I was part of a thought leader think tank organized by the National Alliance for Caregiving about mental health resources for caregivers. They asked us to talk about existing resources, the barriers and challenges to offering these services, and strategies we might implement to improve access.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of my graduation from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Wow! Despite the passage of all that time, Wesleyan is still with me in so many ways. It was the career-defining decision. If I had not gone to Wesleyan, I would be someone else. I started at age 16 though …
We need to embrace vaccination against COVID-19 even though we have good reasons to be wary of health researchers and clinicians. For example: James Marion Sims is celebrated as the father of modern gynecology. He perfected his surgical techniques by operating on Black women who were slaves and did so without anesthesia. In 1932, in …
Black People and COVID-19 Vaccination : Be Wary; Get Protected, Anyway. Read More »
Aunt Terri’s picture must be on Wikipedia with the word “Resilient.” She has a lesson for all of us as we deal with challenging and lasting changes due to COVID-19. As many of you know, my Aunt Terri had emergency surgery and initially did well before being unresponsive for two days. Although it was a …
Resilience in the Time of COVID-19. My Aunt Terri is Takin’ Us to School Read More »
Most of you know that my Aunt Terri had emergency surgery. After initially doing well, she slid into the cascade of major complications common for older adults and became unresponsive. Aunt Terri is the heart of our family. Though it was painful, after two days, we asked the doctors to write a Do-Not-Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate …
Advance Directives Are NOT About Death. They Are Life-Savers in the time of COVID-19 Read More »
Many of you know about my Aunt Terri, the 94-year-old dynamo who has loved, supported, mentored, and inspired me since I came on the planet the day after her 29th birthday. She lives independently, drives safely, walks a mile in about 20 minutes every morning and before the pandemic, worked several days each week helping …
Is There A Doctor in the Family? I LOVE YOUs Help When I Wish There Weren’t Read More »
This is the reprint of a guest column I wrote for the Village Chicago Newsletter on January 27, 2021 On February 29, 2020, I moved into a new phase of life. I was in a new relationship, moved to a new home in a new community, and started plans to retire after almost 40 years …
My favorite of all the photographs Dr. Brackette F. Williams submitted for my book, Dear Lauren, Love Mom: 31 Days of Affirmations for My Daughter, for Myself, and for YOU, partners with the affirmation, Seeking Excellence, Not Perfection. The left side shows an ocean wave reaching up and you can see fish and other ocean …
Although we had a rough year, there was an upside. For years, most of us had been running so fast that we could justify sprinting by the road signs without looking at them. The pandemic forced us to slow down, and some of our issues caught up with us. We realized that some jobs, activities, …
This is the year I became eligible for Medicare, and I started my research in October. I decided on a Medicare Managed Care (Part C) PPO option that allowed me to see any clinician I choose but with a higher co-payment for out-of-network care. I knew if a doctor practiced in more than one health …
