This probably seems like a daunting task, but it is entirely possible. Even I did it in going back to college for my Coaching Certificate a few years ago. So, here's some ideas to get you started:

You can consider changing jobs as an exciting opportunity to try something new. Try going back to your childhood passion; you may have loved baseball or jewelry making and you can explore what's available in those areas. Try that job you started with, as a teen or as an adult, and see what a lifetime of experiences brings to the job now. I'm not talking flipping burgers necessarily, but maybe those skills that you started acquiring as a camp counselor now, after all the other skills you've acquired, can be turned into a mentor position or managing a youth center. Try thinking of the things you love to do now, and find a way to turn them into a new job.


I like to tell people to look at the skills you've acquired in your various jobs, leadership, teamwork, problem solving, maybe even how to flip the perfect burger. Then, see what else you can apply those skills to, like the men in those articles did. Okay, maybe you won't be making as much money, but it can be enough. After looking at your skills, next embrace the change and make a plan, set actionable goals, and just do it. I can also suggest watching Robert DeNiro in The Intern for inspiration!


Lastly, remember there are people like me, there to help and support you along the way.

Fall Prevention for Community Dwelling Seniors

           In the past decade the trend in senior living has been moving towards assisted living and especially living in the community. While many seniors have found comfort living in a community of people in their same age range and enjoying minimal health services and specially designed activities, others have found greater comfort living in the home they've been in for years, in a familiar neighborhood where "everybody knows your name" and shopping is similar to what it's always been. There is a sense of security in the familiarity of everything, but this can be a false sense of security when seniors are frailer than in their passed years. Often with frailty comes an increased possibility of falling. Therefore, it's best to look around the house and see the hidden and not-so-hidden dangers that could cause a fall from a loose rug edge to a chair that doesn't quite fit the space, and even a staircase that doesn't have a railing.
         There are many websites which give suggestions for safely living at home. Check out these sites for ideas and suggestions. At this site from the National Council on Aging, the organization has outlined 6 Steps for Preventing Falls Among Your Older Loved Ones. Specifically designed for caregivers, including children caring for their parents, the steps give practical advice to help prevent falls from medication checking to checking for potential dangers around the house. Another source is from the Centers for Disease Control, STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) Materials for Your Older Adult Patients. It includes two brochures available in English and Spanish that can be printed out or ordered, Stay Independent (pointing out risks and how to prevent them) and What You Can Do to Prevent Falls (tips for staying safe and healthy in the home). Lastly, at SeniorCitizensGuide.com they have reprinted a checklist from the National Association of Home Builders on preparing the home for senior living, Aging-In-Place Design Checklists. Following even a few of these suggestions may mean the difference between having to live in a nursing home because of an injury and living in a safe environment in a familiar community.
                              The words in grey are links to the websites, click to go.