November is Bladder Health Awareness Month, according to the National Association for Continence (NAFC). This is the first you’ve probably heard about it. It's true. I’m not making this up. Which makes what I’m about to write all the more poignant. Bladder and bowel issues are a constant problem with many elderly individuals. According to NAFC, “one in five individuals over the age of 40 suffer from overactive bladder or urgency or frequency symptoms, some of whom leak urine

Like all of us, Mom has good days and bad days. There are times I’ve visited her where she can barely keep her eyes open. Other times, she’s in a happy mood—awake, active, and readily sings along with me from our repertoire of songs. Today was a good day. But as with all our visits, Mom presented a wide range of emotions, not all of them pleasant. When Daddy and I walked in, Mom was so pleased to see us. She clearly recognized us as dear to her. “I want to be here with our fa

Passover is a little more than two weeks away, and I am overwhelmingly sad about Mom’s inability to participate in the Seder. I’m thinking of suggesting she stay home this year with her caregiver. What with many guests, a late dinner, and an even later bedtime, I’m not sure she’ll be able to navigate the social and religious challenges this evening brings. I will miss her haunting rendition of Ha Lachma Anya, the Aramaic declaration that begins the maggid or narrative section