Aging

"Saving Face”, a traditional Confucian concept, delineates the purpose of social exchange to promote self-esteem and equilibrium within the community. Chinese older adults who have internalized this concept may be more reluctant to engage with their social network to share negative emotions and life difficulties, potentially creating a fertile ground for loneliness. John Feng, who is 91 years old experiences intense bouts of loneliness and isolation, despite living in a senior apartment building in L.A. Chinatown where nearly all the residents are Chinese.

Marjorie Lauderdale, an 80-year-old caregiver in Palm Springs, faces a daunting task caring for her 77-year-old wife, Deidre, who suffered multiple strokes. The Inland Empire region, facing a growing aging population, is working to address the needs of seniors, including transportation and caregiving support.

As they cultivate gardens, seniors in Sacramento find a renewed sense of purpose. Sharon Chandler is one such senior who introduces the love of gardening to residents of the Delta Cove senior apartment complex in South Sacramento. The initiative fosters social interaction, encourages healthier eating habits and induces gardeners to incorporate home-grown produce into their diets.

Sevety-four-year-old Cha Seung-pyo volunteers at the LA Korean Community Center everyday from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. On average, he assists 20 individuals daily with their various needs. Volunteering has given Cha a sense of purpose and helps stave off loneliness and isolation.

A new report on the immense challenges millions of caregivers face in America, and the urgent need for better support systems.

How are we supposed to cover the community as a whole when we can’t communicate with a large portion of its residents?

South Carolina officials told Brandie Makrin that something traumatic had to happen to her 21-year-old autistic son before he could get the help he needed.

For years in the western Coachella Valley, residents who don’t speak English have been left out of senior centers — the same places where many older adults go when experiencing isolation, loneliness, and housing, food or income insecurity.

"I worked with a lot of seniors facing a tremendous amount of stress and housing insecurity and, you know, deciding between feeding your pets, yourself, or paying your rent," said one Bay Area director of senior housing.

The number of dialysis centers in the islands is increasing to meet the need as more patients suffer from kidney failure.