Hi Grace - yes, the Race poem is great. Makes me tear every time.

Can you help me get clear on how best to help my 81 year old mother? She's in good health, still drives (in good light), has an active social life, many friends, likes meeting new people and trying new experiences and is truly treasured by many. I'm blessed to call her my good friend as well.

Dad died 11 years ago and we have the typical questions of how long can she stay in her own home or when is it time to consider other options, etc. But right now my thoughts are about her body structure. She's getting more what I call "hinky". She relies more and more on her cane, looks frail in how she gets around and has a couple fingers on her right hand going numb. She's been catching her toe and taking falls frequently enough for concern. She is going to a fabulous Chiropractor/healer which helps but I think she needs help buidling some muscle mass and agility. PATHs isn't the answer. She got rid of her computer among other things.

I'm encouraging her to return to swim classes which she enjoys and we've talked about having a trainer come to the house. She's game for most ideas yet we stymie at what to do and who to contact or get busy with our lives and redirect. Could you test for what would be most helpful (and fun) for keeping her active lifestyle with ease and agility and would help build her own confidence in those same regards? With a clear path perhaps we can both focus on a plan at get started on it.

Her Macular Degeneration is also a worry to her. Reading is getting progressively difficult and losing her eyesight is the one conversation that makes her lip quiver. Any tests you can direct towards that is appreciated as well.

Is this okay - asking for someone else this way? I feel somewhat that I am betraying a confidence or wonder if I'm overstepping some cosmic bounds. I could tell her all this and she'd be okay with it though we'd probably redirect conversation again (because of awkwardness?) and get to chatting about other things.

Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing what testing tells you.

Bobi