Compassion

This image shows a blurred indoor background. In the foreground, we see a tall glad of amber liquid, presumably beer, sitting on a brown table. There is a small amound of foam on top and swirls indicating bubbles.

The Hazards of Alcoholism in the Elderly

Millions of people consume alcohol, but each person has their own unique relationship with this substance. While many are able to drink...

We see a brown, fall background with dead grass and cold looking water. An older man with a white beard weathing a gray watch cap sits on a bench staring off into the distance. He has darker skin and wears a gray hoodie zipped up over light khaki pants with no gloves. He rests his forearms on his knees.

Reducing Loneliness: How to Help Older Adults During the Holidays

There is a lot of pressure on people to enjoy themselves during the holidays. The season is supposed to be merry and...

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...

Balancing Elder Care With Other Relationships

Becoming a family caregiver is often something that either happens very suddenly or slowly sneaks up on a person. When a loved...

Minimizing Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia

Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia...

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.

Should You Join Someone with Dementia in Their Reality?

It was not unlike any other day, but on this particular afternoon, Dad was adamant. He was waiting for his medical degree...

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...

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...