Author: Matt Perry

It was one of those uncomfortable moments that journalists both dread and love. Sitting in a Pasadena conference hall amidst a sea of caregivers and nursing home operators, I listened to a panel of experts outline the essential skills needed by caregivers. The advice was stellar: besides clothing and toileting seniors, caregivers should be compassionate and empathic. They should also investigate the elder’s younger years to connect meaningfully with them. In addition, they should mine subtle emotional states to uncover the underlying causes of distress.

Inside the lobby of a Redwood City assisted living center, driver Eric Wong helps 90 year-old Shirley Beitch stand and grasp her walker. Then he guides her outside to his Subaru Outback parked at the curb. Wong opens the passenger door and flips out a handle behind the seat, and Beitch grabs it to stabilize her as she turns. He holds one arm, then protects her head as she gently backs down into the passenger seat. Wong buckles her in, then puts her walker inside the rear hatchback.

A common view of investment advisers is that they place you into funds with the highest advisor fees. Then move your money around – churn, churn, churn – to reap even more cash for themselves. Your cash.

A tiny California program to help indigent seniors afford assisted living may herald a sea change in how people without savings can obtain long-term care. And with some tender loving care, it may even help keep the state solvent.

A swelling Latino population in California has meant rising numbers of Latino elders and, with them, a growing movement to support their mental health needs. Yet the movement faces a huge obstacle: Latinos don’t typically seek out help for behavioral health concerns.

Five older adult women sit in recliners covered with blankets. They wear soft booties on their feet while harp music plays quietly. A TV monitor gently rotates photos of flowers, while the walls feature beach décor graphics – deck chairs, fishing gear, plants and beach grass. The room’s artificial lights are off. Natural light suffuses the room. The aromatic scent of orange permeates the air.