Depression in Seniors

From painting to poetry, the benefits of art for seniors include memory support, emotional healing, self-confidence, and more.

It might start with a paintbrush, a lump of clay, or a blank sheet of paper. But what happens next can be truly transformative. For older adults, engaging in creative expression is good for the brain, the heart, and the soul.

Loss is never easy, but it tends to feel even heavier with age. After a lifetime of building meaningful relationships, each goodbye can feel like a piece of the heart breaking away. If you’re supporting an older adult through grief, you may feel unsure of what to say or do, but your presence and empathy can make all the difference.

Protecting our Seniors – Preventing Scams and Elder Financial Abuse

Earlier this week, the Marin IJ ran an article (https://www.marinij.com/2025/05/20/marin-investigators-accuse-suspect-of-scamming-seniors) highlighting a recent Elder Financial Abuse scam.  The two victims, 78 and 83 years old, were scammed to the tune of almost $100,000.  Fortunately, the perpetrator was caught and the Prosecuting Attorney is fighting for a very high bail.  All of this began with a phishing email seemingly coming from Amazon.

Unfortunately, these sorts of Elder Financial Abuse scams are becoming more and more common.  It is critically important that we all do our part to protect the elderly from this financial exploitation.  There are long laundry lists of what everyone can do to best protect themselves and their financial interests.  Keeping all your information as confidential as possible is paramount.  Use strong passwords, and never divulge them, or your account information.  … Read More »

Learn how to have healthy conversations with your parent to restore peace to your relationship.

When you dedicate so much time and energy to caring for a senior parent, it’s natural for other relationships to take a back seat. After all, there are only 24 hours in a day, and you can only spread yourself so thin. This can lead to additional stress, hurt feelings, and misunderstandings.

The key to overcoming this hurdle is communication. It means having healthy conversations with your parent that may be uncomfortable but allow the opportunity to air grievances, share feelings, and ultimately reinforce the love you have for each other.

Kicking Off a Courageous Conversation

First, know that a planned, formal meeting isn’t necessary for a conversation to be effective. It can be a quick chat while waiting for the coffee to … Read More »

If you suspect senior anxiety in someone you love, help is available.

Does an older adult you care about seem more withdrawn, restless, or forgetful than usual? While these changes may appear to be part of aging, they might actually indicate something deeper: senior anxiety.

Anxiety is more than just occasional worry or stress. In older adults, it can manifest in subtle or unexpected ways, including:

Persistent, obsessive thoughts
Recurrent nightmares that disrupt sleep
Repetitive behaviors, like checking and re-checking that appliances are off
Physical symptoms, such as sweating, dizziness, or a racing heart
Overreactions to otherwise manageable stressors

What Contributes to Anxiety in Aging Adults?

Aging brings unique challenges that may contribute to anxiety, including:

Side effects from medications
Chronic illnesses or reduced mobility
Grieving the loss of a loved one
Concerns about declining independence or financial stability
Unresolved childhood trauma

These factors, combined with changes in … Read More »

Purposeful living for seniors opens new doors to health, happiness, and fulfillment each day.

What exactly is it that gets you out of bed every day? If you’re part of the sandwich generation, providing care for both older and younger loved ones, your list is probably quite extensive! As the nest empties, however, it becomes important to redefine our identity and learn new ways to bring meaning to every day.

When a loved one is approaching the end of life, every moment becomes even more meaningful, but it can also be a time of great emotional difficulty. One of the changes you may notice is their decreasing interest in food and drink, which can be especially distressing. Watching someone you care about stop eating can leave you feeling worried, helpless, and unsure of how to help. However, understanding why these end-of-life eating changes happen and focusing on providing comfort rather than nourishment can ease this challenging time for both you and the person you love. The goal shifts from ensuring they eat to making sure they are comfortable and at peace.

Why Eating Changes Occur at the End of Life

As a person’s body prepares for the end of life, their need for food and drink diminishes. Metabolism slows, … Read More »

Join us for the 36th Annual Marin Senior Fair
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Marin Center Exhibit Hall

Wow, it has been quite an honor to have participated in THIRTY of the Thirty Six Senior Fairs!  We’re not too sure if anyone can say that?!?

This year’s theme is Flower Power, Where Peace and Wisdom Flourish.

The Fair will have 140 Exhibit Booths presenting valuable information and resources for seniors and those caring for seniors. The Fair will feature Food, Live Music and Dancing, along with costumes and booth decorations. As always, you can enjoy beautiful quilts, have your photo taken, and pick up some free books.

Attendance and parking are free. Free transportation to and from downtown San Rafael.
Enter our free raffle to win prizes.  More information can be found at https://2024.marinseniorfair.org/

Come visit us at Booth 200 – We’ll see you at the Fair!
~Your … Read More »

Supporting mental health in aging parents starts with recognizing the signs and addressing the stigma around mental health care.

Mental health is a critical aspect of well-being throughout life, and it becomes even more significant as our parents grow older. For many older adults, however, talking about mental health can be especially difficult due to ingrained stigmas and the values they were raised with. It’s important to understand why older loved ones might be hesitant to discuss mental health and to recognize the signs that they might be struggling. This knowledge can guide you in supporting mental health in aging parents to ensure they receive the support and care they need.

Identifying the signs of substance misuse in older adults is the first step towards getting them help.

It’s not unusual for Dad to enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner, but lately, you’ve noticed that he’s gravitating towards stronger drinks more frequently, and earlier in the day. He might say it helps with sleep or eases the aches of arthritis, but is there more to be concerned about?