As a child, I was deeply connected to all four of my grandparents and, later, two sets of step-grandparents. My father raised me to not fear death, and as a lover of the oldest generation, I was not a stranger to death. As a young girl, sitting at the feet of a person full of wisdom was more enchanting than any toy or television show. My biological grandparents all died during an 18-month period of my 45th year of life--a rarity to have grandparents for so long!

I have spent the last 10 years caring for elders in my family and in my community. They deserve dignity and respect that some families cannot provide. I've seen elders left alone in facilities, never to be visited or properly cared for. I've found elders home living in dangerous conditions and without proper medication or food which results in one slippery slope after another. I believe all deserve meaningful living until the end of this earthly life.