Giving Back this Holiday Season
Dear Kiwi and Mango, The holidays are my favorite time of year. This year, my family will exchange gifts as normal, but we are realizing that we have way too many things. We are a bit late for this year, but in the future, we’d like to do something a little different as a family […]
Second-Term U.S. Surgeon General Vows to Combat Senior Loneliness and Isolation
Dr. Vivek Murthy, second-term U.S. Surgeon General, is the grandson of a poor farmer in India. He remembers something his grandfather told him when he was younger, that “(w)e are responsible for each other.” In his travels across the United States and in his important role as surgeon general, Dr. Murthy found “people in pain […]
How Dangerous Is the Omicron Variant for Seniors?
Carol and her husband, Scott, are considering visiting their friends in Florida for Christmas. They are thinking about driving to save money on airfare. They were all ready to go but are deciding whether to change their plans because of the emergence of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus. What the World Health Organization […]
Can You Get Coronavirus from Holiday Cards?
Dear Hayek, First, I want to say that you look quite debonair in that holiday sweater! I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question, but every year we send and receive lots of holiday cards from friends and family all over the world. During the coronavirus pandemic, is it safe to do so? Do […]
Is Mom Okay? Things to Look Out for When You Visit for the Holidays
Q. My siblings and our families are going to spend Christmas this year with our mother at our family home in Virginia Beach. She lives alone with her dog, Rascal. Since Thanksgiving, the last couple of times I called her, she seemed a little out of it, but insists everything is okay. I checked with […]
Happy Holidays from The Farr Law Firm
Will Christmas Gifts Disqualify Grandma?
Q. My grandmother is really excited about Christmas this year. In the spirit of the season, she is considering making a truly meaningful gift of $5,000 to the local animal shelter, and giving another $5,000 to her church. She also told me that she will be giving my husband and me $2,000 for a backyard […]
Don’t Become a Victim of Phishing
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I was baking cookies with my mother the other day, when she took a break to check her email. She told me that one of her emails from the bank seemed really important and she thought she should answer it right away. I observed her providing all kinds of personal information for what seemed […]
Holiday Tips for Parents of a Special Needs Child
Dear Saki and Alley, I recently got remarried and we are going to my sister’s house for the holidays. My new stepson, Sean, is autistic and doesn’t do well with new places or changes to his routine. Do you have any suggestions for how I can help my new husband make the holidays a happy […]
Stay Safe on Thanksgiving Day: “4 Critical Thanksgiving Safety Tips”
Whether you’re delightedly hosting the big Thanksgiving dinner this year, inherited the privilege, or were delegated the duty, it can be a lot to handle! With so many things to think about–the food, the decor, and the family–it is sometimes difficult to keep an eye on everything and everybody. To avoid ending the day in […]