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Dana Shavin

Contributor Dana Shavin

Dana’s essays and articles have appeared in Garden and Gun, Oxford American, The Sun, Fourth Genre, Today.com, Appalachian Review, Longridge Review, Psychology Today, Parade,Bark, The Writer, AARP’s The Ethel, and Travel+Leisure.com. She is an award-winning humor columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, and the author of a memoir, The Body Tourist (Little Feather Books, 2014)and Finding the World: Thoughts on Life, Love, Home and Dogs, a collection of her most popular columns spanning twenty years. You can find more at Danashavin.com, and follow her on Facebook at Dana Shavin Writes. 

 

A closeup of colorful paint dripping down and mixing together. Next Avenue, dementia, Alzheimer's. sensory

The Kaleidoscopic World of Alzheimer's and Sensory Perception

My mother had become attuned to bright colors as well as to unremarkable sounds and then began to see objects that were not in danger of falling as about to fall. I wondered why.
April 10, 2024
A black mini poodle standing outside. Next Avenue

The Secret Life of Poodle

My dog's secret life alerts me to my mother's own secret life
December 25, 2023
A family smiling together at home. Next Avenue, vitality, aging, career

But Wait, There's More: A Vision for the Second Half of Life

As with any inevitable change, it's best to recognize that with the loss of vitality in one area of life comes the opportunity for great vitality in another
December 5, 2023
An older adult sitting at the kitchen table looking off into the distance. Next Avenue

When Is It Time to Call a Geropsychologist?

The job of the geropsychologist is to manage or alleviate emotional distress, which can be done in all sorts of ways across a wide spectrum of needs and activities
October 20, 2023
A woman sitting down and hanging up the phone. Next Avenue

Bad News Bearer

How to deliver difficult information with compassion and respect
July 31, 2023
A woman smiling with her arm around her mother. Next Avenue

Who Is This Daughter I've Become?

I've never been a mother, but in a role reversal, I'm now more like a mother to my 93-year-old mom
June 2, 2023
A rearview mirror of a truck with a dog in the bed. Next Avenue

If You're on the Wrong Road, Should You Stay the Course?

When your heart is telling you something isn't right, whether it's moving ahead with a project or buying a car, listen
September 14, 2022
A soft measuring tape rolled up. Next Avenue, signs of eating disorder midlife, older adults

What to Know About Eating Disorders at Midlife and Beyond

Often caused by physical or emotional upheaval, eating disorders in older adults pose a health threat
May 12, 2022
A person holding a box of items from their desk after being laid off from work. Next Avenue

A Year Later, The Gift of My Layoff is Still Uncertain

A going-away present from my former employer remains unopened, but during this time, other gifts have been revealed
February 7, 2022
An older parent at home who is suffering from depression. Next Avenue

How To Tell If Your Parent is Suffering from Depression

Feeling unhappy is not a normal part of aging. Here are some signs of depression to watch for, and ways to offer help.
January 25, 2022
A large family gathered around a long dining table with festive decorations. Next Avenue, Hanukkah, Christmas Hybrid holiday

Our Hanukkah and Christmas Hybrid Holiday: How I Finally Started Celebrating

Reconciling her Jewish background with her husband's family Christmas celebration was a challenge that took years to resolve
November 29, 2021
An older adult sitting on the couch with talking with adult daughter. Next Avenue, Parent's Sedentary Lifestyle

Should You Be Worried About Your Parent's Sedentary Lifestyle?

Here are some suggestions on ways people of all fitness levels can stay active
November 19, 2021
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