More Severe than Burnout, Compassion Fatigue is a Danger for Long-term Caregivers
Dear Carol: My parents and in-laws all lived to be very old, with years of physical and cognitive decline. I willingly cared...
Guilt
Minimizing Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia
Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia...
Is Lying to Someone with Dementia Unethical or Compassionate?
Dear Carol: Like many of your readers, my husband has dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, and I’m caring for him at home....
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...
Home is Where Our Heart Is, Especially for Older Adults
For many of us, the word “home” signifies refuge, safety, caring, and warmth –a sanctuary where we belong. It’s a place that...
Continuing Truths of Dementia Caregiving
As we travel our own unique journeys, most of us find that certain phrases or concepts take on the status of truth...
When You’ve Promised a Parent You’d Never Put Them in a Care Facility
Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and...
Relief Mixed with Grief Normal After a Suffering Loved One’s Death
Dear Carol: My mom died after five years of living with dementia symptoms along with decades of pain from rheumatoid arthritis. Her...
Caregiving During the Holidays: Have a Realistic, Positive Approach
There’s an image of holiday perfection that our culture encourages. Starting with Thanksgiving, we are inundated with images of families happily enjoying...
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...
