The Real Story About Guardianship There is a fascinating movie on Netflix these days. I Care A Lot tells the story of Marla Grayson, a professional guardian, played by Rosamund Pike, and the schemes she employs to deprive her clients of their money, property and access to family. The movie boasts a strong cast, including Peter Dinklage and Dianne Wiest.... Read more
Social Workers are Essential This year’s Social Work Month theme, “Social Workers Are Essential,” embodies the heroic contributions of the Social Work profession to our nation, including the work Social Workers have done to heal our nation during these times of pandemic, racial unrest, economic uncertainty and political divisiveness. The concept of social work arose in the United States... Read more
Progress is not Linear Throughout the month of February, many organizations observe Black History Month. It is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions, sacrifices and successes of African Americans, and the roles they have played in the history of our country. Black History Month also serves as a reminder that the people and their accomplishments are often overlooked, or... Read more
Community One of the most used words in the aging network is “community”. We advocate for “home and community-based services” (HCBS) as alternatives to institutional care. We take part in awareness efforts, Dementia Friendly Communities or Communities for a Lifetime, that promote inclusion or accommodation in civic planning and daily life. Assisted living facilities and planned... Read more
Stay Home for the Holidays What are you doing for the holidays this year? One of the many ways that the pandemic has altered our lives in 2020 is the impact it has on family gatherings: birthdays, weddings, funerals and family reunions. In addition to the conversations about what to do in planning an event, we have all asked the... Read more
Family Caregiver Month November is National Family Caregiver Month. In his annual presidential proclamation, President Trump noted, “With generous hearts and faithful devotion, they honor the sanctity of life and affirm the inherent value of all human beings. “When we talk about family caregivers at Benjamin Rose, we mean the network of informal, and unpaid, supports that allow... Read more
One Vote Counted “One vote counted is one voice heard.” It’s an election year. You probably noticed. The seemingly endless stream of political advertising. Yard signs. Mailers. Two of my neighbors were canvassing this weekend, going door-to-door for their candidate. Walking through the community, I see multiple places to pick up an absentee ballot request form. Civic engagement and... Read more
September Songs Well, the sun's not so hot in the sky today And you know I can see summertime slipping on away - James Taylor I like September. It’s still summer. But the days are getting shorter. It’s dark now when we go out for Ted’s early morning walk. It’s still warm, but the sweltering afternoons of... Read more
Boomers and Slackers and Snowflakes: Some thoughts on age and ageism A story that appeared recently on Next Avenue shared the author’s attempts to find clothing through Stitch Fix (Are Sites Like Stitch Fix Ageist?). The author shared her growing frustration with the curated clothing selections that online retailer sent her. Frumpy, unflattering boxes of “stretch pants and loose flowing tops.” Her solution? She changed her... Read more
Facing the Facts Like much of the country, communities in Northeast Ohio responded to the death of George Floyd, captured on video by bystanders, with a mix of disbelief, sadness and outrage. His death galvanized the country and caused many of us to reconsider the state of racial justice and equity in the United States. The Cleveland City... Read more
