Compassion

Cover image of the book "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories". Image showes older man looking pensive, with arms crossed over chest. Sepia tones show a light shirt. He's wearing dark rimmed glasses and has receding hair. Background is indoors, blurred and brownish tones.

Caregiving: A Legacy To Be Proud Of

Have you thought about what you’d want your obituary to say about you? I hadn’t until I was recently asked to write an article...

Middle aged man with dark skin and shaved head, has hands placed on top of bent head. Grief is written on his downturned face.

Breaking the News That a Loved One is Going on Hospice Care

When the paperwork was finally signed to get hospice care for my dad, I was grateful. There would now be a routine of care...

Gray haired woman wearing black jacket seen from the back with head bowed. Background is of dark, low hanging rain clouds

When One Parent Dies the Other Often Needs a Long-Term Care Plan

Long-term marriages generally evolve into a support system so efficient that even adult children hardly notice changes in their parents. If Dad’s hearing is...

The image background shows an indoor room, probably a bedroom with decorative pillows. Foreground is a sitting older man looking dignified with his white hair and relaxed pose. He's wearing a maroon sweater with a front zipper. We see a blue and white shirt collar above the zip. His hands are folded in front of him and he leans on a chair arm with his right elbow.

Are People with Advanced Dementia Aware of Their Surroundings?

Even among medical experts, you will find differing opinions on how much someone with advanced dementia of any type understands. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in...

Image shows a curtained background with a happy older couple in the foreground. T he man stands with his arm around the woman's shoulders. He has gray hair and a white beard and wears a blue and white plaid shirt. The smiling woman has short white hair and is wearing a scoop-necked blouse or gown in a small blue print on a white background.

Admitting Loved One to Hospice Is Emotional, but Understanding Process Helps

Dear Carol: I’m crushed and uncertain how to move forward. My wife, 74, has spent years battling cancer with some success and a reasonable...

Black and white close up featuring an old man with wrinkles and a white beard looking through circle like when taking an eye test.

Confabulation: How the “Lies” That People Living with Dementia Tell Aren’t Really Lies

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

The Sacrifices of Caregiving: Yes They Are Real

The plain truth is that assuming the responsibility of caring for another person dramatically alters one’s life. This change can happen abruptly or it...