Communication

Image is black and white. It shows a close up view of an older woman with curly white hair looking down. She's wiping tears from her eyes with a handkerchief by lowering her glasses. She wears a dark sweater. The impression is one of deep grief.

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 and death...

An outside setting shows grass and trees with a large building in the background. A younger woman in a pink sweater with dark blonde hair clipped back is showing an older soman something gon her cell phone. The older woman has gray hair and is wearing a white sweater with a blue shawl over one shoulder.

Young Woman Worries About Conversation Topics with Great-Aunt in Assisted Living

Dear Carol: I have a great-aunt who’s mentally sharp, but she’s in assisted living for physical needs. Auntie is 15 years older than my...

Black and white image shows a very old man in a gray-toned sweater. He's seated and holding his hand up to his face, palm in. His expression shows confusion and fear.

Life As a Caregiver: Making Tough Care Decisions

Many of us feel honored to provide care for our aging parents or ill spouses, but this honor can also present serious challenges. Even...

The image shows a closeup of an older man with a gray beard and a salt and pepper mustache. He's wearing a dark purple porkpie hat and a gray doat. His expression shows subtle humor mixed with defiance.

An Older Adult Skips Bathing? Maybe there’s a Reason

A common complaint about older people, especially those who have health challenges, is that they “smell” or have other signs that they don’t shower...

How To Communicate with Your Older Parents So They Hear You

“My mom is 81 and lives alone in her condo,” Judy Hanson writes. “Her arthritis is painful, but she gets around with a walker....

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....