Amy Goyer

Biography: As an expert in aging and families, specializing in family caregiving and multigenerational issues, I am a consultant, speaker and writer. I've worked for more than 30 years with older adults, children with special needs and their families.

As AARP's Home & Family Expert, I provide expertise on a variety of issues, including family caregiving and aging in place, livable communities, grandparenting, parenting and other family relationships, multigenerational living and family history.

Right now the most important role I'm playing in life is that of primary caregiver for my parents who are 86 and 89. In 2009 I moved to Arizona to be close to my parents and I return to Washington, DC frequently for business. It's a crazy life but I'm grateful to be able to support my parents and do the work I love at the same time!

My Take Care blog posts are about caregiving for Mom and Dad, and you'll also hear about my partner in caregiving: the adorable Jackson, their service dog, who is a Schnoodle. My All in the Family blog posts are about a variety of family, friendship and other relationship issues. I also write a column on AARP.org, act as a media spokesperson and am a regular guest on AARP radio. Author of "Things to do now you're a Grandparent." Winner of 2012 ALTY Best Blog Award in Caregiving category and Finalist in Seniorhomes.com Social Media Rockstar Award.

My new book, "Juggling Work and Caregiving" will be released in fall of 2013.

Follow me on Twitter @amygoyer and Pinterest! Connect on Facebook www.facebook.com/amygoyer1, LinkedIn or I'm agoyer here in the AARP Online Community.

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Amy Goyer 'sPosts

Dementia Tsunami Headed Your Way: TEDMED Helps Stem the Tide

Posted on 03/12/2013 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Personal Health | RelationshipsTEDMED, a multidisciplinary community of innovators and leaders who join together to create a better future in health and medicine, recently hosted a Google+ Hangout web chat: Preparing for the Dementia Tsunami. TEDMED is a champ at bringing together doers and thinkers from a wide variety of disciplines, and this event did just that. Doctors, researchers, caregivers and other experts joined many participants on Twitter and Facebook to discuss the huge increase in dementia that is coming our way. By …

Is Your Loved One Really Getting the Care You Expect?

Posted on 03/7/2013 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsRecently, there has been a great deal of controversy about an employee in an independent living facility in California who refused to do CPR on a resident, citing company policy forbidding her to do so. The resident later died, sparking many questions about types of facilities, the kind or “level” of care provided and their policies. Several investigations have been launched as a result of the incident. The facility at first said the employee followed policy, but later released a statement saying, “The incident resulted from …

The Organized Caregiver: Documents and Easily Accessible Tech Tools

Posted on 02/22/2013 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Relationships | Technology Being organized is the key to success for all caregivers, but it can definitely be a challenge to gather and keep track of all the important documents and information you’ll need. I suggest you gather your loved one’s information in one secure place for easy access. Here are the documents I’ve found to be critical as I am caregiving for my parents, and (above) my Taking Care with Amy Goyer video on cool tech tools to help you stay organized and …

Romance Lives On, Despite Alzheimer’s

Posted on 02/14/2013 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsI returned home from an extended business trip last night and, as I feared, I’m not sure my beloved Dad remembered me. As Alzheimer’s continues to slowly take over his brain, Daddy’s ability to remember key people in his life has been fading. But there are two people he still knows without fail. I guess I should say two souls really, because one is his dog, Jackson. The other is the love of his life, Patricia — my Mom. Dad …

Medicare Settlement Means No More ‘Improve or You’re Out’

Posted on 02/6/2013 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Money & Savings | Personal Health | PoliticsA federal judge has approved the proposed Settlement Agreement in the Medicare Improvement Standard case, Jimmo vs. Sebelius, clearing the way for thousands of Medicare beneficiaries to receive needed health services to maintain their current level of functioning. The settlement, which represents a significant change in Medicare coverage rules, ends Medicare’s longstanding practice of requiring people to show a likelihood of improvement in order to receive coverage of skilled care and therapy services. The Agreement, which is retroactive to the …

Adventures in Caregiving: Taking Mom and Dad to the Movies

Posted on 02/5/2013 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsDue to Mom and Dad’s health issues, it’s been a very long time since I’ve attempted taking them to a movie. Nevertheless, fortified by Danielle, our live-in caregiver, and my boyfriend, Bill, I recently decided to try taking them to see, “Lincoln.” Here’s how we pulled it off … and the emotional roller coaster that ensued for me. We chose an early Tuesday evening when there wouldn’t be crowds (matinees are great too.) We arrived at the movie theater late, …