Compassion

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 Perfect Holiday Gift for A Caregiver: ‘The AARP Caregiver Answer Book’

Holidays nearly always increase the emotional load of caregiving and often, the physical tasks as well. With Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and the...

Tis wintery outdoor image shows an older man cross-country skiing with blue sky and snowy peaks in the background. The man is wearing ski pants and a red ski top and wears a backpack.

Some Mildly Risky Behavior Might Be Necessary for Your Elder’s Mental Health

Dear Carol: My dad, 72, has been adventurous all his life, and that spirit doesn’t seem to be dampened by aging or even...

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.

Humor Can Provide Armor Against Deep Sorrows of Caregiving

One of the positive parts of being a family caregiver is the opportunity for emotional growth. We can develop increased compassion, patience,...

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...

This image is the cover of "Bringing Art to Life" by Daniel Potts. Close up on the left, we see a bright yellow sphere, with orage on top. Further down is more yellow with splotches of color on the left. The sphere could be a hat or a paint pallet. The cover art is slightly abstractt.

Dementia Can Open the Door to Artistic Expression

The treatment of people with dementia has changed dramatically since I first became personally involved with the disease. It’s now widely recognized...

This indoor image shows two men. On the left is the father, who is balk and wearing a cream shirt open over a black tee shirt. On the right is his son who has sort brown hair and is wearing a beige scarf loosely around his neck over a dark coat. Both wear a semi-serious expression.

Dementia Caregiver’s Experience Made Premium Incontinence Protection Easier to Find

As is the case with most people living with advanced dementia Harris Sterling’s father developed incontinence. Along with other difficult issues that...

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...

This indoor image shows a blurred white background. In the foreground, we see a woman wearing a long-sleeved white blouse. She has short brown hair and is leaning against a couch as she loosely covers her face with her hand.

Wife Sleeps too Much and Has Lost Interest in Appearance and Bathing

Dear Carol: My wife has always been interested in style and appearance, so regular hair and nail appointments were part of life. Long...