“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...
End-of-life
The Hazards of Alcoholism in the Elderly
Millions of people consume alcohol, but each person has their own unique relationship with this substance. While many are able to drink in moderation...
Minimizing 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...
Adult Incontinence Rash Happens: How to Prevent It and/or Treat It
Human skin is not meant to withstand close contact with urine-saturated briefs for extended periods of time. When bowel incontinence is also an issue,...
Caregivers: It’s Time to Stop Second-Guessing Ourselves
Like most adults, I’ve second-guessed many of my own decisions. While most were made with my own future in mind, that all changed when...
Tips for Using Incontinence Products More Efficiently
If you are caring for someone who wears incontinence protection, you understand the challenges of putting them on (and taking them off) another person,...
Should You Convince Your Aging Parents to Move Closer to You?
As a columnist for a newspaper on the High Plains, I often have readers write me that they are begging their parents to “come...
Hospice Care: Help During End Stages of Life
“No one needs to die in pain.”That is what the social worker told me as I signed the papers that would put my father...
Losing the Ability to Swallow: How to Help Someone With Dysphagia
Coping with an ill loved one’s difficulty swallowing can be frustrating and frightening for everyone involved. Caring for someone we love means nurturing and...
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 or eating...
