Across the Suncoast, a lot of parents in their sixties and seventies are still doing the hardest job there is: caring for an adult child with special needs. Gerontologist Sam Cradduck says the families he works with share one common regret, and it’s always the same one. They waited until a health crisis forced the conversation. His guidance is straightforward. Build the legal, financial and residential plan now, while everyone is healthy enough to make decisions, and make sure the money you leave behind doesn’t accidentally disqualify your child from the public assistance they depend on.
The same conversation brought two health warnings worth sharing with the people you love. Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, says gasping or choking sounds during sleep point to sleep apnea, and it’s genuinely hard to tell the difference from heavy snoring just by listening. If you’re not sure, get it checked. Meanwhile, Dr. Caitlin Linscheid warns that dehydration and heat illness develop faster during pregnancy, which matters more as our summers stretch longer. Climate Central found that extremely hot days linked to preterm births have risen globally over the past five years.
There’s a lighter note too: the Sodbusters Horseshoe Club in Vermont has kept a summer league running for nearly sixty years, with world champion pitcher Debra Brown still stepping up to the pit. It’s a good reminder that simple community traditions are worth protecting.
Do you know a family navigating long-term care planning? What advice would you share with them?
