Joyce DeMonnin

Eugene, OR – No one denies it. Family caregiving can be tough – but there are plenty of tips and tools available to make this labor of love easier. On Friday, Oct. 26, AARP Oregon and the Alzheimer’s Association are offering a workshop with a twist: the ins and outs of “Family Caregiving for Tough Guys," at Venue 252, 252 Lawrence Street in Eugene.

Two residents died this week. Hey! Wait! That’s exactly how I began a blog in January.

In the film version of L. Frank Baum children’s novel , The Wizard of Oz, each of Dorothy’s imagined friends has a burning desire, a craving: they all yearn for some thing (“If I Only Had A….) “The Scarecrow” wants a brain. The “Tin Man” wants a heart. The “Lion” deviates from the anatomical wish list – he wants something amorphous: courage.

Do you know someone who needs a second chance? Second chance job fairs give employment opportunities to people who have had previous convictions and those who are under community supervision. Goodwill Job Connection is hosting four Second Chance Job Fairs on September 26 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. All job seekers are welcome.

Indeed! They are back. Not en masse though. It’s early in the back-to-college year, so our beloved town is not inundated yet. The university students return in dribbles, like a leaky water faucet. And many live across from my ALF (Assisted Living Facility). What’s a wheelchairer to do when crossing the street?

According to new research sponsored by AARP Oregon, Oregonians love Oregon Saves.

See you in a bit, he always says, as he leaves my room, after helping me in one of the “Activities of Daily Living” (ADLs) which, because of my disabilities, I can’t perform myself.

Shakespeare said it – as he always has:

Caregiving crises can erupt with a phone call. For me it happened on a glorious sunny morning in the summer of 2008 with a ring from my sister. Within hours of hearing that Mom’s caregiver needed to be fired, panic and fear rained down on me because we realized Mom would soon have to leave home.

CLACKAMAS —AARP awarded more than $25,000 to three Oregon community projects with Community Challenge Grants. “These are ‘quick-action’ projects that spark change in local communities,” said state director Jerry Cohen. The grant program, now in its second year, is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which aims to make communities great places to live for everyone.