The Home Happenings blog
Ideas for a good week at home
Plain, practical writing for older adults, their families, and the people who help them.
For senior communities
How to start a mahjong club at a senior community
Choosing a version, buying sets, teaching beginners four at a time and setting a schedule that keeps a mahjong club going.
Read itFor families
What to do with an aging parent who doesn't want to leave the house
When Mom or Dad stops wanting to go out, the answer is rarely to push harder. Here is what tends to work instead, from families who have been there.
October 13, 2026
For senior communities
Activity ideas for independent living residents who skip group programs
Why some residents skip every group program, small fixes that bring them in, and how one-on-one lessons at home can work alongside your calendar.
October 12, 2026
For senior communities
Bringing outside instructors into your senior community: a checklist
Questions to ask any instructor or vendor about vetting, credentials, scheduling, space and payment before the first class with residents.
October 11, 2026
For families
Tech help for seniors: the first 8 things worth learning on a phone or tablet
Bigger text, video calls, photos, spotting scams and four more phone and tablet skills worth learning first, one step at a time.
October 11, 2026
For senior communities
Resident life story projects: how to record and share residents' stories
Formats, consent, interview tips and ways to share, for senior communities that want to record residents' life stories with audio, video or printed books.
October 9, 2026
For families
How to talk to a parent about trying something new
Scripts to borrow, phrases to avoid, and how to handle the first no when you want Mom or Dad to try a new activity.
October 9, 2026
For families
Best in-home activities for seniors in Essex County, NJ
A local guide to the activities older adults in Montclair, Maplewood, Livingston and nearby towns actually enjoy at home, with what each one involves and what it costs.
October 9, 2026
For professionals
Talking to families about isolation: a guide for social workers
How to raise isolation with families without blame, what to suggest for different situations, and short scripts for the family call.
October 8, 2026
For families
Learning piano after 70: is it too late?
No, it isn't too late. An honest look at what older beginners can realistically play, what's harder, what's easier, and how a first lesson goes.
October 7, 2026
For professionals
Essex County, NJ resources for older adults living at home: a practical list
Verified Essex County resources for older adults at home: senior services, transportation, meals, Medicare help, libraries and parks.
October 6, 2026
For professionals
What to look for when vetting an in-home activity or lesson provider
A neutral checklist for professionals: background checks, credentials, references, insurance questions, cancellation terms and privacy.
October 5, 2026
For families
Chair yoga at home for seniors: what a first session actually looks like
What to have ready, what the teacher asks, and the breathing, warm ups and seated poses you can expect in a first chair yoga session at home.
October 5, 2026
For families
How to give a parent lessons as a gift
Lessons at home make one of the best gifts for a parent who has everything. Here is how to pick the right one, how much to give, and how to make sure it actually gets used.
October 5, 2026
For families
Gift ideas for parents who have everything (that aren't more stuff)
When Mom or Dad already owns everything, give time instead. Lessons, recorded life stories, game nights and other gifts that don't need a shelf.
October 3, 2026
For senior communities
One-on-one lessons vs group classes: ideas for senior community activity directors
Group programs reach the most residents. One-on-one lessons reach the ones who never come. A practical look at when each works, for activity directors.
October 1, 2026
For families
Mahjong, bridge and canasta: why card games are good for the brain
Card and tile games keep older adults thinking, talking and laughing. Here is what the research suggests, and how to get a game going at home.
October 1, 2026
For professionals
Building a weekly activity plan for an older adult who lives alone
A practical way to give a parent's week some shape, with a sample plan, tips for out-of-state families and notes for professionals who help set it up.
September 29, 2026
For professionals
When a client won't go to a senior center: activity options that come to the house
Some people will never walk into a senior center, and that's fine. Here are practical reasons they say no, and activity options that come to them instead.
September 27, 2026
For families
Recording a parent's life story before it's too late
How to capture a parent's stories in their own voice, what to ask, what to do with the recordings, and when it helps to bring in a guide.
September 27, 2026
For professionals
What home care agencies can suggest for clients between aide visits
Aide hours cover the essentials. Here is how a weekly lesson with a teacher can fill the rest of the week, and how to explain the difference to families.
September 25, 2026
For professionals
Meaningful activity at home: a referral guide for social workers and geriatric care managers in New Jersey
When to suggest in-home activity lessons, how to raise it with families, what to look for in a provider, and how it differs from home care and day programs.
September 23, 2026
For families
Personal training at home after 70: what to expect
What an in-home trainer actually does with an older adult, how the first visit works, what equipment you need, and how to choose the right pro.
September 23, 2026