Diagnosis

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.

Delirium After an Older Adult’s Hospitalization Is a Legitimate Concern

Dear Carol: My 95-year-old mom was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. While there, she developed delirium and didn’t even know the family. The hospital staff...

This indoor image shows a blurred curtain in the background. In the foregound to the left, as if looking out a window, is an older couple. the man has white hair, a white beard, and is wearing a blud and white checked shirt. The woman has a gray pixie cut and is wearing a scooped neck blouse. the man has his arm around the woman's necks with his hand visible near her neck. They are both smiling at whatever they see though the window.

Dementia: Staying Positive Despite the Diagnosis

The idea that some people can stay positive after receiving a dementia diagnosis seems surprising to many, yet when faced with adversity we have...

An older woman with very long gray hair is wearing a celery green sweater with an open jacket over it. She has her eyes closed contentedly as a younger woman with long brown hair lays her head against the elder's chest. The younger woman wears a cream-colored sweater though all we see is the shoulders.

The Persistent Stigma Attached to Dementia Encourages Denial

Dear Carol: People write to you to complain about someone who, despite evidence, denies that they have dementia. I think I know why. At...

Two younger adults facing each other arguing and pointing fingers. Both the man and woman are likely Asian descent. The man wears a dark gray tee shirt and the woman wear a dark gray elbow length top

Adult Siblings Are Often in Denial About a Parent’s Declining Health

Whether it stems from a subconscious need to ignore the fact that a parent is declining, or they want to pretend that caring for...

Background of a wall of framed degrees and certifications. Professional in white shirt or coat sitting behind a desk talking with older man with balding head surrounded by gray hair. The older man, wearing a gray suit sits across the desk from the professional.

In-Office Dementia Test Just the First Step in Getting a Diagnosis

Dear Carol: My mom is showing signs of compromised decision-making ability as well as some short-term memory loss. I understand that there are quick,...

Cognitive Decline After Illness Common, but Check Medications, Too

Dear Carol: Until about six months ago, my mom, 93, was as cognitively sharp as ever. Unfortunately, she was hospitalized for several days for...

New Caregivers: Tips on Caring for Elderly Parents

I have interacted with countless professional and informal caregivers over the years, and I’ve noticed two prominent patterns that characterized my own experiences and...

Overcoming Denial to Seek Potential Dementia Diagnosis

An article in the UK Telegraph reported on a survey showing that two-thirds of people over the age of 50 are more afraid of developing dementia than...