We are all human beings. A short tutorial on making friends from Gerda Here is Gerda, one of the most fearless people I know when it comes to staying involved in what I call the social fabric of a community. Gerda, living at home until recently, typifies the person that we describe today as being […]
Mental Health while Aging – New News, Old News and Good News
What’s New News? The New News is the convergence of prolific data through research studies that says social isolation and loneliness is bad for your heart. Social isolation, especially among seniors, can be used to predict cardiovascular health outcomes. Overall, lack of social support and connectedness was found to be the strongest and most consistent […]
The Cost of the Emotional Labor on the Senior Living Space
Could more be done to support frontline workers? Those who have worked in senior living communities know it can be both challenging and rewarding. With this in mind, one survey and one study conducted within the senior industry have recently caught my eye. The Distressing Worker Shortage in the Senior Living Industry In August 2018, […]
Rebranding Aging: How Ageism is a Problem That We Can Do Something About
I am observing that ageism is all around us. As a spirited boomer, I feel grossly misunderstood and misrepresented. Why am I looked at as a social liability? Why doesn’t society attach more value to my “cohort” – one that possesses valuable knowledge, perspectives and ideas that can strengthen our communities? Some of the less […]
Being Invisible to Each Other
Being invisible to each other – We can do better. Recently, we convened a CircleTalk™ circle at a large apartment building where many of the residents had been neighbors for a long time. After our second group, I observed two of the men (Circle members) waiting for the elevator to get back to their respective […]
What makes life significant?
In 2014 Atul Gwande published his seminal book on end of life values and perspectives by the medical establishment. Let’s return to this except from the introduction and ask: Are we making headway in the fight to disrupt what is referred to as “the terror of isolation”? At CircleTalk, we believe that connection, belonging and […]
Dear CircleTalk
I am so glad that I decided to make the investment in myself to take the CircleTalk Leader Course. This has not only benefited me personally and professionally, but it has made a tremendous difference to older adults that I am serving. On a personal level, I have always wanted to know how to facilitate group […]
Circles Work – Here’s How
Meet Doris. Her daughter Mary is sitting next to her as Doris shares that she experienced complete isolation and loneliness when moving from her community of a lifetime to a senior residence. Flash forward… here is Doris 3 weeks after joining CircleTalk. Her social life has changed from disconnection to belonging; from isolation to connection and community. We never would have known […]
Active Circles – Help them grow!
Active Circles We are so excited to share with you that there are many active Circles in the Denver and Boulder area (and beyond) and the list, and numbers served, is growing! People are interested in this program because of the need, and because it works. CircleTalk alleviates loneliness by bringing people together – and the results are astounding. […]
Aging OUT LOUD
A ubiquitous call, finally. At CircleTalk, there is something in the air. Organizations and companies serving older adults are reaching out to us from many directions with the same concern: how can we offer new opportunities for meaningful engagement for our clients, residents and customers? How can we build community and connection? This month, The Gerontological […]
