The winter season prompts vivid memories of driving dad to the local pharmacy for his annual flu shot and, making the final rounds of doctors appointments prior to the end of the year. Dad enjoyed going for car rides just for the sake of getting out of the house and enjoying the fresh air and getting his much needed exercise. I remember how he would sit quietly in the passenger seat of my car and hang his head out of the window, relishing the rush of the wind in his coarse gray hair as if he were 75 years younger. I chuckle when I recall how he took great delight in sharing his myriad of aches and pains with his doctors during his multiple medical appointments. I found this curious as he ass...

National Family Caregivers Month has ended, and for the estimated 40 million family caregivers in the United States, the personal journey of caring for our loved ones continues. When I first entered into the world of family caregiving I was nearly 40 years of age, and unprepared for the life changing events which would take place over the course of the next 14 years. Caregiving became a rite of passage and role reversal as I stepped into the parental role of caring for Dad when his health began to decline. The struggle was real, and often bittersweet as we navigated through dad's various illnesses, living arrangements, doctors appointments, multiple medications and countless emergency room v...

Fall has arrived and the air is becoming cool and crisp, and the delicious aromas of apple cider and sweet potato pie permeates the air. You probably thought I was going to say pumpkin pie however, Dad was "old school" and never developed a taste for pumpkin pie. Mom began this delicious family tradition back in the 1960s', and Dad fully expected me to continue this favorite Broadway Family holiday tradition, year after year. I can almost taste moms scrumptious concoction of yams, warm melted butter, cinnamon and cavity inducing sugar! Sweet potato pie was Dad's special annual holiday treat, as his doctors did not allowed him to consume too much sugar once his health began to decline. Fall w...

Mary Wilson of the original and iconic girl group the Supremes, has produced a magnificent book appropriately titled "Supreme Glamour". Each delicious page of Supreme Glamour delivers a sumptuous serving of eye candy for the reader. Mary carefully documents the history of these dazzling works of art which includes, the materials used to create each gown, which member of the Supremes wore a particular gown, and notable appearances for each stunning creation. I have to admit, my two favorites are the "Multi-Colored Halter" from 1967 and the "Gun Metal" gown from 1969. You will have to pick up your copy of Supreme Glamour to experience the beauty and the history of these showstopping masterpiec...

Tip# 7: Self-care is of critical importance and a key component in the art of successful family caregiving. As a family caregiver, you must find the time and space to reenergize, so you are able to maintain your physical, spiritual and emotional strength. You're probably asking yourself, how and when will you find the time to care for yourself in the midst of your daily caregiving responsibilities. I was also presented with this challenge as I cared for my Father for 14 years. While there are no perfect solutions for this constant challenge, here a few ideas which you may find helpful.

1.) If you belong to a community of faith, form a small group with other family caregivers within your commu...

Tip#6: Technology and Family Caregiving are now synonymous and it's about time! Please check out my Twitter Page at 50plusandfabulous@leighbroadway or the 50plusandfabulousfeed.com to read about the 7 Ways Technology Helps Family Caregivers via @placeformom.

My Dad, Julius Broadway was born in the Midwest in the magnificent year of 1926 and was the second eldest of 10 siblings. Dad was born a few years after World War 1, also called the "Great War" during a time in history when the spirit of hope and optimism was in full swing. The United States and their Allies had won the war and private industry was booming. The automobile and airline industries were beginning to soar and the American dream was well on it's way to becoming a reality. There were many notable births in 1926 and Dad was in illustrious company that year. A few notable births includes Queen Elizabeth II, Chuck Berry, Andy Griffith, Mel Brooks, Miles Davis and Tony Bennett. Dad was...

Tip# 5: Holidays are a fabulous time to spend with your family! If you are traveling or taking an elderly family member to the beach or an outdoors event, make sure to keep them well hydrated, and protected from taking in too much sunshine. Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion is very common among the elderly population and should be taken seriously. Prior to your excursion, ask their Physician what period of time is safe, and what precautions should be taken if your loved one is planning to attend an outdoors event for an extended period of time.

Tip# 4: I like to think of a Caregiving Team as a 3-pronged approach, i.e. Family, Medical and Legal. If you are the Primary Caregiver, it is crucial that you sit down with your family members and discuss who will manage each aspect of the Caregiving process.

1.) Family Team: During this process, consider the skills, talents and natural abilities of each family member and construct a plan of action so you are prepared in advance to care for your loved one effectively. I found that being actively involved in my Dad's healthcare which included attending doctors appointments, having a good working knowledge of his medications, and discharge instructions after hospitalization, contributed to Dad ...