Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States, with 6,000 babies born in the U.S. with DS each year. Despite misconceptions about quality of life, people with Down syndrome span all ages, living on average at least 60 years. Some people with DS thrive into their 80s! Many adults… Continue reading Down Syndrome Overview: Causes, Characteristics and Capabilities

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month. Click to read more

Falls are common, preventable, and deadly. Every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the United States. Falls are the leading cause of injury and/or death among those 65+, and more than 95% of hip fractures are a result of a fall. Many of these falls are caused by… Continue reading Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Facts: our children are glued to their screens. As parents, we see this, we know this, and at times it’s easier not to fight it. How many times have you asked your teen to put down their phone while you are trying to have a conversation? How many times have you heard, “Just let me… Continue reading Phone Addiction: Helping Our Children Put Their Phones Down

Every July 26 in the United States, we recognize National Disability Independence Day. This annual observance commemorates the momentous signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in 1990. The Americans With Disabilities Act Prior to the 1960s, disabled Americans were broadly viewed as incapable of participating in civic life. Socially, the disabled… Continue reading National Disability Independence Day

The term “sandwich generation” refers to middle-aged adults, ranging from their 30s-60s, who are caring for aging parents and caring for their own children (and/or grandchildren) at the same time. These caregivers are effectively “sandwiched” between the obligation to care for their aging parents — who may be ill, unable to perform various tasks, or… Continue reading What is the Sandwich Generation?

You’ve reached a standstill with your mother and father, who are in their late 80s. You think they need some help in the home, but they vigorously refuse. You’re frustrated because you want to make their lives easier. They’re angry because they think you’re interfering in their affairs. Can negotiation and dispute resolution techniques used… Continue reading How to Negotiate With Resistant Aging Parents

I don’t know about you, but in my house, my children and I feel BIG. As an empath who has 3 empathic children, our interactions and emotional experiences are a bit more intense than most. Dr. Judy Orloff defines an empathic person as one who is deeply in tune with the feelings of others in… Continue reading Helping Your Empathic Child Manage Big Feelings

What’s Behind Mom Guilt? Mom Guilt. Ugh. It comes with the territory of being a mom. But why? Why is it so ingrained in us, as parents and as moms, to care with every ounce of our soul, until our physical battery is at 0% – and yet we still feel guilty?  How many moms… Continue reading What’s Behind Mom-Guilt?

There is a technique in trauma therapy that calls upon the five senses when hurt or the memory of past hurt becomes too overwhelming. It’s so simple it feels almost impossible to be a thing that works. But in my own experience, it’s often the simplest methods that do the trick. Like setting out running… Continue reading Using the Five Senses to Calm