Brain Health

A comfortable sitting room with a blue print wing chair in one corner. A round lamp table with a white reading lamp is near the chair. Visible is the end of a white couch with pillows and a glass coffee table.

Choosing Senior Housing and Care Based on Your Parent’s Needs

As our population ages and more of our national focus is on senior care, we can find ourselves in a muddle over confusing choices....

The rear gate of a truck lowered to the ground and load with moving boxes sealed with red tape. In the background you see a white two story building with many windows that look like appartments.

Specialized Moving Services Ease Transitions to Senior Living Communities

When an aging parent transitions from their home to assisted living, independent living, a nursing home, or a relative’s home, it can be a...

Shadow image of an older man in a bowler hat crossing a city street while using a cane

A Caregiver’s Struggle: Balancing an Elder’s Sense of Purpose with Their Safety

A recent question brought back memories from my early days of caregiving. The member wrote, “My 81-year-old father still thinks he can do handyman...

Hospital room with a bed covered by a green light-weight blanket. A gray chair sits in one corner

Should Your Parent Risk an Anesthesia Disaster or Forego Surgery?

Note: This is an older article so the types of anesthesia have (in some cases) changed. That said, it’s clear that undergoing a procedure...

Sad woman with long brown hair sitting on the edge of a bed holding her head

Caregiver Guilt: How to Stop Feeling Guilty About Elderly Parents

Get used to it – the guilt, I mean. The incessant phone call thing was just one of the many games I had to...

Image of cluttered room with window and draperies. Room is jammed with clothing and other items making it unsafe

How Do I Get Dad Out of His Cluttered, Unsafe Home?

People want to stay in their own homes. You hear it and read about it all the time. And there’s some merit to that....

Shower with white subway tile and chrome and black fixtures. Two bottles of shampoo or conditioner are on built in shelf

What to Do When Older Adults Refuse to Bathe and Change Their Clothes

When it comes to caring for the elderly, hygiene issues are surprisingly common. Determining why their bathing habits have changed is the best way...

Some Tips If You Suspect Abuse in Your Parent’s Retirement Home or Facility

I think most of us approach the idea of sharing the care of an elder with a lot of trepidation. We have cared for...

Image of a large mug of golden beer with foam on top against a blurred background

Alcoholism in the Elderly: How Can You Help?

Millions of people consume alcohol, but each person has their own unique relationship with this substance. While many can drink in moderation without it...

A grandma with short, stylish blonde hair, wearing a purple shirt holds an electronic tablet in front of her. She's showing two children something on the screen. One child is on each side and they sit on a couch.

Cognitive Capacity Defined by Ability, not Age

Dear Carol: You’ve addressed this before, but I need help. I’m 73 and feel like I’m continually under scrutiny as my adult children watch...