Caregiving

the indoor image is of a celebratory combination of gold egg shaped bulbs and white ones on ticks in a vase. There are additional gold and white twisted favors stuck in the base, too.

Happy 2025 to You All from Minding Our Elders!

On New Year’s Day I often think of how, as a small child, I’d revel in my new pointy crayons and fresh paper that...

An indoor image of a very old woman with dark, gray-steaked hair pulled back. She is exceptionally wrinkled. She looks to her side with her eyes looking up at someone. Dark shadows underscore her eyes. She wears a black and white checked apron type top over a green blouse.

Are People with Advanced Dementia Aware of Their Surroundings?

Even among medical experts, you will find differing opinions on how much someone with advanced dementia of any type understands. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in...

The image shows a closeup of a man with brown hair wearing a beige tee shirt. Heis face wears a bemused expression with raised eyebrows, blue eyes wide open, and mouth showing puzzlement.

New Caregivers: Tips on Caring for Elderly Parents

I have interacted with countless professional and informal caregivers over the years, and I’ve noticed two prominent patterns that characterized my own experiences and...

This festive indoor image shows a family table with windows in the background and holiday lighting. Four arms are show toasting with stemmed glasses containing red wine. On the left, an arm shows a dark red sweater sleeve and ext to that person, we see an arm clad in black. Two bear arms show on the right as if short sleeves are worn.

Communicating with Intentional Goodwill Key to New Year’s Caregiving Conversations

Dear Carol: Our parents are in their mid-80s and are comparatively healthy. While I live near them, I work and have kids, so my...

This outdoor image shows a lake in the background with foliage on the other side. The foreground shows an older man, maybe Middle Eastern decent, with white hair and a white mustache. He wears sunglasses and an off-white long-sleeved shirt. His expression is one of displeasure or stubbornness.

Convincing An Older Adult to Wear Incontinence Protection Takes Sensitivity and Tact

It’s often difficult for older adults to accept and deal with incontinence issues. Many try to ignore this new development and carry on with...

The image is a close up sot of a decorated Christmas tree. There is some blurring in the background, but the foreground shows a gold bell, and read and gold Christmas bulbs.

It’s Christmas Day: Are You Enjoying It?

It’s December 25th and Many people are celebrating Christmas Day. Caregivers might find the word celebrating a little over the top but try not...

This indoor image shows an older woman with short, curly, redish brown hair and dark rimmed glassed. hes got her fingers pressed against the sides of her forehead and is looking down, forehead creased, and sad. her clothing is dark but she's wearing a turqouoise necklace and a small bracelet on each bare arm.

Making It Through Holidays with Grief and Loss in Our Hearts

Dear Carol: I’m a new widow dreading all the Christmas hoopla and yearly optimism of a New Year. Planning Christmas presents for my grandkids...

We see a blurred outdoor background with trees. In the forground, a woman with long blonde hair learns her head to one side on her upheld hand. She's looking away from the camera with a sad expression. Her eyes appear blue and she's wearing red lipstick, with the blue of her shirt barely visible in the image.

How to Cope With Alzheimer’s Caregiver Burnout

You watch your once mentally sharp loved one decline before your eyes. Their uncontrollable behaviors, mood swings, outbursts, confusion, and memory loss are heartbreaking....

a middle aged African American couple is show happily working in the kitchen. The background shows a home interior. The woman has long, straight black hair and is wearing a lavender sweater. She appears to be peeling a vegetable. The Man is on her left. He has dark hair with a receding hairline. He is wearing a beige sweater and has his arms crossed. Both people are smiling happily.

Dating and Caregiving: An Impossible Mix?

Back when you were in high school, you likely found that bringing your new love home to meet your parents was a nerve-wracking experience....

This black and white images shows blurred foliage in the background. In the foreground, a very old woman looks at the camera. She has curly gray hair and round glasses and wears a dark sweater over a striped shirt. Her exopression is one of stubbornness.

Detaching With Love: Setting Boundaries With Difficult Elderly Parents

When the family member we are trying to care for is critical, impossible to please or emotionally abusive, long-standing family dynamics are often to...