My generation (I'm 38) is going to live into its 90s. Younger generations will regularly pass 100. We have to do something. Our society cannot sustain itself when entire generations are sitting around in nursing homes, pooping themselves, forgetting their names and loved by nobody.

Thank you very much for this post. Any help for a caregiver who is dealing with adiction to xanax and pain killers in an elderly woman?

Thank you for this post...it is such an important topic that all of us need to consider. My parents, both in their 60s, recently brought my grandmother to live with them, as she is now 100 years old. She is spunky and healthly and has lived alone in an apartment until last year when she began experiencing sporatic episodes of panic-like attacks. She has recurrent pains that none of our local doctors seem to understand, nor do they seem to care. It is as though most in the medical field "write-off" these elderly patients, and we have heard "What do you expect for 100 years old?" from too many doctors rather than a whole-hearted effort to find the causes and treatments of her symptoms. She often asks my mother to make a doctor appointment for her, and it is frustrating knowing that physician after physician really isn't interested in helping her, and bringing her in for care is becoming a waste of time and money when the doctors simply write everything off to "her age."

I applaud your efforts to bring real, thorough care to our elderly sector of society who are still living productive, meaningful lives, yet, in general, tend to be disrespected and written-off because of their age by our healthcare providers. Thank you for shining a light on this issue, and giving those who cared for us the respect, dignity and care that they deserve in their golden years!

What a touching and practical project to remember your mother. We need more projects of this kind all over the country for people of advancing age.

I would love to see a program similar to this in TN for my 85 year old mother. My father & her husband of 56 years died last month at age 86 after a 3 year long struggle with cancer. Just 3 months ago he was still tending his vegetable garden and cutting the grass. His determination to live in spite of his pain and weakness was an inspiration to us. He was unique in his ability to garner internal strength. My mother's dependence on him was one source of her strength but she will need new types of support now that he is gone.

I am impressed, but not surprised, by your lucid writing style. I kept reading, looking for flaws, but I found nothing that was obviously wrong. That said, I did not know that your mother passed away, and I am sorry for your loss. I have seen footage of you and your mother cooking, and she was definitely in charge, it seemed. Lidia's mom seems like your mom, polite, but her own person, happy with her daughter's success and aging well.

My grandfather is 97. He lost his wife 30 years ago next month. Thirty years is a generation, and for a whole generation, he has been alone. I am amazed at his longevity. He still has a driver's license, and he is looking for a new job, but sometimes I wonder if he is lonely. Most of his contemporaries are dead. I guess it is a combination of humor and stubbornness that has kept him going.