Helen Dennis

06/14/2026 Q. I recently went out for brunch with two of my lady friends who are in their mid-80s. After looking at their beautiful faces, I realized that at 87, I was the only one at the table with lines. I earned every one of those lines. Can you comment on this flawless trend? — I.R. A trend indeed! Our Western society is obsessed with a youthful appearance. This is not a new desire. We know that exposure to idealized images of women can lead to believing one’s physical ap

05/31/2026 This week’s theme is based on a card I received for my birthday several months ago. It was from my fitness coach with whom I meet twice a week. Yes, it’s to keep me strong, flexible, and “balanced.” The humorous birthday card read, “The secret to staying young is diet and exercise. No wonder it’s a secret. And that secret sucks.” And then he wrote, “I appreciate the hard work and your dedication over all these years. So happy with all you achieved in the past year

5/17/2026 May is the month when older adults are the stars. This is not about performing in a dance troupe, symphony, chorus, or drama. It’s about a month set aside to celebrate older Americans for their contribution to society. May is Older Americans Month. The observance is a time to recognize older Americans’ contributions, highlighting aging trends and reaffirming our commitment to serve older adults. Each year, there is a theme. This year’s theme is “Champion Your Health

5/2/2026 Q: My husband retired two years ago and loved his work. He still has not figured out his retirement. I am encouraging him to explore going back to work so he will be more fulfilled. We could use a little extra money. Your thoughts? C.L. At one time, retirement meant leaving the workforce permanently. That’s not the case today. We now have the “working retired.” Here’s some background information and examples that might help your husband think about possible next step

4/19/2025 April is Stress Awareness Month. It’s an annual campaign observed since 1992 to educate the public about the dangers of stress and provide resources to manage it. Stress is a state of worry or mental tension caused by challenging circumstances according to the World Health Organization. It’s our body’s natural response to life’s demands. People of all ages experience stress. It has been a component of our evolution and survival since the fight-or-flight response. Su

4/5/2026 In a recent column , I referred to a lecture I gave on “The Bonus Years: What It Takes to Thrive.” I shared some of the highlights from the “bonus section” of the lecture. This week, let’s talk about the second part: “What it takes to thrive.” Thriving means to live a fulfilling, purposeful and satisfying life, despite its challenges. It’s a feeling of well-being. So, what can we do to achieve this? Consider the following seven lifestyle habits, which are interrelat