Family

How to Communicate with a Senior 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...

This image shows a cluttered garage. In the center is an old turquoise Volkswagen beetle with rusty bumpers and trim.

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....

This image has a blurred outdoor background indicating trees and sky. In the foreground, we see an older woman with dullt died brown hair wearing a gardening apron. She is holding the brim of a gardening hat to the back of her head as she smiles at the camera.

“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...

We see a wide shower head with gentle shower in action. The background is blurry and dark and could be indoor or outdoor.

What to Do When a Senior Refuses 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...

This indoor image shows a woman who looks to be of middle eastern heritage. She's got shoulder length black hair and is wearting a turquoise paisley top and turquoise enhanced necklace. Her expression is one of puzzlement.

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...

Is Lying to Someone with Dementia Unethical or Compassionate?

Dear Carol: Like many of your readers, my husband has dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, and I’m caring for him at home. We’ve always...

This image has a black background. IN the foreground, we see two women, one clearly the mother, the other the daughter. The older woman has very long whiteish hair hanging down her back. She wears a sleeveless dress that has a black background and white dots. She holds her cheek out to be kissed by the younger woman who is wearhing a black and white striped shirt. She has dark brown curly hair and both have eddium toned skin. They look content.

Did Your Mother Really Know Best?

Witnessing our parents’ aging process can be uncomfortable. Some people consider the pain so unbearable that they find reasons to be angry with their parents....

How Caregiving Can Help Us Rethink the Meaning of Motherhood

To me, the definition of a mother is someone who nurtures. Yes, carrying a child in your womb for months and then giving birth...

This indoor picture shows a white wall in the background. In the foreground, a woman with very long brown hair lifts her arms from the elbow with hands palm up in exasperation. Her angry expression shows her with an open mouth and squinted eyes, head bent downard so we biew alomes from the top. She wears a simple gray tank top.

Some Adult Siblings Care More About Their Inheritance Than Mom and Dad’s Care

“We don’t want strangers taking care of Mom!” “We promised Dad he would never have to go to a nursing home!” “If you really...

Needing a Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift? How About One That’s Both Fun and Meaningful?

Gift giving for older adults can feel complicated, but it needn’t be. KOSMOS Gifts offers legacy time capsules that intrigue me. The gift recipient...