The Silver Century Foundation promotes a positive view of aging. The Foundation challenges entrenched and harmful stereotypes, encourages dialogue between generations, advocates planning for the second half of life and raises awareness to educate and inspire everyone to live long, healthy, empowered lives.
Top Experts Question the Value of Advance Care PlanningMay 24, 2022by Judith Graham-For decades, Americans have been urged to fill out documents specifying their end-of-life wishes before becoming terminally ill—living wills, do-not-resuscitate orders and other written materials expressing treatment preferences.
Keeping an Eye on Older Adults with a Camera or SensorsApril 12, 2022by Sofie Kodner-In the middle of a rainy Michigan night, 88-year-old Dian Wurdock walked out the front door of her son’s home in Grand Rapids, MI, barefoot and coatless.
The Surprising Importance of Casual AcquaintancesFebruary 3, 2022by Judith Graham-In May, Vincent Keenan traveled from Chicago to Charlottesville, VA, for a wedding—his first trip out of town since the start of the pandemic.
Crafting: A Way to Cope during the PandemicJune 9, 2021by Mary Jacobs-When KathLynne Lauterback, 64, retired in January 2020, she and her husband planned to move to a new place and to travel. But just a few months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. A health crisis sent her husband to the…
His Medical Crisis Took Us by SurpriseApril 21, 2021by Judith Graham-Earlier this month, my husband picked up the phone and learned his 92-year-old father had been taken to the hospital that morning, feeling sick and short of breath.
The Doctor Is In (Virtually)December 9, 2020by Mary Jacobs-As a retired registered nurse, Donna Bening, 81, has known for decades that telemedicine was coming. Her expectations have been realized this year. Bening had two virtual visits via videoconference: first with her primary care physician for a routine checkup,…
Bob Blancato: Fighting Elder Abuse through PoliticsNovember 11, 2020by Leigh Ann Hubbard-In 1981, a US Senate committee released the first congressional report on a problem that was gradually coming to light—one that was “shameful” and “alien to the American spirit.” It was being called elder abuse.
Patient Advocates: Pathfinders in the Complex World of MedicineJune 11, 2020by Mary Jacobs-When a life-threatening staph infection sent Dominick Buttiglieri, 64, to the hospital, his situation quickly worsened—and his wife, Deborah, soon felt overwhelmed. “His organs were shutting down, and the doctors weren’t giving us much hope,” she said. Dominick was in…
Parenting Your Aging ParentsMay 27, 2020by Judith Graham-David Solie’s 89-year-old mother, Carol, was unyielding. “No, I will not move,” she told her son every time he suggested that she leave her home and relocate to a senior-living residence.
Where Should You Go to Recover after a Hospitalization? April 7, 2020by Judith Graham-Every year, nearly two million people on Medicare—most of them older adults—go to a skilled nursing facility to recover after a hospitalization. But choosing the facility can be daunting, according to an emerging body of research.
Researchers Seek Sage Advice of Elders on Aging IssuesDecember 10, 2019by Judith Graham-Rachel O’Conor booted up her slides and began posing questions to six older adults sitting around a table: How should primary care physicians support patients and caregivers after a diagnosis of dementia? And what stands in the way of getting adequate support?
What If You Don’t Want Dialysis?July 10, 2019by Judith Graham-Susan Wong, MD, sat down with an 84-year-old patient in the hospital, where he’d been admitted with a flare-up of a serious auto-immune condition and deteriorating kidney function.
‘Elder Orphans’ Need Fallback PlansMay 15, 2019by Judith Graham-It was a memorable place to have an “aha” moment about aging.Peter Sperry had taken his 82-year-old father, who’d had a stroke and used a wheelchair, to Disney World.
Breaking the Age BarrierMay 3, 2019by Mary Jacobs-Art Russell, 60, counts at least a dozen 20-somethings as friends: the guys he fences with; a 26-year-old colleague at work; and several people who attend his church. Although he also has many friends his own age, Russell values those…
New Challenges for GrandparentsMarch 5, 2019by Mary Jacobs-As a divorced, single mom, Karen Spencer thought she was done raising children when her son and two daughters grew up and left home. It didn’t work out that way.
A Hidden Epidemic Threatens Older Adults: Malnutritionby Mary Jacobs-For most of her life, Jenny Anne Horst-Martz’s mother worked hard to stay slender. But now, at age 90, her mother struggles to keep enough weight on. The problem started a few years ago when her mother was injured in…
The Parade of Aidesby Howard Gensler-Working as a caregiver for a friend or family member is a rewarding but stressful job. When my mom qualified for an aide (thanks to the pooled income trust and Medicaid), it gave me a break during the day to…
Villages: Boutique Options for Aging in Place July 28, 2022 - 
Top Experts Question the Value of Advance Care Planning May 24, 2022 - For decades, Americans have been urged to fill out documents specifying their end-of-life wishes before becoming terminally ill—living wills, do-not-resuscitate orders and other written materials expressing treatment preferences.
Keeping an Eye on Older Adults with a Camera or Sensors April 12, 2022 - In the middle of a rainy Michigan night, 88-year-old Dian Wurdock walked out the front door of her son’s home in Grand Rapids, MI, barefoot and coatless. 
Saying a Wrenching Goodbye to My Longtime Primary Care Doctor March 30, 2022 - I hadn’t expected the tears.
My primary care doctor and I were saying goodbye after nearly 30 years together.
The Surprising Importance of Casual Acquaintances February 3, 2022 - In May, Vincent Keenan traveled from Chicago to Charlottesville, VA, for a wedding—his first trip out of town since the start of the pandemic.
Intimidated by Smartphones or Tablets? Help Is Available December 8, 2021 - Six months ago, Cindy Sanders, 68, bought a computer so she could learn how to email and have Zoom chats with her great-grandchildren.
What Happens When a Geriatrician Becomes a Caregiver? July 27, 2021 - The loss of a husband. The death of a sister. Taking in an elderly mother with dementia.
Crafting: A Way to Cope during the Pandemic June 9, 2021 - When KathLynne Lauterback, 64, retired in January 2020, she and her husband planned to move to a new place and to travel. But just a few months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. A health crisis sent her husband to the…
Why Technology Matters So Much for Older People during a Pandemic May 19, 2021 - Family gatherings on Zoom and FaceTime. Online orders from grocery stores and pharmacies. Telehealth appointments with physicians.
His Medical Crisis Took Us by Surprise April 21, 2021 - Earlier this month, my husband picked up the phone and learned his 92-year-old father had been taken to the hospital that morning, feeling sick and short of breath.
The Doctor Is In (Virtually) December 9, 2020 - As a retired registered nurse, Donna Bening, 81, has known for decades that telemedicine was coming. Her expectations have been realized this year. Bening had two virtual visits via videoconference: first with her primary care physician for a routine checkup,…
Bob Blancato: Fighting Elder Abuse through Politics November 11, 2020 - In 1981, a US Senate committee released the first congressional report on a problem that was gradually coming to light—one that was “shameful” and “alien to the American spirit.” It was being called elder abuse. 
Patient Advocates: Pathfinders in the Complex World of Medicine June 11, 2020 - When a life-threatening staph infection sent Dominick Buttiglieri, 64, to the hospital, his situation quickly worsened—and his wife, Deborah, soon felt overwhelmed. “His organs were shutting down, and the doctors weren’t giving us much hope,” she said. Dominick was in…
Parenting Your Aging Parents May 27, 2020 - David Solie’s 89-year-old mother, Carol, was unyielding. “No, I will not move,” she told her son every time he suggested that she leave her home and relocate to a senior-living residence.
Where Should You Go to Recover after a Hospitalization? April 7, 2020 - Every year, nearly two million people on Medicare—most of them older adults—go to a skilled nursing facility to recover after a hospitalization. But choosing the facility can be daunting, according to an emerging body of research.
Researchers Seek Sage Advice of Elders on Aging Issues December 10, 2019 - Rachel O’Conor booted up her slides and began posing questions to six older adults sitting around a table: How should primary care physicians support patients and caregivers after a diagnosis of dementia? And what stands in the way of getting adequate support?
What If You Don’t Want Dialysis? July 10, 2019 - Susan Wong, MD, sat down with an 84-year-old patient in the hospital, where he’d been admitted with a flare-up of a serious auto-immune condition and deteriorating kidney function.
‘Elder Orphans’ Need Fallback Plans May 15, 2019 - It was a memorable place to have an “aha” moment about aging.
Peter Sperry had taken his 82-year-old father, who’d had a stroke and used a wheelchair, to Disney World.
Breaking the Age Barrier May 3, 2019 - Art Russell, 60, counts at least a dozen 20-somethings as friends: the guys he fences with; a 26-year-old colleague at work; and several people who attend his church. Although he also has many friends his own age, Russell values those…
New Challenges for Grandparents March 5, 2019 - As a divorced, single mom, Karen Spencer thought she was done raising children when her son and two daughters grew up and left home. It didn’t work out that way.
A Hidden Epidemic Threatens Older Adults: Malnutrition - For most of her life, Jenny Anne Horst-Martz’s mother worked hard to stay slender. But now, at age 90, her mother struggles to keep enough weight on. The problem started a few years ago when her mother was injured in…
The Parade of Aides - Working as a caregiver for a friend or family member is a rewarding but stressful job. When my mom qualified for an aide (thanks to the pooled income trust and Medicaid), it gave me a break during the day to…