Dementia care

Why Does My Elderly Loved One Sleep All Day?

As people age, they tend to sleep more lightly than when they were younger. Waking up during the night due to achy joints or...

The image shows an outside looking in view of a window with a cheer curtain in front. We see a woman's shadowy head with her hand upraised against the window. The feeling is one of grief or frustration.

In Caregiving Anxiety Can Be Contagious

We all live with a certain amount of worry, much of which is caused by fear of the unknown. Since health issues can change...

This indoor image shows a dark wall. An older man sits in a dark brown recliner. He's wearing a turquoise long sleeved henly style shirt. He has gray hair, no visible glasses, and is staring ahead with an unhappy expression.

Coaxing a Down-in-the-Dumps Older Adult to Smile

Despite increasing awareness of and sensitivity to ageism in our society, age-related stereotypes about stubborn, grumpy seniors persist. Chronic health conditions, changes in functioning,...

This indoor image shows an open door in the background with a large plant barely in view. In the foreground is a young mane with dark hair and a beard and wearing a white short-sleeved shirt standing over an older man feeling his forehead. The older man is Black. He has gray hair and is lying in bed. We see his pajama-clad arm laying on top of the white sheet.

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...

This indoor office image shows gray walls and a widow in the background. A Black woman with curly hair has one hand on the wall by the window and with the other arm draped to her side. Shes' wearing a white buttoned up cartigan. We see two silver topped opened laptops on a table with arms of their users just visible. One has a hand, palm up, in front as if explaining something.

Should You Quit Your Job To Care for Your Elderly Parent?

As parents age and need more assistance, most adult children do what they can to help. For many, the first step is a weekly...

This indoor image shows a Native American woman in a gray turtleneck sweater. She faces us with an exasperated expression, hands held in front with open palms facing upward. Her hair is salt and pepper with tails of hair pulled over each shoulder.

How to Survive Caring for Multiple Elders at the Same Time

When Caregivers Are Pulled in Too Many Directions: Every caregiver is familiar with the constant nagging feeling that something or someone in their life...

An older woman lies contentedly on her back with her arms and hands supporting her head on the grass. She's got long gray hair and is wearing a beige fisherman's sweater. A younger woman has her had lying against the older woman's chest and shoulder. She has long brown hair and is wearing a barely visible cream top. Both women have their eyes closed and look content to be together.

A New Generation of Caregivers: Grandchildren Taking Care of Grandparents

A new generation of young people is stepping up to help their aging and ill family members. Although the Caregiving in the U.S. 2020...

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....

This outdoor image shows a cloudy atmosphere. An older couple walks together on a sidewalk. The man is on the left in the photo. He has lots of gray hair,, is wearing a brown plaid sport coat, brown pants and uses a cane in his right hand. With his left hand, he holds an older woman by the hand. She,has iron gray hair and is wearing a cream knee-length coat. They are both looking down toward the ground.

Managing Finances, Insurance, and Appointments for Aging Parents Exhausting

Dear Carol: My parents are in their 80s and live nearby. I manage their finances and medications, take them to medical appointments, and until...

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...