Aging

A very close view of the back of a head with short, dark brown hair. We see enough of the face to view light skin and the back of an ear. The person wears a light blue shirt or sweater. Across from this person, we see someone in a white medical coat with only the chest visible. Light skinned hands hold bloodpressure equipment as the person appears to squeese the bulb while holdig down the cuff on the first person's arm.

Determining Type of Dementia Becomes Less Important in Advanced Years

Dear Carol: My mother is 96. She was quite sharp into her 90s, but since then, her condition has gradually deteriorated to where she...

A smiling couple is shown in a blurred indoor setting. The couple in the foreground appears happy. Both are smiling as the taller man with dark skin and a receding hairline stands with arms folded in front. He smiles down at his partner. She has dark hair steaming back on her head that's shoulder length. She also smiles as she looks down at an object in her hands. It looks as if she's peeling a vergetable. The woman also has dark skin and is weraing a light purple, v-neced sweater.

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....

This outdoor image shows an open field of grass backed by trees. A middle-aged woman is in the foreground. She's got shoulder length blonde hair that's flipping up on the ends. She has light skin and is wearing a black scooped neck top and a soft smile.

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...

The scene for this image is a kitchen with large windows looking out onto trees. Two women sit next to each other at a table visiting and opening small gifts. One woman has light skin and long brown hair and she wears glasses. The other woma, on the right, has dark skin and dark hair pulled back. She wears a gray pullover sweater that lower down and over the arms has gray and white stripes.

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...

This very closeup image shows no background. An woman with long brown hair falling over halve of her face is shown with a half cry/half scream expression - mouth wide and teeth showing. She is looking toward the camera but slightly downward.

Recognizing and Mitigating Caregiver Burnout

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...

This indoor image has a white textured wall behind a woman who appears exasperated. She has dark skin and curly dark hair frizzing out on the sides with a side part. Her hands are raised to her sides - palm open and she wears a ribbed blue funnal-necked swearter with long sleeves. Her mouth is open as if ready to screem.

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...

We view an older couple from the back as they look over a black railing onto a foaming body of water. They are standing on a red brik sidewalk or road. The man has a walking stipe in his hand with a strap over his shoulder. He's balking and wears a light colored sport coat and dark slacks. The woman has short gray hair and is wearing a black sweater and black pants. She holds onto the man's arm.

How to Approach Parents Who Appear to Need Help but Resist Your Efforts

Dear Carol: My parents are in their mid-eighties and live in the same home where they raised the family. They were doing well until...

This indoor image shows an older man being helped as he walks. We see white framed windows in the background with a hazy outdoor view of another white building. The man, who is on teh left, has curly white hair, dark skin and is wearing a blue pullover sweater. His arm is held by a women with medium length, curly dark hair and dark skin. She is wearing a yellow cardigan open in fron to show a white wrap top, plus jeans.

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...