http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/rss/feedsTalk Show Host/Content Creator of The 50Plus Talk! Celebrating 5 Extraordinary Decades of Fabulous Fashions, Music and Pop CultureFri, 15 May 2026 04:45:52 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/holiday-memories-of-dadhttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/holiday-memories-of-dadThe 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 assured me weeks prior to his appointments that he was fine and feeling great! I think he simply loved the time and attention his doctors lavished upon him so generously. Dad was blessed with kind and compassionate physicians who always made time to listen attentively to his many grievances. After his appointments we would go shopping for a few warm winter sweaters and tank tops at the local mall and grab a quick bite to eat during our excursion. Dad was a man with very defined tastes when it came to his wardrobe, and he loved his tank tops in two colors, black and brown. Once in a while I would attempt to convince him to try something more colorful but dad wasn't having it! The fall season of 2010 proved to be the last time dad was able to move around without a great deal of assistance. I began to notice that he was beginning to refuse his favorite foods and relinquish his daily ritual of taking brisk walks around his neighborhood. Dad died in the early morning hours on a cold December day a few weeks shy of Christmas. I stood by his bedside in ICU as he looked up at the ceiling and smiled, as if an old friend walked into his room. He turned, looked at me, took his last breath and drifted off peacefully into eternity.Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/caregiving-and-a-thankful-hearthttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/caregiving-and-a-thankful-heartNational 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 visits. Dad passed a few weeks before Christmas 8 years ago this week after a valiant and courageous 14 year battle with multiple illnesses. As a tribute to my Dad during this holiday season, I want to give thanks for all of the blessings and victories we experienced together during our very special journey. I am thankful that God gave my Dad 14 years more of life than his doctors anticipated. I am thankful that I had precious, dedicated time to spend with my Dad and listen to his life stories, experiences and wisdom. I am thankful that Dad was blessed to have wonderful, compassionate doctors who cared for him with uncompromising integrity and tender hearts. I am thankful that my Dad taught us to love others unconditionally, and to care for those who are unable to care for themselves. I am thankful that he was my dad, and most of all, I am thankful that he lived long enough to receive Jesus into his heart as his Lord and Savior at the ripe old age of 83. Caregivers, thank you for all you do to care for those you love. Your collective voices are being heard and you are loved and not forgotten.BlessingsMatthew 25:40 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/1997sweet-potato-piehttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/1997sweet-potato-pieFall 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 was also the time of year when Dad and I would make his year-end doctors visits for his annual flu shot and final medical check-ups. Dad was blessed to have phenomenal Doctors who cared for him lovingly and with great compassion. This wonderful, compassionate medical care would be instrumental in guiding our family through our caregiving journey over the next 14 years. The tremendous medical care Dad received provided him with a higher quality of life, and taught me about the importance of having access to top-notch medical professionals, excellent hospitals and cutting edge treatments. The holidays are here, the leaves on the trees are changing colors, and the sweet potato pies are ready to come out of the oven.... Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/supreme-glamour-mary-wilson-with-mark-bego-forward-by-whoopi-goldberghttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/supreme-glamour-mary-wilson-with-mark-bego-forward-by-whoopi-goldbergMary 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 masterpieces. Thu, 03 Oct 2019 11:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips-selfcare-for-the-caregiverhttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips-selfcare-for-the-caregiverTip# 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 community of faith. You will be able to receive emotional and spiritual support through prayer and a listening ear from other members who understand your journey. This group will provide a safe space where you are able to share your feelings openly and without judgement and, receive unconditional love and compassion. If you are not able to join a support group and meet face to face, Facebook offers several online Family Caregiver support groups which are available for you to share your caregiving experiences and challenges.2.) Many Counties provide Adult Daycare Services for Senior Adults. These services will provide the family caregiver with a time of respite, and provide productive services for your family member. Adult Daycare Services typically provides recreational, wellness and creative programs for your loved one. These programs are designed to keep your family member physically, mentally and socially active and will provide you with some much needed respite. Please be sure to research these organizations for their safety record, and any violations prior to utilizing their services. As always, speak to your loved ones Physicians to see if they have any possible referrals for good Adult Day Care Services in your area.3.) As caregivers, we often attempt to do everything ourselves. This may lead to what's known as compassion fatigue or burnout. Ask your family members Physician about organizations such as The Visiting Nurses Association or IHSS,(In-Home Supportive Services) and other Home Health Aid Services in your area. These organizations will come in and assist you with the 5 Activities of Daily Living: Eating, Bathing, Dressing, Toileting, and Transferring. It is perfectly acceptable to seek assistance so that you can recharge and care for yourself and your loved one properly. Ask Medicare or your Medical Insurance Provider to determine if they will share in the cost for any these services. Thu, 26 Sep 2019 11:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips--caregiving-seniors-and-technologyhttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips--caregiving-seniors-and-technology 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. Sun, 15 Sep 2019 11:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/1997-2http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/1997-2My 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 born amongst the stars and was certainly a star in his own right.Sun, 01 Sep 2019 11:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips--summer-sunshine-and-dehydrationhttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips--summer-sunshine-and-dehydrationTip# 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. Fri, 30 Aug 2019 11:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips-medical-insurancehttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips-medical-insurance Tip# 5: One of the most important responsibilities you will manage as a Family Caregiver is your loved ones medical insurance policy or policies. Disclosure: I am not a Licensed Insurance Agent and I will not make specific recommendations concerning a particular Carrier or Carriers. I will simply state the importance of learning to read the Explanation of Benefits, often called by it's acronym, EOB. You will need to pay close attention to the billing process, and learn how the billing process works for medical services rendered. The EOB normally contains a breakdown of all medical services rendered. Take time to ask your Carrier, whether it's Medicare, another Primary Carrier, or a Secondary Supplemental Insurance Carrier questions if something doesn't appear correct on the EOB. The EOB statement normally contains a Customer Service phone number which you can call during normal business hours to receive more information. You may also contact the Physician's office where the services were rendered and speak to the Medical Billing Specialist for guidance, or a 3rd Party Billing Service contracted with your loved ones Physicians Office.Fri, 23 Aug 2019 11:30:00 -0700http://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips-forming-your-caregiving-teamhttp://www.the50plustalk.com/blog/post/50-fabulous-caregiving-tips-forming-your-caregiving-teamTip# 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 remaining healthier for a longer period of time. Your family member will also feel loved and valued because you are making their healthcare needs a priority.2.) Medical Team: Advocate and remain in active discussions with each of your loved ones Physicians. Ask lots of questions concerning the medications which are being prescribed for their illness or illnesses. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of why a certain treatment or surgery is being recommended. If necessary, don't hesitate to seek out another professional medical opinion. Continue asking questions until you are comfortable that you have received the proper answers to all of your questions. I found it helpful to develop a good working relationship, and an open line of communication with the staff in the Doctors office. I found that when I had a good relationship with the staff, I always felt comfortable calling the staff in case I needed clarity regarding discharge instructions, new appointments or preparations for an upcoming medical test or surgery. Also, it's much easier to reach the staff during working hours as opposed to the Physician. The staff will always know how to contact the Physician immediately if necessary.3.) Legal Team: An Eldercare Attorney is a great Partner to engage while your loved one is able to articulate their wishes and requirements for a Power of Attorney, Living Will, Trust documents and overall healthcare requirements. This is a very important discussion to conduct very early in the caregiving process prior to a major decline in the health of your family member. Wed, 21 Aug 2019 11:30:00 -0700