family

The Gift I Didn’t Know I Needed

Posted on 12/26/2012 by | Volunteering | Comments

Caregiving | Home & FamilyBefore my Pop Pop died, we had a conversation about our conversations. “I miss our talks,” I said one night, sitting by his bed. It was August and, though the doctors said he was in good health, he was miserable. During the day, the pain consumed him and I wondered where my grandfather went, but for an hour or so at bedtime, the Pop Pop I knew came back. “I know you’re hurting, and it’s hard to think about anything …

Grieving Through the Holidays

Posted on 12/24/2012 by | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Relationships  Christmas is upon us and I am both relieved and apprehensive. The holidays this year are especially difficult for my family because they are the culmination of our first year of grief. My niece, Shaelee, lost her life to suicide on Jan. 4 at the age of 19.  She suffered from bipolar disorder for much of her life. It has been a rough year – to say we miss her terribly is such an understatement.We also have the challenge of ongoing grief and loss as my …

28 Ways to Heal From Tragedy

Posted on 12/20/2012 by | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Home & Family | Relationships | Your LifeMany of us are experiencing grief and sorrow after the shock of the deaths in Newtown, Conn., on Friday. The tragic shootings have brought many issues to the forefront: gun control, school safety, mental illness and the daily tragedy of thousands of children around the world who die every day from violence, child abuse, neglect and hunger. How can we lift ourselves up from the fear, sadness and negativity? What can we, as individuals, do to make a difference? At …

Latinos as Natural Caregivers

Posted on 12/18/2012 by | Washington D.C. | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Personal HealthMy mom is my hero. She has always been a happy and independent person, but now, as she faces new health challenges that are rapidly changing, and I can only imagine how much she is suffering. My dad is her primary caretaker; my brothers and I are helping as much as we can. For us, as Latinos, it is our duty to take care of our loved ones, and often this sense of responsibility leads us to do everything on …

What’s a Guy to Do? Four Suggestions for Better Caregiving

Posted on 12/14/2012 by | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Personal Health | Relationships | Your LifeIn my last post, I ranted a bit about the perceived invisibility of men in caregiving discussions. This time, I want to turn that camera around and take a look at how men can sometimes be their own worst enemies when taking on a caregiving role. The urge many of us have to step in, analyze and act can make the experience much more difficult than it needs to be (believe me, I learned the hard way). Over time, I …

Tips for Multigenerational Living

Posted on 12/13/2012 by | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Relationships | Your LifeI was pleased to be included as an expert in a recent NBC Nightly News three-part series on caregiving. The series culminated in a segment in which I was interviewed about multigenerational living. After many years of working with multigenerational families, and now that I, too, live in a multigenerational household with my parents and their live-in caregiver, I’ve learned a lot. Here’s a roundup of my tips for those of you in similar situations — or those of you …

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