News and Events

April 17, 2017

Loss is not all of life, but it is a part of life. Amidst the joys and gifts is also loss. Loss of jobs … of friendships … of marriages … of loved ones ... loss of hopes and dreams.

March 20, 2017

No one wants to end their life with regrets; we would probably all agree that sleepwalking through life is no life. Poet and novelist Stephen Vincent Benet reminded us of this when he wrote, “Life is not lost by dying! Life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand, small, uncaring ways.” It is up to each of us to pay attention and embrace the choices in front of us.

March 6, 2017

Betty could still do many things for herself, but her daughter Meg was concerned about her having a fall or becoming ill while living alone. And so, about six months ago, Betty moved in with Meg, her husband and two teenage children. At first, this worked out very well. Betty picked up the house every day, was there to greet the children when they came home from school, and started dinner so that it was just about ready when Meg returned from her full-time job.

February 5, 2017

Pamela Leland, PhD, Executive Director, reimagines aging as a pilgrimage, a journey of personal growth and transformation. She explores how aging, often seen as a solitary process, can be approached with intention and attention, offering opportunities for discovery, meaning, and joy.

January 17, 2017

By the time my husband and I were in our mid-twenties, we had saved enough money toward a down-payment on our first home and became property owners. As a new homeowner, I wanted to be prepared for the future. And so, we contacted an attorney and had our first Wills prepared.

December 5, 2016

If nothing else, the recent presidential election reminded us that life is uncertain. We were reminded that what we think or hope will happen, may not! The election was (and is) a lesson that the very nature of life is change.

October 24, 2016

Recently, the Borough of West Chester celebrated its designation as an “age-friendly community.” West Chester is one of four jurisdictions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with this status. The designation is granted by AARP as part of an affiliation with the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO program identifies 8 areas as most influential on the quality of life for older people.

October 10, 2016

We all accept the fact that nature experiences and spending time outdoors is a healthy and necessary part of a happy childhood, right? We know it helps ensure our kids aren’t sitting in front of the television or pounding away at the computer. But do we know what the actual health benefits are? There are significant and real health benefits to spending time outdoors and not simply those associated with exercise. The benefits are many and they don’t stop a childhood, they extend into old age.

September 13, 2016

Here at The Hickman, we begin our weekly staff meetings with a time to express gratitude. The topics that people cover can vary widely – from appreciation for a co-worker to a work project that has gone well to a fun weekend event to good news on a medical test. There are no rules about what one can be grateful for. It is simply our, maybe meager, attempt to cultivate a sense of gratitude in ourselves and in us as a work team.