Alzheimer’s: Theft, Paranoia or Forgetfulness?
The truth, as they see it, is still the truth in their eyes. Delusions, hallucinations, agitation, aggression and depression are all part of the...
Brain Health
Should You Convince Your Aging Parents to Move Closer to You?
As a columnist for a newspaper on the northern plains, I often have readers write me that they are begging their parents to “come...
How to Keep Older Adults Active and Engaged
As family caregivers, we strive to meet all our loved ones’ needs. We give medication reminders, cook meals, manage doctor’s appointments, and keep schedules....
Adult Day Services Can Fill a Gap for Seniors and Their Caregivers
Most seniors are keen on staying in their homes as they age, but family caregivers often struggle to meet their loved ones’ needs and...
Caring for Aging Parents Who Didn’t Care for You
Years ago, a journalist (we’ll call her Nancy) requested an interview with me to discuss common caregiving issues for an article she was writing....
Shadowing with Dementia: When They Panic If You Are Out of Sight
Dear Carol: After my husband retired, he wanted to be involved in whatever I was doing, no matter how mundane. To me, that signified...
Should You Join Someone with Dementia in Their Reality?
It was not unlike any other day, but on this particular afternoon Dad was adamant. He was waiting for his medical degree from the...
The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease: Ways To Measure May Change, but the Disease Remains the Same
When I wrote this article, seven stages were considered the standard way to evaluate people living with Alzheimer’s. Now, it’s more common to have...
Is It Normal to Grieve Before Someone Dies?
Nearly everyone involved in caring for an ill or aging loved one is experiencing some degree of grief. However, we don’t usually identify the...
Hospice Care: Help During End Stages of Life
Each time I walked into Dad’s room in the nursing home, he would be rigid in bed, propped up on one elbow and slamming...
