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Importance of Family The actor, David Ogden Stiers, defines family as a unit where “no one gets left behind or forgotten.” People may have a family or choose to select a nuclear unit as a family. What continues to be important is to receive close, trusted, personal support as one age. Personal and medical histories […]

Lifelong Learning for Seniors We never stop learning. Each day brings an opportunity to broaden horizons, gather an important piece of history, or learn a piece of trivia to astound friends and family. Learning changes the world.   Seniors are reaching out to many educational events designed just for those way past the traditional education […]

Seniors have been granted much in life. At the age of sixteen, a driver’s license was possible. Voting rights were granted at the age of twenty-one and in 1971 eighteen-year-olds could vote. Legal Age (age of majority) between eighteen and twenty-one as determined by individual states, allowed current Seniors to enter into contracts, manage personal […]

Summertime… when temperatures reach into the 90s and 100s, often accompanied by uncomfortable humidity. Cooks are not rushing into hot kitchens, but Seniors are craving colder fares and cool beverages. An abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables fortunately bring healthy choices for Summer meals. Eating fresh produce provides nutrients needed for energy, strong immune systems, […]

Freedom is not free. How many times has this been said… and still, most take our country’s freedom for granted, or for themselves. The USS Midway Museum in Washington D.C. is taking steps to ensure history is not just written but spoken. Veterans of several wars, primarily Vietnam, are recording experiences during and after the […]

America celebrated its independence just two days ago… a freedom founded almost 250 years ago. Our founding fathers discussed freedoms for all aspects of life, scorned injustice, rallied the masses, and never, ever lost sight of a new and better country. Have you ever wondered who these men were and what their lives aside of […]

Summer temperatures seem to be hotter every year, or could Seniors be experiencing an unreliable body temperature breakdown? Either way, cool-down choices are available. Fans, air conditioning, cool showers… all will decrease feelings of warmth. However, none of these choices offer the benefit of both socialization and healthy activity. How to solve the dilemma? Keep […]

Johnny Cash sang about travel… “I’ve been everywhere, man.” As a country singer, he was destined to have seen most of the world, including the United States. Seniors remember family vacations in station wagons, without seat belts, air conditioning, or navigation systems. Cruises? Month long destinations? Quiet little get-aways? These were not so common when […]

Social and “old-fashioned” media sources are full of ideas to stay healthy, be fit, and reinvent oneself at a “ripe” age. Not all Seniors are able, or even comfortable, being participants, but most do enjoy watching or reading about those who take the challenge of Senior Olympics. Cheer on for the following participants. Swedish shooter […]

The National Library of Health has broken down the statistics of caring for a family member over the age of sixty-five to be at least 17.7 million individuals who give more than 18 ½ billion hours of unpaid care annually. in the United States Family members needing assistance due to physical, mental, or cognitive limitations […]

Seniors are mentally and physically better when there is someone to talk to, share life’s ups and downs with, and help them feel an important part of life. How about a dog? Wow! Who would have thought? There are several breeds of dogs suggested for Seniors based on personality traits, level of energy, and ease […]

“Infants laugh almost from birth. In fact, people who are born blind and deaf still laugh. So we know it is not a learned behavior. Humans are hardwired for laughter.” says Steve Wilson, MA, CSP, a psychologist and laugh therapist. What do sea monsters eat? Fish and ships   A great study on laughter from Psychology […]

WELCOME SPRING!   Poor winter, we are always looking for its demise… but Spring, this is a season much anticipated! No more ice or snow ending chances of outside engagements as Spring opens doors and invites loved ones to shed coats and bask in the sun. Spring gives Seniors numerous occasions to engage outdoors.   […]

Life in general accentuates contrasts between men and women, but the aging process highlights differences even further with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). More women than men suffer from Alzheimer’s. This may be supported by realizing women have a longer life span. The reasons could be many…Hormones? Genetics? Stress? Cortisol, the hormone for stress, […]

As the Irish say, “Never iron a shamrock. You don’t want to press your luck!” We may laugh with the Irish but when it comes to celebrations and food, the Irish are serious. If you happen to be Irish (isn’t everyone on March 17th? ) try these Gaelic recipes and invite hungry Seniors and friends […]

Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did… only backwards and in heels! March is Women’s History Month and Bridge to Better Living is celebrating…after all, our staff is composed entirely of women! Let’s take a peek at the gender who has impacted the world. Eve… there are no direct quotes, but she definitely was an […]

Hans Christian Anderson may have lived in a fairy-tale world, but once he did accurately state, “When words fail, music speaks.”  One has to wonder if even hundreds of years ago, music was recognized as a form of therapy.   Music begins at birth with lullabies hummed or sung. Tunes are memorized as we age… […]

Dr Gary Chapman, author of Five Languages of Love, shares his theory on the five ways we as humans demonstrate love: Words of affirmation; quality time; physical touch; acts of service; and receiving and giving gifts. In all honesty, most people express love in all of the five.   Love, especially as Seniors, requires adaptability, […]

The search for love has nothing to do with age. Everyone wants to be loved and when love happens… completeness. Birthdays as we age do challenge the uniqueness of celebrating Valentine’s Day. How many ways are there to share feelings for each other? Take a peek at how love is celebrated around the world. Valentine’s […]

Winter Travel Saftey cab·in fe·ver [ˈkabən ˌfēvər] NOUN: irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.   Unless having lived in a more temperate climate, Seniors most likely experienced this malady at least once in a lifetime of winters. A good book, television series, old movie, or one-man […]

Bookstores have multitudes of shelves dedicated to Chicken Soup for….. manuscripts filled with stories to warm the heart or have readers reaching for a Kleenex to dry tears. There is even one dedicated to Seniors and Bridge to Better Living could have written a few of its familiar stories! However, our staff is thinking with […]

Goals For a New Year January 1st marked the beginning of a new year and fresh opportunities to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. As Steve Harvey has said, “You are never too old to reinvent yourself.” Let’s get started. Holidays traditionally present Seniors and their loved ones an abundance of sweets and carb-loaded dishes. Resolve […]

Which celebrations do you partake in during the holidays? Do you light a menorah or decorate a tree? Are these traditions handed down through generations or blended with those of loved ones?  Are family customs religious rituals or ethnic practices? Seniors are rich in tradition, as the past is recalled, and the hope for a […]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or so the song goes. If one manages to be a giver, every day is an opportunity to bring little gifts, but additional hints for holiday giving may be needed… especially presents for a Senior. The perfect gift could be a challenge as many Seniors have compiled […]

Estelle Getty Estelle Getty was born one hundred years ago to Polish immigrants. She has been gone for fifteen years but is still remembered by Seniors as Sophia Petrillo, the comical mother on “The Golden Girls.” If you haven’t watched the sitcom, look for it on the Internet. Tis the season for a good laugh. […]

Gratitude is Attitude Have you heard “Gratitude is an attitude?” Usually, the person speaking smirks and uses an overconfident tone as if this is a well-kept secret. The happiest people in the world exercise gratitude and wonder why others just…  don’t…  get… it. Many Seniors have survived war, rationing, epidemics, loss of loved ones, and […]

“I’ve always envied people who sleep easily. Their brains must be cleaner, the floorboards of the skull well swept, all the little monsters closed up in a steamer trunk at the foot of the bed.”― David Benioff, City of Thieves. Sleep, as we age, seems to become more valuable and less attainable. Those who rest effortlessly are […]

November and December are undeniably heavy mail months. Seniors find a plethora of flyers and unsolicited information regarding Medicare, supplemental health insurance, or political flyers in their mailboxes. Information on caring for a loved one, a commitment not traditionally covered by insurance, is seldom found.   The National Library of Health has broken down the […]

“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” Shakespeare envisioned a magical world where foggy valleys hid enchanting and horrific worlds inhabited by sorcerers and witches. Spine-tingling stories continue to entertain…especially at Halloween. Many Seniors enjoy kicking fright up a notch and don Halloween costumes of favorite characters. An inner child exists in […]

The Power of Positivity: Mindset and Happiness Later in Life “Be positive.” “ Make lemonade out of lemons.” Simply stated… life is hard and there is always a plethora of upbeat advice on how to be positive. Seniors, however, seem to be more likely to take life in stride due to past experiences and use […]

Roget’s Thesaurus Seniors often joke about not finding the right word at the right time. Quite a few words are absorbed over a lifetime so struggling to use the appropriate one may seem natural. Peter Mark Roget, however, was not comfortable with the loss of repetition of a word in conversation or writing. At the […]

Alzheimer’s Disease How does one define loss? Is it the passing of a friend or loved one? Loss could be knowing a loved one’s presence has been altered, perhaps to a diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Experts refer to Alzheimer’s Disease as “the long goodbye.” Loved ones continue life, but those with Alzheimer’s Disease are […]

Elderly Nutrition is important, and proper nutrition is important at every age. Adopting a well-balanced nutritional diet, rich in essential vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients boosts the immune system, prevents the risk of Heart Disease, and helps the brain to function. As we age, meals become challenging, and not just because of the food on our […]

Healthy minds and bodies are a result of staying active and engaged. Ask yourself if you or your loved one are truly committed to being active or has it simply been a longtime goal. Are you exercising every day? If not, why not? As we age, there is an increased chance of being overweight, sedentary […]

“Connections between generations are essential for the mental health and stability of a nation.” Margaret Mead was deeply aware of the importance of past, present, and future possibilities. We have a need for all, regardless of age, to connect with each other. The Legacy Project offers information impacting all generations and highlights how historically, families […]

Our brains are the largest organs in the body. Weighing only three pounds brains control intelligence, interpret senses, initiate body movement, and control behavior. The aging process has most Seniors well aware of changes in these functions. The National Institute on Aging states forgetting words or names, difficulty with multitasking, and a mild decrease in […]

Retirees are extremely lucky. Why? One, they have time on their hands. Two, having had many experiences, Seniors are equipped to make contributions to a community. Three, they are presented with multiple volunteering options. Twenty-five percent of volunteers in America are over the age of sixty-five with Seniors being the backbone of building communities. Communities […]

Grandma Moses was seventy-eight when she began painting. Tom Parker (Colonel Sanders) was sixty-five when he opened Kentucky Fried Chicken. How old should a Senior be to realize their dream of starting a business?  An ABC network report reveals the older generation is much more successful building a business due to social networks, experience and […]

Author Terry Mark states “Sometimes people are afraid of falling in love, because it sometimes comes in a way we never expected.” Are Seniors likely to find love in their golden years? Is romance still possible? As we age, “falling” in love takes on a new meaning. Seniors are searching for companionship, someone to share […]

Money is not everything… but it certainly helps. The National Institute on Retirement Security reports forty percent of older Americans rely solely on Social Security as income. Only seven percent of Retirees have ideal income scenarios drawing from three sources: Social Security, a Pension, and Savings, commonly referred to as the “three-legged stool.” Alarming? Surprising? […]

Aging With Grace: A Story   Edward and Grace… a love story if ever there was one. The two met in college, dated, fell in love,  and wed. Early years were filled with all the firsts… home purchases, career navigation, children. Inevitably home repairs, hospitalizations, moving costs, and unexpected expenses arose. Somehow, Edward and Grace managed. […]

“Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway.” –Unknown. What a wonderful thought… you are in total control of which road to take, the destination, and the people met along the way. Retirement has presented Seniors time to travel, whether to another neighborhood, city, state, or country. […]

Statistics Caregiver statistics are true eye-openers to those who have yet to experienced it. Sixty five percent of care recipients are female, with an average age of 69.4. In 2021, the estimated economic value of family caregivers’ unpaid contributions was approximately $600 billion. Over 70% of caregivers over the age of 70 die before their care […]

 The Importance of Long-Term Care Insurance Long Term Care Insurance is a popular topic among Baby Boomers and for a very good reason. Life expectancy has grown from seventy years in 1970, Long Term Care Insurance began, to seventy-nine years of age in 2023. The Pennsylvania State Healthcare Association reports over 70% of people currently […]

How to be Social as a Senior More than 13 million people aged 65 and older lived alone in 2017, a situation challenging to a person’s mental and physical health. Social well-being is not a product of spontaneity, but of a lifestyle. As we age it is natural to withdraw as we lose family and friends to […]