Friday Five

The Friday Five is our weekly roundup of links to smart articles and helpful resources across the Web.

1. I always enjoy catching up on the New York Times' New Old Age Blog. The entries are always well-written and engaging, with insightful comments or helpful suggestions for family caregivers. Thursday's entry, "When It's Time to Hit the Road" discusses the challenges of traveling when you're caring for an elderly loved one. The writers offer an extensive list of suggestions for the situation of traveling with your loved one or for leaving a loved one at home while you are traveling.

2. I discovered a new family caregiving blog this week written by an LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) in New York. Christine M. Valentin is a geriatric social worker, and previously an elder abuse specialist. Her most recent blog entry talks about "Hiring the Right Caregiver" for your family member or loved one. We know that sometimes a person's needs can extend past what the average person can offer, and when that happens, you want to make sure you find your loved one the best care possible. We'll definitely keep following Christine's blog for more valuable articles.

3. A great resource for seniors in Tucson is the Pima Council on Aging. Their website lists programs and services, volunteer opportunities, and it has a calendar of local events.They also produce a monthly print publication called Never Too Late.

4. It can be hard to know where to start when looking for care for an elderly loved one. The U.S. Administration on Aging offers this Eldercare Locator tool to assist you in finding services for you and your aging family member.

5. The Hospice Foundation of America's Hospice and Caregiving Blog included an interview with Elizabeth Clark, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers. She discussed the organizations end of life care initiatives and the social worker's role for a patient facing the end of life.