Here Come the Holidays!

Who doesn't LOVE Thanksgiving? Granted, there are those who are sad this time of year, missing those they've lost or who live far away. My heart goes out to them.

Here in the northeast, it can get mighty cold, and the weather may be another reason for being turned off by this holiday. And of course, travel becomes a major headache, with so many of us taking to the road and the skies to visit distant loved ones.

But for those of us who are blessed with friends and family, and get to spend time catching up, eating too much and spending quality time, Thanksgiving is such a gift. And you've got to be impressed by a holiday that's called what it is: an occasion to give thanks for all we have.

Thanksgiving is also a time to stop, think and observe. We have an opportunity to see and interact with aging family members. When we stay in touch by phone or messaging, it's not the same as being with those people. Not seeing facial expressions, body language, movements and reactions, we can miss a lot. Reconnecting in person gives us a chance to see how our loved ones are REALLY doing.

While it can be unpleasant to contemplate, as we age, things change. And if we aren't paying attention, we can miss important clues as to what's going on with our family members. By observing and noting changes, we have a chance to intervene and help before things get out of hand.

What kinds of things? Well, cognitive changes are important to note: asking the same question repeatedly, telling the same story more than once, misplacing items. Are they living with a lot of clutter? Are they opening their mail? Are items in the refrigerator old or spoiled?

And even if everything really IS OK, that doesn't mean you're off the hook, because there are conversations best conducted while everyone is still in good health. Want to know WHAT to ask? We can get you started with a free EBook:8 Things You Must Discuss With Your Family. You can request yours here. 

We wish you a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, and we're grateful you stopped by!