Compassion

We view an older couple from the back as they look over a black railing onto a foaming body of water. They are standing on a red brik sidewalk or road. The man has a walking stipe in his hand with a strap over his shoulder. He's balking and wears a light colored sport coat and dark slacks. The woman has short gray hair and is wearing a black sweater and black pants. She holds onto the man's arm.

How to Approach Parents Who Appear to Need Help but Resist Your Efforts

Dear Carol: My parents are in their mid-eighties and live in the same home where they raised the family. They were doing well until...

this is a very close image of an older woman with whispy white hair, medium framed plastic rimmed glasses and a serious expression. Her white top is barely visible.

Delirium After an Older Adult’s Hospitalization Is a Legitimate Concern

Dear Carol: My 95-year-old mom was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. While there, she developed delirium and didn’t even know the family. The hospital staff...

Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren’t Alone

Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either of her current...

With an autumn tree in the background, a younger woman stands with her arm slung around the neck of an older woman. The older woman has her head turned toward the younger woman as they smile at each other.

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....

Caregiver Burnout is Best Prevented Since Recovery Is Hard on Everyone

Dear Carol: My mom, age 79, has had steadily declining health for several years. Arthritis is a genetic problem in my family, so pain is...

The background of this image includes palm trees and greenery in a tropical climate such as Hawaii. In the foreground, we see an older couple with brown skin and gray hair. The woman is wearing a white short sleeved top and the man is wearing a light gray long sleeved shirt. He has his arm around the woman's neck. Their hands are touching and they are both smiling.

Physical Changes Make Incontinence a Common Concern as People Age

Dear Carol: I’m writing because I want to help my husband, who had surgery for prostate cancer, understand that he’s not alone with his...

A visually upset woman is wearing a beige hoodie. Her long brown hair comes forward out of the pulled-up hood and she has her arm up coving her eyes. We see the sweatshirt sleeve and her hand as she holds her arm backward over her face.

When You’ve Promised a Parent You’d Never Put Them in a Care Facility

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

This indoor images shows a younger woman on the left. She has long, light brown hair and iw wearing a pink sweater. She's pointing to something on a smartphone that's held by an older woman with white hair. The older woman wears alight blue top with white trim. Both woman have slight smiles and are communicating about what they see with pleasure.

An Older Adult Skips Bathing? Maybe there’s a Good 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...

This image has a black background. In the foreground we see a close up of an oval-shaped female face that seems to be floating due to the dark clothing below. She has her hand raised and slightly cupped along the side of her face. Her expression is sober, her eyes tilted downward.

Relief Mixed with Grief Normal After a Suffering Loved One’s Death

Dear Carol: My mom died after five years of living with dementia symptoms along with decades of pain from rheumatoid arthritis. Her death has...

The background is a grayish wall. In the foreground is an older man with large headphones over his balk head. He's wearing a black suit, white chirt and red tie, and glasses on his face. His eyes are squeezed shut in concentration and he waves his arms as if directing an orchestra.

People with Dementia Find Renewed Confidence While Playing In Orchestra

With this goal in mind, Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) in Dorset (UK) has found a unique method to help boost confidence and mood...