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By Katherine Schneider, Ph.D.   Ten percent of people over 65 have dementia, and 22% more have mild cognitive impairment, according to a recent Columbia University study. So, chances are good that you and/or some friends fall into this group. One of the joys of retirement for me has been…

By Susanna P.Barton   As we all age and make plans for our second half, one of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to connect with a community of people who can provide support, camaraderie, and inspiration for our journey. Approaching our Grand Planning with reliable,…

By Alice Herb   I just turned 92! It is hard for me to fathom that I am close to being a century old. But there it is. Having more time than I used to, I started to look back on my life critically. If I had to live it…

Incorporate art into daily activities to increase mood, decrease stress, and care for your brain By Marc Rothman, MD   Believe it or not, parts of your brain are in constant contact with the outside world: your eyes process photons and wavelengths of light, your ears interpret vibrations, your nose…

By Nancy Peckenham   It happened quickly, as all falls do. One second, I was talking merrily with two friends as we walked along the notoriously shoddy sidewalks of New Orleans, and the next second, I was on the ground.    My mistake, I knew immediately, was allowing myself to…

By Susanna P. Barton   Trust is a finicky topic when it comes to creating a workable Grand Plan. On the one hand, trust is essential to working in partnership with loved ones during our second half. If we can’t trust the people we’ve chosen as our life managers or…

By Louise Applebome   “Where do you need to be?” This question has at least 10,000 edges and its potential answers do, too. It can be an existential inquiry.  It can be specific to time and place or an upcoming appointment. It can be grounded in a yoga class. It…

By Renee Langmuir   Today was a lovely, but not unusual day. In the morning, my husband and I did a volunteer stint at a local house museum, feeding the goats and sweeping out the barn. Afterward, we took a leisurely ride in the country to a favorite breakfast place….

By Dave Donelson   Not long after my grandson, Steve, was born, I began sculpting a rocking horse for him, the idea being that it would be completed in time for his fourth birthday. That was fourteen years ago and it’s not yet finished. My intention was—and is—to sculpt a…

By Susanna P.Barton   If there is one step by which all other components of a workable Grand Plan are intrinsically linked, it’s #12 — communicating with your people early, honestly, and often. Without good communication, any thoughtful preparation you may have designed for your golden years turns to rubbish,…