Tips for Coaxing Someone with Dementia to Shower or Bathe
Dear Carol: How do people get a parent with dementia to take a shower or bath? I’ve argued with my mom. I’ve coaxed her....
Dementia care
Why Some Family Caregivers Refuse Help
Even when family caregivers have access to help, many still come up with excuses to turn down assistance. Learning to accept support and assistance...
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 caregiver is...
Home is All About Heart, Especially for Older Adults
For many of us, the word “home” signifies refuge, safety, caring and warmth –a sanctuary where we belong. It’s a place that we know...
Is Using Validation for Dementia Calming or Condescending?
People with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia often come to live in an altered reality that doesn’t mesh with ours. As an...
Strategies for Getting (and Staying) Organized While Caregiving
There are now many apps available that can help with organizing, but that said, some of these older tips are still valid. Personally, I...
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 challenges. Even...
Caregiving Needs to Be a Team Effort
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “there’s no I in team,” meaning that every member on a successful team puts selfishness aside and works...
Caregiver Worried That Mom with Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Sleeps All Day
Dear Carol: I care for my mom in my home. She’s 85, has been living with Alzheimer’s for many years, and is now considered...
The Aftermath of Long-Term Caregiving: Is Stress Your New Normal?
Often long-term caregivers wonder if their lives will ever return to normal. The short answer is no; at least for most of us. There...
