We are committed to combatting the ongoing persistence of loneliness and depression for those residing in senior living and aging in place. Is there any reason not to find new ways to offer great social engagement programs for older adults? We are pleased to offer another opportunity to learn how to connect and engage older […]
Be Someone Who Alleviates Loneliness: Be a CircleTalk Leader
Loneliness, which Emily Dickinson described as “the Horror not to be surveyed,” is a quiet devastation. We are learning that societies are waking up to the fact that something can actually be done about it. In Britain, loneliness in aging populations is being viewed as a serious public health issue deserving of public funds and […]
My Wonderful Mother- How the System Nearly Failed Her
Here I am with my mother, shortly to be 89, at a wonderful family event last summer. Since then she has been hospitalized with a serious infection and moved into a skilled nursing center for 6 weeks to “recover”. In a matter of days of admission, she was experiencing significant dementia (aka “hospital delirium”) and […]
What Is Your Organization Doing to Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?
What we know: Over 14 million people aged 65 and older live alone in USA. As social networks decrease as we age, we are at risk for chronic loneliness and isolation, or both. Seniors who feel lonely are more likely to report having poor physical and/or mental health. Loneliness and social isolation are major predictors […]
Mastering the Art of Connection For Seniors
Is it really possible to provide a “program” that will build a foundation for belonging, connection and community for older adults? You bet it is! Join us in a day of personal and professional growth as you learn the CircleTalk Method. The CircleTalk Leader Course is on Friday, December 1, 2017 in Boulder Colorado. CircleTalk […]
Aging and Transition: New to the block and needing to find some friends.
I cannot imagine being uprooted from where I live, moving from my home of 25+ years to a place where everything and everyone that’s familiar to me is suddenly changed. One word that comes to mind to describe this is devastating. We are all aware of the functional losses and illness-based impairments that compel older […]
CircleTalk featured in ‘The Healthy Caregiver’ Blog
The Healthy Caregiver Blog is a an online resource dedicated to maintaining a healthy body and mind while acting as a caregiver. The blog is written by Barbra Cohn, the author of the book Calmer Waters: The Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s and Dementia. ‘The Healthy Caregiver’ recently recognized CircleTalk for the work we are doing to keep aging […]
Listening: A Core Tenet of CircleTalk
I recently heard that one of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say. And isn’t showing respect also showing esteem, appreciation and recognition? All of this comes through by simply showing that you are listening. And yet, good listening is one of the hardest things to do. […]
Personal and Professional Development as a Retention Strategy in the Aging Space
Reflections on an article, “Supply Side Economics for Senior Living Operators” in McNight’s Professional Development Journal (April 2017). The Bureau of Labor Statistic reports that at least 2.5 million more workers will be needed by 2030 to provide care and services to the aging United States population. This is not surprising if you consider the […]
Loneliness and Suffering: Stemming the Tide
Although I have been researching loneliness among older adults for some time now, the ubiquity of this issue still astonishes me. Lately, a study titled: “Loneliness Linked to Serious Health Problems and Death Among Elderly” got my attention. From the University of California at San Francisco, it made many familiar points; the astoundingly high rate […]
