Writer Darlene Hutchins is the granddaughter of the late Wilma and Mirl Andersen. For more, read Managing Life’s Losses.   By Darlene Hutchins Reading sympathy cards sent after my grandmother’s death, I was not surprised how many people loved her. She made everyone she met feel special. My grandma was the youngest girl in a
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Two women reveal their difficult and very different journeys through grief and loss.

By Jim Gianelli Probate is a court process set up to assure that upon one’s death, assets get distributed to the people in one’s will (or in absence of a will, to one’s legal heirs), creditors get paid, and disputes are settled. Probate requires the estate to pay set statutory attorney and executor fees based
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By Joan Jackson When a loved one slides into dementia, the progression is not straight line. What they were able to do last month, last week, or even yesterday may suddenly no longer be possible. We often hear caregivers describe the frustration of trying to get a parent or spouse with dementia to follow through
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By Eric Hovatter Mickey Rooney, 90, recently testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging about abuse he suffered at the hands of his own stepson. To watch the 90-year-old actor speak was both sad, humbling, and a lesson that elder abuse can happen to anyone: rich and famous, or poor and unknown. This wake-up
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By Patty Fuller One made his living performing root canals. Another is a past Mother Lode Roundup queen who’s now a grandmother and small business owner. There’s also a probation officer, hair stylist, retired banker and Vietnam veteran. It’s an eclectic mix. But beyond the fact that all are 50 and older, these Central Sierra
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Something’s missing in the lives of many older adults, says Dr. Patrick Arbore: meaningful communication. “Communication is about connectedness, and connections are what bind us to life,” says Arbore, 63, a gerontology expert with the San Francisco Institute on Aging. “So many older people tell me, ‘Nobody listens to me. They want to tell me
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Estate planning is more than just transferring assets to your loved ones upon your death. Perhaps more importantly, good estate planning includes choosing the right people to manage your financial affairs in the event you cannot do so. Most estate plans include both a “living trust” and a “power of attorney.” While each document plays
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A 24-hour, toll-free telephone help line is now open to foothills residents. The Friendship Line provides reassuring support and help in getting to needed care for older adults who may be lonely, depressed, bereaved, or possibly suicidal. The line is open for calls at any hour, and connects callers with a staff member or trained
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It’s that time of year again, when homeowners pay their annual property taxes … Happy holidays! This year we are faced with two things we don’t want to think about in these tough economic times: taxes and reduced property values. However, in the hope of spreading some holiday cheer, here’s a little good news that
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