Dementia care

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Am I a Caregiver? Defining the Family Caregiver Role

Many individuals struggle to accept the label of “family caregiver,” but fully embracing this role increases our chances of succeeding in it. What Is...

Honor Your Older Adult’s Need for Independence

Although we may not think about it in these terms very often, a person’s dignity and identity are often tied to their independence. As...

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Why So Many Long-Married Couples Die Close Together

While death rarely brings pleasant feelings, from time to time we’ll see a story about death go viral on the Internet because it touches...

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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 that while...

Image shows the head of an older man, likely a grandfather. He's got gray hair and is balding some in the front. He's laughing as he beds down to touch the face of a pre-teen boy wearing a muted red cap. It appears that the child has been playing ball and his grandfather is congratulating the smiling child.

Multi-generational Households: The Ins and Outs of In-law Suites

When I was a teenager, my parents had a new home specifically built with separate quarters so my grandmother could live with us and...

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5 Tips for Keeping Your Brain Healthy While Caregiving

Many of us cope with the stress of caring for someone who has dementia. We agonize over the increasing losses that our loved one...

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The Importance of Grandparents

The importance of grandparents in the lives of children cannot be denied. Before our society became so mobile, it was common for children to...

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New to Caregiving: How Do I Keep from Going Under?

Dear Carol: My parents are in their 70s and had been mostly healthy. I don’t have to worry about financial and health legal documents...

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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...

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Strategies for Getting (and Staying) Organized While Caregiving

Caring for a vulnerable elder can be rewarding as well as frustrating. It can increase our self-esteem to know that we are helping someone...