Inspiring wonderful places to grow up and grow old by fostering care communities and care economies for & by neighbors.
In a recent story, I said that I expected to get hired by Naborforce. As a reminder, that’s the company that connects older adults to helpers in their own communities. Think Uber for but for companion care, not rides. So, I submitted a quick application and got a fast response by email. The message contained…Continue reading When transportation stops us from giving or getting care + a vision document
Ages ago, my boss mentioned that his anniversary was coming up. I wanted to acknowledge the occasion in some way, but wasn’t sure whether convention allowed something like that given that our relationship was professional. So I asked my sister what she thought about the matter. “Mary,” she said, “in my experience, people rarely respond…Continue reading We’re the ones who remake convention
Today, I’ll jump straight into it: According to the 2024 Gentworth and CareScout survey, the cost for “hands-off” and “hands-on” home aides is merging with a median salary of $75k+ and $77K+, respectively. Assuming 53 pay periods per year and a 40-hour week, those salaries = $35-$36 per hour. Hmm, now that I write that…Continue reading The cost of companionship + care resources
2 bedrooms. Check.1.5 baths. Check.Master bath vanity with a generous countertop. Check.Dishwasher. Check.Sunlight and a patch of grass immediately outside my front door. Check. I got these things on my wish list for my new home at a lower cost than I’d imagined possible. This good fortune and more prompted my sister to wonder if…Continue reading What’s on your prosperity wish list?
Greetings from Atlanta! I arrived 5 days ago and am busy looking for a place to live. So today, I’m sharing a few links with you until my long list of tasks shortens and I can get back into the swing of things. Story of terminally ill man taken in by neighbor: A woman gave…Continue reading She took in her neighbor + caregiver resources
The conversation with my neighbor started nicely enough, but I said four little words—”tell me about it”—that made everything go sideways. My comment made her feel as if I was comparing our situations and she took offense at that. I, in turn, felt an upsurge of anger at her offense—I wasn’t comparing our situations as…Continue reading When you don’t feel seen by someone
The doors to leave Alexandria weren’t opening and I was like, “Look, God, if Atlanta isn’t where’s next, show me the right place. Clearly. Thank you.” Thinking about that now, I think about that joke of the guy who kept praying—feeling exasperated—to win the lottery, until God finally said, “Buy a ticket, already!” Only God…Continue reading I’m finally moving back to Atlanta
My father wanted to write a book but was stuck. I’d self-published a career memoir (more on that below) and he asked my advice to get over his stuckness. I suggested that rather than fret over a narrative arch, he might get started by gathering some photos and writing about what they captured. I know…Continue reading Making a treasured keepsake + my book
If it weren’t for my late father’s hospice nurse, I’m sure my mom would have fallen by now: he saw her moving about our apartment and told her to use her walker ALWAYS. She listened, and it has saved her from taking some tumbles. (I shared that with my mom’s permission and though this isn’t…Continue reading Fall prevention deception
I sat up straight in bed recently with Franklin Delano Roosevelt on my mind. Specifically, how his hardships with polio shaped him into the leader he became. My hardships are waning and not as dramatic as FDR’s, which left him paralyzed from the waist down, but they’ve left me feeling as if the person I…Continue reading Heeding FDR’s call to become fairly radical