Dementia

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Should Your Parent Risk an Anesthesia Disaster or Forego Surgery?

Note: This is an older article so the types of anesthesia have (in some cases) changed. That said, it’s clear that undergoing a procedure...

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Coping With Older Adults Who Won’t Accept In-Home Caregivers

Hiring in-home care for my elderly neighbor, Joe was quite an ordeal. The company we chose and their professional caregivers were great, but the...

Angry woman with long brown hair yelling and someone not in the photo. She's holding out her hands palms up.

What to Do When Siblings Can’t Agree on a Parent’s Care Needs

For some lucky families, having all adult siblings gather around and plan how to take care of Mom and Dad as their parents’ health...

Darker skinned older woman with gray hair and vacant look in eyes

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 lifetime devoted...

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How Do I Get Dad Out of His Cluttered, Unsafe Home?

People want to stay in their own homes. You hear it and read about it all the time. And there’s some merit to that....

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“I Promised My Parents I’d Never Put Them in a Care Home”

Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and concern, but...

Shower with white subway tile and chrome and black fixtures. Two bottles of shampoo or conditioner are on built in shelf

What to Do When Older Adults Refuse to Bathe and Change Their Clothes

When it comes to caring for the elderly, hygiene issues are surprisingly common. Determining why their bathing habits have changed is the best way...

black and white image of an older, white-haired woman crying into her handkerchief. She's holding out her glasses to wipe her eyes.

Ways to Minimize Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia

Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia and death...

In the foreground we see a jumble of clothing, mostly in brown tones with some rush and cream. Behind the mess is a woman in a bulky coat in the same colors. We see some brownish hair on top of her head but her face is buried behind the jumbled clothing.

Rummaging: When People with Dementia Dig Through Drawers or Trash

Dear Carol: I’m struggling. My husband was always super neat, but Alzheimer’s gradually took away his ability to organize even the basics of living....

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 to meet...