What to Do When Siblings Can’t Agree on a Parent’s Care Needs
For some lucky families, having all adult siblings gather around and plan how to take care of Mom and Dad as their parents’ health...
Assisted living
“I Promised My Parents I’d Never Put Them in a Care Home”
Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and concern, but...
Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren’t Alone
Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either of her...
What to Do If You Suspect Neglect or Abuse in Your Parent’s Retirement Home
I think most of us approach the idea of sharing the care of an elder with a lot of trepidation. We have cared for...
ADLs and IADLs Explained: What Are They and How Are They Used?
Dear Carol: My mom was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. While she’s pretty normal now other than some short-term memory loss and occasional confusion, I want...
Caregiving Is Not a Competitive Sport
Caregiving. What does it mean to you? While often rewarding and frequently exhausting, it’s one of many life events that can only be understood...
Grandma’s Constant Calls for Help Are Hurting Dad’s Health
Dear Carol: I’m worried about my 70-year-old dad who is constantly responding to his 93-year-old mother’s calls for help. I keep telling him that...
Caregiver Venting Healthy, but Choose Listeners Thoughtfully
Dear Carol: I’m a caregiver to my mom who has dementia and I also work full-time. A woman at work and I have become...
Exploring the Concept of Single Gender Senior Living
A friend and I recently toured a veteran’s home in a midsize Minnesota town. The facility was beautifully designed and superbly run. The only...
How Involved Should Families Be When Elders Live in a Senior Living Facility?
Over the course of 15 years, five of my elderly loved ones lived, for various spans of time, in a nearby nursing home. I...
