Category: Family

INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS WORKING WITH INTERGENERATIONALISM

I developed an intergenerational mentoring program several years ago, called Live the Vision: A Career Development Mentoring ProgramTM where residents of retirement communities are paired up with employees of the same retirement community to help them with their careers.  The premise was that, if one has been successful enough to live in a Continuing Care Retirement Community in later years, then one has a lot to teach younger generations about…

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SAILING THE CAREGIVING SEAS: How Archetypes Help Chart the Course

We daughters and sons of elders sometimes find ourselves navigating rough, and even treacherous, seas. We might even experience a bit of seasickness when tacking from “family mediator” to “financial advisor.” And with the ever-changing winds, we might unexpectedly find ourselves sailing in the direction of “case manager” and “health advocate” one day, and the next, being called to take on the role of “legal advocate.” Each turn of the…

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A Painting and a Song for you this Season of Giving

Winter landscape always brings with it a time of inwardness, in stark contrast to the jubilance and joy of the festive season. Inwardly, I’ve been contemplating the meaning of the season at this difficult moment in humanity’s unfolding. And outwardly, as a gerontologist, I’m filled with inspiration through individuals, families, groups, and organizations I’ve had the honor of working with this year.  I bring sadness for the state of the…

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FAMILY STORYTELLING DURING VACATIONS

Having just spent a month in South Africa with all four generations of my family, I’ve been thinking a lot about family history, and that the lives that came before us are still beating in the hearts of future generations. And how some of us carry the names of our ancestors.   I was named after both grandmothers. Lyndall and Anne.  I was fortunate to know them both and spend…

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