The Challenge of Dealing with Aging Parents

Growing older is difficult and can be especially challenging for adult children of aging parents. These are the people who cared for you your entire life, and now you are caring for them. It’s no easy task. People are living longer and the age to which people live has increased dramatically in the past 20… Read more »

Relieving Stress Important for Caregivers

We’ve all experienced it – heart racing, muscle tension, irritability. Perhaps stomach pain or clenched jaw. Anxiety can cause sleepless nights and feeling tired all the time. It can lead to forgetting things, and feeling as if life is spiraling out of your control. These are just a few of the things people experience when… Read more »

Student Group

Be The Change You Seek

As a student at College of The Desert, I notice a lack of healthy food on campus. It is a struggle to find healthy food that will support my mind and body throughout ten-hour school days. After speaking with students and administration, I realized that I was not alone in wanting healthier food choices on… Read more »

Moving is Emotional, Especially for Seniors

Today has been a tough one, emotionally, for Ann, age 83. The earlier downsizing decisions involving baskets and plates have given way to a far more intense one – what to do with her grandmother’s cedar chest. Ann’s 57 year-old daughter, Wendy, patiently helps her navigate these murky emotional waters with as much care as… Read more »

Young Lives at Risk

Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and the statistics are alarming. It can lead to many serious health issues, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. Of greatest concern is that research shows one of every three children in the United States is now considered overweight. Health care professionals are working diligently to educate… Read more »

Sugar In America

If sugar is your vice, this time of year is sure to gratify your sweet tooth. October kicks off the season with three little words (“trick or treat”) delivering delightful gobs of goodies. November perpetuates the trend with pumpkin pie and candied yams. And all of this leads up to the grand celebratory month of… Read more »

Trunk rotations

Small Exercises Bring Big Results

We know the value of common exercise like walking, running, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer, etc. But these simple activities are often out of reach for those living with Parkinson’s. However, there are other exercises, not as strenuous, which can be valuable tools to improve a Parkinson’s patient’s activities of daily living (or ADLs). With Parkinson’s,… Read more »

Lessons in Longevity

Our “Lessons in Longevity” column discovers and shares the secrets we seek from our elders on how to live a long and happy life. For this issue, I stopped by Palm Desert’s Joslyn Center. The Joslyn Center is always active and the energy positive and bright.  There I met 91-year old Benedict who just finished… Read more »

Lessons in Longevity

I love spending time with our elders. I always walk away with a smile on my face and a new appreciation. Recently, I sat down with some new friends at Mission Hills Senior Living to chat about “Lessons in Longevity.” Here some of the words of wisdom–and laughter–from my delightful meeting with Mitzi (98), Rose… Read more »

Oh My Achy Bones

Improving Life with Arthritis

There are more than 120 arthritic conditions, so it is no wonder that most of us will experience symptoms at some point in our life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, and 1 in 4 may develop painful hip arthritis. An estimated… Read more »