Steve Barlam, LivHOME’s Chief Professional Officer, and Sylvia Thompson, a LivHOME Eldercare Consultant in Los Angeles, offer their stories and insights in a new Wall Street Journal article on dealing with sibling dynamics when parents needs help.

Thompson talked about her personal experience in building consensus among siblings, which is often not as easy as it sounds: “We decided everything would be done by consensus.”

Barlam offered his advice as well, addressing situations where long-standing disagreements between siblings may exist: “Our philosophy is generally to encourage them to give the person a second chance.”

Caring for a parent is so much more than just the physical tasks involved. It’s about enhancing the quality of life of the senior while supporting the entire family through the process.

The recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti reminded us of how unexpected and devastating these events could be, especially for seniors, who are sometimes the last to get help.

Seniors can be particularly vulnerable due to limited mobility and ability to connect with others. Critical medicines may be left behind. Special nutritional needs can go unmet. Family members may not know where to find their senior loved ones.

The secret to getting through a major disaster for many seniors is advanced preparation. LivHOME recommends that seniors prepare both for cases where they will remain in their homes as well as those where evacuation is necessary. Click here for LivHOME’s emergency preparedness list.

So think ahead and get your plan in place today.

Ashley Mirone, a LivHOME Eldercare Consultant in Riverside, Calif., has won a full scholarship to attend the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer Action Summit in Washington, DC.

The summit, which will be held March 7-9, is attended by hundreds of Alzheimer’s advocates each year.  Ashley was selected for the 2010 scholarship based on her work on behalf of Alzheimer’s patients in her area of the country.

Ashley is very active in her community, participating in a number of organizations including: the Inland Empire Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk (Committee Member); the Inland Association for Continuity of Care (Vendor Chairperson); the “A” Team Senior Care Assistance (Coachella Valley); the Riverside Estate Planning Council; and Networking for Seniors.

A 5-year veteran of LivHOME, Ashley is responsible for business development in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

In “Where America Stands,” CBS News’ Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports on how Americans are dealing with the heartbreaking disease of Alzheimer’s. The segment examines recent advancements in imaging, current research and lifestyle risk factors. He interviews Alzheimer’s Association Chief Medical Officer Bill Thies and former early stage advisor Lisa Carbo and her family.

To watch go to http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6089199n&tag=related;photovideo

For many of us, the holiday season is really about family.

Mike Nicholson, LivHOME’s chief executive officer, and his wife, Clare, were featured in a recent Worcester Telegram & Gazette story (also on LivHOME’s website, www.livhome.com) for a donation they had made to buy toys for children in need in Central Massachusetts.

Today Mike and Clare live in California, where LivHOME is based, but both grew up in New England.  Mike told the newspaper that LivHOME was actually named for his mother, Doris Nicholson , who was able to live in her own home through her final days. “On May 3, 1994, Mom died in her bed at home. I was holding her hand, and my wife lay on the foot of her bed, keeping me awake. Mom lived and died at home, where she wanted to be”  Mike recalled.

Mike and Clare return to Massachusetts every year to visit with family there.