Compassion

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...

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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,”...

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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...

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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...

This outdoor image shows a background of trees with cement in view. the foreground we see a woman covering her face with her hands as if in tears. She has dark blonde hair pulled up, and is wearing a black tee shirt and a large watch with a black band.

Life As a Caregiver: How to Make Tough Care Decisions

Many of us feel honored to provide care for our aging parents or ill spouses, but this honor can also present serious...

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Family and Professional Caregivers Are More Alike Than Different

Most of us who are family caregivers know that, while we often experience a sense of fulfillment when we provide care for...

This indoor image shows a middle-aged couple enjoying each other's company. The man is taller and stands with his arms causually folded as he looks down at what his wife is doing with her hands. The woman has dark hair drawn back and is wearing a violet sweater and the man has dark curly hair and is wearing a tan long-sleeved tee shirt.

The Best Ways to Support a Caregiving Spouse

When people get married, they quickly learn that they’ve made a commitment to more than one person. Essentially, you marry your spouse’s...