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Health care planning is the process of deciding what you want to include in your advance directive. Once you get past initial feelings of discomfort, you may find that it is a relief to talk about these matters and clarify your attitudes and beliefs. It is ideal to talk with friends, family, and health care providers about your end-of-life choices. It's even better to put your wishes in writing. You can prepare for this process by following these steps:

Summer is often a time when relatives take advantage of good weather to come from afar to visit an ailing loved one. They might not be prepared for all the changes that have happened since the last visit. You may wish to read our article about making the most of family visits. It offers tips for setting expectations and maintaining routines. Beyond preparing the emotional stage, it's nice to have some special activities planned. Here are some simple options to consider:

One-third of older adults who live at home fall at least once each year. That makes falls the leading cause of injury for elders. The most severe consequences include injuries that can be life changing: a traumatic brain injury or broken hip. These can lead to the need to move to a setting with more assistance.   Your relative is considered “high risk” for falling if he or she has fallen twice in the past year, has balance or gait problems, or has just had a severe fall. To be safe, ask your family member’s doctor to do a "fall risk assessment." This includes a review of

Combining households has many benefits: less hassle running back and forth between two residences, less worry about Dad eating well and remembering his meds, more family social time for him, cost savings on rent and utilities, etc. But if things do not work out, disentangling could cause hurt feelings and damage your relationship. Consider these questions before you move in together. Relationships and life style