For families struggling with Alzheimer’s in Appalachia, the road can be lonely and long. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. Patients with the disease can live as long as 20 years after diagnosis. During that time they become increasingly dependent […]
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Hollywood tells us that love stories are about the beginning — catching an eye across a crowded room, a first date, a dramatic proposal. We see little, if anything, after the fairytale wedding. But for many, the greatest testament to love is not the first moments, but the last. And, […]
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Caring for loved ones as they age can be incredibly demanding. It can also leave the caregiver feeling forsaken by society — especially as families move away from the home base, leaving fewer people to share responsibilities. “I have two sisters who I love dearly, but they both live in […]
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Cheryl Powell lives in senior housing in Nitro. She’s 63 years old and has been receiving Meals on Wheels for a couple of years. “Because I’ve had strokes and different things wrong with my body,” she explained. After her strokes, Powell really couldn’t get out to grocery shop. Or […]
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As we grow old, many of us will find we need help with everyday tasks, like cooking, cleaning and bathing. In West Virginia, there are few programs that can help, and those that do serve the state’s aging population are overburdened — with waitlists that can stretch months or years […]
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The percentage of West Virginia adults aged 60 and older is growing more rapidly than any other part of the population. And most of them, like 91-year-old Paige Omohundro, want to stay home as they age. Omohundro has lived in her modest two-story brick home for 54 years and wants to stay […]
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