Breaking the News That a Loved One is Going on Hospice Care
When the paperwork was finally signed to get hospice care for my dad, I was grateful. There would now be a routine...
End-of-life
Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren’t Alone
Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either...
When One Parent Dies, the Other Often Needs a Long-Term Care Plan
Long-term marriages generally evolve into a support system so efficient that even adult children hardly notice changes in their parents. If Dad’s...
When Loved Ones Rally Before Death
Family members are often relieved and hopeful when a dying loved one suddenly becomes more aware of their surroundings or begins talking...
Reconciling Grief & Relief When the Loved One You Cared for Dies
When my mother died in a local nursing home, my “career” of visiting this exceptional facility nearly every day for almost 15...
Hindsight Can Be a Blessing or a Curse for Caregivers
They say hindsight is 20/20. But things from the past that may seem “clear” to you now can still be distorted by...
You Can’t Prevent Parents’ Decline from Age, but Your Support Is Priceless
Dear Carol: Providing care for my parents is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s not so much the time and effort involved,...
Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice
A billboard in my city carries a simple message: “Most families say, ‘Why did we wait so long to call hospice?’ “...
Specialized Moving Services Ease Transitions to Senior Living Communities
When an elderly parent transitions from their home to assisted living, independent living, a nursing home or a relative’s home, it can...
Solo Agers: Adults Without Close Kin Seek Outside Resources to Manage Future Care
Dear Carol: I’m a 73-year-old widower with no children or close relatives. I’m still healthy, but to be prudent, I need to...
