Long-term care expert to discuss aging outlook

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We're all guilty of the preconceived notion: that someday we'll grow old gracefully. Enjoying good health after retirement, taking long walks on a moonlit beach with a spouse or being actively involved in your grandchildren's lives. While Bob Hope and George Burns may have fulfilled these dreams, odds are that for most of us, such longevity will not hold true. The reality is that America is facing an aging epidemic, and most of us are unprepared for what is to become a new and overwhelming role in our life-the role of a family caregiver, according to Charles Puchta, founder and principal of Aging America Resources. Puchta will be speaking about "The Essentials of Aging and Caregiving" at Geer Village, 77 South Canadian Road, 2nd floor Community Room, Canaan, CT on Saturday, November 15 from 2:30-4:30 pm and again on Sunday, November 16 from 2:30 - 4:30 pm. The program is free of charge. In addition, many community organizations serving older Americans will also be on hand sharing information. Puchta, like the rest of us, had hopes of his parents being active in his children's lives. However, he soon realized that his family was unprepared for what was to come. When his father was diagnosed with Leukemia and his mother with dementia only five years later. Puchta spent more than a decade learning the ins and outs of what's involved in providing care and support. Today he shares his story and the stories of thousands like him along with his in-depth research findings and many of the solutions to the challenges facing caregivers. The event, which is free and open to the public is co-sponsored by Home Helpers, The Connecticut Chapter Alzheimer's Association, Sharon Hospital, Ackerly & Brown LLP and AG Edwards. Puchta-who is the author of two books, The Aging America Resource Guide and Biblical Caregiving Principles-will share his unique, preemptive, approach to understanding and solving what he calls the caregiver puzzle. He will: Provide practical information, perspectives and tips specific to each piece of an interrelated four-part puzzle and address how the four pieces (lifestyle, administrative, emotional and memorial issues) are interested. Review why family care giving is so challenging, through a discussion of the five "IN" words: Inconsistent, Inexperienced, Independent, Intrusive and Interlocking. Elaborate on his "Ten Caregiver Considerations" that were recently featured in "The Wall Street Journal" and Provide solutions that will help individuals avoid common mistakes that often lead to regret. "We recognize that aging and care-giving is such a complex, emotional and fly by the seat of your pants role for most of us," said Donna Hoskins with the Connecticut Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. "We felt compelled to help educate the public about the importance of planning in advance where possible and to provide answers for those among us who are currently struggling with care-giving issues or who are anticipating them in the near future. We know that Charles can help." Puchta says our society is so ill equipped to care for our aging or ill loved ones because we live in a state or denial. "We deny aging in so many ways. Our society is so wrapped up in cosmetic surgery miracles, hair alterations, toupees and transplant options, sexual performance enhancers and the like that we've become a culture that no longer acknowledges aging or even understands how to identify the aging process when it's happening right under our noses," he said. To add to the complications caused by our denial, Puchta says one of the biggest problems he has found Americans facing is that our innate human nature tells us to deal with aging-related topics on an issue-by-issue, isolated basis. Puchta sites his own experience as typical. No one was available to help his family realize the bigger picture or to educate them about the many issues and decisions they faced. "So often people limit their planning and preparation to the financial and legal aspects, however, as people quickly learn, there is so much more to consider. Until now, there has never been a one-stop shop so to speak where individuals could get information about the predominant issues facing today's caregivers, " Puchta explains. "People rarely give consideration to issues they are likely to encounter down the road, and as a result, they're often blindsided by seemingly unrelated issues. That's why I've dedicated my life to helping families, organizations and care professionals understand and address long-term care issues." "My primary mission is to arm people with information so they are empowered to find the appropriate resources for their individual situation and, as importantly, they're able to ask the night question when they meet with their various professional advisors," Puchta said. Puchta's keynote address will focus on what he refers to as the "Interlocking Issues." Other professionals participating in the event offering local perspectives include: Donna Hoskins- Connecticut Chapter Alzheimer's Association Lou Piezzo- Home Helpers Aniela Salamacha- Sharon Hospital Donna D. Vincenti - Ackerly & Brown LLP Stacie Weiner - AG Edwards Advance registration is requested. For additional information, or to pre-register, please call 800-677-9114 and ask for Pat or Stacie.
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Senior Golf Series Returns in September

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Fall Senior Golf series returns in September with events on five consecutive Wednesdays starting Sept. 18.
 
It is the 22nd year of the series, which is a fund-raiser for junior golf in the county, and it is open to players aged 50 and up.
 
The series will feature two divisions for each event based on the combined ages of the playing partners.
 
Golfers play from the white tees (or equivalent) with participants 70 and over or who have a handicap of more than 9 able to play from the forward tees.
 
Gross and net prices will be available in each division.
 
The cost is $55 per event and includes a round of golf, food and prizes. Carts are available for an additional fee.
 
Golfers should call the pro shop at the course for that week's event no sooner than two weeks before the event to register.
 
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