Inspiring wonderful places to grow up and grow old by fostering care communities and care economies for & by neighbors.
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
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
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
I pass a house on my walks with a “ROB ME!” sign in the front yard often. OK, so there isn’t an actual sign, but newspapers piling up on the walkway as good as advertise that no one’s home. If I didn’t live so far away, I’d offer the house dwellers to collect their papers…Continue reading Low-hanging trust building
If you get Tiny Village Mail, you may have seen my recent tip to GIVE a request for help. I made the point that… It’s generous (if not wise) to think of everyone as having something to give and making opportunities for them to do so, especially when it comes to folks at risk of…Continue reading Starting villages with what’s strong, not wrong
A trip for red lentils pushed me to learn to drive at age 36: Then a new resident of Georgia, it once took me 3+ hours to get to and from Whole Foods on MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta “not so” Rapid Transit Authority) and once was enough. But I was a lucky one because even though…Continue reading How ice cream cones (or red lentils) can help you plan your future
I told a friend that I’m ditching the phrase “care crisis,” which I picked up from someone else in the first place. That isn’t to say that all is well in the world of care, but that problems and solutions can’t occupy our brains at the same time. When we call something a crisis, we…Continue reading Care crisis or prosperity opportunities?
“Sarah” wondered if I might have advice to help her help a friend, “Grace.” While getting the background, I discovered that Grace is a “solo ager,” a term used to describe an adult, or couple, aging without the support of children or other close relatives. Grace hadn’t been picking up her phone following a recent…Continue reading 5 wishes, 2 solo agers and a lockbox
My friend put his face close to mine looking eager for an answer to his question: “How did you get your parents to leave their house?” he wanted to know. Sadly, my answer didn’t help him much because my father’s doctor literally ordered him out of my parents’ three-story house to avoid stairs, which was…Continue reading Telling Mom it’s time to move and other tricky care conversations
The nurse in the emergency room seemed annoyed: “Where do they normally put your father’s IV?” he huffed, as if my father got IV lines a lot. “I don’t know,” I shrugged. “He hasn’t had one while I’ve been his caregiver.” The doctor came in while the nurse was doing his thing and peppered me…Continue reading Paper: A simple tool for better care