Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

I recently had a stunning realization: We're about to lose one of the most precious resources in America. I'm not talking about oil, gas or rare metals. What we're about to lose Is the living presence of the elders who make up the Greatest Generation.

This amazing group survived...

What happens when you receive life-changing advice? Do you take it all in at once? Or does one particular sentence or even phrase stay with you, becoming a part of the way you look at an issue or challenge?

I've spent a lot of time over the past six years...

• Martin Phillips volunteers many hours each month in local environmental organizations, helping to organize trail clean-ups and testing water quality in streams. His goal is to help preserve the earth for future generations, even though he will not personally see the benefits.
• Janice Phelps has always loved being outside in...

I sat with Susan, a petite and lively 85 year old and talked about growing up in the rural south, her work and her two marriages. Susan, despite a daunting array of health problems, is a funny, lively person. She likes a drink or two and enjoys her activities with...

Hiram Mann, 90, had to fight to find the work he loved, overcoming tremendous odds. The struggle and the rewards of his 90 years were encapsulated in his first words in our interview: "I was one of the original legendary Tuskegee Airmen."

America is waking up to one of...

I have received many comments in response to the publication of my book about the advice older people have for younger generations. Praise is always welcome, but I equally appreciate people who have challenged my way of thinking. One of these is Peter, from Massachusetts.

Yes, it's that time of year again. We're all seeing the lists of resolutions in the press and on various blogs. But I recall reading that only a tiny fraction of New Year's resolutions are ever acted upon.

So I decided to review the data we gathered from more...

I've become aware of an occupational hazard that can affect professionals like me who work with older people. We tend to see elders as problems -- as sick, frail and in need of care and services. Our society also often takes this dim view of older people, focusing on images...

In contemporary society, we don't often ask our elders for advice. We're much more likely to talk to professionals, read books by pop psychologists or motivational speakers, or surf the internet for solutions to our problems. In general (and for the first time in human history), we no longer look...