How to stay active at 75? Build a barn!

MIDDLEBURY — We sometimes associate people’s golden years with the relaxed life.Book clubs. Matinée showings of Judi Dench movies. Stamp collections.Middlebury resident Bob Horne, 75, has a different idea. He is building a barn next to his home on Halladay Road, using wood from his own backyard to make the barn’s foundations.“I think it… brings some vitality to older age,” Horne said about his project.Built plank-by-plank by the septuagenarian, the homemade barn is meant primarily for storage.“I had three s … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY— When Christopher Shaw was in his twenties, he had a wizened, old, long-distance sailor for a friend. A relentless chain smoker of Camel cigarettes, this man was one of a few elders in Shaw’s life at the time, and Shaw remembers his wily st … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — If there was one silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was that arrived at the beginning of spring, when people of all ages could at least congregate outdoors with appropriate face attire and social distancing. But a Vermont winter is ni … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Seniors at the Residence at Otter Creek in Middlebury and others around the state listened to and took part in an Oct. 8 conference that raised awareness of financial abuse that older Vermonters can encounter when they head into cyberspace. T … (read more)

Anyone who has been to a polling place in Vermont on Election Day knows that many of the volunteers who help their fellow citizens cast votes are senior citizens. Well, that was until coronavirus came and public health officials urged everyone — especiall … (read more)

VERGENNES — Larry has always been a proud and independent man. But when health issues made it too risky for him to enjoy simple pleasures, such as cooking meals and cheering on local sports teams, finding support was essential. Larry’s diabetes and strugg … (read more)

Beginning Oct. 1 Vermont seniors applying for 3SquaresVT are able to use a simple application and benefit renewal process as part of the new 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP program. The easy-to-use application is available to individuals and households age 60 or old … (read more)

Each year, many Vermonters experience a fall, and only half will tell their health care provider. A fall can cause an injury, limit a person’s mobility and independence, and increase social isolation. But although falls are a leading cause of injury and d … (read more)

Do you ever notice that it’s tough to follow a conversation when you are in a space with a lot of background noise, like a crowded restaurant or public meeting? Have you found yourself asking people to repeat themselves or slow down when speaking to you? … (read more)