By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions® By legal definition, personal property is everything that is the subject of ownership that does not come under the denomination of real property (real estate). Personal property is legally divided into two major categories: (1) corporeal personal property, including such items as animals, merchandise, and jewelry; and (2) incorporeal personal property, comprised of such rights as stocks, bonds, patents, and co...

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions®Everyone experiences stress in some form or another at various points in their life.In late life, stress may be experienced both by older adults or their adult children as health, social and financial issues arise.  The stress may be categorized as “positive” stress, the kind that helps people develop the skills they need to cope with and adapt to new and threatening situations, or as “negative” stress, which m...

Part 1: Comprehensive SolutionsBy Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions®Throughout our lives we experience a variety of life transitions, most of which are prompted by major events.  Some events may be anticipated and celebrated as joyful occasions, such as moving to a first apartment, receiving a job promotion or getting married. Other incidents, like failing health, financial loss, the death of a spouse or divorce, are often unexpected and unwelcome...

By Nan Hayes for Caring Transitions®The kitchen is often a focal point at the holidays. Preparing family dinners, assembling a dish for pot luck and baking cookies for neighbors are important traditions for many of us, even as we downsize.When a Caring Transitions® expert helps people sort their belongings during fall and winter months, we ask a lot of questions and pay special attention to holiday habits. Even when moving to a kitchen with limit...

By Nan Hayes for Caring TransitionsTraditions play an important role in families and most of us feel the holidays are a good time to come together and reinforce those traditions. Some people look forward to these gatherings, while others approach them with great trepidation, especially when sibling rivalries, lingering animosities, and conflict or concerns over the health and welfare of aging parents cast a shadow over family events. So what’s th...