Relationships

Face masks are required for doctor visits, tests and visits to hospitals and other health facilities. However, they can impair communication far beyond speech transmission; they affect interpersonal connection and the willingness and ability to hold a conversation. How can older patients, many with hearing and vision loss, still experience an effective medical appointment? ...

I’m mad at my phone. No matter how bad I look, it recognizes my face. The phone’s facial recognition feature has seen me at my worst: sleepy, sweaty, frizzy and just plain ratty. I rarely let the dog see me this way. Nevertheless, the phone scans my face, says, “Yup, that’s definitely Marie,” and opens: a judge, jury and executioner of microchips and wires that sees me even when I don’t look like me. ...

Girlfriends. They’re celebrated in pop culture but can be elusive in our own lives, especially as we age. When the kids leave home or we leave our jobs, we can lose those convenient and easy friendships that emerged from our more transitory, midlife stage. ...

From handwritten notes scribbled on a napkin to a self-made video or last utterances to a companion in the final seconds before death, communicating someone's last wishes have always fueled imaginations in the entertainment industry. But what actually makes a will valid? ...

A trip to a petting farm will not only be fun for grandkids but can also be a very educational experience as they learn to interact with all the animals. The farms are great for little ones because there is a ton of sensory input with all the furry coats, interesting smells and occasionally startling sounds. ...

I used to think will disputes were for rich people, a pesky but predictable byproduct of privilege, like champagne stains on fine linen shirts. But the older I get, the more I realize that lousy adult children and broken relationships can affect all families, and wills, regardless of wealth. A will is vital for estate planning, no matter how much money or property you have. ...

Parents usually want to leave their children equal shares of their estate, but equal isn’t always fair. If you plan to provide more (or less) for one child in your estate plan, preparation is important.  ...

Grandparenting has fundamentally changed. The pandemic redefined the role for many elders who found themselves “substitute parenting” their grandchildren. When the ones we love need help, we may be in a unique position to provide it, even if it saps our patience and energy to the bone. ...