Bill and I are watching the Coronavirus the same as everyone else. Like many, we feel a little helpless. We decided to run a promotion that will hopefully provide some peace of mind to folks. Depending on response, it'll run through April 2020. If you're interested, we will setup telephone appointments to gather all of … Continue reading Limited Offer – Discounted Estate Plans
Can we stop? And take a breath?
This is some scary stuff - no question. The Director of the Ohio Department of Health has announced there are over 100,000 Ohioans who have likely been infected (NBC4). There is no stopping or avoiding the Coronavirus, but rushing out to the grocery store and treating your anxiety with toilet paper isn't going to help … Continue reading Can we stop? And take a breath?
When do my parents need to go to a nursing home?
As my father ages, my sisters and I are, once again, collaborating on how to "solve" the problems. When do we need to move him to a nursing home? What to Evaluate? The short answer is the existing dwelling and the person's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL's). We can delay a move … Continue reading When do my parents need to go to a nursing home?
Hacks for Your Aging Parent
Here are some things you should consider for your aging parent: Grab Bars, Grab Bars, Grab Bars Did I mention grab bars? Bathrooms are a huge fall risk! Depending on the shower design (walk-in versus tub/shower combo), you'll need some outside the shower, insider the shower, and near the camode as well. The other place … Continue reading Hacks for Your Aging Parent
Life One Year Later – Moving a parent into a nursing home
Quick update - one year after moving mom into nursing home.
Safe Storage Law – Dead on Arrival
Following the Dayton Massacre (nine dead, twenty-seven injured in less than a minute), a number of laws were introduced to help curb gun violence. House Bill No. 240 was among these.
First Year of Assisted Living Costs – Columbus, Ohio
It is the beginning of 2020 and I'm looking over the financials. My household, the firm finances, and Mom's finances - I guess it is just that time of year. One of the biggest safeguards against self-dealing, or a fiduciary misappropriating funds, is the disclosure of information - particularly to beneficiaries. This is the reasoning … Continue reading First Year of Assisted Living Costs – Columbus, Ohio
A series of spectacular failures.
In the Spring, I cut a piece of plywood into about 400 pieces. For some reason or another, the visual, when plywood is turned on its side, is appealing to me. I layed the pieces out into a herringbone pattern and glued everything up. It took... forever. Here is the top after sanding, filling voids, … Continue reading A series of spectacular failures.
The Joker – Powerful Depiction of Living with Mentally Ill Parent
I went and saw The Joker this weekend in theaters. I was aware of the reviews. It wasn't a film that I had planned to see, nor is it one I would watch again. It lacked a "feel good" moment. There is no hero, and frankly, it is sad. In spite of this, the movie … Continue reading The Joker – Powerful Depiction of Living with Mentally Ill Parent
Taking apart the dialogue of the gun debate.
In the wake of each of these tragedies, it has become a predictable play. It isn't even nuanced anymore, and it sure isn't interesting. Here is the recap - tell me I'm wrong. One side says, "WE NEED REFORM!" The other side says, "IT ISN'T THE GUNS' FAULT, IT IS THE CRAZY PEOPLE!" Then someone … Continue reading Taking apart the dialogue of the gun debate.
Meaningful Changes – Gun Control
Another weekend passes and our country has had two more mass shootings. After each of these, I sit down and write Senator Robert Portman, to say, hey, we have a problem, what are we doing? This time, one of the shootings was in Ohio. I think I have had a single response - and it … Continue reading Meaningful Changes – Gun Control
Working with Siblings
My sisters and I have undertaken the cleanup of my mom's house. Increasingly, it is clear that it is not a good environment for her. Regardless of if Mom stays in a facility with a nursing staff or we move Mom into a condominium or an apartment, keeping her in a three bedroom, two and … Continue reading Working with Siblings
Educational Resources – Mental Health
There is a lot of information out there on mental health, but so little of it seems to be talking to the person who is living the experience as the caregiver. I want to learn from someone who has situational empathy for what I'm experiencing, not a list of symptoms, but someone who knows what … Continue reading Educational Resources – Mental Health
Lawmakers want to preserve your choice – paper or plastic?
So, the proponents of the bill are going to have to argue, your choice of paper or plastic is a matter of state-wide concern. Not a case I'd want to make.
If I Could Talk to Me, 15 years ago… Lessons Learned From Caring for a Mom with Bi-Polar Disorder
My sisters have been in town helping me clean-out my mom's house. She never threw anything away, so she has three houses worth of stuff under her roof. It is ridiculous. During our time together, my sisters and I were kind of reminiscing over the journey with mom, childhood, and how we got to where … Continue reading If I Could Talk to Me, 15 years ago… Lessons Learned From Caring for a Mom with Bi-Polar Disorder