Caregiving

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How to Talk About a Friend’s Death When Someone Has Dementia

A friend recently faced the task of letting her mother, who has mid-level dementia, know that the mother’s elderly brother had died. This death...

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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 play as...

The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

The only certainty when diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is that a senior’s condition will progressively worsen. The National Alzheimer’s Association has developed a very...

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...

Respecting the Right to Age With Dignity

The impact of aging frequently makes the news. Sadly, the coverage is consistently negative, and all facets of this topic are portrayed as “problems”...

How to Respond When Someone with Dementia Hallucinates

Dear Carol: My dad has Lewy body dementia (LBD) and likely Alzheimer’s, as well. The current crisis is that he thinks bugs are crawling...

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A Self-Help Approach to Coping with Caregiver Stress

Caregiving can bring forth an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions. These feelings are often bittersweet, but without the proper preparations and assistance, things can quickly...

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Losing the Ability to Swallow: How to Help Someone With Dysphagia

Coping with an ill loved one’s difficulty swallowing can be frustrating and frightening for everyone involved. Caring for someone we love means nurturing and...

This indoor image shows a gray wall in the background. An older woman sits on a lavender and green print couch She has short, dyed blonde hair and wears a purple short-sleeved dress and glasses. She holds a smart phone to her ear and she listens to someone talking to her. Her expression is pleasant with a slight smile.

Protecting Older Adults from Scams While Honoring Their Autonomy

Dear Carol: I understand that scammers have always targeted older adults, but technology is making this a nightmare. My 84-year-old mother is generous and...