Aging parents

A visually upset woman is wearing a beige hoodie. Her long brown hair comes forward out of the pulled-up hood and she has her arm up coving her eyes. We see the sweatshirt sleeve and her hand as she holds her arm backward over her face.

When You’ve Promised a Parent You’d Never Put Them in a Care Facility

Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and concern, but...

This indoor images shows a younger woman on the left. She has long, light brown hair and iw wearing a pink sweater. She's pointing to something on a smartphone that's held by an older woman with white hair. The older woman wears alight blue top with white trim. Both woman have slight smiles and are communicating about what they see with pleasure.

An Older Adult Skips Bathing? Maybe there’s a Good Reason

A common complaint about older people, especially those who have health challenges, is that they “smell” or have other signs that they don’t shower...

This indoor image shows a blurred background with an older mother-daughter in the foreground. The daughter is one the left. She has a blonde bob, wire rimmed glasses, and wears a green sweater. The mother is on the right. She has steel gray hair drawn back and is wearing a dark, collared top. The younger woman has her arm around the older woman's shoulders and they both wear soft smiiles.

People Living with Dementia May Fight Bathing: Compassion, Education Can Help

Many older adults may not bathe as often as younger people think they should, but what about people living with dementia? Here lies a...

This indoor image shows two men. On the left is the father, who is balk and wearing a cream shirt open over a black tee shirt. On the right is his son who has sort brown hair and is wearing a beige scarf loosely around his neck over a dark coat. Both wear a semi-serious expression.

Dementia Caregiver’s Experience Brought Premium Incontinence Protection To the US

As is the case with most people living with advanced dementia Harris Sterling’s father developed incontinence. Along with other difficult issues that come with...

The background is black. In the foreground we see an older woman's face close up. She has salt and pepper hair that's been curled in front with bangs, and she wears dark rimmed glasses. Her expression is one with a soft smile, maybe slightly confused.

What People living with Dementia Would Like Their Caregivers to Understand

People living with dementia are the only ones who really understand what it’s like to live with their form of the disease, whether it’s...

The background of this image is rough gray wood siding or paneling. Int he foreground, we see an older man with a receding hairline, the remaining hair iron gray. He wears at brown and white plaid western style shirt. His expression is frowning and unhappy.

7 Pitfalls to Avoid When Visiting Someone with Dementia

Whether you’re caring for someone with dementia or visiting them from time to time you’ll want to do your best to make them feel...

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.

Carol Bradley Bursack Named in Caresmartz360 Dementia Care Experts list

I’m honored to be included on this list of 17 Dementia Care Experts created by CareSmartz360. Everyone mentioned is worth following as caregivers look...

This image has a black background. In the foreground we see a close up of an oval-shaped female face that seems to be floating due to the dark clothing below. She has her hand raised and slightly cupped along the side of her face. Her expression is sober, her eyes tilted downward.

Relief Mixed with Grief Normal After a Suffering Loved One’s Death

Dear Carol: My mom died after five years of living with dementia symptoms along with decades of pain from rheumatoid arthritis. Her death has...

The background is a plain white wall. In the foreground, we see a closeup of the lower portin of an older man's face. We see his ears and white mustache. He's weraring a gray/beighe sweater and his is hands resting on top of a cane hanles held in front of him as he sites. One hand is on top of the straight cane handle and his other hand is clasped on top of it.

A Speech Pathologist Explains Common Swallowing Issues Part 1: Causes and Coping

A few months ago, a gerontologist told us her story about how she coped as a family caregiver when her father developed swallowing problems...

The background is a grayish wall. In the foreground is an older man with large headphones over his balk head. He's wearing a black suit, white chirt and red tie, and glasses on his face. His eyes are squeezed shut in concentration and he waves his arms as if directing an orchestra.

People with Dementia Find Renewed Confidence While Playing In Orchestra

With this goal in mind, Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) in Dorset (UK) has found a unique method to help boost confidence and mood...