With Your Family in Mind

My deepest sympathies to the two families who suffered such tragedy recently, losing their young sons.  Let their deaths inspire the living.  It’s the least we can do for them.
I’ve stated many times that rehab should be a last, not first, resort to addiction treatment.  Outpatient, one-on-one counseling is best.  By meeting with a person over a period of time I can truly impart to them my experience, knowledge and strategies on how I, a fellow addict, stay clean and live a sober life.  By living in their regular world while going through recovery we get to learn as we go and test all we learn in real life instead of practicing in theory in a rehab meeting and then being forced to face challenges, virtually alone, when released.

Life is full of options and you should have access to all of them.  In the past, when a person felt confused or overwhelmed, they would seek a therapist.  This would typically consist of sessions of cognitive therapy (a lot of talking) resulting in some new understanding of the self and a period of change followed by reverting right back to old behavior. 

On some level we have all been touched by the seemingly recent surge of deaths highlighted within the media.  For some of us, they are heroes, legends, or celebrities.  For others, they are mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, niece, or nephew.  No matter what their relationship is with us, we must never forget that money, power, or fame does not remove the reality of simply being a human being.  It is with this thought process that we must learn to value every relationship that God is allowing us to have.  

Have you figured out what makes you happy?  For years scholars and researchers have noted that income, marital status, and where you live are contributing factors to whether a person is happy or not.  New findings by Matthew Killingsworth, a doctoral student of psychology at Harvard, indicate we are much happier when our minds are focused. 

It is easy to become caught up in the physical tasks of providing care for an elderly loved one. Responding to calls for help, cleaning, providing healthy meals, ensuring medications are taken and perhaps managing the budget of the one you care for - along with tending to the details of your own life - can keep you busy with little time to spare. However, it takes more than task-oriented duties to keep seniors vital, active and healthy.

Fear of the dark, fear of strangers, fear of death.  At various stages of a child’s development, certain fears are expected, normal, and possibly even life-preserving.  However, sometimes fear and anxiety can become overwhelming.
What symptoms might you see in an overanxious child?  Young children often display anxiety with stomachaches, headaches, chewing their lips, picking or chewing their fingernails/skin, hair pulling, sleeping problems (difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, bedwetting), trouble separating from parents (sleeping only in their parent’s bed, school avoidance), social isolation, or unusual preoccupations and rituals.

When I help clients plan their estate, there are some issues that keep appearing that deserve mention.  Here is a list of 10 potential errors I want to bring to your attention:
1. A spouse is not legally entitled to act for another spouse simply because they are married to one another.

Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care better known as MTFC is an evidence based program designed to provide a temporary home to adolescent youth ages 12-17 that are in need of assistance with reunifying with their families of origin. It is our goal at Penny Lane to provide these youth with equipped foster parents who are able to best meet their needs.

Everyone has the right to appeal.  Keep in mind that about 98 percent of all cases settle at some point.
A small percentage of cases do go to trial, and a percentage of those cases will be appealed.  Family law cases are different from civil appeals because in family law trials, there is no jury.  You have either a judge or a court commissioner. 

One of the more common questions raised by individuals who are considering bankruptcy is “what will I be able to keep?”  In a Chapter 7 case, the bankruptcy court appoints a Trustee who reviews the bankruptcy forms to see if the debtor properly exempted (protected) all his assets.
In California, there are two sets of exemptions that the debtor can choose from.  He cannot take portions of one exemption type and portions of the other.  The debtor must choose one or the other. 

Though Jesus Christ physically walked this earth 2,000 years ago, the events surrounding his birth and his resurrection are still the two most important holidays we remember.  We celebrate the birth of baby Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem each December, and in the spring, we rejoice on the day set aside to remember when he rose from the dead.

My young friend Allen, at the age of 15, was found close to death on the sidewalk near a Canyon Country park after drinking a quart of vodka in 15 minutes.  Lucky for him, his friend called an ambulance and his parents.  They saved his life.  Year after year, despite the best efforts of parents and teachers, there are headlines across the nation (and in Santa Clarita) about teen car crashes after an exciting evening at the prom when those who attend, attend after prom parties and imbibe. 

Today’s teens not only face the pressures that we all faced but now they must make decisions about their future upon walking into high school.  Students are encouraged to take honors classes and then advanced placement classes as soon as they are available to them.  Extra curricular activities are encouraged.  Clubs, becoming an officer in the club, community service and top grades are necessary if you want to get into the college of your choosing.  What happened to the high school experience that included fun times with friends, dances, football games and dating?

As an Elder Care Coordinator with the Law Office of Jane M. McNamara, I know the importance of an effective advocate for an aging senior.  Usually that advocate is a family member, but sometimes friends and neighbors must act in that role.  I routinely assist these family advocates, and guide them through the “maze” of hospital and long-term care issues for their senior parent.  These issues typically involve hospice, obtaining proper care, and skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes).  I help the families ask the right questions to ensure their parent receives the best care and services.

Well, 2012’s off to a great start with more great questions about the voiceover industry.  This month’s question is about medical narration.
Q: I’ve been in the acting world for most of my career but have specialized in medical narration because I’m a critical care nurse as well.  Are there advertising agencies that have a department directed to medical clients?  If so, how would I go about finding this information?  Who produces educational material in medicine?  How do they find their talent? –Rosalynn B., Sylmar, CA

According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease.  While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are treatments and therapies that can slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve the quality of life for those with the disease and their caregivers.  If you suspect your loved one is showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s, it is extremely important to be proactive by getting them to their physician, and if a diagnosis is made, to get a care team and plan in place as soon as possible.

Every child deserves to have a safe, loving and permanent home.  Children’s Bureau needs foster families who will care specifically for infants and toddlers during the reunification process with their parents.  There are also 114,000 children currently in foster care who are unable to return to their families of origin.  Children’s Bureau is seeking caring families to consider adopting these older children and large sibling sets.

For over 15 years, Steven B. Chroman has been providing outstanding legal services to clients in and around our Valley.  The Law Office of Steven B. Chroman P.C., located in Santa Clarita, specializes in the area of family and marital law, divorce, mediation, bundled services, uncontested divorce, legal separation, child/spousal support, modification of orders and paternity, as well as child custody/visitation, property settlements, division of property, domestic violence, enforcement of orders and more.