Canton, NY, Nov 27, 2012 — A Canton great-grandmother will earn her associate degree from SUNY Canton in a few weeks, and says she wants to continue her higher education. 83-year-old Myrtle Butterfield is a liberal arts major who says age should never be a barrier to attending college.

Butterfield went straight from high school to marriage in the late 1940's and says she regretted not getting a college degree. This year, she's been taking classes alongside two of her great grandchildren, 65 years after graduating from high school.  Go to full article

Hermon, NY, Oct 18, 2012 — At McBrier Park Manor, a retirement community in Hermon, the common room is simply laid out: a sofa, a few chairs, a table, and a TV. But every closet and set of drawers is packed to the brim with boxes of jigsaw puzzles.  Go to full article

May 16, 2011 — Last week, the US Census found that the New York population is aging much faster than the rest of New York state. The average resident in St. Lawrence County is forty years old. The number of young children in the county, below age five, dropped ten percent over the last decade.

In Hamilton County, the median age is even higher - more than 51 years old. That's thirteen years older, on average, than New York state as a whole. Brian Mann was in Hamilton County last week talking to people about the Census findings and what these numbers mean for their communities. He talks with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Sep 20, 2010 — When a patient enters a hospice program at the end of their life, a lot of the focus is on their experience, their choices, and their preparations for death.

As part of our on-going series, called the Hospice Path, we've been profiling Bill Gallagher.

He began working with High Peaks Hospice after doctors told him that his lungs were weakening and couldn't be treated.

This morning, Brian Mann shifts the focus to Tomi Gallagher, Bill's wife. They've been married and caring for each other for nearly seven decades.

Tomi Gallagher says hospice is now offering her important help, while she and her husband navigate this difficult transition.  Go to full article

Jun 27, 2008 — An education forum today at Paul Smiths College is looking at building communities for all ages. It's co-sponsored by Mercy Care for the Adirondacks. The keynote speaker is Dr. Nancy Henkin, founder and director of the Center for Intergenerational Learning at Temple University. Henkin told Todd Moe that with youth and elders making up an increasing proportion of the population, it's critical for the two groups to join together on issues like housing, education, transportation and healthcare.  Go to full article

May 02, 2008 — Todd Moe visits a spiritual care program at a nursing home in Kingston, Ontario, where the power of poetry is making connections with seniors. It's haiku that inspires and comforts people with dementia. The project has resulted in a book of haiku, Signs of Spring, and a series of murals in the home's garden patio. Todd talks with program coordinator Marjorie Woodbridge and Kingston haiku poet Philomene Kocher. They say it's not a cure, but the project does show the sense of humor, deep wisdom and capabilities of people with dementia. For more information about the booklet, "Signs of Spring - haiku poems by persons with dementia", contact Marjorie Woodbridge: mwoodbridge@cityofkingston.ca  Go to full article

Jun 20, 2007 — Mercy Care of the Adirondacks and Paul Smiths College will host a forum on Tuesday, June 26th, on creativity and creating elder-friendly communities. The guest speaker will be Dr. Gene Cohen, Director of the Center for Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University. Mercy Care of the Adirondacks Executive Director Donna Beal says many communities in the region are seeing changes in health and long-term care, and people are living longer. She spoke with Todd Moe.  Go to full article

Aug 15, 2006 — This year's Seaway Festival in Ogdensburg featured the 2nd annual Old Timers Softball game at Monnet Park. Jack "Chucker" Townsend explains how he learned to pitch, 57 years ago...  Go to full article

May 15, 2006 — Like many people of a certain age, commentator Paul Willcott is responsible for the care and nurturing of a parent in the last years of a long life. He's been writing down occasional reflections on this difficult time.  Go to full article

Feb 28, 2006 — A nursing home in Tupper Lake had to be evacuated last night after the boiler system failed, leaving the building with no heat on one of the coldest nights of the winter.
Patients at Mercy Healthcare Center in Tupper Lake were transported to Sunmount, a nearby mental health facility.
They spent the night on beds and mattresses laid out in the Sunmount community room. 94-year old Rita Chaisson described the experience.  Go to full article