It's World Kindness Day. I spoke with kindness experts (yes, those exist!) about how being kind and caring is good for you -- reducing stress, increasing happiness and collaboration and even leading to physical health benefits like better immunity. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

A documentary following Chris Hemsworth on a road trip with his dad comes out Nov. 23. His dad has Alzheimer's disease. "I just find myself wanting to spend more time with him," Hemsworth said. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

"My father waited until 10 days before he died to tell me how he wanted to handle his end of life." The sandwich generation is feeling financial & emotional strain as families have difficult conversations about care for aging parents. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

Caregivers are in crisis. How bad it is depends on where you live. "When financial strain hits 59% of family caregivers in Georgia compared to just 34% in Minnesota... it's clear that patchwork state solutions aren't enough." -Jason Resendez www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

Kevin Tang is a 13-year-old scientist from California. When his grandmother fell 5 years ago, he got an idea. His fall detection invention landed him $25,000 and the title of "America's Top Young Scientist." Read about Kevin and his invention: www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

Frankie Acevedo's 5-year-old wants to be near him all the time, whether he's in the kitchen, backyard or even in the bathroom. Does that make his son a Velcro kid? Or is Frankie a Velcro parent? And what if Frankie wants a moment to himself? Read about it here: www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...

SAHMs and empty nesters are at a disadvantage in the job market. "One of the biggest barriers is creating a resume. If you haven't been in the workforce for 20 years... it's like, 'Oh my God, how do I even get started on that?'" -Business strategist Scott Siff www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

Emily Hausman was laid off while pregnant. She moved from NYC to her parents' place in Utah and had her son, Zeke. Two months later, she found out she had cancer. At first, she felt alone. But kind strangers restored her faith in humanity. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

Breast cancer is rising in younger women, leaving mothers juggling parenting and treatment. Here's what that looks like, and what doctors are worried about with younger cancer patients: www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

Some fans are upset that Taylor Swift is singing and talking about wanting to settle down. But since when did wanting to get married and have kids get so political? @nicolefallert.bsky.social and I get into it, here: www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

It's me, hi. I'm writing about Taylor Swift again, it's me. I thought "Eldest Daughter" would wreck me. Instead, it made me grateful for the love in my life. www.usatoday.com/story/entert... via @usatoday.com

Julian Furman, 43, said he sometimes wishes he didn't have autism "because then I wouldn't have a bunch of anxiety." But he thinks autism "can be a good thing." People with autism have special abilities, he said. "They can be smart." www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

Jennifer Cortes is in the sandwich generation, caring for her 82-year-old father with vascular dementia. Even when respite care comes, Cortes said she can't relax but has to translate between Spanish and English for the home health aide. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

New Mexico is the first state to offer free universal child care. The state's child care assistance program will extend to all families on Nov. 1. How does it work? Who's paying for it? These questions and more, answered, in my latest for @usatoday.com: www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

Caregiving doesn't have to end your career. Problem solving. Time management. Negotiation. Adaptability. Empathy. Compassion. Communication. These are all skills caregivers have, and employers value, experts say. www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

"It's good that men are gaining; we want to see those wages go up. We know families need it. But we also can't be in the situation where we're seeing women being left further and further behind." Was glad to chat with @maddiemitch.bsky.social about today's new #wagegap data. Read the whole piece!

Some #breaking #genderwagegap news: It's getting wider. New Census data shows the gender wage gap widened for the second year in a row. For every dollar a man makes in America, a woman made 84 cents in 2022, 83 cents in 2023 and 81 cents in 2024. www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

America's moms love their jobs. Why are so many leaving them? I teamed up with @baileyschulz.bsky.social & @jguynn.bsky.social on this story about mothers with young children leaving the workforce. Here's why it's happening and why it matters: www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

Parents are spending more than they expected on their kids. New data shows 77% of parents said that they felt pressure to keep up with other families by spending more than they should. www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

“I do love parenting," @elissastrauss.bsky.social said. "But I feel like the second I say that out loud, I’m a trad wife.” The "girl boss" and "trad wife" trends online can be damaging for moms, experts say. You can read all about it in my latest for @usatoday.com: www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

Paying out of pocket. Amazon wish lists. Kristen Bell? How teachers buy school supplies www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

1 in 10 Americans have a rare disease, and half of those patients are children. For parents of children with rare diseases, advocacy can be a full-time job, and the results are life or death. www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

Hi, friends! I'm looking to talk with moms of young kids (3yo and under) who recently left the workplace. This is for a @usatoday.com story. Message me or email me at [email protected] if interested! Thanks.

Taylor Swift recently opened up about caregiving for her dad, and said it was "actually one of the most special things that's ever happened to me." Swift's story "shines a light on what 63 million Americans are experiencing right now," said @aarp.org CEO. www.usatoday.com/story/entert...

Karen and Jeff Groff are prearranging 3 funerals: their own and their son Danny's. He's 39 with a rare and severe type of epilepsy and needs 24/7 care. “Our worst nightmare is that we lose him first,” Karen Groff said. “And our worst nightmare is that we go first.” www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...

Summer is over, but some parents are still paying for summer camp. A new study found 62% of parents go into debt to cover summer child care costs. Here's how parents can prepare for next summer. www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

One mom nearly got a divorce after a dishwasher dispute. The mental load was to blame. www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

Reports of suicidal thoughts are higher among caregivers than the general population. Experts have been sounding the alarm for years, but because caregivers are focused on those they care for, they are often less likely to seek help. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

New, revealing data show what caregiving in America looks like today. More than 63 million (nearly 1 in 4) Americans are caregivers - a 45% increase since 2015. www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

Trump's reconciliation law slashes the amount of money given to states' Medicaid programs. Now states have to decide which programs to cut. Families of children with disabilities are terrified. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p... via @usatoday.com

Miriam Sabir, 65, moved in to care for her mother who had COVID-19 in 2022. “I thought it would be temporary,” she said. “But it has been, you know, 2 and a half years.” Both mother and daughter carry unspoken guilt about the situation. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... for @usatoday.com

When President Donald Trump signed the Republican-backed "big, beautiful bill" into law, he made some of the biggest increases to child care tax programs in a generation. Some parents say it's not nearly enough. www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com w/ @erinmansfield.bsky.social

Your kids are all grown up. But what does being an 'empty nester' mean in 2025? www.usatoday.com/story/money/... via @usatoday.com

The 211 helpline is expanding its caregiver supports. But some well-meaning attempts to connect people with services are falling flat. "There's not a lot of resources for my situation," said Jami Chapple, the single mother of an autistic 12-year-old. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... @usatoday.com

Talking about death can be emotional, especially for family caregivers. Brittany Maynard's husband Dan Diaz said her decision to pursue medical aid in dying helped in his grieving process. "All I had to do was just support her." www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

What a delight to attend @pbs.org "Caregiving" screening event in New York last night. Bradley Cooper, Uzo Aduba and Emma Heming Willis were some of the celebrity caregivers in attendance. Read about the event and new film here: www.usatoday.com/story/entert... via @usatoday.com

Bradley Cooper opens up about caring for his late father before he died: "When I was in the active action of caring, it was very fulfilling," he said. www.usatoday.com/story/entert... via @usatoday.com

When a loved one dies after a lengthy illness, some caregivers are left without a sense of self or purpose. David Cook cared for his wife for nearly a decade. She died in December. "All of a sudden, boom, it’s over," he said. "Now what do you do?" www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... @usatoday.com

Uber is making strides with accessibility. But is it really the best product for aging Americans and those with disabilities? That's the question experts are asking in my latest story for @usatoday.com www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

I got to talk with award-winning actress Uzo Aduba recently about her caregiving journey and involvement in the new @pbs.org documentary "Caregiving." “One day our mother was fine, and then one day she wasn’t," she said. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h... via @usatoday.com

"I feel like I’m being punished for doing the right thing," Matthew Cauli said. Cauli is one of the caregivers featured in a PBS documentary with executive producer Bradley Cooper. "Caregiving" premieres June 24 at 9 p.m. EST, or you can stream it now on PBS. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...

Caregivers are in crisis. That’s why USA TODAY is launching The Cost of Care, a series of stories featuring caregivers from across the country. Please take our survey and share your experience with and thoughts on caregiving. www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

Cancer patients rarely face a diagnosis alone. Whether it's a spouse, a child, a sibling or a friend, caregivers are key to a patient's cancer journey and outcomes are worse for patients without caregivers, said Dr. Arif Kamal of the American Cancer Society. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...

Biden cancer announcement highlights the importance of early screening. Caregivers can help. www.usatoday.com/story/life/h...

A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found nearly half of America's states are on the brink of a caregiving emergency, with the worst conditions being in the South. See which 8 states are deemed "critical," here: www.usatoday.com/story/news/h... via @usatoday.com

Fertility care coverage and child care benefits are among the most expensive for companies. But they're also some of the most sought-after perks for millennials, who represent the largest segment of the U.S. workforce. Full story for @usatoday.com here: www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

Pat Archer switched to part-time work for a decade when she was a single mom. Now, she's not sure she can retire. "When women have children, they do miss out," she said. "I'm 72 and I don't see when I'm going to stop working."

Though many married couples power through difficult times together, the vow “in sickness and in health” sometimes isn’t as strong as some couples might think − particularly if the woman is the one who gets sick, according to a recent study. (1/3)

Tariff anxiety is sending shoppers to secondhand stores. But can thrift shops really avoid price hikes in this economy? Thrift stores are "not totally immune to the tariff impact," said Professor Sheng Lu of the University of Delaware. Here's what to know: www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

"There's just a lot of reason for financial fear and for fear of what aging is going to look like in this country because of what's going on," said Nicole Jorwic, CPO at Caring Across Generations. Market uncertainty is "impacting older adults' bottom lines." www.usatoday.com/story/money/...