Decision-Making

Over the last many decades, the human lifespan has increased. Furthermore, technology has allowed seriously ill individuals to continue living in circumstances previously unimaginable (for example, on ventilators or using computers to create artificial communication for those who can no longer speak). In some ways, these advances have been remarkable….

For those who have experienced this, you may remember cringing: A well-meaning nurse or physician called you “dear,” or asked you in an excessively sweet voice to “take this pill” or take a deep breath. This is considered “Elderspeak” and it reeks of ageism when it’s used in the health-care…

Regardless of how smart, savvy or sophisticated you think you are, none of us is immune from being scammed, especially in such turbulent times. Whether you’re dealing with a loss due to COVID or have been seriously affected by any of the natural disasters that have wreaked havoc in the…

You may know her best as the author of the New York Time’s best-seller, The Patient’s Checklist: 10 Simple Hospital Checklists To Keep You Safe, Sane And Organized. She’s an expert on everything you need to consider if you or a loved one becomes hospitalized. But writer Elizabeth Bailey also…

In the early months of the pandemic, especially when it became clear that older adults were at high risk of serious illness or even death from COVID, there was the hope that advance care planning (documenting your wishes regarding end-of-life care and appointing a health care proxy to speak on…

If there’s one silver lining that may emerge from the COVID pandemic, it may be our societal recognition that death is very much a part of life, and often requires the same sort of thoughtful planning we inevitably give to other life milestones. If you’re fortunate and considerate of your…