Communication

When We Become Caregivers, Friends May Disappear

Most people have not personally provided care for a loved one and therefore cannot fully understand everything that goes into being a family caregiver....

Middle aged man with dark skin and shaved head, has hands placed on top of bent head. Grief is written on his downturned face.

Breaking the News That a Loved One is Going on Hospice Care

When the paperwork was finally signed to get hospice care for my dad, I was grateful. There would now be a routine of care...

Very old woman with silver streaked hair, darker sun-damaged and wrinkled skin. She's wearing a black and white check vest over a blue shirt. Pleading eyes looking up at someone.

When a Person Living with Dementia Says, ‘I Just Want to Go Home’

Update: Some current thinking is that the emotion behind this sad lament is more about finding a level of emotional comfort than thinking back...

Woman with long brown hair and glasses in front of a laptop computer. Her frustration shows as she bites down on a pencil placed horizontally in her mouth.

Siblings Who Feel Shut Out of Caregiving

There’s a great deal of anger in the world of family caregiving over siblings who don’t help care for their aging parents. Very often,...

Darker skinned older woman with gray hair and vacant look in eyes

How to Communicate with Someone Who Can No Longer Speak

Years ago, I stumbled upon a video that remains vivid in my mind. In it, an elderly couple who had spent a lifetime devoted...

Person in dark clothing with hands clasped on top of head staring at a computer

“I Promised My Parents I’d Never Put Them in a Care Home”

Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and concern, but...

A grandma with short, stylish blonde hair, wearing a purple shirt holds an electronic tablet in front of her. She's showing two children something on the screen. One child is on each side and they sit on a couch.

Cognitive Capacity Defined by Ability, not Age

Dear Carol: You’ve addressed this before, but I need help. I’m 73 and feel like I’m continually under scrutiny as my adult children watch...

Family dinner table with library shelves in the background. Adult an with brown hair and blue green shirt heads the table. On one side is an older gray-haired man in a red sweater. On the other side is an older gray-haired woman in deep green sweater.

Do You Regret the Decision to Live with Aging Parents?

If you are like most family caregivers, you probably made a promise to your parent(s) years ago that you would never place them in...

Helping vs. Enabling: How to Strike a Balance While Caregiving

Most family caregivers want what is best for their loved ones, and they’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. Unfortunately, discerning what’s...

5 Tips for Safeguarding Ear Health and Hearing

Note: Recent research has made it clear that treating hearing challenges can help protect our brains. Hearing problems don’t just happen to the very...