Thanksgiving: Gratitude Is Possible Even During Tough Times
Dear Carol: As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m struggling because my husband of 53 years can no longer reliably recognize who I am. After several years...
Grief
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...
Dementia Losses Painful, but Focus on What’s Still Possible
Dear Carol: My brilliant wife was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 62. She faced this diagnosis with her trademark courage. I’ve been...
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...
A Self-Help Approach to Coping with Caregiver Stress
Caregiving can bring forth an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions. These feelings are often bittersweet, but without the proper preparations and assistance, things can quickly...
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...
Paid Family Leave Benefits Both Employees and Employers
If I’d had paid family leave during my caregiving years, my life and the lives of my loved ones would have been quite different....
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...
Why So Many Long-Married Couples Die Close Together
While death rarely brings pleasant feelings, from time to time we’ll see a story about death go viral on the Internet because it touches...
Caregiving’s Impossible Choices Can Lead to Endless Second-Guessing
Dear Carol: Mom is 84 and was in good health until she had a stroke while visiting us. Even though we knew that she is...
