Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

How to Be a True Friend to a Family Caregiver

Family caregivers often find that their social circles shrink over time. Casual friends are typically the first to drift away because a...

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Home is About Heart and Safety, Especially for Older Adults

For many of us, the word “home” signifies refuge, safety, caring and warmth –a sanctuary where we belong. It’s a place that...

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Classic 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...

Not Treating Hearing Loss Decreases Quality of Life, Increases Dementia Risk

Dear Carol: Why are older adults resistant to wearing hearing aids? My husband has gotten so hard of hearing that I must act...

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.

Comforting Phrases for Caregivers to Tap Into and 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...

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Life As a Caregiver: How to Make Tough Care Decisions

Many of us feel honored to provide care for our aging parents or ill spouses, but this honor can also present serious...

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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...

The Aftermath of Long-Term Caregiving: Is Stress the New Normal?

Often, long-term caregivers wonder if their lives will ever return to normal. The short answer is no; at least for most of...

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Tips to Help You “Unplug” from Caregiving

Jen has been caring for her parents for almost two years, and she is quickly approaching caregiver burnout. A close friend booked...

Not Everyone Is Cut Out to Be a Caregiver

Each of us is unique, with our own talents and flaws. Often, our so-called faults are merely ways in which we differ...

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Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15: Plans Change, Premiums Continue Steep Rise

Dear Readers: Medicare annual open enrollment begins Oct 15, 2026, for 2027 coverage. To guard against fraud, ignore the calls. Consider Medicare-related mail...