I was the third child in a bustling Italian-American household of six — “three boys and three girls!” my parents would declare with pride,...

By all accounts, Cindy Smith’s 92-year-old father was a man of humor and dignity. A World War II veteran and retired county planner, he had lost some of his eyesight and needed a walker, but his wit remained razor-sharp. So when an aide in his California assisted living home chirped, “Let me help you, sweetheart,” he quipped back with deadpan brilliance: “What, are we getting married?” The moment was funny — but revealing. It’s a striking example of a widespread communication habit that too often diminishes older adults: elderspeak. What Exactly Is Elderspeak? You may not know the term, but you’ve likely heard it — or even used it without realizing. Elderspeak is a pattern of speech used...

In times marked by turmoil and deep divisions, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, even hopeless. Yet history shows us that even in the darkest hours, humans have turned to each other for courage, resilience, and connection. This shared strength has been—and continues to be—our lifeline through struggle and uncertainty. As I reflect on today’s fractious political and social climate, I am reminded of my own feelings from decades past. The late 1960s brought its own tempest of conflict: the Vietnam War raged, racial tensions exploded into riots in cities like Detroit and Newark, and the ideals of justice and equality seemed all but out of reach. Many of us, including myself, felt that the dream of...