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Welcome to NoPlaceForSissies.com

Bette Davis famously said “Old age ain’t no place for sissies”. I am almost 80 years old and I now know what she meant.

As I have aged, I have experienced, and come to understand, the unique challenges that a “limited life” creates for us as we age, regarding;

Healthcare – availability and cost, medication, insurance…specifically related to pain management and disease

Housing – from independent living to assisted living… 

Financial planning – income and benefits, “Do I have enough?”…

Food and nutrition…

Exercise/fitness/mobility…

Family and other relationships, isolation and loneliness…

Access to state and federal social services…

End of life decisions and arrangements…

and more.

It’s not that we haven’t been dealing with some of these issues at times during our adult lives, but now it’s “different”. Our bodies and our minds are undergoing changes that are unfamiliar to us. “What the heck is going on with me?”  can lead to anxiety, depression, isolation, frustration, bewilderment…

OK, it’s time to clarify something. Some people age well. Their older years are relatively trouble free. Good for them. But, yeah, I’m jealous.

The focus here on NoPlaceForSissies.com will be on those of us who are facing challenging times and experiencing years that are less than “golden”. The scourge of Alzheimers and Dementia are wreaking a devastating havoc. No matter what might ail us, it can be depressing  to think that “it won’t get better” and that we just have to figure out how to cope with the end of our journey as best we can. As they said in the 60s, “Bummer”. Life can be hard at all ages, but old age might be the hardest, if we get there.

In 2026 I’ll be developing a TV show called No Place For Sissies and a podcast of the same name. I’ll talk about my own experiences and talk with my guests about their experiences. I’ll also talk with people who represent the health and social service sectors about how they support the elderly.

If there is any message to be derived from all this, it is that, you are not alone.

noplaceforsissiesjms@gmail.com