Dementia care

We see an older man wearing a white tee and drk pants sitting in a whieel chair. A pleasant looking young woman has her hands on the chair handles as if steaing him. She learns forard slightly as if speaking to him. Her clothing looks like white scrubs. Behind them are white sheers drawn over large windows.

Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice

Accepting that our own or a loved one’s life is limited to a few months, weeks or days is gut-wrenching. However, when...

A woman with short brown hair sits in a wheelchair with her head turned toward another woman with long brown hair who appears to be a caregiver. In the lower left corner is a circle that shows a turquoise SenecaSense pod.

Minding Our Elders’ 2026 Elder-Friendly Products, Services, and Technology

Dear Readers: Happy New Year! It’s time for our traditional January roundup featuring elder-friendly products, services, and technology. Note: For most products...

image shows closeup of the interior stringed instrument. The wood is golden in color.

Music Therapy Can Increase Quality of Life for Those in Hospice

For many, music from certain eras can bring back memories of better times. For others, music soothes anxiety or gets them pumped...

This indoor image shows and older couple, likely grandparents, holding small children. The man has graying hair, wire-reimmed glasses, and wears a pink shirt. He holds an infant about about a year old wearing a blue and red plaid garment and a white gow in the hair. The woman reaches her hand out to the infamt, but we see just part of the arm of an older child who sites on her hap. The child wears a light blue top with dark blue around the collar. The woman has gray hair and glasses, and she wears a burgundy long-sleeved sweater. All have light skin.

Should Your Elderly Loved One Move in With You?

Decades ago, it was fairly common to have grandparents living with the family, and it often worked well. It did for my...

An outdoor view with semi-cloudy sky, green grass, and a multi-storied, red brick building in the foreground. One sees cement walks and a crosswalk in front.

Choosing Senior Housing and Care Based on Your Parent’s Needs

As our population ages and more of our national focus is on senior care, we can find ourselves in a muddle over confusing...

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.

Imperfection Is Perfect: Cherish Your Messy Christmas as Unique and Precious

(Reprinted from my column “Minding Our Elders” – December 23, 2023) Dear Carol: I can only imagine how often you’ve heard from caregivers...

We see a clear night sky with stars - one of which is brighter. On the right is a snow-covered evergreen in the foreground. Beyond we see a holiday wreath poking out along with a traditional street light. On the left we see a shadowy two-story home wiht lights on behind closed curtains. The overall text is in red and reads, "Warm Wishes on Christmas Ever from Minding Our Elders.

Christmas Is Here: Our Best Is Good Enough

The decisions caregivers must make during the Christmas holidays are fraught with opportunities to make mistakes in judgment. Chief among them is...

How to Communicate with Someone Who Can No Longer Speak

Years ago, I stumbled upon a video that remains vivid in my mind. In it, an elderly couple who had spent a...

Dementia Care How-To: 9 Ways to Make Holiday Visits with Loved Ones Better

Sarah Akin hopes this holiday that caregivers give themselves a little grace — and that visiting family do the same. Akin, who is...

this is a very close image of an older woman with whispy white hair, medium framed plastic rimmed glasses and a serious expression. Her white top is barely visible.

The Heartbreaking Plea of ‘I Just Want to Go Home’

Note: Updated knowledge includes the fact that the person living with dementia is just seeking comfort. Words are difficult and “home” for...

Dementia care

Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice

Minding Our Elders’ 2026 Elder-Friendly Products, Services, and Technology

Music Therapy Can Increase Quality of Life for Those in Hospice

Should Your Elderly Loved One Move in With You?

Choosing Senior Housing and Care Based on Your Parent’s Needs

Imperfection Is Perfect: Cherish Your Messy Christmas as Unique and Precious

Christmas Is Here: Our Best Is Good Enough

How to Communicate with Someone Who Can No Longer Speak

Dementia Care How-To: 9 Ways to Make Holiday Visits with Loved Ones Better

The Heartbreaking Plea of ‘I Just Want to Go Home’

Courtesy of The Retirement Navigator

Egosan Incontinence: Discover the Difference

Memoryboard: Designed by caregivers to help families stay connected

Seneca Sense Home: Incontinence Care Made Easy

Free Caregiver Training provided by Geriatrician Leslie Kernisan, MD

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