About the Blogger

It all started when…

My name is Linda Ganzenmuller, Psy.D., M.S., C.A.S., and I graduated from Hofstra University with my doctorate in psychology. I went on to work as an adjunct professor at Queens College, and as a psychologist in schools, private practice, and assisted living facilities. It was the time that I spent with senior citizens that I discovered my love for that generation, and my work soon focused on the senior population, their children, and their caregivers.

My experience taught me that most seniors, regardless of the road they traveled in life, ended up following a similar path as they aged.  Their primary concerns centered on family and the strength of their relationships; health, and the impact this had on their independence and enjoyment in life; and grief over lost loved ones, careers, pets, relationships, their strong sense of purpose, and a healthy, independent lifestyle.

I have read more books, and taken more classes on Anxiety, Depression, and Grief than I can count, not to mention the dozens of other topics too numerous to mention. I took that information, and nurtured each patient through their trials and tribulations every day, and I loved it. And, as I taught, I learned. I came to realize that more important than anything was a person’s desire to be heard. To tell their stories, give their opinions, share their knowledge, and… HAVE IT MATTER. So many of the hardest problems to tackle are the ones involving other people. While the love and concern are almost always there, the understanding isn’t, and the rifts that this can cause are sometimes giant. My seniors wanted their children to hear, understand, and care about their concerns; and their caregivers wanted to feel more appreciated for what they did.  They are often like east- and west-bound trains only inches apart, but never on the same track.

That’s when I decided that both seniors and their caregivers needed a place to go, to write down their thoughts for others to read.  Anyone is welcome to contribute. Please do! Surely, someone will read what you have to write, and understand things in a whole new way. Maybe you will read something that strikes a chord, and it will make all the difference in a relationship that you want desperately to heal and enjoy.

So, come with an open mind. Read, write, teach, learn, and get the most out of every precious relationship that you have. You’re closer than you think.

Dr. Ganzenmuller lives on Long Island, New York with her husband, where they raised two daughters, and cared for her elderly parents. She continues to work with adults in assisted living facilities, their homes, and in her private practice.