Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

We see a younger woman with blond hair embrace an older, white-haired woman from the side. The older woman lays her head against the younger woman's chest. They are both smiling.

Am I a Caregiver? Defining the Family Caregiver Role

Many individuals struggle to accept the label of “family caregiver,” but fully embracing this role increases our chances of succeeding in it....

How Do I Communicate Reminders to a Parent With Dementia?

Sponsored “Mom, remember, your appointment is tomorrow at 10.” “I know. You already told me.” Then an hour later: “What time is...

This indoor images shows a younger woman on the left. She has long, light brown hair and iw wearing a pink sweater. She's pointing to something on a smartphone that's held by an older woman with white hair. The older woman wears alight blue top with white trim. Both woman have slight smiles and are communicating about what they see with pleasure.

How to Handle Mom’s Repeated Calls Due to Short-Term Memory Loss

Dear Carol: My wonderful mom is 82, lives in assisted living, and has short-term memory loss. She enjoys her community friends and...

An older man straddles a paused bicycle and looks down at a child with a small bike and training wheels. The bike is pink, and the child is looking up and the man. They are both smiling and having fun. We see the greenery in the background of a bike trail.

Honor Aging Adults’ Need for Independence

Although we may not think about it in these terms very often, a person’s dignity and identity are often tied to their...

This indoor image shows and older couple, likely grandparents, holding small children. The man has graying hair, wire-reimmed glasses, and wears a pink shirt. He holds an infant about about a year old wearing a blue and red plaid garment and a white gow in the hair. The woman reaches her hand out to the infamt, but we see just part of the arm of an older child who sites on her hap. The child wears a light blue top with dark blue around the collar. The woman has gray hair and glasses, and she wears a burgundy long-sleeved sweater. All have light skin.

Should Your Aging Parent Move in With You?

Decades ago, it was fairly common to have grandparents living with family, and it often worked well. It did for my family....

This indoor images shows a younger woman on the left with her arm around an older woman. the younger woman his medium length blone hair, glasses, and is wearing a green sweater. The older woman has gray hair combed back and is wearing a navy zip up top. Both are smiling.

The Classic Promise to Never Put a Parent in a Care Facility

Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and...

The image shows and older coupld against a white background. They are gazing at each other lovingly with hands, held up near their faces, touching as the man clasps the woman's hand. The man is bald with a gray mustache and is wearing a white undershirt topped by a dark blue V-neck. The woman is wearing a beige blouse or sweater.

Why So Many Long-Married Couples Die Close Together

While death rarely brings pleasant feelings, from time to time, we’ll see a story about death go viral on the Internet because...

An older woman walks her dog on a nice fall day. She's wearing a red jacket and jeans. Further back, we see two people on bikes enjoying a ride.

It’s November! Let’s Celebrate Alzheimer’s, Palliative and Hospice Care, and Family Caregivers Awareness

November is a month of awareness with causes we love to celebrate. So, let’s begin by letting you know what’s up in...

An older man sits on the left, looking at a younger woman who is smiling at him as if explaining something. The man has gray hair and is wearing a beige shirt. The woman has long brown hair tied in a low ponytail. She's wearing blue scrubs and has a stethoscope around her neck.

Losing Hospice Services When Someone No Longer Meets the Criteria

Dear Carol: My wife was receiving support at home from hospice due to late-stage dementia and physical decline, but now it’s determined...

Cover of the book "Bringing Art to Life" by Daniel C. Potts. A stylized image on a woman wearing a large-brimmed yellow hat with a large brim looking downward. She also wears a matching yellow blazer with an organ shirt peaking through.

Dementia Can Open the Door to Artistic Expression

The treatment of people with dementia has changed dramatically since I first became personally involved with the disease. It’s now widely recognized...

Woman in blue tee shirt standing by a table showing a book that looks like a picture album to a seated older man in a read flannel

Multigenerational Households: The Ins and Outs of In-law Suites

When I was a teenager, my parents had a new home specifically built with separate quarters so my grandmother could live with...