Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

When One Parent Dies, the Other Often Needs a Long-Term Care Plan

Long-term marriages generally evolve into a support system so efficient that even adult children hardly notice changes in their parents. If Dad’s...

A woman with short brown hair sits in a wheelchair with her head turned toward another woman with long brown hair who appears to be a caregiver. In the lower left corner is a circle that shows a turquoise SenecaSense pod.

Experiencing Incontinence? Restore Comfort and Confidence with SenecaSense Home

No more unnecessary brief checks. Get smart alerts when it’s the right time to replace the brief SenecaSense Home: Discreet Support That...

An indoor image of Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH. She stands against a gray background wearing a dark dress jacket open over a dark top with black beads and dainty earrings. She looks into the camera with a soft smile.

Free Caregiver Training with Support from a Geriatrician and More

Caregivers are often thrown into an unknown world of medication management and handling cognitive challenges. With little or no medical training, this...

We view a laptop sitting open on a desk with a blank journal open in front. A pen lays on top and a cup of coffee or tea sits to the side. In the background, we see through a window to blurry greenry.

Journaling Helps Some Caregivers Stay on Track Emotionally

At some point during your caregiving journey, you may find yourself in a rut. The awareness may come with a birthday, a...

This indoor image shows white sheer curtains in the background. In the foreground, we see an older woma with short gray hair and a gray sweater sitting in a wheelchair where we just view the handles. We see the face of a young woman with long, dark-blonde hair and light skin bending forward from the back to speak near the ear of the older woman. She appears to be pushing the wheelchair. Both women are smiling and look pleased.

Hiring a Private Caregiver Presents an Administrative Burden, but There’s Help

Dear Carol: We’ve used caregivers through an agency for my mom who has dementia, but locally they are all short-staffed and unreliable....

An older man and younger man are sitting next to each The older man is smiling as he looks toward the person with is arm around his shoulders.

How to Get Rid of the Urine Smell When Incontinence Accidents Happen

Dear Carol: I feel like my home is becoming contaminated territory! My Dad is a sweetheart, but he’s got dementia and has...

An older woman smiles as she looks at a younger woman who has a hand on her shoulder.

People Living with Dementia May Fight Bathing: Compassion, Education Can Help

Many older adults may not bathe as often as younger people think they should, but what about people living with dementia? Here...

An Older Adult Skips Bathing? Maybe there’s a Reason

A common complaint about older people, especially those who have health challenges, is that they “smell” or have other signs that they...

When Loved Ones Rally Before Death

Family members are often relieved and hopeful when a dying loved one suddenly becomes more aware of their surroundings or begins talking...

This very close image shows a woman who has her open hand over her eyes as she looks down as if leaning on something. She is wearing blue nailpolish and a beighe top

Reconciling Grief & Relief When the Loved One You Cared for Dies

When my mother died in a local nursing home, my “career” of visiting this exceptional facility nearly every day for almost 15...

A couple sits near each other on a couch, heads turned and smiling at each other. They both have dark skin, gray hair and are casually dressed.

Spouse Criticized for How He Cares for Wife with Dementia

Dear Carol: My wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago. While it hasn’t been easy keeping her home with me, it’s...

A healthy aging couple embraces in a garden center as they shop.

Examine Your Motives Before Pushing Healthy Parents to Make Changes

Dear Carol: Last Christmas, my siblings and I discussed the need for our parents to downsize. We recognize that they are still...

Cover of Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. The background is a sepia-toned room. In the foreground is a picture of the author's father, sitting in a contemplative pose with arms crossed. This image is also sepia-toned in browns of different shades. To the right is the book title.

Hospital Delirium: Cognitive Decline After Hospitalization

In the expected course of treatment, people are hospitalized because they are ill. Then, barring a terminal condition, they are released because...