Sometime in your childhood you probably experienced a gift that didn't feel like a gift. I know this varies wildly depending on your families income and gift giving habits. Most of us have had that moment of secret (or not so secret disappointment) when opening something like underwear or socks. Here is some expert guidance: Bonnie Wertheim wrote  an article How to Give a  Good Gift for the New York Times. In it she says:    "Gift-giving is a love language and one that anyone can learn to speak". Ms. Wertheim then gives us this excellent list of ways to think...

              Traveling a long distance with an older relative, even one who is as healthy as my 90 year old Dad, includes special challenges. There can be extra health risks during long flights. With a little advance planning you can make the trip easier and safer. In her article for Next Avenue Nancy Monson writes there are 12 strategies that help enhance the flying experience.  "1. Book early, so you have your choice of seats." On our recent cross country trip we were able to book seats with extra leg room (for a $50.00 fee)...

Worldwide the population is aging: according to the NIH "the world’s older population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. In 2016 8.5 percent of people worldwide (617 million) are aged 65 and over. According to a report, “An Aging World: 2015(link is external),”  this percentage is projected to jump to nearly 17 percent of the world’s population by 2050 (1.6 billion)." Simultaneously, in the U.S.,  we are experiencing what Jill Lepore calls " the downward compression of the labor market". In her recent article for The New Yorker Ms. Lepore writes:  "In “The Globotics Upheaval,” Richard Baldwin predicts that the march of the...

      I only knew my paternal Grandmother after her stroke. She was a slightly scary creature for me as a child, with one lame leg and a dysfunctional hand that curled in on itself. She had regained her brain function (as far as I know) so the only lingering aftermath of her stroke was that one side of her body no longer worked.        She smoked. Constantly. Lighting one cigarette with the next. Her ashtray stood on a stand next to her favorite chair, it too was a piece of furniture, it's surface area was that of a pizza pan. I don't...

If you Google pedicures for older adults a few intriguing things pop up.   - Tips on cleaning big toe build up which has been viewed over 2 million times.  And then this question - "Does Medicare pay for a pedicure?" The answer is no.  The longer answer from Medicare.com; "Medicare covers limited podiatry. Medicare may cover nail fungus treatment if it’s determined to be medically necessary foot care. According to the Mayo Clinic, nail fungus may lead to a serious infection that spreads beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system. People with diabetes are particularly at risk...