The term “helicopter parents” was coined to describe those parents who “hover,” like helicopters, to make sure their kids succeed. Now those helicopter parents, as members of the sandwich generation, find themselves caught in the middle, caring for both kids and aging parents. So they have been transformed into helicopter kids. “Sometimes I sense panic […]

The beginning of the year is a good time to both look back and plan ahead.  Here are some of the financial issues you may want to check.  A) January is a good month to review the provisions of your will and other estate plans. You have likely spent time or communicated with family members and […]

The older we get, the more ups and downs we experience. A lot of us caregivers are getting “older” and we, like our older loved ones, experience the ups and downs of life — all the time! When we were younger, our days were mostly good ones — we felt good, we could do a […]

For many years, my childhood friend has lived with me. She moved in after a heart attack and had many health issues since. During her “stay” both her parents passed away and now she’s lost all but an aging aunt. Just a few weeks ago, she broke her leg and had to have surgery on […]

Every year around this time, we’re all searching for the perfect gift to give that special senior in our life. Chances are they don’t need much. Material things mean very little to older people. So what do we give? We can all give the sweetest of gifts — our time! If I could go back […]

Roasted turkey with savory stuffing. Standing rib roast with Yorkshire pudding. Sides of buttery mashed potatoes, sugary cranberry sauce, and for dessert, a pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. These are all the makings of a holiday culinary feast. A caregiver or a senior planning for the holidays should enjoy the season’s fun festivities. That […]

All these blended family members can wreck havoc with Thanksgiving! It seems each one has their own idea about what should go into the stuffing. Perhaps this Thanksgiving is the perfect time for a stuffing face-off! Now most of my family comes from the Southern states and that means cornbread stuffing. Most of the relatives […]

The loss of a pet is hard for us all but if you’re a senior who lives alone, a pet can be a lifeline and its loss can be devastating. I cried a lot yesterday. My little dog Kita passed away on her big round doggy bed after giving me 15 years of love and […]

The sights and smells of nature can take us back to our earliest memories of nature when we first fell in love with the wonders of the outdoors. Even when our loved ones are unable to make a long hike through the woods, they can have joy from remembering their experiences while communing with nature. […]

Most of us trust our doctors enough to not question a new prescription, but new prescriptions can wreak havoc with our health. Be careful and read all the possible side effects. It could save you from a lot of pain. My childhood friend has lived with me for a number of years. She suffers from […]