Minding Our Elders

Caring for Aging Parents Who Didn’t Care for You

Years ago, a journalist (we’ll call her Nancy) requested an interview with me to discuss common caregiving issues for an article she was writing....

This outdoor images shows blurred green bushes over some brick in the background. In the foreground, we see an older man with thick white hair and light skin wearing navy blue button up shirt. He is looking slight downward as he covers his mouth and one cheek with his left hand. We see a gold wedding band on his ring finger.

Caregiver Guilt: How to Stop Feeling Guilty About Elderly Parents

Get used to it—the guilt, I mean. The incessant phone call thing was just one of the many games I had to play as...

A Story from the Sandwich Generation: Caring for Kids and Parents

Watching out for elders has always come naturally to me. I grew up close to my grandparents, and during my teenage years, my paternal...

We see an older man in a chair with his head tiltled toward his hand. He seems to be sleeping. He has white hair and wears a dark blue short-sleeved shirt. There's a pillow propping him up on one side.

Sundowning: Managing Late-Day Agitation, Confusion, and Anxiety in Dementia

Dear Carol: My dad is in mid-stage Alzheimer’s and dealing with his late-day anxiety is driving me to the edge. For most of the...

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.

Should You Join Someone With Dementia in Their Reality?

It was not unlike any other day, but on this particular afternoon, Dad was adamant. He was waiting for his medical degree from the...

This indoor picture has a mottled gray background. IN the forground is a head and shourlders image of an older man with a receding hairline and gray hair. He's wearing a black sweater and his eyes are turned downward in a thoughtful expression.

How Dementia Affects Friendships (and What You Can About It)

Memory loss can be one of the first symptoms a person experiences with Alzheimer’s, and those living with Lewy body dementia may also become...

The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

The only certainty when diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is that a senior’s condition will progressively worsen. The National Alzheimer’s Association has developed a very...

Is It Normal to Grieve Before Someone Dies?

Nearly everyone involved in caring for an ill or aging loved one is experiencing some degree of grief. However, we don’t usually identify the...

Hospice Care: Help During End Stages of Life

…We knew Dad was wearing down. He didn’t have long to live, but did he have to be in such discomfort? I wanted him...

Respecting the Right to Age With Dignity

The impact of aging frequently makes the news. Sadly, the coverage is consistently negative, and all facets of this topic are portrayed as “problems”...