Family

The background shows a white wall with a hanging of purple flowers. Foreground shows an older, gray haired woman in a hospital gown hugging a younger woman. The younger woman has long dark hair and is wearing a beige sweater.

Why Would Mom Choose to Smell Rather Than Use Incontinence Products?

Dear Carol: My mom is only 79 but she has a lot of health problems including lung disease requiring oxygen. She receives good health...

The background shows large windows in a care home. A young woman with dark hair medium toned skin is helping an older man walk down the hall. She is dressed in a white shirt with a yellow sweater. The African American man is wearing a blue sweater over a white shirt.

Family and Professional Caregivers Are More Alike Than Different

Most of us who are family caregivers know that, while we often experience a sense of fulfillment when we provide care for our loved...

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The Aftermath of Long-Term Caregiving: Is Stress the New Normal?

Often long-term caregivers wonder if their lives will ever return to normal. The short answer is no; at least for most of us. There...

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10 Tips to Help You “Unplug” from Caregiving

Jen has been caring for her parents for almost two years and she is quickly approaching caregiver burnout. A close friend booked and prepaid...

Understanding the Difference Between Lying and Confabulation in Dementia

Dear Carol: My mom burned pans when she cooked, got overdue notices on bills, and has become incontinent. Since she wasn’t safe living alone,...

A middle-aged couple stands together enjoying each other's company. Both are African American. He has his arms folded across his chest, with his head bent down, a big smile on his face as he watches the woman holding an object in her hands. The woman is shorter and wearing a violet sweater. She, too, is smiling as if enjoying the object in her hand - maybe a gift.

The Best Ways to Support a Caregiving Spouse

When people get married, they quickly learn that they’ve made a commitment to more than one person. Essentially, you marry your spouse’s whole family....

Father and adult daughter site together on a couch, each with a computer open. It appears that the daughter is helping the father figure out a computer problem. The daughter hs long brown hair and is wearing a white print shirt. The Father is wearing jeans and a white, long-sleeved shirt. The background is a room interior with shelving.

How Caregiving Can Change Your Personality

There’s no getting around it: being a family caregiver is bound to impact how you think and who you are as a person. Taking...

Image shows a younger woman on the right with dark hair and wearing a black and white shirt, kissing an older woman on the cheek. the older woman smiles as she accepts the kiss. She has long gray hair and is wearing a black and white print sleeveless dress dress

Respecting Diverse Approaches to Caregiving

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to caregiving. Every family caregiver must be free to make choices that work best for their unique situation. Even...