Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

An young woman stands close to an older man, leaning slighly against him. The man is bald and wears glasses and a gray shirt. The young woman has medium brown hair pulled back with strands in front and wears a green sweater. They are both smiling.

Mistakes to Avoid When Caregiving for Someone Living with Alzheimer’s

Most of us who have cared for someone living with dementia of any type, whether that is Alzheimer’s (AD), Lewy body dementia...

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.

The Advantages of Not Arguing With Someone Who Has Dementia

“Where’s my college ring?” This had become Dad’s mantra during some months of his early demented years. I knew he hadn’t gotten...

An outside setting shows grass and trees with a large building in the background. A younger woman in a pink sweater with dark blonde hair clipped back is showing an older soman something gon her cell phone. The older woman has gray hair and is wearing a white sweater with a blue shawl over one shoulder.

Should I Have to Take Care of My Elderly In-Laws?

Being a family caregiver doesn’t always stop at caring for our own aging parents. Our significant other’s mom and dad often look...

What People Living with Dementia Would Like Their Caregivers to Understand

People living with dementia are the only ones who really understand what it’s like to live with their form of the disease,...

The Difference between Palliative Care and Hospice Explained

Many people have heard of hospice care but they mistakenly think that it’s just a way to help cancer patients be more...

Happy Mother’s Day to all Who Care for Others!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are mothers, grandmothers, mother figures, and those celebrating their own mothers. We recognize the...

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Family Worries about Memory Care Staffing and Lack of Training

Dear Carol: My dad spent several years in a memory care facility before he died. Overall, the care wasn’t terrible, but we had...

An older man with white hair and a trim beard and mustache sits on a couch next to an older woman. They appear to be sharing a laugh. The woman has gray hair pinned up, and wears glasses and a blue sweater. The man is wearing a brown cardigan.

What Not to Say When Caring for Someone Living with Dementia

Providing care for someone who lives with any type of dementia, whether it’s Alzheimer’s, vascular, Lewy body, or any of the myriad...

A middle-aged man wearing a white golf shirt stands holding a club as he determines his next swing.

Bladder Cancer: Incontinence Can Be a Side Effect

Bladder cancer isn’t a common condition, but the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 83,730 new cases of bladder cancer...

The Emotional Impact of Losing a Loved One to Dementia

“Carol!” The hospice nurse’s voice was quiet but urgent. I instinctively knew what was happening. She had been shifting Dad’s position so...

Sensitivity Training Programs for Caregivers of People with Dementia: Part 2

Part one of Sensitivity Training for Caregivers tells about the first segment of my training experience at a local nursing home. Reading...