Older Adults Have Different Criteria When Deciding How to Approach Cancer
Dear Carol: My Dad was diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer. In the past, he’s been proactive about his health, but now he’s...
Minding Our Elders
How to Communicate with Someone Who Can No Longer Speak
Years ago, I stumbled upon a video that remains vivid in my mind. In it, an elderly couple who had spent a...
How Do I Get Dad Out of His Cluttered, Unsafe Home?
People want to stay in their own homes. You hear it and read about it all the time. And there’s some merit...
Caregivers, I’m here to tell you that you are incredible. You are enough.
Caring for a vulnerable person is daunting. We have to make decisions for them that are often a matter of quality of...
Why an Older Adult Might Refuse to Bathe or Change Their Clothes
When it comes to caring for the elderly, hygiene issues are surprisingly common. Determining why their bathing habits have changed is the...
The Hazards of Alcoholism in the Elderly
Millions of people consume alcohol, but each person has their own unique relationship with this substance. While many are able to drink...
Minimizing Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia
Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia...
When Your Spouse or Parent with Alzheimer’s No Longer Recognizes You
Dear Carol: After decades together, my wife no longer recognizes me. She’s been living with Alzheimer’s for nearly ten years, so this is...
Living with Elderly Parents: Do You Regret the Decision?
If you are like most family caregivers, you probably made a promise to your parent(s) years ago that you would never place...
Siblings Who Care More About Their Inheritance Than Mom and Dad’s Care
“We don’t want strangers taking care of Mom!” “We promised Dad he would never have to go to a nursing home!” “If...
