Caregiver stress

The background is a blurred outdoor view. In the foreground, we see a women's had and shoulders from the back with only a slight view of her ear and cheek. She has salt and pepper chin-length bobbed hair and is wearing a dark gray sweater. Her head is bowed forward in grief.

When a Caregiver Secretly Wishes It Would All End

Most caregivers are decent folks who care deeply about their elderly parents, spouses, and other loved ones who require their assistance. As so many...

The image shows an unfolded napkin holding four Christmas cutout ginger cookies with decorative frosting. The napkin sits on a light wood table and we can see the edges of holiday decorations.

Celebrating Special Occasions When a Loved One Has Dementia

Every family has their own favorite special occasions that they enjoy celebrating. Some may not be big into Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or Independence Day,...

Supporting the Person with Dementia as They Are while Grieving What’s Lost

Dear Carol: My dad was my rock and was always there for his little daughter when I needed support, even more so after Mom...

The indoor setting shows two women sitting on a beige couch with white alls in the background. One the left is an older woman with her head turned. She has short gray hair and is wearing a cream colored blouse. By her side is a young woman with long brown hair in a low ponytail. She is wearing medium blue scrubs and has stethoscope hanging around her neck.

Calling On Hospice Care Doesn’t Mean You Gave Up

A billboard in my city carries a simple message: “Most families say, ‘Why did we wait so long to call hospice?’ “ When I...

The image shows a dark wood background like a rought table. Stting against this background is a white oblong rock with rounded corners and little smiling faces drawn on in black. Int the center, someone printed in block letters: GRATITUDE.

Tweak Traditions to Make this Holiday Season Realistic and Rewarding

Dear Carol: I’ve spent decades caring for all the older adults connected to our families. Now, only my father-in-law and my mom remain. They...

The image shows late fall leaves hanging from a branch in the foreground with a blurred background.

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays as a Sandwich Generation Caregiver

If one can believe the old Westerns, frontier women were the ultimate multi-taskers. They could rock a cradle with their foot to quiet a...

The background is an indoor wall in muted cream. Foreground is a frustrated woman with an Afro that is parted on the side. She has brown skin and is wearing a light tourquoise ribbed turtleneck sweater with long sleeves. Her elbows are bent and hands are held up in the air in frustration or anger.

Handling Sibling Criticism During the Holidays

Family caregivers often put their lives on hold to care for their loved ones. In cases where adult children are caring for their parents,...

Older man with gray hair and glasses sits on a bench outside. He's wearing a brown coat and holding a folded umbrella with its red handle close to his chest. His expression is stubborn with a set frown.

When Someone with Dementia Says, ‘I Just Want to Go Home’

“I want to go home.” Nearly every dementia caregiver has heard this heartbreaking plea from their loved one. They may already be at home...

The cover of "Melted Away: A meooir of Climate Change and Caregiving in Peru by Barbara Drake-Vera. The image shows a colorful left margin using a South American theme. The main cover shows lots of blue sky and low clounds over snow capped montain peaks with foliage and then dry grass near the front.

Caregiving and Climate Change Deftly Interwoven in “Melted Away”

While there are hundreds of books on general caregiving and specifically, dementia care, I usually leave the reviews to the phenomenal group Alzauthors. My...