We started 2007 with the goal of creating a site to help people caring for their aging parents. This morning I got this note from a visitor:

"I just found this site today after reading an article at msn. It has almost every question I have ever needed to ask when my Father was sick and now my Mother is sick so I intend to use it quite alot. I could literally just cry.......thanks so much!"

Thank you for sending this note, and dozens others like it.  It helps me know that Caring.com achieved our 2007 goal of building a helpful, useful site.

For 2008, we will be adding community, newsletters and hundreds of additional articles, guides and checklists.  Our goal for 2008 is to offer more help to more people, and you'll see the first of our new initiatives by the end of January.

Best wishes for 2008, and please keep the notes coming.

I was a bit sad anticipating Thanksgiving this year.  It's the first time in 20 years that I haven't gone to Chicago to be with my mom and sister.  But then I started thinking about the wonderful memories I have of all the crazy 37 Thanksgivings I had with my dad.  He used to bring his students home, many of whom didn't speak English, and we tried in vain to explain the traditions.  I thought some more about the 43 Thanksgivings I had with my mom, and all of the delicious dishes she always prepared.  She made the best stuffing and gravy.  And I realized how lucky I am to have all of those great memories. So, if you still have your parents, be thankful for the time you have with them.  If you've lost your parents, be very thankful - as I am - for all of those great memories. 

I had three different conversations with friends this week about how frustrated they were trying to get their parents or in-laws to do something that to them was totally obvious.  I refered them all to David Solie's wonderful book "How to Say it to Seniors."  In his book, David talks about how to bridge the communication gap between generations who have different developmental agendas.  David is an advisor to Caring.com and you can ask him questions on the site.  If you are someone who has ever had trouble getting a parent or in-law to do something (I know 100% of you are raising your hands!), then you should definitely check out David's book or post questions to him on the site.

I ran into a friend last night who just put his mom in an assisted living facility.  She has Alzheimer's, and neither he or his brother felt it would be safe for her to move in with them.    She's angry at her children and he feels terribly guilty.  I let him know that hundreds of thousands of loving children have to make this difficult decision every week.  I told him two people he knew who had just gone through it; he had no idea they were suffering like he was.  Three learnings from this:  1) you're not alone; 2) you are still a good son/daughter; and 3) it may make it easier if you share your experiences with each other on our site.

We're just wrapping up our first day of beta and are thrilled by the comments we've received from hundreds of visitors.  Thanks for the bug catching, usability suggestions and great ideas for features and services!  Please, keep them coming.

Welcome to the Caring.com Beta Blog.  Caring.com's goal is to help people care for their aging parents.  A year ago this week, my mom died of lung cancer.  My sister and I were distraught, overwhelmed and not sure what to do at each stage of her illness.  I decided to start Caring.com to help people when their parents get sick.  I was fortunate enough to connect with great co-founders, a wonderful team and two forward thinking investors who believe you can do good and do well.   Now I need your help.  If you're caring for a loved one, tell us what you like, don't like or is missing from the site.  Most importantly, share things that have helped you. It's a difficult journey, but if we all help each other we can make it a little bit easier.   .