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.


To view entire post, please visit my other site

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?

To view the rest of this post, please visit my other site.

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.

To view entire post, please go to my other site

A Nontraditional Thanksgiving Day for Aging Parents This Year?

HOW DO WE CELEBRATE WHEN CHANUKAH AND THANKSGIVING SHARE 
                                                         THE DATE?           
        ARE BLACK FRIDAY SALES BEING ONE-UPPED BY THANKSGIVING
                                                            SALES?
                           ARE AGING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS FLEXIBLE?

Please visit my other site to read entire post.

HOLIDAY GIFTS GUARANTEED TO PLEASE AGING PARENTS: THINKING AHEAD

                           Gifts We Can Be Certain Elders Want

MEMORY TEST: Have your aging parents or grandparents--or great-uncles or aunts-- ever mentioned, off-handedly or in conjunction with other thoughts, something they need, want or would love to have? And you file it in your memory as a gift idea for later on?

I've flunked that. Perhaps I'm not alone. Sunday I was reading posts in my archives and unearthed something I'd forgotten.

    to view entire post, please visit my other site

Aging Parents. Adult Children: 5 Key Thoughts

                                Do Parents Need Nurturing?

Jane Brody's September 16, 2013 column, "When Parents Need Nurturing," is a short read. Many topics she touches on are amplified in past Help! Aging Parents posts. For example,  she mentions parental demands, feelings of obligation, sharing of responsibilities with or without sibling help, and the emotional component. And includes suggestions.

If we weren't proactive in the sensible ways Ms. Brody has suggested; if our relationship with our parents causes us undue stress, and we feel like we can't go on because we're "living and giving beyond our limits,"..............

please visit my other site to view entire post

HALLOWEEN TREATS FOR AGING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, COUCH POTATOES and THOSE IN CARE FACILITIES

 Holidays provide opportunities we can take advantage of-- to jump-start aging parents and add some joy to their lives.

 .....I remember my parents coming back to visit in late October one year. They were in their ’70′s. Halloween night stands out, with the excitement that each ring of the doorbell created for these active seniors. With that in mind, I share ideas for involving aging parents in the Halloween fun.

 Invite aging parents to your home to marvel at the trick-or-treaters’ costumes.

Dad loved answering the door bell’s ring–then seeing the little kids in costume. Their high pitched’ “trick or treat” elicited his compliments about their scary look, great costume etc. They beamed at the compliments as they took their candy. Dad beamed back.  Mother, in the background, seemed happy to replenish the candy supply. She too had a big smile on her face as she watched these excited little kids having such a good time.

To view entire post and enjoy the Halloween photos, please visit my other site