Aging

Image shows a curtained background with a happy older couple in the foreground. T he man stands with his arm around the woman's shoulders. He has gray hair and a white beard and wears a blue and white plaid shirt. The smiling woman has short white hair and is wearing a scoop-necked blouse or gown in a small blue print on a white background.

Admitting Loved One to Hospice Is Emotional, but Understanding Process Helps

Dear Carol: I’m crushed and uncertain how to move forward. My wife, 74, has spent years battling cancer with some success and a reasonable...

Black and white close up featuring an old man with wrinkles and a white beard looking through circle like when taking an eye test.

Confabulation: How the “Lies” That People Living with Dementia Tell Aren’t Really Lies

When a person develops any form of dementia, it is difficult for family and friends to witness their diminishing capacity and the unbearable frustration...

Tearful woman with head turned to her right, hand over mouth and nose. She's wearing an army green sweater and hugging her jean's clad knee.

When Someone You Love with Alzheimer’s Doesn’t Recognize You

Watching a loved one move through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be one of life’s toughest and most heartbreaking challenges. If we...

Woman with long, graying hair in braids is wearing a gray sweater. Her hands are held palms open and up, out in front as if trying to explain something.

4 Challenging Caregiver Situations Many Caregivers Face

Caregiving throws many challenges our way, including establishing care routines for our elders that are not only challenging but may be somewhat embarrassing. By...

Image shows woman, face looking down with eyes squeezed shut due to frustration. Hands are on her head in her brown hair. She's wearing a black tweed sweater that shows on her forearms.

Common Thoughts That Embarrass Caregivers and Induce Guilt

Wouldn’t it be nice to be a family caregiver who never gets frustrated and is an eternal optimist? Maybe there are some like that...

Image shows indoor room with a widow and tree in the background. Foreground shows a younger woman with long blonde hair and wearing a beige sweater on a couch offering comfort to an older man sitting next to her. The man has gray hair and is holding his head in his upraised hands in grief or frustration. He's wearing a dark blue sweater over a lighter blue shirt.

Cognitive Decline Not Unusual after Hospitalization of Older Adults

Sometimes an older adult experiences a noticeable cognitive decline post-hospitalization. Families and caregivers are left wanting to know what happened and wondering if their...

Mid-2024 Roundup of Caregiver and Elder-Friendly Products, Services, and Technology

Dear Readers: It’s already mid-2024! That means it’s time for our bi-annual roundup of products, services, and technology. Remember these are not recommendations. I...

Background is dark with a feeling of being inside. Foreground shows an older man with an attitude. He's wearing a white golf shirt and smoking a cigar.

Setting Boundaries with Difficult Older Parents

When the family member we are trying to care for is critical, impossible to please or emotionally abusive, long-standing family dynamics are often to...