research

You Get More When You Give

Posted on 12/27/2012 by Becky Gillan | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Volunteering | Work | Your LifeFor my avid followers (are you out there?), you may recall that I previously described my trials during Super Storm (why can’t we all just call it a Hurricane) Sandy, and the random (or not so random) acts of kindness I experienced. In the research world we call this “informal” volunteering: people helping out neighbors. It seems a lot of folks help out in this informal way in addition to volunteering for organizations or charitable groups. AARP recently released a …

Infographic: Caregiving in America

Posted on 12/12/2012 by Becky Gillan | AARP Blog Author | Comments

CaregivingIn the United States alone, 43.5 million Americans are caregivers. Although they do it out of love and obligation, it can pose many challenges for those that provide such care. See graphic below for details on caregiving in the US. Find out more about caregiving research from AARP: More information on caregivers can be found in AARP’s recent Member Opinion Survey Valuing the Invaluable: 2011 Update – The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving A Call to …

Mayhem in the Quiet Car

Posted on 12/5/2012 by Becky Gillan | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Home & Family | TravelIf you’ve ever taken Amtrak, you may be familiar with the “quiet car.” This car (as recently described in a New York Times article) is a haven from the constant noise, music and conversation that invades many of our lives. I myself am a regular quiet car rider. It’s a usually peaceful experience and I use the time to catch up on research reports or read a book. But every so often we experience an “incident.” The Wednesday before Thanksgiving …

On Community

Posted on 11/7/2012 by Becky Gillan | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Home & FamilyLike many who live in the Northeast, I lost power during Hurricane Sandy. For a week. I’m luckier than some, as I have a generator to at least keep my heat going. But on Tuesday, day two without electricity, my generator died at 6:30am. Within minutes I could feel the house temperature dropping. I don’t panic, I thought, it just meant it needed to be fed oil, right? But OMG the oil was in the garage and with no power …

Do I need a new BFF?

Posted on 10/26/2012 by Becky Gillan | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Home & FamilyThis is the first in a series of posts from AARP’s Senior Vice President of Research & Strategic Analysis, Becky Gillan. So the other day I was talking to my sister, and as usual, the conversation gravitated to her two Westies: Maddie and Miss Daisy. She starts to tell me that they have just gotten back from getting their portraits taken and . . . hold on. “Portraits of what?!?” I ask. Seems she is no longer content to have …

Stepping into My Own Prime Time

Posted on 10/2/2012 by Trish Vradenburg | Before I Forget | Comments

Personal HealthFor years I was a sitcom writer; my shows were always in prime time. I have been writing voices for Designing Women, Family Ties, Kate and Allie. Yup, that’s me – except not really. They have been what Julia Sugarbaker would assert on her soapbox, what Alex Keaton would wisecrack to his way-too-liberal parents, what Kate would say supportively to Allie. I would give them lines, but they were never my voice. That’s the trick to writing for others on TV: you write …