Our lives can be stressful. We have deadlines at work. Families who need our attention. Bills that need to be paid. Medical appointments that need to be kept. Old friends we want to contact. Exercise goals that we want to accomplish. And traffic jams.

If New York City has taught me anything it is that in order to support my ambitions I must also find balance. Sure, that sounds like a line straight out of the film, “Eat Pray Love,” which I did see last evening and quite enjoyed, but the theme…

Exercise is something many of us want to do more of, but we just can’t always find the time to do it or find the expenditure of energy overwhelming. In fact, sometime the mere mention of the word conjures up images of treadmills, heavy weights, and expensive gym memberships. (OK, perhaps it’s just MY images!) For many of our patients however, it can be a challenge to start or resume exercises and physical activity after surgery. Speak with your doctor or physical therapist about what activities would be safe for…

This is Caramel. She’s a 16 year old female Calico cat that has been in my life since 1995. I brought her home from the Animal Protective League in Cleveland while I was in my second to last year of nursing school. She was 7 months old and feisty.

Caramel has lived with me in a total of five different apartments since I graduated college. She consoled me through the end of a relationship, encouraged me with her approving meows into a new one, and she moved to New York with…

Parenting is not easy.

No one ever said it will be easy. And no one ever said things will just be the same as they were. If you or someone you know is having or has recently had an infant, they are often exuberant in this new role. It is a wonderful thing, but there are a few wise rules that make you see just how it will be in reality. Here are some popular points (I am sure there are many others!)  to ponder as you partake on the parenting…

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a hospice volunteer is the commitment that VNSNY makes to our continuing education. We all want to improve our skills and be better practitioners, even if we are just practicing. We want to be ready, when the time comes, for anything.

For three consecutive Tuesdays I am participating in vigil training, which means I am learning how to be present when someone is actively dying. Hospice has a philosophy that no one should die alone, and when patients come to us who don’t…

(photo by Ed Yourdon)

Your sister agrees to take over a caregiving shift at your parents’ home upon request. Now you have a Friday evening free which hasn’t happened in a few months, so you decide to meet up with a good friend who hasn’t seen you in over a year due to very busy personal and professional schedules.

You tell your friend to meet you at a favorite restaurant in Manhattan — a French bistro with outdoor garden seating to breathe in some air and feel the cool summer evening breeze. You order a…

Image by Jean Ryder

In a recent blog, Dr. Kevin Pho noted that up to 20% of first-time prescriptions written for patients are not filled. Reasons for this can include the expense of the medicine, concern regarding side effects, or even a fear of addiction. Another reason mentioned is the inability for some people to physically get to the pharmacy and have the prescription filled. This can be serious for some illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure, where getting your medicine in a timely fashion is important in the management of the…

(photo by Bonnie-Brown)

In an effort to highlight the benefits of technology and blend it with health & wellness, I’ve comprised the following list of ten iPhone Apps that may be helpful for caregivers:

1. PillMinder — a visual pillbox medication reminder for you or your loved one (but unfortunately not both) where you can keep track of daily medications. You enter your medication, dose in pill amount, description, and pill count. You highlight the pill, press TAKE PILL and it archives that you took it and counts down the pill amount. Cost: FREE
2. Dosecast —…

We had a wellness fair at my office today. Folks sat at small tables in a classroom eager to tell us about the wonders of podiatry, the joy of chiropractic care, the importance of good dental hygiene, and the significance of good nutrition. I appreciate tips on good nutrition and can always use suggestions for how to incorporate more greens and more protein into my meals, especially if these are meals I am intending to cook after getting home from the office at 8 p.m.

I was particularly impressed by the…

According to a pilot study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, meditation has the potential to increase brain activity and improve memory and cognition in people with Alzheimer’s Disease. The study, which appeared in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, showed that tests in memory and cognition improved after 8 weeks of participation in Kirtan Kriya meditation. This type of meditation involves repetitive finger movements plus repeating the sounds Saa Taa Naa Maa (Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, Newberg AB et al. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 2010 Apr; 20(2).

“Meditation is practiced…