AgeSpots: Embracing Aging

Aging encompasses a host of challenges including managing cognitive changes and health concerns, living independently, forming relationships and finding meaning in personal pursuits.

Taken together, these “age spots”—the places we find ourselves—build support, discovery, awareness and understanding.

This idea came from an impromptu encounter I had walking into a Tucson department store. As I approached the door, two women, one about my age and the other younger, stopped ahead of me.

“Please go ahead,” the older woman said. “We’re having an important discussion.”

I thanked them, and as I started to enter, this woman said, “Do you have any suggestions about how to deal with a husband of over 30 years who is being difficult?”

I stopped, and asked what she meant by “difficult,” thinking that she might be talking about memory or other cognitive changes. No, she said, more about some other changes that were affecting their relationship.

Thinking quickly, I responded: “Have you been a caregiver?” She said yes. “Use the same strategies,” I said.

It struck me as unusual that someone would solicit advice from a stranger for such an emotionally charged, personal issue.

But I quickly realized it wasn’t strange at all.

We all are living with AgeSpots—the unexpected places we find ourselves as we age.