Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

This image shows the interior of a classic hospital room with bed covered in a sheet with a light green blanket. We see a black visitor's chair plus a board for instructions off to the side.

How to Get Over Feelings That Prevent You From Visiting Someone in a Care Home

People cite numerous reasons for why they hate visiting nursing homes. Some can’t stand funky smells, others find the sight of disengaged,...

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...

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.

Affirming Phrases for Caregivers to Live By

Life isn’t easy for most people, and it’s not perfect for anybody. Sometimes, as we trudge through the days providing help for...

The image shows a cream knit background - maybe a swerater. On it are some votive candles, one small goard, and a wooden plaque that reads, "My brain has too many tabs open.

Strategies for Getting (and Staying) Organized While Caregiving

Caring for a vulnerable elder can be rewarding as well as frustrating. It can increase our self-esteem to know that we are...

This indoor image shows an older man in the forground. He's sitting in a chair but looking up at a younger woman who is smiling at him. He wears a pastel plaid summer sport shirt and she wears a white professional jacket.

Family and Professional Caregivers Are More Alike Than Different

Most of us who are family caregivers know that, while we often experience a sense of fulfillment when we provide care for...

An older woman with white hair cut in a stylish bob and wearing a white pullover shirt with a v neck looks out at the camera. She's tugging a bit on one side of her hair.

Reader Worried about Her Cognition After Repeated Infections

Dear Carol: I’m a 66-year-old, well-educated woman who has had multiple health challenges and many surgeries. Since I ushered my mother through...

Happy 250th Independence Day from Minding Our Elders!

This is a special Independence Day for our country. Many of you will be planning picnics or grilling, and – special day...

We see a blurry window in the background. In the foreground, we see a woman with long brown hair covering her face with her hands as if in grief. She wears a modern, black-faced watch and a light rust-colored sweater or shawl.

Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice

A billboard in my city carries a simple message: “Most families say, ‘Why did we wait so long to call hospice?’ “...

Geriatric Care Managers Can Help Busy Caregivers

Geriatric care management is a rapidly growing field in the elder care industry. As most caregivers know, researching and coordinating all the...

This image shows an older couple, heads turned toward each other, gazing into each others eyes. The man on the left is bald with a mustache. He wears a medium blue V-necked top over a white tee shirt. The woman on the right has short, feathered gray hair, redish lipstick, and wears a tan long sleeved top. The are holding up their arms as if resing elbows on a table and their hands are touching.

Choosing Senior Housing and Care Based on Your Parents’ Needs

As our population ages and more of our national focus is on senior care, we can find ourselves in a muddle over...

The rear gate of a truck lowered to the ground and load with moving boxes sealed with red tape. In the background you see a white two story building with many windows that look like appartments.

Specialized Moving Services Ease Transitions to Senior Living Communities

When an elderly parent transitions from their home to assisted living, independent living, a nursing home or a relative’s home, it can...

When It’s Time for That Senior Care Conversation: Tips

A Place for Mom continues to support caregivers as they have those difficult conversations about potential senior care options. I recently had...