On the Tip of My Tongue

Photo by mademoiselle lavender

“Oh, she was in Gone with the Wind and Streetcar Named Desire. Don’t tell me. I’ll think of it. . . Vivien Leigh!”

People of all ages have trouble retrieving names at times. However, as we age, this phenomenon occurs more frequently. 

Neurologists and speech language pathologists have numerous explanations for memory problems.  Some are a result of injury or disease.  Others are merely the result of healthy aging.    Retrieving a name is just one small aspect of memory.

It’s usually part of healthy aging to sense that retrieval of a name is imminent but not forthcoming.  Numerous theories exist for explaining specifically what causes these mental blocks. 

Although described earlier by William James and other psychologists, it wasn’t until 1966 that the research team of Roger Brown and David McNeill published an empirically based study that dubbed this frustrating memory problem “Tip of the Tongue Syndrome” or TOT.

Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Photo by Erich Ferdinand

While people of every age might have trouble with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), I encounter this phrase or its acronym almost daily as applied to older adults, particularly those 85 plus. 

“Activities of daily living” is a phrase describes some of the basic tasks necessary for self-care such as eating, bathing, dressing, transferring, grooming, and continence.  ADLs are one of many areas for measuring a person’s overall wellness.

This phrase is used by social workers, health care workers, insurance companies, judges, assisted living administrators, and caregivers.   While the phrase is fairly widespread, various instruments for assessing ADLs yield different results for the same populations when applied. 

Encore Careers: Live to Work Instead of Work to Live

Photo by Tim Cummings

Now that many people are living 20 or even 30 years beyond traditional retirement age, older workers are exploring other options besides decades of leisure.   

You may not be familiar with the term Encore Career, but you probably have some experience with it. 

Did you or your children have a school teacher who was retired military?  That is an example of an encore career: someone who retires from their first career and picks up a second one that is more focused on serving the broader community. 


There are a variety of reasons why older adults postpone retirement.  While some research suggests that only a portion of older adults have the luxury to “follow their bliss” in their career goals, many are finding a way to set aside goals of money, power and fame in favor of more idealistic aims. 

Marc Freedman, author of Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life, suggests these fields for older adults seeking purpose and passion over a paycheck: 

• Health Care
• Education
• The Aging Field
• Government
• The Non-profit Sector 

Late Adulthood: A Time to Bless

Photo by Emmanuel Avetta

I grew up listening to Broadway musicals—on LPs, as played on the piano, and when the technology came along, on VHS.  One of the most salient images of older adults from these musicals takes place in the dream sequence relayed by Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof.

In Tevya's dream, two grandmothers deliver quite different postures towards the rising generations. On the one hand, Grandmother Tzeitel pronounces a blessing or “mazel tov” on Tevya's oldest daughter, her namesake, soon to be wed.  On the other hand, Fuma Sarah sends threats and curses.  

These gross stereotypes rattling around in my memory gesture towards the generational work I observe today among the oldest among us.  Those who are the most mature have the role, responsibility and opportunity to use their multigenerational perspective, their wisdom and their energy to bless the rising generations.  It is our task to heed these blessings.

Coping with Illness

Photo by Judy Baxter

People of all ages and life situations are at risk for illness and injury.   But as we age we experience greater risk.  Whether the illness happens suddenly as with a fall or more slowly as with memory problems, the affected person and his or her family members must find methods for coping.

Course materials for the Nursing Learning Network identify the following tasks that ill people face:

1. Change in body image
2. Reality of their own mortality
3. Coping with altered relationships with others
4. Dealing with an altered level of dependency
5. Adjusting to physiological changes
6. Grieving for their losses, such as their former self or former lifestyle
7. Fear of recurrent problems
8. Illness occurs with other stressors, such as disrupted household routines, neglected or increased financial needs, and shifting workplace responsibilities