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Friday - March 29, 2024
 

Helping Your Parents Get Rid of “Stuff”

May 1st, 2006

Because of a crisis, my sisters and I had to move our mother into an assisted living which also meant emptying out her home. Unfortunately, as almost always happens when there\’s a crisis, the timing couldn\’t have been worse and, because of our work schedules, we had 1 week in which to do it!! While my parents were the most organized people you could imagine and my sister and I worked well together, one week wasn\’t nearly enough time to sort through the “stuff” my parents had accumulated throughout their 50 years of marriage and certainly not enough to make good decisions... Read More

Workplace Eldercare Programs – Getting the Support You Need

April 1st, 2006

It is estimated that 65% of the workforce cares for chronically ill or aging loved ones – a responsibility that often conflicts with work. Unfortunately, most employees are reluctant to mention their eldercare problems at work so they don\’t know what eldercare programs are available. As a result, utilization of eldercare programs is often as low as 1-2% – leaving many employers to believe that programs are not needed, causing some employers to reduce or limit the workplace eldercare options! How do you stop this downward spiral and get the support you need? Start by looking at what workplace... Read More

Welcome to the Sandwich Generation

March 1st, 2006

First we couldn\’t have any. Then we could have it all. Then we realized we didn\’t want it all. So how come we\’re still doing it all – and feeling guilty about it to boot!? Welcome to the “Sandwich Generation”! So much has been written lately about the “Sandwich Generation” – those caring for both their children and their aging parents. It\’s an important subject, especially because, while Baby Boomer men are also members of the sandwich generation, the overwhelming impact is on Baby Boomer women. Why are women bearing the brunt of eldercare? Because we\’re... Read More

Eldercare and the Home Office: Making it Work

February 1st, 2006

Now, after “only” 35-40 years, due to the sheer quantity of working women; more men speaking out about and being involved in childcare responsibilities; more men in senior positions with families and working wives; and more women in senior positions, accommodating childcare is pretty much “socially acceptable”. TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF ELDERCARE, more and more Baby Boomer women are choosing to work from home. It sounds like an obvious and easy solution and, for many it is. However, there are factors that can blur the lines between your work and eldercare responsibilities that you will... Read More

How to Avoid the “Vicky-D Iceberg”

January 1st, 2006

In “De-Mystifying Vicky-D\’s” in the October NABBW newsletter, you learned how the Vicky-D\’s\’ generational experiences, attitudes and values created their expectations today. However, generational values and attitudes are only part of the equation. As you might imagine, for Vicky-D\’s facing major life issues such as old age, declining health, death of a spouse and/or friends, fear of being destitute and homeless, fear of losing independence and control, or the fear of dependency – or not having anyone to depend on, this an extremely emotional time. Emotions... Read More

Tips for Getting Eldercare – And Your Life – Under Control

December 1st, 2005

Because eldercare is often unexpected, intermittent (at least initially), and always unpredictable, few of us realize the time and toll it\’s taking on us personally in terms of money, relationships, and peace of mind – to mention nothing of our sanity! It\’s also difficult to accurately predict the true length of our commitment. In fact, according to the 1999 MetLife Mature Market Institute Study, a majority of those anticipating 1 to 2 years of caregiving actually spent 4 or more years providing care. Add to that all the complicated bureaucratic and legal restrictions, such as... Read More

De-Mystifying “Vicky-D\’s”

October 1st, 2005

“My mother expects me to take care of her, even though I have a husband, children, and a job. But she\’s SO grateful when my brother calls once a month!” “When I ask my parents about their health they freak out and shut down!” “All I did was mentioned to my father that I\’d like to help him with the finances and suddenly the conversation took a dark turn. Now he won\’t even speak to me!” “Taking care of the house is overwhelming my mother but she won\’t even talk about getting help or moving.” Sound familiar? Frustrating? If so, you\’re... Read More