Tips on Caring for Yourself as You Care for Your Loved One
Both professional and family caregivers tend to be committed and selfless people who put their own needs in the background in order to give the best care possible to others. A common consequence of this well-meaning dedication can be “caregiver burnout.”
A New Ecumen-Managed Community for a New Breed of Seniors Opens in Novi, MI
Ecumen-managed Rose Senior Living at Providence Park, a new state-of-the-art senior living community on the St. John Providence Hospital Campus in Novi, MI, is now officially open and has named Amber Bach as its Executive Director.
Aging With Purpose in America Is Abundant
All you ageists – and you know who you are – believe that older adults contribute little to the world. And you’re wrong.
When Older Brains Get Better: A Refreshing Perspective on ‘Senior Moments’
Older brains can do things that younger brains cannot.
Ecumen Centennial House Treats Apple Valley Police Officers
Ecumen Centennial House hosted several police officers and detectives from the Apple Valley Police Department this week for “Coffee with a Cop.”
“You Look Good for Your Age” and Other Everyday Ageist Expressions To Avoid
Our daily interactions are full of casual jokes, clichés, and compliments that are blatantly ageist but culturally acceptable.
“Casual ageism” is rampant and not as harmless as it seems. Katy Read, writing in the Star Tribune, takes a comprehensive look at those everyday ageist things we unwittingly say and do – and offers advice from experts on what we can do about the problem.
Accompanying the article are 12 examples of everyday ageism that are so common — and in many cases, well-meaning — that you might not even think much about them, according to Sally Brown of the Vital Aging Network:
- Birthday parties featuring black balloons and crepe paper, cards that make fun of getting old, joke gifts about aging.
- "Anti-aging" products and services.
- Praising older people by comparing them to younger ones: "You look good for [your age]," "You're young at heart" or "Inside, I feel 30 years younger."
- "You're still... [dancing, driving, going to the gym, wearing a particular style]" or "You're too old to do those things."
- Describing minor forgetfulness as a "senior moment."
- Doctors, waiters and others directing comments about an older person at a younger companion or child of the older person.
- Health care and social-service providers who patronize older people, or who undertreat, overtreat or overmedicate them.
- Patronizing language (sweetie, dear, honey, he's so sweet, isn't she cute). Thinking older people doing things associated with younger people (mild cursing, having or referring to sex) is adorable or surprising.
- Name-calling: geezer, gramps, old fart, dirty old man, little old lady, old bag, biddy, old fogey.
- Lying about your age for fear of negative perceptions, or staying "39" year after year.
- Assuming that young people are computer geniuses and older people are technologically inept.
- Discussions of the "silver tsunami" that blame older people for economic and social challenges.
Abiitan Mill City Featured on KSTP-TV's Twin Cities Live
Take a tour of Abiitan Mill City with KSTP-TV Reporter Emily Engberg.
Zvago Glen Lake Wins Top Real Estate Development Honor
Zvago Glen Lake Cooperative, a new senior housing community on the north shore of Glen Lake in Minnetonka, has won an Award of Excellence from the Minnesota Chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
An Appreciation of Ecumen’s Dedicated Chaplains
October is Clergy Appreciation Month, and Ecumen wants our chaplains to know how highly we value the work they do.
Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley Raises Over $1,800 at Lights of Honor Event
Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley recently raised more than $1,800 to benefit residents at its 2017 Lights of Honor ceremony.