In a few hours, thousands of people will descend upon Times Square to ring in the new year. While many other people will go to parties and celebrations near and far, still others will stay at home. Talk will usually revolve around the resolutions and self-improvement plans that we’ll all try to keep for at least the next few weeks, and perhaps longer, if we are lucky. Hopes and aspirations are shared and goals are formed and reshaped.

In years past, I too have gone through this annual mental exercise of sussing out which things I want to improve…

As our readers may have noticed, I have been away from the VNSNY blog since July. One of the last entries I contributed was one describing the experience of accompanying my Dad to our local hospital’s ER and the resulting aftermath that event.

My Dad died in July, not long after that blog entry. This is the first entry I have posted since then. I valued my privacy and needed that time to put my thoughts together in a readable and, hopefully, beneficial fashion. To be honest, for quite a while, it was just too painful to…

Like most of New York City, this week has been challenging for the Center. Our most important concern has been keeping our seniors and staff safe. On Monday we closed, but on Tuesday while the city continued to dig out, we opened the Center.  While only a few came on Tuesday, a larger crowd turned up on Wednesday and Thursday.

One might be surprised that frail seniors would come out in this weather at all. But the reality is, many of them look forward to coming to the center so that they can get out of the house…

As I look back at the past year, I can only say that the word “grateful” best describes how I feel.

Each time a person thanks me for visiting his or her home, I’m reminded that I am grateful to be able to help the elderly improve the quality of their lives. I am also grateful for my co-workers, who through their compassion, work ethic and teamwork, serve as excellent role models from whom all can learn. And lastly, I am grateful for my family and friends, who provide me with the encouragement to continue making my daily visits to the elderly,…

We love to celebrate the holidays at our center and this time of year, it’s especially important to make the holidays festive for our seniors. This season can be difficult for them because they may be thinking about family living far away or loved ones they’ve lost. Our staff go all out decorating the center and spreading good cheer, as you can see on the attached photos…

Besides having parties for Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa, trimming trees and baking delicious holiday goodies, we get the seniors involved in making cards and…

The end of 2010 is almost upon us and I, for one, could not be happier. The conclusion of the year always brings with it its share of “In Memoriam” presentations, and the web is the ideal medium to present a slideshow of those who have passed. The Oscars have their version, too, usually accompanied by mournful music and a well-intentioned introduction.

In the past, VNSNY Hospice has held its own memorial service once a year. Families were invited to submit a photo for a slideshow and donate a piece of…

Shopping is definitely a significant part of the holiday season. Searching for the perfect gift takes time, and a lot of energy! But when it comes to toys, always remember to check for a pre-printed age guideline (i.e., “For ages blank and up”)  before making the purchase. Those ages are there for a reason.

For instance, a toy that has lots of little pieces can be a choking hazard for small children. In fact, toys are number two on the list of choking hazards for small children. (Hot dogs are number one.) Also, think twice about that toy that talks. Why? Because the parents, siblings and visiting relatives…

It is that time of year again! To begin, let’s acknowledge that most children do not require over-the-top indulging during the holidays (nor any other day of the year). What matters, truly, is the love and care they get from their family members. So, as we drag our families (both young and old) to yet another activity or special event, keep it all in perspective.

Most small children are fearful of strangers, so as you ask them to sit on Santa’s lap or participate in another activity, remember the limits of your…

Over the past few months, the Day Center staff had begun to notice changes in Ms. L.’s memory and ability to follow through with directions. The staff reported this information to Ms. L.’s Nurse Consultant and Social Worker, who along with the rest of Ms. L’s team, visited her at home and quickly set up an appointment for a memory screening (for resources on memory screenings, http://nationalmemoryscreening.org). Accompanied by her family, Ms. L underwent further medical testing and evaluations, and was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s Disease. She is now taking Aricept, which…

Ok, here’s the truth. I noticed this week I have approximately six to thirteen gray hairs on my head. I’m leaning towards six. There are a few spider veins on my leg below my left knee. A sunspot covers an area beneath my left eye which darkens in the summer. It wasn’t there a year ago. Wrinkles. Sure, I have some. I also wonder more about my future. I worry about how I’ll ever retire at the age of sixty-five, or seventy, or seventy-five, or whatever number the government decides to raise the retirement age to…