Several years ago, the year my father-in-law was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma in late October and moved in with us for treatment, I wondered how we could possibly celebrate Christmas; but, with three kids in the house, I also wondered how we could possibly not celebrate it.   To read the entire article, go to: https://www.wral.com/bringing-light-into-the-dark/17188047/

When I first became pregnant, I remember rushing to the bookstore. This was new territory. I am someone who likes to feel prepared. Where should I turn? My default has always been books. But there were hundreds to choose from. The one that consistently got the highest marks was “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” My copy was well-thumbed by the time I delivered my first child in 2000, my second in 2002 and my [...]

The holidays are a time when anyone can experience “the blues,” but especially seniors. According to the American Medical Resource Institute, over 6 million people over 65 are depressed. There are many reasons, from loneliness or loss of a spouse, to chronic health conditions and having to depend primarily or even solely on paid care instead of help from family. Sadly, only ten percent of seniors get help. Often their adult children are too overwhelmed by [...]

Not long ago, a client lamented the fact that she didn’t see her grandchildren who lived on the west coast but once a year. “Now that they’re older, they’re too busy to visit,” she said, adding, “And I’ve had two knee replacements. I can’t manage the airport chaos.” Travelling can be daunting for anyone, but especially for seniors during the holidays. Terminals are large and spread out. Airline seats are tight. Health conditions, such as [...]

Not long ago, a 95-year-old client of mine who lives in Assisted Living, mentioned that he had recently seen someone using a portable magnifier with a flashlight to read the lunch menus. My client is incredibly well-read, which makes the fact that his eyesight is declining all the more frustrating. We borrowed his neighbor’s magnifier to test out, but it didn’t work so well for him. I found similar products online, but the costs ranged [...]

Thanksgiving has come and gone. While it was great to see everyone, for some adult children visiting senior parents, it was also suddenly apparent that Mom or Dad needed home help. While this has historically been provided by family living nearby, now with the majority of adult children working fulltime, many with children at home to care for, too, and with twenty percent living more than two hours’ drive away, this is not always possible. [...]

The first text came in at 5:04 am. “Call me ASAP,” an old friend wrote, followed by questions she had about which rehab she should go to when she was discharged in two days. “I’m spinning,” she texted. “Help.” She was a dear friend. I fixed a quick cup of coffee and went out to call her from my car so I wouldn’t wake the kids. The street was completely quiet, the air cold. In [...]

"I sure am learning a lot," a dear friend told me when I opened her door to bring over dinner. She was sitting in a narrow wheelchair, with her right leg elevated and some major pins and hardware sticking out of it. She had been through two surgeries in the last 10 days after a fluke fall that ended up shattering her leg below the knee. She had on a blue bathrobe. She smiled when [...]

It's the time of year when family return home for the holidays. If a lot of time has passed since the last visit, it can also be a moment when certain worrisome declines become more apparent. There is a rule of thumb among geriatricians that after the age of 80, one can expect to see a noticeable change in health status about every six months. But what kinds of changes can be addressed with a [...]

Only 25 percent of people older than 65 believe they will need any help in their later years, yet 70 percent do. According to Dr. Atul Gawande, the average senior needs some amount of help for the last eight years of life. This is the time of year when folks head home for the holidays in droves. This is also the time many might notice a decline in their elderly parents' abilities since the last [...]