Communication

This indoor image shows an older man being helped as he walks. We see white framed windows in the background with a hazy outdoor view of another white building. The man, who is on teh left, has curly white hair, dark skin and is wearing a blue pullover sweater. His arm is held by a women with medium length, curly dark hair and dark skin. She is wearing a yellow cardigan open in fron to show a white wrap top, plus jeans.

How Involved Should Families Be When Elders Live in a Senior Living Facility?

Over the course of 15 years, five of my elderly loved ones lived, for various spans of time, in a nearby nursing...

Man and woman sit on a couch with expressions and gestures of those who are arguing. The woman has long brown hair and a light sweater. She's turned toward the man, with hands out in front as if explaining something. The many has arms crossed with one hand gesturing. He has dark brown hair and a beard and mustasch.

What to Do When Siblings Can’t Agree on a Parent’s Care Needs

For some lucky families, having all adult siblings gather around and plan how to take care of Mom and Dad as their...

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...

The word THANKFUL is spelled in gold capital letters around which are brown and gold images of leaves, pumpkins and acorns. The background is dark wood, perhaps a diningroom table.

Cherish Holiday Gatherings with Aging Parents Leaving Serious Discussions for Later

Dear Carol: Though my family is large, we happily gather at our parents’ house each Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year should be like...

An older man sits at a table hugging a brown plate to his chest. He's leaning toward the table and sucking on a sucker stick as he looks over his glasses at someone. He has short gray hair in a classic cut ad wears a brown plaid shirt.

Getting Medications Down Someone with Dementia Who Can’t/Won’t Take Pills

Dementia care demands incredible creativity. The ever changing needs of the person who has dementia challenges family caregivers and professionals alike. One...

Image background is light purple. On top is a banner that says Memory Board in white with a heart next to it. Beneath that we see the image of a electronic tabliet. The words we see are to remind a loved one when the family will be over and to say, "love you."

Memoryboard: A Tool Designed by Caregivers to Bring Comfort and Connection

Sponsored We developed Memoryboard based on our family’s experience with loved ones with memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. We saw firsthand the...

This black and whie image shows a graish background. We see two elderly hands, both palms down, with one covering the top of the other. The top one shows a sleeve with a checked pattern. covering the wrist.

Caring For Those in Chronic Pain: How Spouses Cope

Traditional marriage vows generally contain the words “through sickness and in health.” For some couples, chronic sickness in the form of a...

An older couple with gray hair and formal dress enjoy a dance together. They are looking into each others faces with affection.

Creating a Bucket List: Tips for Older Adults and Family Caregivers

Back in 2007, The Bucket List, a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, helped contemporize the old expression “kick the bucket,”...

Two women are seen from the back in silhouette due to the strong sunset that they are viewing.

How to Be a True Friend to a Family Caregiver

Family caregivers often find that their social circles shrink over time. Casual friends are typically the first to drift away because a...

How Caregiving Can Change Your Personality

There’s no getting around it: being a family caregiver is bound to impact how you think and who you are as a...