Join me as we listen in on a family meeting. The fact that there is a family meeting actually happening is a tremendous credit to everyone involved. Many issues have been popping up that nobody wanted to deal with, but now it’s time.... Ralph and Eva are 80 and 78 and still live in their own home. 55 year-old Rick and his wife Pat live in the...

The ideal home is one that you like, one that fits you and your needs, makes you feel comfortable and safe. The ideal elder home includes all of these attributes but it is also a home that allows the elderly resident to age in place. Age in place? When you age in place, you live in the same community until you die. This does not necessarily...

Half a century ago most families stayed in the same area. You lived your life in close proximity to most of your relatives. Children would marry and move away from home. This “moving away from home” usually meant a few miles or at most it may have been the next town where they established their roots. There is an old Dutch proverb that says:...

If your grandchildren live some distance from you and, or, perhaps don’t know each other very well as cousins, try organizing a Cousins' Camp. Plan and prepare ahead Determine camp length - one week or less? Send invitations to the grandchildren. Look into area attractions and ticket prices. Collect and prepare craft items, if necessary. Stock...

Times have certainly changed. Home cooking used to involve thawing meat, peeling and slicing vegetables and planning on the time it takes for everything to cook. These days - so many recent television commercials would have us believe - home cooking is as easy as pouring a bag of frozen “Pot Roast with Vegetables” into a frying pan to reheat....

Gardener's tool box This is a fun project that's easy enough for the kids to do. The projet is to make a gardener's toolbox from a standard mailbox. Decorate the mailbox any way you like, and fasten it to a fencepost near the garden. A mailbox is the perfect size for a spare pair of gloves and a few hand tools. This is a great rainy day project...

“Where did he come up with that?” Kids often amaze us with their imaginative ideas and we should give ourselves a pat on the back for playing a role in this development. Innovative thinking is essential for success in school and in life, and it’s our job as parents and grandparents to nurture our kids’ innate desire to be creative. Inventive...