Sally Abrahms

Biography: I’m a long-time contributor to AARP with both a personal and professional interest in caregiving. For the last twelve years, I have cared for my father, then my mother and now my 93-year-old mother-in-law. I cover aging and boomers and have written for TIME, Newsweek, the New York Times, USA Today and the Huffington Post, among others.

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Sally Abrahms 'sPosts

A New Place to Talk About Death: A Cafe

Posted on 06/12/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

CaregivingWanna talk about death? It seems that a lot of people do. Death cafes are popping up around the country, with more than 60 so far. You will be hearing a lot more about them. (I swear on my life.) Look, even USAToday has written about them! At these Cafes, the conversation is about … death: Our fear of it, how we prepare for our own, what we think happens after it’s over, near-death experiences, grieving rituals and funerals. The biggest …

Community Caregiving in Cohousing

Posted on 06/6/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Great Places | Home & FamilyRemember when neighborhoods were like caring villages? I never had that experience, but got more than a hint when I visited Camelot Cohousing in Berlin, Mass., a couple of weeks ago. I went to do a housing story and found a family caregiving story! It also brought home the point that there are many ways to grow old and have support. Whether you’re a boomer or in your 70s and beyond, it’s an interesting option. First, the cohousing concept: People …

8 Fabulous Resources for Family Caregivers

Posted on 05/29/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & FamilyI write on topics that I think will interest and help family caregivers, but I can’t cover every issue. Really! So this week, I’m giving you valuable (in my book) resources as well as (in everyone’s book) go-to groups, organizations and websites that have great info, forums, learning opportunities (a webinar, a podcast, an article, an upcoming conference, studies) and advice from experts and in-the-trenches-caregivers. All in one place — here! First, I want to give a shout out to …

Stuffed Animals as Therapy for the Elderly?

Posted on 05/22/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | RelationshipsWalking by the gift shop at my mother-in-law’s nursing home, I did a double take. The shelves were lined with stuffed animals. My first thought was, why are they here? This is not a place with kids. Then I realized, it’s for the 80- and 90-year-old residents. I didn’t have to ask the clerk how they were selling. She was in the middle of ringing up a charming bear in a ruby satin dress donning an oversized floppy hat. During my …

Putting a New Face on Alzheimer’s

Posted on 05/15/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsWhen Cathy Greenblat was in her 20s, her grandmother and grandfather had Alzheimer’s. “I bought society’s message that nothing could be done but keep them safe,” she says. Years later, when Greenblat’s mother developed the disease, she realized that lots more could be done. The former Rutgers University sociology professor began to see Alzheimer’s through a different lens — her camera — when her mother was in a memory care facility. Greenblat saw quality care in a place brimming with …

A Grave Matter: What Happens to Your Social Media When You Die?

Posted on 05/6/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | RelationshipsJust when you thought you had all the important documents you need to know your loved one’s wishes — power of attorney, will, health care directive, perhaps Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) — here’s another to consider: a social media will. This digital estate planning document states what you want to have happen to your social media — Facebook, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, email account — when you die. Just as you need an executor of your estate, you’d have to appoint a …