When a Person Living with Dementia Says, ‘I Just Want to Go Home’
Update: Some current thinking is that the emotion behind this sad lament is more about finding a level of emotional comfort than...
Dignity
Father’s Day as a Caregiver: Remembering Dad Before Dementia
This Father’s Day, I’ll have fond memories of my dad, as will many caregivers and adult children. The juxtaposition of the past...
A Caregiver’s Struggle: Balancing an Elder’s Sense of Purpose with Their Safety
A recent question brought back memories from my early days of caregiving. The member wrote, “My 81-year-old father still thinks he can...
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,...
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...
“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...
Some Tips If You Suspect Abuse in Your Parent’s Retirement Home or Facility
I think most of us approach the idea of sharing the care of an elder with a lot of trepidation. We have...
Cognitive Capacity Defined by Ability, not Age
Dear Carol: You’ve addressed this before, but I need help. I’m 73 and feel like I’m continually under scrutiny as my adult...
Do You Regret the Decision to Live with Aging Parents?
If you are like most family caregivers, you probably made a promise to your parent(s) years ago that you would never place...
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...
