Hi! How are you?

This is the last newsletter of August, so summer is officially wrapping up. This weekend I decided it would be a great idea to take my mom and both kids to IKEA on a Saturday morning, to help her pick out items for her new apartment and grab lunch in the cafeteria. What was I thinking?? Between the kids darting off in six directions and my mom needing time to really consider every option, we left with a tiring (but fun) morning behind us and exactly zero items checked off the list.

Have you had one of those days lately, where the plan and the reality look nothing alike? I hope you've found some joy and levity in these final weeks of summer, even the unplanned kind.

Jenna

In the News:

Costco is teaming up with nonprofit insurer SCAN Group to roll out its own Medicare plans for seniors. The initial plan is to launch Medicare Advantage in two states and a Medicare supplement plan in a third, potentially reaching around 5 million eligible seniors, with pharmacy, vision, hearing, and over-the-counter perks possibly joining down the line. Nothing's locked in yet (states, launch date, and full benefits are all still under wraps, pending regulatory approval), but I'll be following this closely!

Article of the week:

​Bringing Joy Back to Dementia Care - Columbia Gorge News. This is from an area near me called Hood River (which was actually just named by ​Travel & Leisure​ as the best small mountain town in America). This article really moved me. I have a mom with cognitive decline, some close friends caring for their moms with advanced Alzheimer's, and I read a lot of stories about families caring for someone with dementia. So many of those stories are sad, hard, and can feel hopeless. I loved the idea of bringing joy back into dementia care.

The article profiles Tonya DeHart, program manager of Sunshine Club, an adult day program in Hood River for people living with dementia and Alzheimer's. Instead of correcting or "fixing" participants, Tonya and her team meet people where they are, greeting them warmly and filling the day with music, outings, and laughter. They treat people as whole human beings, not just patients to manage.

My biggest takeaway was this idea: you do not fight dementia by forcing someone back into reality. You love them where they are. “It’s all about validation,” she says. “You’re not going to fix them.”

Recommendation:

For many of us, the sun is still out, so my quick reminder is to keep lathering on the sunscreen. It helps prevent the type of cancer I had removed from my forehead, and it slows down premature aging. I'm also a fan of sun-blocking clothes, including swimsuit coverings, for when I just don't have the time or energy to cover much more than my face. The sunscreens I usually recommend are La Roche Posay (on the splurge side) or Cerave (more budget-friendly).

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Quote of the week:

I was so truly sad to hear about Dolly's passing. She has been part of my heart and home for a long time. It goes without saying that Dolly was a national treasure and inspiration, and so many of us will miss her. Her memory and legacy will always bring us joy, though.

Have your own Sandwich Generation story this week? Just hit reply, I'd love to hear it.