Are you wondering if Assisted Living is the right choice for you or your parent? You're not alone. You're part of an Eldercare market growing at a rate of 6.4% and approaching 300 billion dollars annually. Marketing directors at Assisted Living facilities paint a pretty picture of community services and amenities. In response, provided the cost is affordable, the decision to buy or rent in an Assisted Living Community is often made emotionally. Is it time for me or my parent to move? Do my parent and/or I feel comfortable in that community? Will I or my parent adapt to the space? These are important questions to answer but don't stop there. Probe deeper to evaluate the potential long term costs, staff's ability to support increasing needs, and the facility's organizational stability.

For many, the word "attention" is stigmatized. It's associated with classroom admonishments, "Pay attention now," and the critical voice, "Weren't you paying attention?!" Attention is actually a complex process essential to memory formation and increasingly valued in today’s distracted world. Why do we choose to lend our attention to something an. how do we gauge relevance? Scientists and marketers are rushing to understand.

Image courtesty Progress MichiganWe hear too little about the good works of this industrious and generous county. So, over the past months I've been on a search for sources of good news. Here's what I've found: an abundance of people helping others, good choices made when temptation offers a different road, altruism in practice, lives turned around, and people finding renewed meaning. These are the stories that nourish life.

Image at left courtesy of Progress Michigan.

Each New Year is a springboard for renewing our pursuit toward goals, determining to work harder on health, or perhaps committing to the discovery of new experiences. Making a resolution can be exciting yet realizing it or incorporating desired changes into our lives is hard work. As few as 8% of us report success as motivation declines over the first six months. Build strong and lasting goals using five basic steps and enjoy success throughout the year!