Aging parents

The closeup image only shows the torsos of the people. ON the left is a medical person with a purpose sthoscope around their neck. The person is holding their arm bent and hand out to support a women show is weraing a red and white checked, long-sleeved blouose. She has her hand clasped over the supporting person's wrist.

Confusion About Palliative Services Vs. Hospice Care Is Understandable

Dear Carol: After caring for my mom for years, I moved her to memory care due to her dementia. At 93, she is fading....

How Do I Get Dad Out of His Cluttered, Unsafe Home?

People want to stay in their own homes. You hear it and read about it all the time. And there’s some merit to that....

The image shows a dark background with a shower head in the foreground. Water is on making a rainbow effect.

What to Do When a Senior Refuses to Bathe and Change Their Clothes

When it comes to caring for the elderly, hygiene issues are surprisingly common. Determining why their bathing habits have changed is the best way...

The image background is a blurred, dark interior, likely a bar. In the foreground we see a large glass of beer with foam on top.

The Hazards of Alcoholism in the Elderly

Millions of people consume alcohol, but each person has their own unique relationship with this substance. While many are able to drink in moderation...

Image is black and white. It shows a close up view of an older woman with curly white hair looking down. She's wiping tears from her eyes with a handkerchief by lowering her glasses. She wears a dark sweater. The impression is one of deep grief.

Minimizing Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia

Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia and death...

The image shows a gray-haired woman, presumably the grandmother, interacting with a teenager. The teenager has long brown hair and is looking at the grandmother in a fun way as she holds a cookie between her teeth.

Living with Elderly Parents: Do You Regret the Decision?

If you are like most family caregivers, you probably made a promise to your parent(s) years ago that you would never place them in...

Concerned Caregiver Worried about Mom’s Repeated Falls

Dear Carol: My 82-year-old mother has been in relatively good health but lately she’s experienced several falls. I only know this because I see...

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Siblings Who Care More About Their Inheritance Than Mom and Dad’s Care

“We don’t want strangers taking care of Mom!” “We promised Dad he would never have to go to a nursing home!” “If you really...

A family dinner table with a happy black family sharing a meal. There is a husband/father with a beard wearing a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a wife/mother with curly black hair wearing a gray top, and two children, a girl and a boy. The girl is in the foreground. They are all having a good time.

Balancing Elder Care with Other Relationships

Becoming a family caregiver is often something that either happens very suddenly or slowly sneaks up on a person. When a loved one has...

The image shows an gray-haired woman in a red sweater sitting with a man, presumably her husband. The man has his arm around the woman. He wears a fedora with a red feather, dark-rimmed glasses, and a blue sweater.

Alzheimer’s: Theft, Paranoia or Forgetfulness?

“She took my sweater!” Victoria says. “I saw her. She stole it! That woman took the sweater my mother made for me!” But did...