by Linh Chuong. This post originally appeared on the SEARAC blog. In 1986, my dad was forced to flee Vietnam because of persecution. He came to the United States as a refugee and was relocated to Oakland along with my three older brothers. As a child, I remained in...
A Look at the Lives of Trans and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults
By Grace Birnstengel. This article originally appeared on Next Avenue. Very little history, imagery or understanding of transgender older adults exists in the public sphere. The stories that circulate are often sensationalized, come from a lens of voyeurism or focus...
When Mom Doesn’t Recognize Me, I Tie a Knot and Hang On
by D. Kevin McNeir for the Washington Informer. I would have never believed there would ever come a time when my Mom--whom I’ve always described, whenever asked, as my best friend, No. 1 fan, personal “shero” and one who’s loved me unconditionally without hesitation...
Older Americans Month: Engage at Every Age
May is Older Americans Month! This year, the theme is Engage at Every Age, which emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which...
The Challenge of Curbing Smoking in Native American Communities
by Kevyn Burger. This article originally appeared on Next Avenue. Mary Owl still remembers her first cigarette, puffed when she was 13 years old. “I was never so high in my life,” recalled Owl, now 58. “I inhaled, got dizzy and then sick to my stomach.” A tribal...
Health Needs of Older Rural Immigrants Often Overlooked
by Beth Baker. This article originally appeared on Next Avenue. Micaela Rios, 64, who immigrated to rural western Kansas from Mexico 20 years ago, has a difficult job in a meatpacking plant. After years of packing beef in cold, wet conditions, she developed arthritis...