Years before the COVID-19 pandemic, I attended a conference hosted by the American Society on Aging. One session featured Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, whose research left a lasting impression. She shared a striking statistic: the health risks of loneliness and isolation in older adults are comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. I don’t usually remember numbers well, but that one stuck. And when I’ve shared it with others, the reaction is often disbelief—Really? That can’t be!
I have been pleased to discover that we at United Church Homes have an honored tradition of having family members working together in some of our communities. Moreover,..
I recently had a brief conversation with an acquaintance about Christmas. The older adult indicated that they didn’t have much to “get ready” as Christmas really is for..
The watchword for this fourth Sunday of Advent is “joy,” and from reading this week’s gospel lesson from Luke, it is easy to see why. As we read of Mary’s visit to her..
Advent: Love During worship at United Church Homes' Fairhaven Community, we light a candle each week in Advent as we travel the four Sundays to Christmas Eve. Each..
How can I write a blog about peace in these troubling times? Everywhere I look, I find unrest, conflict and violence. Everywhere I listen, I hear angry name-calling,..
As the days grow shorter, it is an ancient practice to ground the journey toward the divine in hope. The Christian church marks the beginning of the church year with the..
This blog is the fourth in a series of reflections from the 3rd annual Symposium with Dr. Ira Byock on October 12, 2018, Abundant Aging Through the End of Life.
I recently went to the doctor for an initial consultation. After the doctor entered the room and shook my hand, she did something which, to me, was amazing. She sat..
This blog is the third in a series of reflections from the 3rd annual Symposium with Dr. Ira Byock on October 12, 2018, Abundant Aging Through the End of Life.
