Author Archives: jeannettefranks

Sleep Patterns and Aging Jeannette Franks, PhD   It will come as no surprise to anyone over 60 that sleep changes with age and it does not change for the better. There is a reason why some people can ‘sleep like a baby’. It’s because they are babies! According to a recent article in TheContinue reading “Sleep is good for you”

My father’s Alzheimer’s Facing my father’s possible legacy of dementia Jeannette Franks, PhD When there is dementia in the family, it strikes fear into the adult children as they age. Every time a key is misplaced or the fridge is opened with the question, “what was I looking for?” it’s terrifying to think, “Has itContinue reading “Work your brain to make it last”

  When I first started working professionally with older people (in the early 80s) I had few, if any preconceptions. Older people are just like anyone else; they’d just lived longer. For the most part this is true. But, horrifyingly, there is a significantly higher percentage of older people who are victims of scams andContinue reading “Guarding Grandma’s Gold”

                                                Sex and the Single Senior Most of us prefer the buddy system. Whatever our age, having a partner is usually preferable to going solo, although partnering is not mandatory for a highContinue reading “Sex and the single senior”

August 2016 Birthdays usually remind us to take our aging seriously. I just reached 68. While it is now often said that 70 is the new 50, 50 is the new 30, silver is the new blond, etc., the domina… Source: Lying about birthdays is for sissies

August 2016 Birthdays usually remind us to take our aging seriously. I just reached 68. While it is now often said that 70 is the new 50, 50 is the new 30, silver is the new blond, etc., the dominant US culture often marginalizes people as we age, particularly women. Ashton Applewhite, in her newContinue reading “Lying about birthdays is for sissies”

While I prefer to support independent booksellers, I also endorse every type of brick and mortar bookstore. It’s important to me to buy a real book in a real store. Even though I do have stock in Amazon. It’s generous of a big chain to carry a small local book, so please do stop inContinue reading “My latest book is available at Silverdale Barnes and Noble”

    How can a community best support aging in place and why should we? The why is easy: few people want to spend the last year of their life in a nursing home. Not only that, but as the boomers age, the economy won’t be able to support a huge increase in the long-term careContinue reading “It takes a village, jfranks1@comcast.net”

NY Times today covered a new retirement community specifically for those of Indian-American origin (as in from India). Culturally-specific and age-segregated communities have been around for decades, although this appears to be the first for Indian-Americans. These communities can be a nice fit for those who prefer them and can afford the price. On LocContinue reading “Not-so-shocking news”

Bainbridge Island Library, March 26, 3 pm, “7 Actions to Take to Stay out of a Nursing Home” “End-of-life Issues”, BI Senior and Community Center, Sat. April 16, call 842-1616 for more information Bremerton at “The Pearl” April 2 10 am, “7 Actions to Take to Stay out of a Nursing Home” my email is jfranks1@comcast.net