It’s always a challenge to keep homebound seniors socially engaged. And, we also know that social engagement and the human-to-human connection is invaluable to the mental, emotional, and physical health of our senior loved ones. Blogs for seniors are one more piece of the connectivity puzzle. These blogs are mostly by seniors and for seniors, which helps to send the message that, “you are not alone!”
Bookmark These 10 Blogs For Seniors And Start Reading
Not only are these blogs helpful (and entertaining) for seniors to read, we also recommend that caregivers and close family members read some of your loved one’s favorite blogs as well.
Firstly, you may find that reading about another senior’s experiences and insights provides a better picture or more compassionate insight into your parent/grandparent’s day to day life and experiences. Secondly, reading the same blogs is like being part of a book club. The posts can provide mutual conversation ground that is not just about medical issues, ailments, or caregiving.
To that end, here are 10 senior blogs worth recommending for your senior to bookmark on his/her gadget of choice. Just getting your loved one on board with tech, read How to Support Seniors with Technology.
Senior Planet
We’ve intentionally put Senior Planet (seniorplanet.org) towards the top because it is a resource and go-to support for seniors who are using technology to remain connected. Senior Planet is about much more than just the latest gadgets and apps and websites. Those gadgets and apps and websites are just means to an end: enabling older adults and people of all ages to come together and find ways to learn, work, create, and thrive in today’s digital age.
In addition to that, the website offers all kinds of fun ways for seniors to engage with one another, from joining book clubs and online tech classes to support groups and chat features.
Elder Chicks
The Elder Chicks (elderchicks.com) website and blogs were started by senior “chicks,” Dr. Thelma Reese (now 88 years old) and Dr. Barbara Fleisher (age not stated). Click Here to watch their video about their blog and their goal to “master the art of senior life,” which has become the fun, witty, and intelligent theme across their blogging spectrum. One of our favorite aspects of The Elder Chicks’ mission is that they promote the hand-in-hand pairing of senior life/retirement and volunteerism.
Feisty Side of 50 (geared towards females)
Tired of all the social and cultural messages that say “aging is bad,” and that our goal should be to remain “forever young?” We are too! Not only is aging inevitable, but it is also a process that can forge ever-deeper and more meaningful connections to our wisdom, inner-strength, heart, soul, and the absolutely essential need for humor and joy. The Feisty Side of 50 is run by Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., N.C.C.C. You can also listen to her Feisty Side of 50 radio show and podcast.
Her personal mission is to, “…reach as many of my gender and generation as possible to celebrate our remarkable history, our awe-inspiring futures, and just plain hoot and holler as only the menopausal can. We gals have overcome some pretty formidable challenges and we’re not going to let a few wrinkles stop us now. We’re bringing a whole new look and spirited style to the aging process. In fact, our next major revolution will be nothing short of astounding. So, here’s to us, the incredible, incomparable, fabulous, female boomers and to embracing life fully on the feisty side of fifty!”
Grey Fox
This senior blog, on the other hand, is geared towards senior men. Did your senior dad or grandfather lead a dashing and dapper life? Then he’ll love reading Grey Fox, which focuses on fashion trends for men 40 years and older, with a penchant for brands that target the older, affluent demographic. Because the website host, David Evans, is from the UK, he targets UK brands.
Sage (dedicated to the LGBTQ community)
There is no denying that the senior LGBTQ community is largely ignored – and that’s saying something when you consider our senior home care agency is located in California’s Bay Area! While the LGBTQ community is well-represented in the Millennial realm, LGBTQ seniors can feel very alone, and studies show members of this sociodemographic have a much higher risk of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Read, Inclusive Care for LGBT Seniors, to learn more about how you can help.
Another boost for your LGBTQ senior loved one’s spirit will be connecting with the Sage USA blog. The blog and organizational mission are to, “…make aging better for LGBT people nationwide. How? We show up and speak out for the issues that matter to us. We teach. We answer your calls. We connect—generations, each other, allies. We win. And together, we celebrate.”
Sage is a phenomenal resource and they also promote a myriad of LGBT resources. We feel regular perusal of their posts will support, inspire, inform, and connect LGBT seniors and their families.
The Senior Nomads
Whether your senior loved one is fond of travel, or would enjoy living vicariously with other travelers, The Senior Nomads blog is centered around the travels of Seattle-based seniors Debbie & Michael Campbell.
While they slowed down at the beginning of the pandemic, these passionate nomads revamped the way they move from place-to-place and have resumed their travels. That means their blog is chock full of informative (as well as entertaining) tidbits about their travels, experiences, and other “senior moments.”
Viva Fifty!
This bilingual blog serves both the English- and Spanish-speaking senior communities. The Viva Fifty! Blog is published by Lorraine C. Ladish. The posts are divided into five main categories: Mind (culture, books, mind, empowerment, money), Grace (style, hair, skincare, beauty), Body (health, nutrition, fitness, and yoga), Soul (relationships, family, dating, inspiration), and Escape (travel, leisure, dining, tech, and shopping).
The site features a diverse group of guest posters, and we feel this one is another ideal “blog club” candidate for you and your senior loved one to share.
The Upside to Aging
Remember we mentioned that some of these blogs are worth the caregiver’s read? The Upside to Aging is one of those. Hosted by longtime caregiver, Molly Wisniewski (LeGrand), the blog balances the upsides (and the challenges) faced by seniors and their caregivers. Molly specializes in in-home care for clients with dementia and other memory issues, so there are plenty of posts dedicated to that realm.
The National Council on Aging
As professional senior home care providers, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) is one of our favorite resources for the latest studies, research, and information on aging and how to provide the best care possible for our clients. The NCOA blog can be that same resource for you, your family’s caregivers, and then seniors you care for as you navigate this next chapter of his/her life.
Their blogs for seniors serve as an approachable, digestible synopsis of that aforementioned resource, and also keeps seniors informed about medical, legislative, and social/cultural topics particular to their demographic.
The HomeAide Home Care Blog
Yep, we’re biased, but we work hard to create monthly blog topics that are timely, relevant, and that provide support, insight, and informative tidbits about senior care topics. We also try to balance the equation and include plenty of posts geared towards family and private caregivers who work so tirelessly hard for the ones they love. Bookmark to the HomeAide Home Care blog and be part of a wider network of people who understand exactly what you’re going through.
Do you suspect it’s time to bring licensed, compassionate homecare professionals to support your family’s journey through senior care? Schedule a free home assessment with HomeAide Home Care.
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