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Volunteers shared smiles and stories at a luncheon held in their honor to celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month. More than 200 people attended the event, which was held at Salvatore’s Restaurant on May 1, 2026. It was an opportunity for volunteers, staff, and members of the AgeSpan Board of Directors and Advisory Council to come together…
Q. My daughter is a hospice nurse, and she often finds herself in the middle between family members who can’t agree on care decisions for her patients who are dying. Shouldn’t families in that position already have a plan? A. In a perfect world, we would all feel comfortable sharing our wishes about death and…
Q. I love it when the weather starts to get warmer, but this year I have been feeling so stuffy and tired. I’ve never been tested by a doctor, but I think I may have seasonal allergies. Do you have any tips for a retiree who wants to avoid sneezing through spring? A. Just when…
When Bea Stankard became her mother’s caregiver years ago, she had to figure things out on her own. As part of the sandwich generation, caring for her own family and her aging mother, she didn’t always know who to call when problems came up. “There were times I really felt like that sandwich you took…
Q. My older sister died about a year ago and my brother-in-law has been having a really hard time. We are all still grieving, but sometimes he says things that worry me. They had been married for more than 50 years and the other day he told me he just doesn’t want to live without…
For most of us, a broken tooth or a higher-than-expected heating bill is an inconvenience. For an older adult living on a fixed income, it can quickly become a crisis. That’s where the DiStefano Family Care Fund makes a difference. Thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF), AgeSpan will continue…
Q. A friend was telling me recently that grandparents who take care of their grandchildren are healthier. My daughter and her family live about 45 minutes away, so we don’t care for our two grandchildren on a regular basis, but we do have them overnight and on weekends here and there. We get a lot…
National Social Workers Month, which is celebrated each March, has a special significance for us here at AgeSpan. Social workers play an important role in the work we do to help older adults stay independent and safe in communities that support them. It’s something I’ve been reflecting on personally because I’m also a social worker…
Q. I retired last year, at 65, but I am starting to think I stopped working too early. There’s a lot about working that I don’t miss, including working 40 hours a week, but I do miss having a routine and feeling productive. Should I consider going back to work? Does that sound crazy? A….
Q. My wife of 56 years died in 2024 after a long illness. I loved her very much and still think about her and miss her every day. I have been trying to keep busy and lately I’ve been spending more time with a female friend. How do I tell my two adult daughters that…