Baby boomers witnessed and experienced a lot in their formative years, such as the Cold War, the space race, political assassinations, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights protests and Watergate. Now they are reaching an age when many may want to pass along their experiences, memories and family stories to their children and grandchildren – and… Continue reading With Baby Boomers Poised to Share Their Stories, Technology Lends a Hand
Category: Family
Five Tips to Regain Intimacy
Has your intimate connection to your spouse or partner weakened after many years together? Here are my tips for regaining intimacy: Learn to feel and express emotions – When we cut ourselves off from our day to day feelings both good and bad- we also cut the line to our libido. By paying attention… Continue reading Five Tips to Regain Intimacy
6 Reasons To Stop Feeding Your Kids and Grandkids “Kid Food”
According to the National Institutes of Health, on any given day one-third of children and 41 percent of teens eat from a fast-food restaurant. They also report that the restaurant meals often served to kids contain too many calories. The typical “kid food” being offered tends to usually include chicken nuggets, fries, macaroni and cheese,… Continue reading 6 Reasons To Stop Feeding Your Kids and Grandkids “Kid Food”
Parenthood Linked to Longer Life, Especially for Men
Parenthood is associated with a longer life than childlessness, particularly in older age, when health and capacity may start to decline. That’s the finding of research published online in March 2017 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. A release from the publisher notes that the findings suggest.that by the age of 60, the… Continue reading Parenthood Linked to Longer Life, Especially for Men
Best Car Accessories for Pet Owners
According to the ASPCA, 37 to 47 percent of all U.S. households have a dog, and 30 to 37 percent have a cat. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that more than 90 percent of all U.S. households have at least one car. When you combine the high number of pet owners with the high… Continue reading Best Car Accessories for Pet Owners
How to Safely Drive with a Pet in Your Car
Just a few decades ago, it was considered perfectly acceptable for adults to travel in cars without wearing seat belts and for young kids to ride without the safety and support of car seats. These days, we have access to better information and safer technology, and we wouldn’t dream of putting ourselves or our loved… Continue reading How to Safely Drive with a Pet in Your Car
Keep Calm and Measure Cats’ Blood Pressure!
The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), the veterinary division of International Cat Care, is highlighting some concerns about high blood pressure in our feline companions. Hypertension is a well-recognized condition in older cats, yet probably remains significantly underdiagnosed. The consequences can be severe, with target organ damage typically affecting the eyes, heart, brain and… Continue reading Keep Calm and Measure Cats’ Blood Pressure!
Only 1/3 of Parents Think They Are Doing a Good Job Helping Kids Eat Healthy
If you know healthy eating is important for your kids but you also feel like it’s easier said than done, you’re not alone. Nearly all parents agree with the importance of healthy diets during childhood, according to a 2017 national poll. But when it comes to their own homes, only a third of parents of… Continue reading Only 1/3 of Parents Think They Are Doing a Good Job Helping Kids Eat Healthy
Therapy Dogs and Their Benefits to Senior Citizens
As the United States population shifts to more people over the age of 65 than ever before, healthcare providers are searching for new methods to help address some of the specific concerns of senior citizens. According to the Pew Research Center, every day for the next 19 years, 10,000 baby boomers will reach age 65. There are… Continue reading Therapy Dogs and Their Benefits to Senior Citizens
Children and Teens at Risk from Medicine Intended for Pets
Almost two thirds of households in the US own a pet and many of these households have children and teens that either live in or visit the home. As pet owners know, it is common for pets to need medications either to treat health conditions or to prevent things like fleas, ticks, and heartworm. Many… Continue reading Children and Teens at Risk from Medicine Intended for Pets
Older Adults Embracing “Living Apart Together”
A release from the University of Missouri in Columbia notes that since 1990, the divorce rate among adults 50 years and older has doubled. This trend, along with longer life expectancy, has resulted in many adults forming new partnerships later in life. A new phenomenon called “Living Apart Together’” (LAT)—an intimate relationship without a shared… Continue reading Older Adults Embracing “Living Apart Together”
Showing Your Love Can Ease Your Partner’s Depression
The more depressed your romantic partner may be, the more love you should give that person. That is the finding of research done at the University of Alberta in Canada and published in February 2017 in Developmental Psychology. A release from the university acknowledges that It can be tempting to pull back, but tough as… Continue reading Showing Your Love Can Ease Your Partner’s Depression
Caring for Elders with Dementia: Tips for Family Members
Someone in the United States develops dementia every 66 seconds, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2016 “Facts and Figures”. The diagnosis is devastating for those who have the disease and also imposes a crushing burden on their families. The decision regarding the best way to care for a loved one with dementia is dependent on… Continue reading Caring for Elders with Dementia: Tips for Family Members
E-Cigarettes Are Expanding Tobacco Product Use Among Youth
Parent and grandparent alert! E-cigarettes, thought by some to be responsible for a decline in youth cigarette smoking, are actually attracting a new population of adolescents who might not otherwise have smoked tobacco products. That is the finding of a University of Californina, San Francisco study published online January 23, 2017 in Pediatrics as well… Continue reading E-Cigarettes Are Expanding Tobacco Product Use Among Youth
Keeping Kids Safe in Cribs
As any parent whose baby has spent some time in the hospital knows, all cribs are not created equal. In most cases, hospital cribs (also called pediatric medical cribs) differ significantly from what’s in your child’s bedroom at home. “Each type of crib is specially designed for safe use in the environment in which it… Continue reading Keeping Kids Safe in Cribs
Don’t Speak: The “Censorship” of Grief
“Don’t speak I know what you’re saying So please stop explaining Don’t tell me cause it hurts” “Don’t Speak”, song and lyrics by Eric Stefani and Gwen Stefani When advising the bereaved (be it in-person or in writing), one of my most oft-repeated teachings is encouraging them to talk about their loss – their feelings,… Continue reading Don’t Speak: The “Censorship” of Grief
Fewer Than Half of Women Who Take Maternity Leave Are Paid
As a Boomer, you probably didn’t have the option of being paid if you took a maternity leave. News flash: Not much has changed. The number of U.S. women taking maternity leave has remained the same during the last 22 years and fewer than half of the women who did take leaves were paid. Those… Continue reading Fewer Than Half of Women Who Take Maternity Leave Are Paid
Why the Empty Nest Reality Is Much Less Glum Than the Myth
You’re supposed to feel weepy, forsaken and bereft. And maybe you do. Sometimes. Some days. But many parents are realizing that they also feel exhilarated, freer and, yes, sexier, when their kids grow up, leave home and go out on their own. It might be an empty nest, but there’s no “syndrome”. At least, not… Continue reading Why the Empty Nest Reality Is Much Less Glum Than the Myth