There are many older adults who may be experiencing new mental health conditions and have never connected with a mental health care provider and may be reluctant to move forward.     Here are 6 pieces of expert advice that I share with older adults…

Many people dread growing older based on assumptions they have about aging. As we age and find ourselves spending time with older adults, it is important to understand what is typical and not typical with aging, as well as the positive aspects of aging.   …

Depression is a medical condition that impacts more than 7 million adults over the age of 65. Depression can affect mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.   Why is screening for depression in older adults important? The earlier we can identify a depressive disorder and…

There’s a phenomenon that occurs as we age that we actually become more resilient over time. That in fact, the experience of moving through adversity and managing emotional storms, losses, and pandemics throughout our life actually creates psychological resilience. With this in mind as we…

Over 75% of adults with developmental disabilities live at home with family. There is a growing population of aging caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities, in part due to increased lifespan and extensive waiting lists for residential services (The Arc Autism Now). In honor of…

When he was in his late 80s, William Cohn, Candy Cohn’s father, unintentionally stopped taking medication for a long-standing bipolar disorder and experienced a significant mental health crisis requiring hospitalization and intensive treatment. It was following this episode that Candy knew that she needed to…

When we think of older adults during COVID, images of older adults living in long-term care communities sheltering in place with hands pressed against windows trying to connect with loved ones circle in our heads. 2020 was a year of incredible hardship and pain for…

In honor of world AIDS day on 12/1, I am devoting today’s episode to HIV and Aging. And, yes. HIV is an important topic when it comes to aging. An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States had HIV at the end of 2018.…

I recently received a letter from a listener of my podcast: “Dear Dr. Koepp, My mom has recently become depressed. She’s 94 and lives alone. My family and I aren’t sure what we should be doing (if anything). Where should we go from here?” I…

We’ve all heard stories of older adults on lock down in their long-term care community. Maybe you’ve even seen the images of family members visiting their loved ones separated by windows or glass.  Like a granddaughter sharing her engagement ring, a son sitting outside talking…

Did you know that people over 65 make up the fastest growing age group in the United States? In fact, every day between 2011 and 2030, 10,000 people in the US will turn 65. Every DAY for 19 years, 10,000 people turn 65! Think about this for…

With social distancing in full effect, older adults are encouraged to maintain their distance from others.  But this can have a major impact on your quality of life. It’s essential that during the COVID-19 pandemic that older adults stay physically safe and mentally well. Research…