WHAT’S ON OUR MIND

It's no secret that grandparents are extraordinary people. They can magically convert a couple of cardboard boxes into a medieval castle, make spaghetti and meatballs out of a misshapen lump of play dough, handle the intricacies of pandemic Zoom school, or calm a sobbing artist whose green crayon has broken at just the wrong moment.

When actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in February, his family recognized they’ll need help navigating the changes in their lives. They turned to an internationally renowned expert that PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) is familiar with. Teepa Snow is the founder and C.E.O of Positive Approach to Care(PAC), a method that teaches common sense and practical skills meant to enhance the “life and relationships of those living with brain changes.” Snow’s method provides caregivers, family members and friends, and healthcare professionals with new tools that set a positive tone when living or working with someone with dementia. PMMA has committed to training everyone in all of our communities, as well as our corporate office in this method.

At age 84, Elizabeth Thaler of Rochester, New York, was lucky. Her daughter and son-in-law lived nearby and noticed when her memory began to slip, and she became too weak to cook. Soon she stopped getting out of bed.

Whether you're downsizing, decluttering, or dealing with the estate of a loved one, chances are you've got some stuff you could stand to get rid of. And while you'll probably choose to donate or give away some items, other possessions can be sold, sometimes for quite a bit of cash.

Let's be honest. New Year resolutions related to money typically never work. We make grand declarations only to feel disappointed as soon as the first expense bank draft hits our accounts in January.