November - 2020

Successful Aging

A weekly syndicated newspaper column by Helen Dennis

After 18 years and more than 875 columns, Helen continues to delight readers with her Successful Aging column for the Southern California News Group. The syndicated column reaches more than 1.6 million readers weekly.

Some positive trends in the way we view aging offer hopeful signs

Dear readers, I recently was interviewed by geropsychologist and author Joseph Casciani on his radio show “Living to 100 Club,” heard on the Voice of America Network, Health and Wellness channel. The show is designed to help older adults live their best life and “turn aging on its head.” Casciani sent me several questions to consider for the interview. As I reviewed the questions and the notes I had written in preparation, I realized my answers were a perspective on aging tha

3 ways to express gratitude as our pandemic-era Thanksgiving approaches

Dear readers, I recently attended a virtual Village Happy Hour, a monthly event sponsored by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Village. It brought together Village members to share a virtual drink, social connections and lively conversations. Note, the Village is a nonprofit membership organization to enhance older adults’ opportunities to age in place and stay connected to their community. (Other Villages in our community are the South Bay Village and Westside Pacific Village.) In

Successful Aging: Why acting your age may not be all it’s cracked up to be

I am a 75-year old woman who fortunately has the opportunity to continue working. Being self-employed helps. I am not always available to get together (safe distance, of course) with friends because of several consulting projects and some volunteer work. One friend recently said to me, “The problem is that you think you still are 60.” Essentially, she was saying, “act your age.” I found this disturbing. So, what does “act your age” mean to a 75-year-old woman? D.N Dear D.N. U

He has Alzheimer’s disease but she refuses to accept help caring for him: What is there to do?

Q. My father-in-law, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, needs care and can do little for himself. My mother-in-law who is 82 years old takes care of all of his needs and rarely takes any time for herself. Much to my frustration, she refuses to get any help. I am more worried about her than my father-in-law. Do you have any suggestions on what to do? I also need to have a better understanding of the disease. M.S. Dear M.S. You and your mother-in-law are facing a dilemma. Le

Successful Aging: So what exactly should an 81-year-old person sound like?

I had a phone conversation with a hospital receptionist to schedule an appointment for some lab work. I told her I did not want to drive to the Beverly Hills location and preferred a laboratory closer to my home. The reason was I was 81 years old, etc. The receptionist gasped and commented, “You don’t sound 81. I proceeded to tell her that I just returned from an 8:00 a.m. hike of over three miles along a trail. Another large gasp! I am not sure how an 81-year old woman is su

Successful Aging appears

in the following newspapers:

The Los Angeles Daily News

The Daily Breeze

Pasadena Star News

Long Beach Press Telegram

Whittier Daily News

San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Santa Barbara Sun

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Orange County Register

Redlands Daily Facts

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