Mental Health

This outdoor image shows a park in the background. Int the foreground, a man is pushing a woman in a wheelchair along a brick path. The man has gray hair, glasses and is wearing a blue, long-sleeved shirt. The woman seated in the wheelchair has white hair, and is warhng a white, long-sleeved top and jeans.

Traveling Well with Both MS and Incontinence Takes Planning

Dear Carol: My wife, age 48, is incontinent due to multiple sclerosis (MS). We used to love camping in national parks, so I’ve been...

This indoor image shows a blurred curtain in the background. In the foregound to the left, as if looking out a window, is an older couple. the man has white hair, a white beard, and is wearing a blud and white checked shirt. The woman has a gray pixie cut and is wearing a scooped neck blouse. the man has his arm around the woman's necks with his hand visible near her neck. They are both smiling at whatever they see though the window.

Dementia: Staying Positive Despite the Diagnosis

The idea that some people can stay positive after receiving a dementia diagnosis seems surprising to many, yet when faced with adversity we have...

This image has a black background. In the foreground we see a close up of an oval-shaped female face that seems to be floating due to the dark clothing below. She has her hand raised and slightly cupped along the side of her face. Her expression is sober, her eyes tilted downward.

Relief Mixed with Grief Normal After a Suffering Loved One’s Death

Dear Carol: My mom died after five years of living with dementia symptoms along with decades of pain from rheumatoid arthritis. Her death has...

The background is a grayish wall. In the foreground is an older man with large headphones over his balk head. He's wearing a black suit, white chirt and red tie, and glasses on his face. His eyes are squeezed shut in concentration and he waves his arms as if directing an orchestra.

People with Dementia Find Renewed Confidence While Playing In Orchestra

With this goal in mind, Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) in Dorset (UK) has found a unique method to help boost confidence and mood...

This vewry close image shows an older woman with white hair, a wrinkled forehead, and wire-rimmed glasses. She wears a white top with the shoulders barely visible. Her expression is stern with a tight mouth.

The Stages of Alzheimer’s and the Caregiver’s Role

When a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s only natural to worry about what comes next. While Alzheimer’s will progress differently...

This image has a cloudy, rainy background. We see a woman with bobbed gray hair from the back. Her gray-clad shoulders are bent forward in grief..

Grief: The Way to Continue On Is to Work Through It

Dr. Gail Gross, Ph.D., doctor of education, is a nationally recognized family, child development, and human behavior expert, author, and educator. She has contributed...

This closeup image shows a young woman with light blonde hair. fair skin, and blue eyes. Her hair is cut into a short bob with long front hair over one eye. She's looking to the side so what we see of her face if sad with a slightly reddened nose.

The Emotional Impact of Losing a Loved One to Dementia

“Carol!” The hospice nurse’s voice was quiet but urgent. I instinctively knew what was happening. She had been shifting Dad’s position so that he...

A clear blue sky with puffy clouds is on the horizon as an older woman is seen from the back. She's got frizzy gray hair and is sitting in a wheelchair. She looks shadowed by the bright sun.

How to Talk to the Doctor About Your Elderly Parent or Spouse

A frequent problem expressed among family caregivers is that their aging loved ones aren’t honest with their doctors. At home, they may gripe about...

This indoor images shows an older woman with short gray hair, covering her ears as if she is blocking out bad news. Her expression is sad and bewildered.

When One Parent Dies the Other Often Needs Extra Help

Long-term marriages generally evolve into a support system so efficient that even adult children hardly notice changes in their parents. If Dad’s hearing is...