EDITOR’S NOTE: The Richland Source Gray Matters team traveled to New York City on Oct. 24 for The New Old Age summit sponsored by The Atlantic. This was one of the topics covered at that convention.
One of the things that occurred to me while attending The Atlantic’s New Old Age conference in New York City is Richland County is on par with many communities across the country with its effort and attention in the care of older loved ones.
Jed Levine, CEO and president of CaringKind, a New York City organization specializing in Alzheimer’s Care, spoke to the audience in New York about care taking, something I’ve spent seven months reporting.
He also discussed the importance of serving diversity in New York City, and the challenges that are prevalent throughout the nation.
“Many minorities didn’t have access earlier,” he said.
Now CaringKind works hard to reach as many in need as possible.
In Richland County, we have so many different ways of reaching people. With respite care such as the Adult Day Care, there are numerous home care agencies and social groups that help support families and caretakers.
Cost, of course, is a major factor in care. Each caretaker I’ve met with discusses the financial burden of getting older.
“Aging is living,” Levine said. “The alternative is dying. The experience of caregiving is painful. The person is there, but they aren’t there in the same way.”
