Family

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Alcoholism in the Elderly: How Can You Help?

Millions of people consume alcohol, but each person has their own unique relationship with this substance. While many can drink in moderation without it...

A grandma with short, stylish blonde hair, wearing a purple shirt holds an electronic tablet in front of her. She's showing two children something on the screen. One child is on each side and they sit on a couch.

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 children watch...

black and white image of an older, white-haired woman crying into her handkerchief. She's holding out her glasses to wipe her eyes.

Ways to Minimize 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...

Family dinner table with library shelves in the background. Adult an with brown hair and blue green shirt heads the table. On one side is an older gray-haired man in a red sweater. On the other side is an older gray-haired woman in deep green sweater.

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 them in...

Man and woman pointing fingers and yelling at each other. Look like adult siblings with brown hair and slightly Asian features

Adult Siblings Who Care More About Inheritance Than Parents’ 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...

Older man and woman, likely the grandparents, holding baby and toddler on their laps. Both grandparents have gray hair. Woman is wearing a purple sweater and man is wearing a pink shirt.

Balancing Caregiving with Other Relationships

Becoming a family caregiver is often something that either happens very suddenly or slowly sneaks up on a person. When a loved one has...

Affectionate older gray-haired couple, man in blue sweater and woman in red sweater.

Alzheimer’s: Theft, Paranoia or Forgetfulness?

The truth, as they see it, is still the truth in their eyes. Delusions, hallucinations, agitation, aggression and depression are all part of the...

Helping vs. Enabling: How to Strike a Balance While Caregiving

Most family caregivers want what is best for their loved ones, and they’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. Unfortunately, discerning what’s...

In the foreground we see a jumble of clothing, mostly in brown tones with some rush and cream. Behind the mess is a woman in a bulky coat in the same colors. We see some brownish hair on top of her head but her face is buried behind the jumbled clothing.

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 of living....

Planning a “Picnic” for a Loved One in a Senior Living Community

While most senior living communities offer an array of programs and events, activities directors often work with limited budgets and are challenged to meet...