Minding Our Elders

A man or woman with a short mop of curly auburn hair, mostly covers their face with their hands. The viewer can see tears on the check and one eye that can be seen. They are wearing a black turtlenecked, long-sleeved sweater.

Is It Normal to Grieve long 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...

An older man sitts on the left, looking at a younger woman who is smiling at him as if explaining something. The man has gray hair and is wearing a beige shirt. The woman has long brown hair tied in a low ponytail. She's wearing blue scrubs and has a stethoscope around her neck.

Hospice Care: Help During End Stages of Life

One day while I was working at my newspaper job, the phone rang. It was the head nurse at Dad’s nursing home. “Carol, we...

Indoor image shows a white wall in eh background. An older man sits on the left. he's bald with gray wire-rimmed glasses, and wears an army green shirt. He's gazing at hi arm where is sleeve is roooled up and a woman is giving him a shot. The woman has short brown hair and is wearing a white medical coat.

Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15: Watch for Changes in Prescription Plans

Dear Readers: Get ready for the phone calls. I’m not referring to annoying political calls, but the Medicare Open Enrollment calls, mostly scams. Oh,...

Older couple sitting together on a park bench. They are laughing and the woman is touching the man's hand. The man wears a hat, glasses and a bright blue sweater. The woman has gray hair and is wearing a bright red sweater. They are obviously enjoying life.

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”...

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Music-Thanatology: Providing Harmony at the End of Life

The mission of hospice providers is to help people live their last months or weeks of life in the most comfortable, dignified and satisfying...

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Aphasia: Speech Problems Caused by Brain Injury

My uncle was an avid reader and loved playing word games. After a series of strokes, he had extreme difficulty communicating. The worst part...

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A Personal Approach to Coping with Caregiver Stress

Caregiving can bring forth an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions. These feelings are often bittersweet, but without the proper preparations and assistance, things can quickly...

Image shows an older woman with short gray hair and dark-rimmed glasses using an inhaler. She's wearing an orange hoodie.

Losing the Ability to Swallow: How to Help Someone With Dysphagia

Coping with an ill loved one’s difficulty swallowing can be frustrating and frightening for everyone involved. Caring for someone we love means nurturing and...