Communication

This black and white image shows the top view of a downturned head. Dark hair is pulled back, arms are upraised to forehead. The person wears a hoodie with the hood slightly raised so we only see the head, hands and hoodie.

Reconciling Grief & Relief When the Loved One You Cared for Dies

When my mother died in a local nursing home, my “career” of visiting this exceptional facility nearly every day for almost 15...

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...

This outdoor image shows a large tree behind the two women in the foreground. A lovely summer day. The older woman has shorter, curly white hair and is smiling toward the younger woman who has both arms around the older woman's shoulders from behind. She, too, is smiling. The older woman wears a light blue blouse, and the younger woman wears a beige sweater.

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...

This indoor image shows a bouquet of lilacs in the background. In the foreground, we see a younger woman with dark hair pulled back learning over an older woman to accept a hug. She wears a Beige sweater and looks pleased by the hug. The gray-haired older woman hugging her is seated. She wears a hospital gown. We see her thin, aging arm as she hugs the younger woman.

Why Would Mom Choose to Smell Rather Than Use Incontinence Products?

Dear Carol: My mom is only 79 but she has a lot of health problems including lung disease requiring oxygen. She receives...

Cover of Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. The background is a sepia-toned room. In the foreground is a picture of the author's father, sitting in a contemplative pose with arms crossed. This image is also sepia-toned in browns of different shades. To the right is the book title.

Sensitivity Training for Caregivers of People with Dementia – Part 1

Please wipe this mess off my face. Please! Don’t go so fast, I can’t swallow! I’m not ready for a drink yet!...

Minding Our Elders’ 2025 Mid-Year Elder-Friendly Products and Tech Roundup

Dear Readers: It’s mid-year, already! That means it’s time for my semi-annual column that features elder-friendly products, services, and technology. I mostly...

This black and white image has a plain dark background. In the foreground is an older African American woman with curly white hair. Whe's got her eyes closed and is wearing a sad expression, with her head tilted upward. She's wearing a light colored print top.

Confabulation in Dementia Can Feel Like Hurtful Lies

When a person develops any form of dementia, it is difficult for family and friends to witness their diminishing capacity and the...

The image shows the cover of the AARP Caregiver Answer Book with the title in bold over a blue sky. There is a stylized hill with a highway rolling over it. We see the dotted lines of the highway and stylized trees in various green, yellow and fall-like orange tones on the backside of the road. on the green grass toward the bottom of the graphic we see the author's names: Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD and below that Julia L. Mayber, PsyD

The ‘AARP Caregiver Answer Book’ Will Become a Classic

I was honored when asked to provide my thoughts about the then-forthcoming The AARP Caregiver Answer Book by Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD and...

This indoor image shows a white wall with a window off to the side. The window has a linen-colored drapery. In the foreground we see a woman with long- straight brown hair. She is looking slightly up as she hold her had out to the side as if to hold back the man seated on a couch. She wears a bright gold long-sleeved sweathr and has medium toned skin. The man has slightly draker skin, dark hair, a neat beard and wear a medium blue sweather.

Top Excuses from Siblings Who Don’t Help with Caregiving

Unfair as it may seem, even in families with many adult children, one sibling usually becomes the primary caregiver for their aging...

Thsi summery photo shows a garden and fence in the background. In the foreground, we see a blue and white picnic cloth over an outdoor table. Four people are enjoying a meal. Ther's an older coupld with gray hair and a younber couple with brown hair. They are obviously enjoying themselves.

Reframing How We View Conflicts with Older Parents Can Maintain Harmony

Dear Carol: My parents are entering their 80s. While they seem cognitively sound, they have physical challenges that will progress. I’ll help...