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The Age of Choice

Making the most of life's transitions

Aging

'We are in control, really': Health care providers share keys to longevity

For too many people, said William Kober, primary care doctor at Lawrence & Memorial Physicians Stonington, the sum of their medical care is a yearly visit with a specialist for one specific condition and trips to a walk-in clinic for treatment of an infection or injury, an approach he calls "piecemeal." Especially as people age, getting routine primary care with a trusted provider who looks at the whole person is essential, he said.

Inspiring exploits: Make your bucket list, and make it happen

Most people put farflung travel locales on their bucket lists, but in Sharan Carney's case how she completes each journey - alone and on foot - is just as important as the destination. She prefers ancient paths because "I love walking in the footsteps of 1,000 years of people's footsteps."

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In Reverse: Mortgages can fund home repairs, health aides, living expenses

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:33 pm

Reverse mortgages are the loans that keep on giving - and taking, at the same time.
Unlike conventional home loans that require monthly payments, reverse mortgages - available only to people 62 years and older who have equity in their homes - provide...

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Technology is ageless

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:39 pm

The ability to stay in touch with the people we love doesn't have to be a casualty of growing older, thanks to the Internet.
A Pew Research Center study in June found that for the first time, more than half of adults ages 65 and older are online. Most...

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Life after work - together

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:37 pm

They say the best job to have is one you would do without getting paid for it.
After several decades in the workforce earning money to survive and saving for retirement, many people look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel when full-time,...

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Tough talk: Don't put off the conversation with parents about leaving home

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:26 pm

Your mom is forgetting to turn off the stove burners or maybe dad just can't keep up with the maintenance of the family home.
The realization that your parents are getting older and might need assistance with day-to-day activities is a hard one.

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Affordable senior housing is out there, but waiting lists common

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:23 pm

A woman recently called Therese Jourdan, executive director of the Groton Housing Authority, to say she could no longer reach the cabinets in her three-bedroom mobile home.
"When an elderly couple can no longer take care of the property or the house...

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Long-term care insurance: When it's worth it, and why

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:20 pm

Insurance agent Ed Mazur's Aunt Molly arrived at the assisted living facility she had picked out and abruptly announced she didn't want to stay.
"I don't like it," she told her nephew, who sells long-term care insurance at Sumner & Sumner...

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Living longer, learning more

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:14 pm

The studies on brain health are consistent: An active brain is a healthy brain.
From adult education programs to college courses to local parks and recreation department programs, southeastern Connecticut offers enrichment opportunities ranging from...

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Age brings emotional changes: Know when to act

 September 30, 2012; Updated: 2:11 pm

As we age, the physical effects are apparent - a receding hairline and an expanding waistline, not to mention the aches and pains associated with rising each morning.
But there are other factors less obvious, at least at a glance. The psychological...

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Introduction

Distributed in the Sept. 30 edition of The Day.

The Age of Choice cover

Hello and welcome to The Age of Choice, a publication that highlights issues and trends common to the second half of life.

Many of us in the "sandwich generation" — caring for children as well as older relatives — struggle with finding the resources and guidance to help our loved ones make the decisions that inform a high quality of life. Through their experiences, we see the need to plan for our own long-term health and happiness.

Love and laughter go a long way. Gail Tyler of Groton Long Point (pictured on our cover with her daughter, Marie Tyler Wiley, and son-in-law, Kip) gets help moderating her low-level health conditions from her 10 children, "who adore her," Marie said. When something doesn't suit her though, she teases her kids that she's taking her complaint straight "to Management."

"Our mom gave selflessly for all of our lives," Marie said. "Now it's her turn to relax and let us take care of her."

It is our sincere hope that readers can find useful tips from the stories contained herein, and information that helps to craft a richer, deeper life, as we greet the years to come.