My friend's Dad is super organized…with issues that he feels comfortable with.  He's excellent at banking, manages the insurance for the house and cars, and pays the bills with Swiss watch precision. When Mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he assured the family that he had "everything under control." As it turns out, Dad's version of "everything" had some MAJOR gaps.

If you would like to get a loved one a pet, you should go for it. However, it might be a good idea not to gift a pet quite exactly. Many animal shelters sell gift certificates that cover their rescue fee. Giving a gift certificate to cover the cost of adoption allows pet parents time to rese…

Mom's sick. At what point do we call the doctor?

We had every intention of bringing him home for Thanksgiving, but he had a bad cold, and the nursing home advised against it. After we finished our meal, we packed up his dinner, and the whole crew headed over for a visit. He seemed fine, but we all left with a lump in our throats. Will we be able to bring him home on Christmas, or will we be back here with a plate of leftovers and some gifts in hand?

A person’s smartphone is more than just a phone to most people. In fact, smartphone use is now so expected that companies are now trying to find a way to utilize their employees’ use of their devices rather than keeping them from using them. Today, we thought we would take a look at the current smartphone market. 

Painting may be the last thing on people’s mind.  That’s a mistake, says one expert.  Interior painting is one of the easiest ways to make a fresh, dramatic change for the new season.  Exterior jobs stop by November, because of the cold.  But fall and winter can the optimal time for interior painting.  It’s easier to achieve the right balance between hot and cold temperatures that allow paint to dry and bond properly.

For those of us who have been through it, we attest that this is FAR from just a task of "cleaning out a house." In truth, it's a life review. Everything we touch inside our parents or other loved one's home, has a story, a memory, and a feeling attached to it.

Allergy in pets is one of the more common and challenging conditions we see at Manchester Animal Hospital. It is defined as a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance called an allergen. Most allergens are proteins from plants, insects, animals or foods.

What a relief not to worry about Mom and Dad during the winter months; no slipping on ice, driving in snow, frozen pipes, furnace failures or snow removal. They enjoyed winter outdoor living down South, without the weather-related complications that are the norm here in New England. Living in two places has its benefits, but there sure are plenty of complications.

She's the family favorite. All the kids adore her. She was the one who took them to the carnival, the fall fairs and the water parks. Dot never missed a game, a performance or a birthday. So... how in the world do we tell them about her terminal diagnosis? It will break their hearts.

Coping with death and the loss that follows is the subject of "hot off the press" books, movies, magazine articles, YouTube videos, pop songs, tattoos, and we've just scratched the surface. Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. Our early life experiences, and that of our parents and even grandparents, often shape the way we cope with loss.