President’s Message

As a child I had the privilege of being with and caring for my grandparents. I watched as they went through the often difficult process of aging and saw firsthand the great comfort they received from a single touch or a short visit. Later I would learn that this is the literal definition of compassion – to “suffer with” and accompany another person on their journey.

Years later, it is now my great honor to lead Aging with Dignity and its efforts to help families across America care for their family members with compassion and dignity. With some 78 million Baby Boomers beginning to retire (the first turn age 65 in 2010), we have just begun to see the many challenges facing our society as we care for our parents and grandparents.

To those of us who do the daily work of Aging with Dignity, our success is measured not only in numbers, but also in the stories of lives that have been touched by our mission and our programs. We are exceedingly grateful to our Board of Directors; the many individuals and organizations that support our work; the charitable foundations that provide much-needed resources; and the 23,000 organizations across the nation that distribute our materials, including Five Wishes. This support has helped us reach millions and millions of people in just a short time.

With your continued support, we will carry on with our mission to bring dignity and compassion to those among us who are in greatest need…one heart, one soul, one person and one family at a time.

Paul Malley, President
Aging with Dignity