Hello to Quality of Life Newsletter readers!

I am delighted that you are interested in learning about successful aging and the various topic areas that collectively provide the picture of growing older and living a good quality of life. As a gerontologist, I am primarily interested in the psychosocial aspects of aging which I feel are the critical supports for growing older successfully. Our medical technology continues to advance, but our links to community supports and our understanding of how to help one other to age in place need much more work and attention.

This newsletter will complement articles on the geriatrics site that are prepared from a combination of research results and interviews with older persons. Articles will also offer sound advice for growing older successfully.

For example, the information on "Safety" for older adults will offer recommendations for safe practices inside of the home, outside of the home, in the car, on the street, and more. The newsletter will provide readers with additional follow up on those topics and offer other interesting "tid bits" for aging wisely.

The newsletter in combination with the geriatrics site information is intended to be useful for practitioners, for family members wishing to assist an older person in their family or a friend, or for individuals who are growing older and would enjoy reading about issues of benefit to them.

As I am in the young-old age range (65-74) I not only have the training as a gerontologist but am living the issues! What I've personally found is that we tend to not plan well for our later years. Our focus is usually on finances, i.e., on questions like, can I afford to retire? Interestingly, happiness in retirement goes well beyond finances, and in fact, for many, finances do not play a major role in providing joy in later years.

Also, I'd like to discover what my readers want to learn about aging through their inquires and comments on the Forum page. My intent is to provide readers with the latest information available on the issue along with my personal feedback and encourage an exchange of information.

I hope you will feel free to make suggestions on topics, and let me know what you think will improve the newsletter and the Geriatrics site. This site is for my readers, and I want as much information from you as feasible so that it serves you well.

Also please be assured that your email is in safe hands. We never sell email addresses and keep them in the strictest of confidence. Thank you so much for joining me and signing up for the BellaOnline and our Geriatrics site.

All Best Wishes,

Patricia Villani, MPA, PhD
Geriatrics Site Editor