Aging parents

Are People with Advanced Dementia Aware of Their Surroundings?

Even among medical experts, you will find differing opinions on how much someone with advanced dementia of any type understands. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in...

New Year’s Resolutions for Caregivers

It’s human to want a fresh start. Even though I know that December 31 of one year is rarely that different from January 1...

Time Management Strategies for Caregivers

Note: If I were writing this today, I’d add that some people use apps to help plan. That said, some still find the apps...

Detaching With Love: Setting Boundaries With Difficult Elderly Parents

When the family member we are trying to care for is critical, impossible to please or emotionally abusive, long-standing family dynamics are often to...

A New Year Calls for a New Attitude Toward Caregiving

How long has it been since you’ve distanced yourself from caregiving long enough to decide what is good for you? When was the last...

New Year’s Resolution for Caregivers: Reframe Guilt as Regret

Dear Carol: Once upon a time, I closed out each year with satisfaction and looked forward with optimism to the next. Now, after taking...

Confabulation in Dementia Can Feel Like Hurtful Lies

When a person develops any form of dementia, it is difficult for family and friends to witness their diminishing capacity and the unbearable frustration...

When a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Doesn’t Recognize You

Watching a loved one move through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be one life’s toughest and most heart-breaking challenges. If we had...

The 4 Most Challenging Caregiver Situations

Caregiving throws many challenges our way, including establishing care routines for our elders that are not only challenging, but may be somewhat embarrassing. By...