Working professionals who have intergenerational responsibilities, (aka- the pull of sandwich generation child and elder care) would love if friends and colleagues understood how some comments sound, well, pardon me for saying— insensitive. So, this is for you - Employers, Managers and well intentioned colleagues. I thought you might find it helpful to have generalized insight to some of the common...
Sitting in traffic today, the radio DJ made me smile to hear that “escaping to the beach” ranked as one of the top five most common shared fantasies. (second to winning the lottery) We should all be so lucky to have the time and means to escape to the shore. Or for that matter, wherever your favorite vacation spot is located,...
Most of the working family caregivers I know are thrilled that the holidays are behind us, but are not necessarily making stellar plans for the New Year. As fun as holiday gift exchanges, unexpected treats and festive gatherings can be, they can throw off much needed routines and already overloaded schedules. Returning to a predictable day is as comfortable as...
It seems to me that family caregivers are part of a special, members only Christmas Club. I’m not talking about the sort from years gone by when being part of a Christmas Club meant that you had a unique bank account to save for the holidays. I mean something more special and, well, meaningful. Before unveiling the secret handshake and rules...
Here we are a week before Thanksgiving. Not only are we seeped in pumpkin everything, but thanks to retail it feels like the Christmas season is in full swing. My middle-school aged daughter comments on the abundance of television ads with “personified” toys coming to life after store hours. Personally, I get a kick out of the International Delight creamer...
This month we acknowledge the contributions of the more than 44 million Americans who care for a family member, friend, or neighbor. I hope you’ll take time to appreciate friends and family members who support a loved one with their health or managing a disability. ...
The reality is that while caregiving can be deeply rewarding, in fact life-changing, the family caregivers’ needs often go unnoticed. With the primary focus on the caree (aka - the recipient of the care) it is the caregivers who are slowly burning out. For employers not in-tune with the warning signs, or even the generational characteristics of the caregiver demographic,...
One of my favorite simple pleasures in summertime is driving with the windows down. The cool air and earthy smells of living near wooded lots and lakes in central Massachusetts is heaven. Every once in a while I’ll catch a hint of a campfire and I’m transported back to the summers of my childhood. Random memories spark as quick as a...
As we roll up to summer, we finally give ourselves permission to take time off. Right? According to data from U.S. News & World Report, American workers take less time off than workers in other developed nations. In 2000, a typical American worker took nearly twenty-one vacation days. By 2013, it had dropped to sixteen. What if you’re a family caregiver?...
Ahh, the warmer days of spring (cue the joyful trumpeting). The delight of seeing tulips and flowering trees in bloom, the smell of fresh-cut grass and, lest we forget, spring cleaning and yard sales! I get a little giddy at the prospect of yard sales. That is—as the seller, the peddler, the clutter un-loader. I’m rarely on the buying side of...
