Minding Our Elders

‘Virtual Dementia Tour’ Increases Caregivers’ Empathy

Goggled, Hobbled, Isolated by Headphones, I Am Guided Forward We finally reached the top step. The woman holding my elbow didn’t have much to...

Sensitivity Training for Caregivers of People with Dementia

Please wipe this mess off of my face. Please! Don’t go so fast, I can’t swallow! I’m not ready for a drink yet! Is...

This image has a cloudy, rainy background. We see a woman with bobbed gray hair from the back. Her gray-clad shoulders are bent forward in grief..

Grief: The Way to Continue On Is to Work Through It

Dr. Gail Gross, Ph.D., doctor of education, is a nationally recognized family, child development, and human behavior expert, author, and educator. She has contributed...

This closeup image shows a young woman with light blonde hair. fair skin, and blue eyes. Her hair is cut into a short bob with long front hair over one eye. She's looking to the side so what we see of her face if sad with a slightly reddened nose.

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 that he...

An older couple sit close on a park bench with trees in the background. The man wears a pink sport coat, khakis, and sneakers. He's bald, wears glasses, and has his arm around the woman who looks up into his face with a smile. The woman has graying brown hair and wars a light green cardigan and cream pants with sneakers.

Caregiver or Care Partner? What Evolving Terminology Means

Decades ago, when I began my caregiving life, I just did what I did. I’m not sure I was referred to as anything other...

The background is outdoors but fall-like and blurred. In the foreground, we see an older man wearing a dark purple tam. He has a salt-and-pepper, neatly trimmed, beard and a darker mustache. His coat is dark gray, and his expression is pleasant with a small smile.

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

Most of us who have cared for someone living with dementia have tried our best to determine how best to provide that care. We...

This indoor image has a window in the background where we see a blurred outdoor scene. In the foreground is a smiling older woman with short blonde hair. She has her head tilted with her chin down as she leans slightly forward in her chair gripping a cane. One hand is on top of the cane handle and the other grasps the stick of the cane.

Mom Won’t Use a Cane Because She Thinks It Makes Her Look Old

Dear Carol: My mom has always been a fashion slave. She’s looked young for her age from a distance due to rigorous weight control,...

A clear blue sky with puffy clouds is on the horizon as an older woman is seen from the back. She's got frizzy gray hair and is sitting in a wheelchair. She looks shadowed by the bright sun.

How to Talk to the Doctor About Your Elderly Parent or Spouse

A frequent problem expressed among family caregivers is that their aging loved ones aren’t honest with their doctors. At home, they may gripe about...

This indoor images shows an older woman with short gray hair, covering her ears as if she is blocking out bad news. Her expression is sad and bewildered.

When One Parent Dies the Other Often Needs Extra Help

Long-term marriages generally evolve into a support system so efficient that even adult children hardly notice changes in their parents. If Dad’s hearing is...