Grief

An outdoor view with semi-cloudy sky, green grass, and a multi-storied, red brick building in the foreground. One sees cement walks and a crosswalk in front.

How to Get Over Feelings That Prevent You From Visiting the Nursing Home

People cite numerous reasons for why they hate visiting nursing homes. Some can’t stand funky smells, others find the sight of disengaged, listless seniors...

The indoor setting shows two women sitting on a beige couch with white alls in the background. One the left is an older woman with her head turned. She has short gray hair and is wearing a cream colored blouse. By her side is a young woman with long brown hair in a low ponytail. She is wearing medium blue scrubs and has stethoscope hanging around her neck.

Calling On Hospice Care Doesn’t Mean You Gave Up

A billboard in my city carries a simple message: “Most families say, ‘Why did we wait so long to call hospice?’ “ When I...

Second-Guessing Ourselves Is Part of the Caregiving Experience

Dear Carol: Over years of caring for my husband who had a combination of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s, I found myself gradually becoming less...

This black and white image shows a close view of a woman with downturned head, hands covering her face in grief. She has dark hair and Hispanic looks.

How to Communicate with Someone 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...

The closeup image only shows the torsos of the people. ON the left is a medical person with a purpose sthoscope around their neck. The person is holding their arm bent and hand out to support a women show is weraing a red and white checked, long-sleeved blouose. She has her hand clasped over the supporting person's wrist.

Confusion About Palliative Services Vs. Hospice Care Is Understandable

Dear Carol: After caring for my mom for years, I moved her to memory care due to her dementia. At 93, she is fading....

image shows closeup of the interior stringed instrument. The wood is golden in color.

Music-Thanatology: Providing Harmony at the End of Life

The mission of hospice providers is to help people live their last months or weeks of life in the most comfortable, dignified and satisfying...

Middle-aged woman lies back abainst white covered pillows. The's got short dark hair and large, dark-rimmed glasses and is wearing a dark pull-over sweater. Her hand it held up by her forehead and her expression is one of misery.

How to Engage in Self-Care While Grieving

Many caregivers watch their loved ones endure a long, slow decline that will eventually end in death. As they age, we grieve every mental...

A younger woman with long brown hair smiles as she hugs an older gray-haired woman, possibly her grandmother. Both women are weathering shards of brown.,

14 Affirmations for Caregivers to Live By

Life isn’t easy for most people, and it’s not perfect for anybody. Sometimes, as we trudge through the days providing help for our care...

The image shows an older man, maybe Hispanic, wearing a straw hat and blue shirt with a white collar. His expression is contemplative and rather sad as he looks off into the distance.

Father’s Denial of Dementia Diagnosis Frustrates Daughter

Dear Carol: My dad’s been experiencing memory lapses and making sketchy decisions. I finally got him into a neurologist who diagnosed him with dementia,...

Image shows woman with light brown hair drawn into a ponytail. Her head bends forward, showing forehead in her hand. Elbow is on the table, with a water glass nearby. She wears a blue, short-sleeved shirt. The image is one of profound sadness.

Coping With the Decision to Put Your Parent in a Care Facility

Guilt is one emotion that every family caregiver will experience at some point during their journey. When you take on responsibility for another person,...