Caregiving
Our March 24, 2026 News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club episode began with the importance of hydration, discussing a Today Show article quoting Emily Johnston PhD, who recommends drinking a full glass of water first thing in the morning. Dehydration can lead to serious health issues, including kidney problems and seizures. Ellen: “It’s…
Debbie Howard presented two articles: one on the caregiving crisis, highlighting the increasing stress and financial strain on caregivers, with the average caregiving duration at 4.5 years and rising caregiving hours. The second article focuses on questions to ask elders over the holidays to capture their life stories. Benjamin Surmi shared insights on memory care…
In our second Caregiver-Friendly Products episode this November, we featured innovators bringing meaningful support to families navigating dementia care, including community and peer-based programs as well as music-driven therapeutic connection. We also highlighted stylish personal emergency response technologies designed to help older adults live independently with confidence and dignity. This episode continued our recognition of…
November is National Family Caregiver Month. November 11 is Veteran’s Day. We discussed the McKinsey Health Institute’s report on investing in healthy aging in the USA, which projects that $1 invested in healthy aging interventions could yield $3 in economic and healthcare benefits. Key interventions include transportation, housing, and public safety. The report highlights a…
In this first of two Caregiver Friendly Products episodes recognizing 2025 National Family Caregivers Month, National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Home Care and Hospice Month, we featured four outstanding speakers all of them representing AgeTech Collaborative from AARP portfolio companies. AI elements were highlighted. Cost of care reduction and care enhancement were featured.…
October is Long-term Care Residents Rights Month October. October 9, 2025 is Ageism Awareness Day. Recorded on October 9, 2025, this episode is part of our Living Choices Series. Our goal was to explain through discussion with experts what “nursing homes” are as the term is used far too generically by many journalists. We touched…
Benjamin Surmi highlighted a significant study reported by NPR July 28, 2025, showing that structured lifestyle changes, including exercise and diet, can improve brain health and reduce dementia risk. The Alzheimer’s Association’s $40 million commitment to implementing these findings was noted. Ellen Khalifa discussed the importance of protein intake during menopause, emphasizing its role in…
We discussed AARP’s new report released in July on caregiving in the U.S. for 2025, revealing a surge to 63 million caregivers, a 45% increase over 10 years. Key findings include increased caregiving intensity, with 65% assisting with daily living activities and 58-59 million adult caregivers. The report highlights the need for policy changes, including…
Elizabeth Magallon Fleury highlighted a New York Times article by Mark Miller, noting the rising demand for long-term care due to an aging population and a shortage of workers, exacerbated by low wages and immigration policies. The article emphasized the misconception that Medicare covers long-term care and suggested planning for care costs. Debbie Howard introduced…
Valerie Larochelle of Eugeria highlighted their consumer facing e-commerce platform for vetted, dignifying products for dementia care as well as a B:B offering for memory care including the Idem smart calendar clock, the CRDL and Geri Gadgets. Elli Kaplan of Neurotrack emphasized their digital tools for early detection and monitoring of cognitive impairment, used in…
