Aging

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 care through her...

This outdoor image shows a cloudy atmosphere. An older couple walks together on a sidewalk. The man is on the left in the photo. He has lots of gray hair,, is wearing a brown plaid sport coat, brown pants and uses a cane in his right hand. With his left hand, he holds an older woman by the hand. She,has iron gray hair and is wearing a cream knee-length coat. They are both looking down toward the ground.

Managing Finances, Insurance, and Appointments for Aging Parents Exhausting

Dear Carol: My parents are in their 80s and live nearby. I manage their finances and medications, take them to medical appointments, and until...

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 is...

An indoor background shows a gray wall with a dark wood table in the foreground. Laying on the table is a bouquet of yellow roses seen from the top of their blooms.

Celebrating Special Occasions When a Loved One Has Dementia

A Dementia Caregiver’s Experience Preserving Special Occasions Every family has their own favorite special occasions that they enjoy celebrating. Some may not be big...

This indoor image shows an older man on the left smiling as he looks at a younger man who sits with his arm around his shoulders. We only see the back of the younger mans head but he has short brown hair and wears a light mauve shirt open to reveal a white tee shirt. The older man has white hair and is wearing a light blue collared shirt with long sleeves under a gray sweater vest.

How to Get Rid of the Urine Smell When Incontinence Accidents Happen

Dear Carol: I feel like my home is becoming contaminated territory! My Dad is a sweetheart, but he’s got dementia and has developed incontinence....

This indoor image shows an older Arfrican American couple sitting on a couch with heads turned facing each other. The love they have shows in their faces. The man o the left has very short gray hair with a receding hairline. He wears wirerimmed glasses and a muted gray plaid shirt. The woman, on the right, has short gray hair and glasses and wears a muted ivory top.

Spouse Criticized for How He Cares for Wife with Dementia

Dear Carol: My wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago. While it hasn’t been easy keeping her home with me, it’s been her choice...

The background of this image includes palm trees and greenery in a tropical climate such as Hawaii. In the foreground, we see an older couple with brown skin and gray hair. The woman is wearing a white short sleeved top and the man is wearing a light gray long sleeved shirt. He has his arm around the woman's neck. Their hands are touching and they are both smiling.

Physical Changes Make Incontinence a Common Concern as People Age

Dear Carol: I’m writing because I want to help my husband, who had surgery for prostate cancer, understand that he’s not alone with his...

This indoor image shows a white paneled background. In front, two women sit on a counch. The older woman has gray hair and is searing a light blue, collared shirt. Next to her sits a younger woman with blonde hair who is wearing a blue, short-sleeved top. The younger woman has her arm around the older woman as they look at each other. Both are smiling.

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,...

This images shows an older man sitting in a beige recliner type chair with a lamp on a table slightly behind. He has white hair and is wearing dark-rimmed glasses, a navy blue striped short-sleeved shirt and white pants. A brown spaniel sits on his lap as he holds the dogs head up toward the camera. the man has his head down as if kissing the top of the dog's head.

The Stigma of Incontinence Can Keep Older Adults Secluded Adding to Potential for Decline

Dear Carol: I’m worried about my husband. We’re both in our 70s and in relatively good health but he’s had surgery for prostate cancer...

A visually upset woman is wearing a beige hoodie. Her long brown hair comes forward out of the pulled-up hood and she has her arm up coving her eyes. We see the sweatshirt sleeve and her hand as she holds her arm backward over her face.

When You’ve Promised a Parent You’d Never Put Them in a Care Facility

Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and concern, but...