Caregiving Crisis, Questions to Ask Your Elders, Memory Care Marketing, Resistance to Disability Self Identifying 12-16-25

Debbie Howard presented two articles: one on the caregiving crisis, highlighting  increasing stress and financial strain on caregivers, with average caregiving duration at 4.5 years. Her second article focuses on questions to ask elders over the holidays to capture their life stories. 

Benjamin Surmi shared insights on memory care marketing tactics, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation and community engagement. 

Ellen Khalifa presented an article about the stigma around disability labels, noting that older adults often resist identifying as disabled despite needing accommodations.

Presented by Debbie Howard, Aging Matters International
NY Times Opinion 11/24/25 We Had No Idea What Was Coming - Caregiving Crisis by Michelle Cottle
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/opinion/caregiving-crisis.html

NY Times 11-24-25 5 Questions to Ask Your Elders over the Holidays by Dana G Smith
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/well/interviewing-older-relatives-questions.html

Elizabeth Magallon Fleury found this related student assignment https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/learning/what-have-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-an-older-family-member.html

Presented by Benjamin Surmi, Koelsch Communities
Senior Housing News 12-11-25 Memory Care Marketing by Andrew Christman
https://seniorhousingnews.com/2025/12/11/perception-shift-how-commonwealth-heritage-northbridge-are-retelling-the-story-of-memory-care/

Linda referred to 10-9-25 Living Choices - Nursing Homes Explained with Benjamin Surmi, Erin Hart and film maker Peter Murphy Lewis

Presented by Ellen Khalifa, Habits Coach for Healthspan and Wellspan
KFF Health News 12-11 Disability Label Controversy by Paula Span
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/older-people-disability-ada-michigan/

'Several studies found patients identifying as disabled have less depression and anxiety, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of “self-efficacy” than disabled people who don’t.'

Discussion hosted by: Linda Sherman, Ray Gordon and Debbie Howard

BoomerTechTalk.com episode page

12-16-25 LinkedIn Show Post

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Nickie’s Tune written and performed by Richard Sherman

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 3:40 Caregiving Crisis
• 14:34 Questions to Ask Your Elders
• 27:42 Memory Care Marketing
• 41:34 Resistance to Disability Self Identifying