AgeSong Assisted Living

What we need is a radical reinterpretation of longevity that makes elders (and their needs) central to our collective pursuit of happiness and well-being.

This quote by Dr. Bill Thomas, a visionary leader in the Changing Aging movement, is at the top of the front page of AgeSong Assisted Living in San Francisco.  

From the founder, Nader Shabahangi:

"Our vision is to help create a more accepting, loving and caring human being based on the idea of developing the virtues of the elder within all of us. Looking at life from the long view, we humans mature and grow each day in order to slowly become this ripe elder. AgeSong regards aging as most desirable because it is the aging process that allows us to grow and develop the virtues of an elder."

How refreshing. Nader is personable, inspirational and committed. 

Assisted Living is evolving. Everyone, let go of your preconceptions.

When I get old enough, I'll be moving in.

Humanity: important in life and death

As a mother, the day my first daughter was born, it dawned on me with incredible sadness that she would have to die one day. I banished the thought.

As a daughter, it dawned on me when I turned 38 (almost a decade after my first daughter, by the way) that my parents would ever die.

I guess the natural state of egoism of the child takes a long time to extinguish.

Here is a beautiful NYT post about a humane end.

nyti.ms/11k2dsi

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The virtues of assisted living

I have finally reached the time in life where sandwich means more than bread and filling.

I have children. I have multiple parents. I work. I still want to have fun.

Assisted living facilities seem to be the forgotten institutions, or the never noticed institutions, of older age. They help people who are still alive and well, but not well enough to be completely on their own. Namely, a lot of people.

This blog will systematically feature various well-run institutions. We will discuss what they do, how they do it and what the people who work there have learned.