Aging parents

Background is parklike with trees and a parking lot. Foreground is a woman with long blonde hair done in a braid that's wrapped around her head. She's holding her face in her hands as though weeping. Her fingernails are polished in a pearl tone and she wears a watch with a wide black strap. She's standing up and she's wearing a black short-sleeved shirt.

Recognizing Caregiver Burnout While It’s Happening

Caregiver burnout isn’t something that happens all at once. We all have good days and bad days, which is normal. Eventually, though, we may...

Image shows an upset woman, shouting at someone. She's wearing a light blue turtleneck sweater, and holding her hands in the air showing her exasperation. She has curly dark hair and brown skin.

Apologizing After Caregiver Stress Causes a Blowup

Caregiving is a stressful job even during the best of times. The sheer amount of responsibility is enough to make the most stoic person...

Balck and white image of a younger person with curly dark hair and wearing a white shirt bending over to kiss an older man on the cheek. The older man is smiling with please. He wears a white shirt and glasses, and is mostly bald.

8 Nearly Universal Truths of Dementia Caregiving

As we travel our own unique journeys, most of us find that certain phrases or concepts take on the status of truth in our...

Image shows an older couple from the back. They are sitting on a park bench looking out over a lake. Both wear blue sweaters and the feeling is one of contentment.

Tired, Cranky Caregiver Regrets There’s No Time to Just Be a Daughter

Dear Carol: My parents are in their 90s and live in their condo near me. Both have the expected memory problems, but neither has...

Older woman with gray hair wears a white, vee necked shirt. She's tugging on a lock of hair by her chin and smiling like she's telling someone what she wants.

Helping vs. Enabling: How to Strike a Balance While Caregiving

Most family caregivers want what is best for their loved ones, and they’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. Unfortunately, discerning what’s...

The background is a home with a large window. A caregiver knees on the floor. She is wearing a blue short sleeved shirt and white pants. She holds her hands out enocouragingly to an older soman who is using a walker and moving toward her. The older woman has gray hair and is wearing a long beige sweater.

Family Caregivers Still Undervalued By Many

We live in a society that tends to value what we do over who we are. If what we do isn’t highly paid or...

Two Hispanic women, brightly dressed, sitting on a wall. They are laughing and enjoying each others company. One wears a red top, the other a yellow top with red print slacks. Outdoor background is of a hill with green below.

Humor Shared Among Caregivers Is Therapeutic

I once visited a caregiver friend and her mother, who had moderate Alzheimer’s disease. At one point during the visit, the mother abruptly stood...

Middle-aged woman sits with jean clad knee drawn up. She's wearing a dark green sweather. One arm is around knew and the other bent up with hand over mouth. Her expression is one of saddness or anxiety.

In Caregiving, Anxiety Can Be Contagious

We all live with a certain amount of worry, much of which is caused by fear of the unknown. Since health issues can change...

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The Emotional Toll of Moving Your Elderly Parent to Senior Living

Put yourself in your parent’s shoes. They’ve likely lived in the same home for many years, but they’re getting older and their needs are...

A frail looking older adults in a wheelchair, photographed from the side. Their gray hair is short, and more visible than the face which is turned in the other direction. They are wearing a dark brown sweater.

Worried Caregiver Feels Responsible for Frail Dad’s Nutrition

Dear Carol: I’m worried about my dad. He’s been diagnosed with vascular dementia, but he also has heart disease and recently had cancer treatment....