Holidays

Dementia Care How-To: 9 Ways to Make Holiday Visits with Loved Ones Better

Sarah Akin hopes this holiday that caregivers give themselves a little grace — and that visiting family do the same. Akin, who is...

We see a closeup of a hand holding a gold Christmas tree bulb with the other hand poised to hang it on the tree. Blurred gold lights are visible, as are other hands. In the hands of another person. In the background, we see the blurred head of an older man who is on the far side of the tree.

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays as a Sandwich Generation Caregiver

If one can believe the old Westerns, frontier women were the ultimate multi-taskers. They could rock a cradle with their foot to...

We see a cheerful room with gold walls, white painted classic widows and a green Christmas tree. The tree is being decorated in gold bulbs and white doves b an older man in a white pullover that has a green and red pattern. He has steel gray hair and a trimmed beard. He's laughing and chatting with a younger woman with long brown hair who is wearing a white top.

Caregiver Tips for Enjoying Holidays with Older Adults

Even though most of us have happy memories of holiday celebrations, this time of the year can be stressful. There are pervasive societal expectations...

A wood table laden with cut-out Christmas sugar cookies. They are frosted in traditional red, green, or white with added sprinkles and candies.

10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues

When store employees wish us “Merry Christmas!” we smile back and return the greeting. When acquaintances wave and shout “Happy Holidays!” across...

We see a closeup view of a gold snowflake against a lit tree with blurred lights and red ornaments.

Caregiving During the Holidays: Have a Realistic, Positive Approach

There’s an image of holiday perfection that our culture encourages. Starting with Thanksgiving, we are inundated with images of families happily enjoying...

This indoor image shows a woman with long brown hair, head forward and down with an expression that suggest she's yelling out of frustration. Her hands are raised upward, palm up, as though saying, "I give up."

Handling Sibling Criticism During the Holidays

Family caregivers often put their lives on hold to care for their loved ones. In cases where adult children are caring for...

We see barebranches from a tree in the background. In fore foreground are weatherd gray boards and pumpkins as if on a deck or porch.

Happy Thanksgiving from Minding Our Elders!

Sending wishes to all of you for a fulfilling day. I’m thankful for the many things in my life, and that includes...

We see a brown, fall background with dead grass and cold looking water. An older man with a white beard weathing a gray watch cap sits on a bench staring off into the distance. He has darker skin and wears a gray hoodie zipped up over light khaki pants with no gloves. He rests his forearms on his knees.

Reducing Loneliness: How to Help Older Adults During the Holidays

There is a lot of pressure on people to enjoy themselves during the holidays. The season is supposed to be merry and...

We see a dark wood, planked tabletop from the top view. Two hands are visible from a corner. On holds a fork, tines down, ready to spear a piece of pumpking pie. the pie has one slice missing. On the right, we see a dark veverage in a clear cup. Some decorative autumn leaves are scattered on teh table.

Celebrating Special Occasions When an Older Adult Has Dementia

When a senior has dementia, celebrating holidays, birthdays and other special occasions becomes increasingly complicated. As caregivers, should we help our loved...