Aging Parents: It's the Haa, Haa-py-est Time of The Year?

© ElaineLeBerg

It's The Haa, Haa--py--est Time of The Year

The words and melody from the radio fill my car as I drive to the post office to mail the holiday cards. We have snow, it looks like a winter wonderland; and kids, amid shrieks of laughter and merriment, are sledding down our shared driveway on anything they can find that's large enough to sit on. Sun is 
shining, snow balls are flying, and I'm certain school vacation is adding to this happiest of times.

And then my counseling background kicks in and I remember that holidays aren't always the happiest of times for people. So I decide to check in with a few older people and see how they're doing. As a counselor, I'm trained to ask objective questions--not leading questions that will give me the answer I want (or think I want). That said, let me share my findings.

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Aging Parents: Sooo Much to Do, Too Little Time-Holiday Organization

Juggling everything on a normal day, with over-busy, over-programmed schedules, is hard enough at this time of year--whether we're children of aging parents, caregivers or Sandwich Generation. Do we feel like we have ADD?

DISORGANIZATION, FRAZZLED NERVES--worsened by the unexpected glitch. And can't we count on that! There's an old saying "I'm dancing as fast as I can." Taking that a step further: when we try to dance faster than we can, don't we wear out or lose our balance? So how do we stay balanced?

9 Strategies that work 

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Aging Parents and Us: Must Age, Health Decline, and Dependency go Hand in Hand?

 Growing Older Doesn't Necessarily Mean Growing Old

We may question this assumption if we're in the midst of caring for aging parents with health issues. On the other hand, the results of research, published last month in the Journals of Gerontology, may be heartening for us if our parents are still relatively healthy and independent--and also heartening as we think about our years ahead.

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Help Aging Parents--Financial Stuff (often laborious for me--and possibly you) Thoroughly and Easily Explained

Understanding Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans Can Help Parents Age Well

                                                Open enrollment ends Dec. 7

I was perusing the November 22 online Huff Post 50 topics, when "25 Things You Absolutely Positively Must Do Before You Die" captured my attention. But that was only momentary. Since I didn't plan to die right away, another article won out: "7 Tips to Help You Pick The Best Medicare Advantage Plan,".

This informative, clearly explained article, written by journalist, Bob Rosenblatt, is also on his blog, Help With Aging, where he writes: "I developed the Los Angeles Times’ first beat on aging, and wrote a column for the Times’ health section on these issues...

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SENSE OF PURPOSE: A GIFT FOR AGING PARENTS AT THANKSGIVING, CHANUKAH, AND BEHOND

I think everyone would agree: having a sense of purpose is essential to feeling good about life. The big question: How do we instill a sense of purpose in aging parents who no longer have it?

Do remember, those who never had it will no doubt never get it--
People Change, Not Much.


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Traditional, Remarried and Blended Families: Navigating the Holidays to Help Parents and Elders Age Well

Pack the car and the kids--To Grandmother's House We Go--perhaps. But what if there are 3 or 4 or more living grandmothers with husbands? What about siblings and siblings-in-law?

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Help Aging Parents--Who Don't Eat Properly: A Centenarian's Advice

Thanksgiving Leftovers Go Home

With Thanksgiving/Chanukah just a over a week away, I'm thinking about our dinner, older family members, their eating habits, and what special contributions I can make.

At age 97 and 98 Sr. Advisor, R, previously shared thoughts and advice on my posts about nutritious food older people like, can prepare easily and quickly, and where and how she buys it. (Links below)

Now--at age 100--she shares her philosophy as it relates to life and food, and reiterates her quick, easy, no-mess, healthy food preparation that has helped her age well.

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