Dementia

Family Caregivers Still Undervalued By Many

We live in a society that tends to value what we do over who we are. If what we do isn’t highly paid or...

Livingroom with white fireplace full of brown packing boxes ready to fill for a move

Should You Convince Your Aging Parents to Move Closer to You?

As a columnist for a newspaper on the northern plains, I often have readers write me that they are begging their parents to “come...

Older couple, both with white hair, waltzing on the lawn. The woman is weating a blue dress; the man a dark suit

Adult Day Services Can Fill a Gap for Seniors and Their Caregivers

Most seniors are keen on staying in their homes as they age, but family caregivers often struggle to meet their loved ones’ needs and...

Older couple, Hispanic heritage, both with gray hair. Taller man has his arm around the woman's neck in a loving way. She is softly touching his arm and hand.

Shadowing with Dementia: When They Panic If You Are Out of Sight

Dear Carol: After my husband retired, he wanted to be involved in whatever I was doing, no matter how mundane. To me, that signified...

Cover of Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories with the image of an older man - the author's father - on the cover sitting with his arms crossed.

Should You Join Someone with Dementia in Their Reality?

It was not unlike any other day, but on this particular afternoon Dad was adamant. He was waiting for his medical degree from the...

The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease: Ways To Measure May Change, but the Disease Remains the Same

When I wrote this article, seven stages were considered the standard way to evaluate people living with Alzheimer’s. Now, it’s more common to have...

Woman in an outside setting crying into her hands

Is It Normal to Grieve Before Someone Dies?

Nearly everyone involved in caring for an ill or aging loved one is experiencing some degree of grief. However, we don’t usually identify the...

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,...

Respecting the Right to Age With Dignity

The impact of aging frequently makes the news. Sadly, the coverage is consistently negative, and all facets of this topic are portrayed as “problems”...