Brain Health

5 Tips for Keeping Your Brain Healthy While Caregiving

Many of us cope with the stress of caring for someone who has dementia. We agonize over the increasing losses that our loved one...

What Is Parentification and How Does It Relate to Role Reversal?

I was pleased to see one on my articles referenced in this excellent piece about the relationship between aging parents and their adult children...

When You Witness Cognitive Decline, Step in with Respect

Dear Carol: My mom and I have always had a good relationship, and I’ve admired her sharp brain and great humor. She was a...

Hospital Delirium: Cognitive Decline After Hospitalization

In the expected course of treatment, people are hospitalized because they are ill. Then, barring a terminal condition, they are released because they are...

How to Engage in Self-Care While Grieving

Many caregivers watch their loved ones endure a long, slow decline that will eventually end in death. As they age, we grieve every mental...

Journaling for Caregivers: Rediscover Yourself and Reclaim Your Life

At some point during your caregiving journey, you may find yourself in a rut. The awareness may come with a birthday, a change in...

Cognitive Decline After Illness Common, but Check Medications, Too

Dear Carol: Until about six months ago, my mom, 93, was as cognitively sharp as ever. Unfortunately, she was hospitalized for several days for...

What to Do When an Older Adult Repeats the Same Things Over and Over

One sign of the aging brain is repeating things more often, especially stories and questions. There are reasons for this that are not related...

New Year’s Roundup of Caregiver and Elder-Friendly Products, Services, and Technology

Dear Readers: The New Year has arrived, so it’s time for my semi-yearly roundup featuring elder-friendly products, services, and technology. I’m including both links...