holidays

I’ll Be at the Hospital for Christmas

Posted on 12/25/2011 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Relationships | Your LifeThe brilliant red Poinsettia is on the table, Christmas card beside it. Visitors come and go bringing hugs and Christmas cheer. There is turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie in the dining room. In the background, I hear the sound of vintage 1949 Bing Crosby filling the air with “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and with all my heart I wish we were. But we’re not – we’re at the hospital for Christmas. The table decorated with Poinsettia and Christmas cards …

Six Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Posted on 12/23/2011 by Carole Carson | Fat to Fit | Comments

Personal HealthWe are in the middle of one of the most dangerous seasons for overeating. The onset of winter, combined with back-to-back holidays, provides endless temptations. Dr. Holly Hull, a researcher at the University of Oklahoma who studies holiday weight gain, affirms our own experience: during the next few weeks, we’ll face an enticing array of opportunities to consume calorie-dense snacks, finger foods, appetizers, desserts and alcoholic drinks. You don’t have to be a researcher to notice how much weight Mr. …

Holiday Tip: Think Outside the Shirt Box and Give the Gift of Service

Posted on 12/20/2011 by Leigh Anne Tuohy | Volunteering | Comments

VolunteeringDo you remember when you were a child and the Sears catalog would arrive right before the holidays and you, or at least I would, go through and circle everything you wanted for Christmas? It had all the presents you could want in one place. I can hear my father right now saying, “Did you leave anything for anyone else?” I would always have a split second of guilt, but it quickly passed. The holidays can be like a juggling act, …

What if the Holiday Volunteer Sign up List is Full? 3 Family-Friendly Projects to do at Home

Posted on 12/19/2011 by Jen Martin | Volunteering | Comments

Home & Family | VolunteeringThis is a guest post by Heather Taylor. Taylor is a freelance writer, consultant and radio producer. Since January 2011, she’s also happily served as a job coach in the AARP Foundation WorkSearch Program, helping adults aged 50+ who are unemployed to find satisfying work. You can follow her on twitter at @findingthejobs. Finding a volunteer opportunity during the holiday season–it’s a no-brainer, right? Well, actually no, says Jenny Friedman, Executive Director of Doing Good Together, a nonprofit focusing on family …

Part II: A Caregiver’s Christmas Wish List

Posted on 12/14/2011 by Amy Goyer | Aging, Home & Family Expert | Comments

Caregiving | Relationships | Your LifeWhile the intangibles in my Caregiver’s Christmas Wish List post last week are at the top of my list, there are, of course, some pretty darn tangible items I’d also love to have as a caregiver! Here is a sampling of items most caregivers yearn for, Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney with these goodies: 1. A new car (might as well start big!): OK I’d love to have a new little red sports car, but what I need desperately …

Avoid Weight Gain, Sickness, and More: The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide

Posted on 12/14/2011 by Alejandra Owens | General News | Comments

Personal HealthThis is a guest post by Annie Lynsen, on loan to AARP from Small Act. Don’t be like Santa this holiday season. Seriously, that guy is a health nightmare, between all the extra cookies he eats to his habit of overexerting himself (at least on one night in particular). Instead, make small, healthy changes to your usual holiday festivities to avoid packing on extra pounds or getting sick. To start with, don’t stress out. Breathe. And remember, if you’ve been …