It’s hard not to be a cynic these days, especially if you turn on the news. Even the holidays can feel like they’re just one big commercial. However, there are people out there that can wrestle the “bah humbug” out of any Ebenezer Scrooge. These real-life angels truly take the phrase “it’s better to give than receive” to heart. FirstLantic profiles three exceptional people in this week’s blog as well as some ways that you can spread your own holiday cheer. Spoiler alert – you won’t be a cynic after you finish this blog!   Meet “Salvage Santa” #salvagesanta or Mike Jones as he is known to family and friends. Mike is a retired police officer who investigated child abuse cases. He knows first-hand how [...]

While the holidays can be a wonderful time of the year for many people, they can also be lonely and anxiety-ridden for others. But what if we told you that your overall health will be better if you spend more time with friends and family (even your annoying uncle)? Research shows that people with strong ties to others live longer, happier and healthier lives. So, even if you are dreading the inevitable political conversation with your brother-in-law, that dialogue can actually be beneficial if you utilize some best practices. FirstLantic,the home care agency south Florida  has some tips for not only surviving, (but thriving) during the holiday season this year.   Positive communication is one of the keys to a happy celebration. It doesn’t mean [...]

Every day, we lose 294 WWII veterans. And with every veteran that passes, we often lose their story as well. Originally, FirstLantic planned to do a blog about inspirational vets but we quickly realized that there are literally thousands of amazing stories out there and we can’t possibly do the topic justice in one blog. As a result, we switched gears and decided to focus on four platforms that are dedicated to helping to tell as many of these stories as possible. Hearing the personal narratives of veterans not only allows us to experience history through their eyes, but it can be extremely healing for the veterans themselves. It also ensures that we never forget the men and women that were willing to sacrifice their [...]

Sometimes we can get bogged down so much in our own domestic drama that we forget there is a big wide world out there. While many Americans enjoy holidays like Saint Patrick’s Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving among others, cultures around the world have their own way of celebrating. So, in honor of the season, FirstLantic, Certified homecare of south Florida  tracked down ten of the most unusual holidays from a KFC dinner in Japan to a tomato fight in Spain!   La Befana – Italy Children in Italy don’t wait for Santa Clause to bring gifts on Christmas Eve. They stay up late on January 5th hoping to get a glimpse of a kindly old witch known as La Befana (the giver of gifts). And [...]

So, what exactly is a “boomster”? Seriously, you don’t know? Well, according to the urban dictionary, “It’s a baby boomer who is as cool as they can be, given the constraints of age”. That definition might be a little insulting to many of us, but the word essentially is a combination of the two words “boomer” and “hipster”. And what it really means is that the psychographics of many people in this generation is different from previous generations. They are not letting age define them and they want to stay relevant in a society that all too often dismisses people over 50.   Okay, now that we have that out of the way, why should you care? Well, if you’re a “boomster” (and you know [...]

Okay, so most grandparents don’t have a lot to complain about when it comes to their grandkids. After all, they are not the primary caregiver. They get to spoil the grandkids and then send them home. Or maybe they babysit the children once in a while or they pick them up from daycare or school once a week. However, there are some grandparents that are taking on a much bigger responsibility and are actually raising their grandkids. It is estimated by Generations United that there are about 2.6 million American children being raised by grandparents or relatives.   There are all sorts of reasons why this may happen. It could be that the parents are unable financially or emotionally to take care of their children. [...]