Aging parents

The image shows an older man, maybe Hispanic, wearing a straw hat and blue shirt with a white collar. His expression is contemplative and rather sad as he looks off into the distance.

Father’s Denial of Dementia Diagnosis Frustrates Daughter

Dear Carol: My dad’s been experiencing memory lapses and making sketchy decisions. I finally got him into a neurologist who diagnosed him with dementia,...

The image shows an older woman in bed. S he's got gray hair and is wearing a blue nightgown. She smiles at a younger woman who is sitting on the edge of the bed reading to her from a book. The younger woman wears a scooped necked yellow shirt jeans.

Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren’t Alone

Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either of her...

The background shows a white wall with a hanging of purple flowers. Foreground shows an older, gray haired woman in a hospital gown hugging a younger woman. The younger woman has long dark hair and is wearing a beige sweater.

Why Would Mom Choose to Smell Rather Than Use Incontinence Products?

Dear Carol: My mom is only 79 but she has a lot of health problems including lung disease requiring oxygen. She receives good health...

Image shows light reflecting from trees in the background. In the foreground is an older woman with gray hair. Her head is turned toward a younger woman who has her arms around the woman from the side. They are both smiling.

Caregiver Burnout is Best Prevented Since Recovery Is Hard on Everyone

Dear Carol: My mom, age 79, has had steadily declining health for several years. Arthritis is a genetic problem in my family, so pain...

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The Aftermath of Long-Term Caregiving: Is Stress the New Normal?

Often long-term caregivers wonder if their lives will ever return to normal. The short answer is no; at least for most of us. There...

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10 Tips to Help You “Unplug” from Caregiving

Jen has been caring for her parents for almost two years and she is quickly approaching caregiver burnout. A close friend booked and prepaid...

Understanding the Difference Between Lying and Confabulation in Dementia

Dear Carol: My mom burned pans when she cooked, got overdue notices on bills, and has become incontinent. Since she wasn’t safe living alone,...

A middle-aged couple stands together enjoying each other's company. Both are African American. He has his arms folded across his chest, with his head bent down, a big smile on his face as he watches the woman holding an object in her hands. The woman is shorter and wearing a violet sweater. She, too, is smiling as if enjoying the object in her hand - maybe a gift.

The Best Ways to Support a Caregiving Spouse

When people get married, they quickly learn that they’ve made a commitment to more than one person. Essentially, you marry your spouse’s whole family....

Father and adult daughter site together on a couch, each with a computer open. It appears that the daughter is helping the father figure out a computer problem. The daughter hs long brown hair and is wearing a white print shirt. The Father is wearing jeans and a white, long-sleeved shirt. The background is a room interior with shelving.

How Caregiving Can Change Your Personality

There’s no getting around it: being a family caregiver is bound to impact how you think and who you are as a person. Taking...

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Respecting Diverse Approaches to Caregiving

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to caregiving. Every family caregiver must be free to make choices that work best for their unique situation. Even...