Is Your Aging Parent on Too Many Meds?
By the time Janet Johnson’s father reached his mid-80s, he was on so many medications their names are now impossible to recall. There were pills...
Aging parents
Dealing With Embarrassment When Your Loved One Has Dementia
Dear Candid Caregiver (Carol): My dad enjoys going to the park and watching kids play. Since I try hard to give him the best life...
8 Summer Excursions for Elders and Their Caregivers
Summer is on the way! This is a time when it’s generally easier for elders to be out and about than when snow and ice...
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 than...
How to Handle Family Members Who Won’t Help With Caregiving
Dear Candid Caregiver (Carol): I’m the only adult child who lives in our parents’ community, therefore by default I am the family caregiver, and yes,...
Feisty Mom Refuses Daughter’s Care
Dear Candid Caregiver(Carol): My 79-year-old mom has been widowed for a little over a year. She’d always depended on Dad to help her because her...
Temperature Regulation and Hydration Often Inefficient with Age
Dear Carol: Even at 83, my mother lives comfortably on her own. She’s installed aging-in-place safety gadgets like grab bars, and as far as...
Cohabitation with Parent Working Except for Incontinence Battles
Dear Carol: My mom has lived with us for several years and it’s been going pretty well up to now. Her dementia is worsening,...
Aging in Place or Assisted Living: It’s About Choices
It’s not hard to understand why 60-year-olds would say that they want to remain in their home for life rather than move to assisted living...
Caregiver for Multiple Elders Tells It Like It Is
When I first started sharing my stories and looking for others who had similar tales to tell, people tended to be reticent about speaking...
