Our intentions were very positive when we invited my elderly mother to come live with us. We thought we could help her, give her daily companionship, while she could do brief babysitting chores with our two kids. Now, nearly 40…
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Remember how mom cleaned up those cuts and scrapes and how dad used to throw you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes? I remember my brothers and I rushing into mom and dad’s bedroom Saturday and Sunday mornings…
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As your parents age you will want to do your best to help them to maintain a healthy and happy existence. How much help they need will depend largely on how capable they are of looking after themselves. If they…
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We all strive to be in control of every aspect of our lives. Such control provides us with a sense of security and accomplishment. This is why we make plans and save for unforeseen occurrences. Realistically though, we live in…
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For too many years children and the elderly have been often left in the hands of those who have little time to spend with them as individuals. I’ve seen the starvation for affirmation in both. As a nurse’s aide I…
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I was just twelve and thrilled at the prospect of grandma moving in with us for good. She always stayed the winters with us every year, but now that she wasn’t going back. It sounded too good to be true….
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Assisted living is a wonderful alternative for those seniors who no longer can live alone.  They are able to maintain a certain amount of independence in a safe and supportive environment.  The reality is, this is a difficult and emotional…
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In past generations and in more traditional cultures, the concept of honoring elders was clearly defined and taught to children from the earliest point of being to understand and learn.  It was made clear that life experience and age were…
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Independence is an important human need, and when aging and increasing physical limitations threaten to interfere with it, we may feel depressed and forgotten. After lifetimes of physical, financial and mental independence, most elderly parents appreciate the help offered by…
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If you are a family member has ever served in the military, and you desire to obtain records of that military service, it is a fairly easy thing to do.  Military service records can be used as proof of service…
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As our parents age, we watch helplessly as they gradually lose their independence. Try as we might, we struggle with their frailty, and every step backward that they take reminds us of how hard they worked for us to take…
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If you’re like most children, you keep it in the back of your mind that your parents took care of you when you needed their help. So, it seems only natural that as your parents age your instinct would be…
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When children are involved in making family decisions, they will know that their opinions count and this will make them feel how important they are to their family. By including the children in family discussions and by asking their opinion on…
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Daycare and elderly care compliment each other. They can easily be designed so the needs of both groups are met. It can be a flourishing business that creates a harmonious community. What is in it for the seniors? *Improved physical…
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When our elderly parents get to the stage when they need some assistance with caring for themselves, we have many decisions and choices to make. Most of us would like to have our parents move in with us, caring for…
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Do married moms raise bad sons? It would most likely be argued no, and is probably an issue which would not even make a topic of discussion or debate. So why then, would anyone argue the fact that single mothers…
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Crows are black and noisy. A lot of us would not like them and in many cultures, they represent bad luck and misfortune. In some parts of this world, they also represent death. Yet, I would also put them in…
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As the youngest child of my elderly parents, I am both privileged and honored to be able to offer them support and aide in their golden years. However, with parents as independent and lively as mine, helping them adjust to…
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