Helen Dennis

I recently spoke to a male friend, age 82, who bemoaned the hardship of his life due to the coronavirus. I don’t think the issue is money. He lives alone so I assume he may feel isolated. Although I was empathetic, I pointed out that our generation as retirees is better off than most. Any evidence that this is true? N.D. Dear N.D. It’s difficult to deny your friend’s feelings of hardship. Many older adults are victims of the virus and suffer not only physically but also emoti

I recently had a conversation with a friend whose parents were retiring to Arizona. She referred to them as elderly. I asked their age. She replied, “They are 70 years old.” I was surprised that she described them as “elderly.” I am age 76 and just don’t identify with the term and would not want someone to describe me in that way. Is elderly a common and acceptable term to describe older people? What am I missing? N. N. Dear N.N. Words do matter. We have a problem when it com

Dear readers, It is time for some levity. Today’s column is about laughter and how it can help us manage these challenging times – both physically and mentally. Let’s start with the science behind laughter. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are both long- and short-term benefits. For the short term, laughter increases our intake of air which stimulates our heart, lungs and muscles. It also activates the secretion of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, “feel good” hormones s