Helen Dennis

3/22/2026 This week I would like to share highlights of a recent lecture I gave, which I think might be of interest to you, our readers. The title is “The Bonus Years: What Does it Take to Thrive?” So, what do we mean by the bonus years? In 1900, life expectancy at birth was 47 years. Today, it’s a little over the age of 79. In the past 125 years, we have gained more than 30 years of life, which is transformational. This change in life expectancy has affected almost every as

3/8/2026 Q. I am in my late 60s and have been a runner since I was a teenager. Fitness is important to me. I have several friends my age and older who just don’t move. How can I motivate them? R.J. For starters, we know we cannot make folks do what they don’t want to do. However, if we care, that does not stop us from trying. Your friends are not alone. The decline in physical activity among older adults is well-documented. A 2024 CDC report finds that more than 85 percen

2/22/2026 In looking over my past columns, I realize there is one particular topic that I address every year. It’s the celebration of National Caregivers Day , which occurs on the third Friday in February each year. It is dedicated to raising awareness of the important role of family caregivers, bringing caregiving to the attention of the community and employers and developing a strategy to support unpaid caregivers. It’s an opportunity to celebrate and honor those who care

2/1/2026 This is a follow-up to the column published Jan. 18, 2026; that piece was about making the decision whether to age in place or move to an assisted living residence. In it, I quoted Sara Zeff Geber, who said, rather than aging in place, the real issue is to “age in the right place.” After that, I received the following question: How do I find the right place for my loved one who wants to live in an assisted living residence? Let’s start with some general information.

1/18/2026 Q. I am in despair and exhausted regarding my 99-year-old mother. My father, while he lived, did not encourage her to learn anything about electronics or the Internet. She cannot even manage her hearing aids and refuses to use a cellphone. Despite being fairly capable in her 99th year, she is completely cut off from the world. I have to manage everything to keep her at home. Our part-time caregiver speaks little English. Would moving my mother to an assisted living

12/21/2025 It’s that time again when many of us are thinking about our goals and aspirations for the next year. Here is one approach that might be helpful: Ask the question, “What have you learned in 2025 and how will you carry that forward as an intention for 2026?” That was the focus of a recent discussion with 16 women who were asked that question. The women are part of Renewment (retirement + renewal), an organization for mid-to-later life career women moving on to thei