No need to hide it, we have all either felt a period of depression ourselves, maybe after a traumatic event or a major loss, or we have had a friend or loved one that deals with the ongoing effects of mental illness. Mental health disorders are often associated with other chronic illnesses such as arthritis, cancer and diabetes...

As far as conversations with parents go, talking with them about moving into a nursing home and other end-of-life issues may be the hardest. "The first time talking about this is going to be really, really hard because it's a painful subject to think about," said Gayle Doll, assistant professor at Kansas State University's College of Human Ecology and director of the Center on Aging. "However, it is also one of the most important conversations you can have."...

Sometimes kids say it best. Here is one child's response to the beginning of the well-know saying, "A penny saved ... is not much." Mellody Hobson, president of a financial investment firm in Chicago, taught that the best way a child can learn about a budget is through watching their parents' example...

Many trees and shrubs in the area have been slow to leaf out, losing branches or not leafing out at all. Numerous calls have been coming into the extension office from concerned homeowners. In many cases, the cause of this appears to be stress related. Last summer was very hot and dry and put many plants under stress. This was followed by a warm and dry winter which further stressed root systems...

Is arthritis keeping you from living the life you want? You're not alone. One in five people or 46 million individuals live with the pain of arthritis. If you have arthritis, you have probably tried all kinds of things to relieve your arthritis pain and to help you feel better about yourself. As someone with arthritis, you may even have concerns about not being able to work for a living or take care of or provide for your family...

May is Older Americans Month, a perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for the older adults in our community. Since 1963, communities across the nation have joined in the annual commemoration of Older Americans Month -- a proud tradition that shows our nation's commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Americans...

Taking the first step in anything is hard (like dieting and exercise), and it certainly holds true when it comes to financial health. We hear about the doom and gloom reports of the economy, stock markets and bailouts. Is it time to turn off your TV and replace all the doom and gloom with some bloom and boom?...

We are continuing our journey on successful living. Our next step is to Choose a Back-up Driver. A health care power of attorney or health care proxy designation form, the second type of advance directive, allows you to choose someone you trust to "drive" (take charge of your health care decisions) in case you are unable to make those decisions yourself...

Editor's Note: Tara Solomon, K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H extension agent, has given The Tribune permission to reprint some portions of her blog to share her experiences with readers. She is currently on a Rotary Study Exchange in India. Following are comments from this past week's travels...

Editor's Note: Tara Solomon, K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H extension agent, has given The Tribune permission to reprint some portions of her blog to share her experiences with readers. She is currently on a Rotary Study Exchange in India. Following are comments from this past week's travels...

Many of you may be like me and are "trying something new" with your finances and personal budget in the new year. America and Kansas Saves have some useful resources and incentives in February to keep us going. Kansas Saves is a national social marketing campaign to "save and reduce debt" and encourage the average person that "You can build wealth if you start small and think big."...

Editor's Note: Tara Solomon has given The Tribune permission to reprint some portions of her blog to share her experiences with readers. She is currently on a Rotary Study Exchange in India. Following are comments from this past week's travels. Jan. 12: Day two in New Delhi...

Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent Tara Solomon headed to India on a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE). This program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women in their initial years of professional life...

Do you have bored kids at home on break? Maybe they are already spending a lot of time inside and on the Internet. Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has become one of the most popular social networking sites. While many of its users are teenagers and young adults, it's also an excellent way for all family members to keep in touch in our busy and often geographically dispersed lives. ...

In the rush to shop, we sometimes lose sight of the rest of year in which money will be needed to cover extras such as track shoes, summer camps, family reunions or other trips and unexpected car or home repairs. Before spending, consider some of these tips:...

Do you have a favorite memory of your grandparents? I am sure most people do. Some of my fondest memories of my grandparents and their home include lots of games like "Hide the Thimble" with my grandma and "Rummikub" with my grandpa, always receiving a warm hug coming and going from my grandparents' home and a very special toy box just for the grandchildren. ...

The season will soon be getting colder and bring with it wintery weather. One slip of the foot could be disastrous for anyone, at any age. Of course, the likelihood of falls and breaking a bone from a fall increases with age, no matter what the weather is like...