Dementia care

A Self-Help Approach to Coping with Caregiver Stress

Caregiving can bring forth an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions. These feelings are often bittersweet, but without the proper preparations and assistance, things...

This indoor shot shows an older woman with olive skin and very short, spikey white hair. She's wearing brown-rimmed glasses and a blue print top with a red apron over it. Her expression is one that could be read as accusatory.

Losing the Ability to Swallow: How to Help Someone With Dysphagia

Coping with an ill loved one’s difficulty swallowing can be frustrating and frightening for everyone involved. Caring for someone we love means...

Image of Carol Bradley Bursack as she's interviewed by The Retirement Navigator

The Conversation With Your Aging Parents You Keep Avoiding — And Why It Can’t Wait

I recently had the privilege of being interviewed by Kwame Kwadey for The Retirement Navigator. It was fun for me because Kwame...

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....

This black and white image has a dark background. In the right foreground, we see an older man with short likely graying hair parted on the side, the front grazing his forehead. We see a wrinkled brow and frustrated expression on his face. He appears to be wearing a pull-over sweatshirt with a drawstring.

Honor Your Elders’ Need for Independence and You’ll Both Win

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

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...

We see a red and white gingham table cloth spread out with a read plate of donuts. The visible donuts have sprinkles and frosting, one peanut butter, one chocolate, and one strawberry.

Planning a “Picnic” for a Loved One in a Senior Living Community

While most senior living communities offer an array of programs and events, activities directors often work with limited budgets and are challenged...