Winning Strategies for Successful Aging

Deftly distilling wisdom culled from his lifelong career as a psychiatrist and gerontologist into this accessible guide to the farther side of the hill, Pfeiffer offers practical, well-organized, and compassionately personal advice for making the best of the years after 65—after all, that basically constitutes “a whole generation of life left to live.” Pfeiffer recommends remaining active in every arena of life—mental, physical, social, creative, spiritual, and even sexual—while being mindful to take advantage of the freedom afforded by retirement and the successful sending-off of the kids. He advises to live where you want, travel, pursue lifelong dreams, and to strive, like one of his inspirational patients, to be able to say, “I like where I live, I know who I am, and I am not alone.” That’s all well and good if one’s wallet is flush enough to make it so; accordingly, Pfeiffer offers financial advice to help folks plan for retirement and end-of-life care. He also delves into the darker hours of the twilight years, addressing such topics as grief, addiction to pain meds, memory loss, and the possibility of having to become a caretaker for an ailing spouse. The result is a comforting and valuable blend of professional authority and sage insights. (Jan.)