Healthy Aging: A Journey Close to My Heart

By Tami Bohannon, FSL’s President & CEO

Imagine this: Your phone rings, and on the other end, a police officer is telling you that EMTs are treating your mom after a serious fall. Your immediate reaction is to rush to her side. Once the initial adrenaline wears off, though, you’re left wondering—what’s next? It’s a moment many of us will face as our loved ones grow older. I know it all too well.

In college, I was part of those difficult family conversations about my grandparents and what the next step in their aging journey would look like. They were both in their 80s and fiercely independent. They didn’t want to leave their home or the neighborhood church that had been a pillar in their lives for so many years. So, as a family, we did what we could to support them. My mom, my uncle, and I took turns checking on them. For me, that meant driving three hours to visit, care for them, and soak up the precious time I had left with them. After all, they’d been there for me throughout my life—how could I not do the same?

But then things got more complicated. My grandma got lost driving on the freeway one day. She made it home, thank goodness, but it was a clear sign her dementia was worsening. At the same time, my grandpa hurt his back. Suddenly, they needed more care than any of us could provide. And, like so many seniors, they didn’t want to move in with their kids or go to a nursing home. That’s when the worry really set in.

Their story is one I hear from families across Arizona every day. It’s a deeply personal reminder of how aging can turn even the strongest family into caregivers, often before they feel ready for it. It’s also why the work we do at FSL matters so much to me.

By 2040, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double, and the number of those 85 and older will nearly quadruple. These staggering figures don’t just represent numbers—they represent our parents, grandparents, and loved ones. They represent families like mine, and probably yours, too. And with this massive shift, the number of available caregivers will be outpaced dramatically, leaving families scrambling to address concerns like fall prevention, personal care, and balancing caregiving with work and life.

At FSL, we’re already facing these challenges head-on, and I’m proud to say we do it in a way that’s deeply personalized. You see, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to aging. Each person’s journey is different. What worked for my grandparents may not work for yours. That’s why we focus on tailored care, meeting each person where they are in their aging journey.

Here’s how we do it:

• We offer active aging road maps to help older adults plan for their later years, so they can avoid crises and prepare for the road ahead.
• We provide healthy meals and opportunities for connection, so people can age with strong bodies and enriched lives. Aging is about more than just physical health—it’s about staying connected to community and purpose.
• We ensure access to affordable, safe housing, with on-site services designed to meet the evolving needs of seniors.
• And we give family caregivers respite and expert guidance, so they can continue to provide love and support without burning out.

The personal experience I had with my grandparents has shaped my understanding of aging. There’s no “right” way to age. For them, it was moving into a small, home-like facility that provided around-the-clock care. That gave us, as their family, the confidence they were safe and well cared for.

But for many families, especially here in Arizona, those options simply aren’t affordable. That’s where FSL steps in. We provide the safety net that thousands of Arizonans rely on as they face the challenges of aging. Whether it’s helping prevent a crisis or providing the support to prepare for the future, we’re here to ensure that aging isn’t something to be feared, but embraced.

As the number of older adults in our community grows, we need to be ready. And we need to make sure that the services they rely on, from fall prevention programs to affordable housing, are there when they need them most.

I’ll never forget the peace of mind I felt knowing my grandparents were taken care of in their final years. That’s the same peace of mind I want for every family we serve at FSL. There’s no one path to aging, but with the right support, we can all walk that path with confidence.

Will you join us in meeting this challenge head-on? Together, we can ensure that all Arizonans have the opportunity to age with dignity, care, and confidence.

“[My grandparent’s] story is one I hear from families across Arizona every day. It’s a deeply personal reminder of how aging can turn even the strongest family into caregivers, often before they feel ready for it. It’s also why the work we do at FSL matters so much to me.”

Tami Bohannon
President & CEO, FSL

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