Mental Health

The image shows the cover of the AARP Caregiver Answer Book with the title in bold over a blue sky. There is a stylized hill with a highway rolling over it. We see the dotted lines of the highway and stylized trees in various green, yellow and fall-like orange tones on the backside of the road. on the green grass toward the bottom of the graphic we see the author's names: Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD and below that Julia L. Mayber, PsyD

The ‘AARP Caregiver Answer Book’ Will Become a Classic

I was honored when asked to provide my thoughts about the then-forthcoming The AARP Caregiver Answer Book by Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD and...

This indoor image has a medium gray-green background. In the foreground, we see an older woman with curly, dyed, auburn colored hair. She wears oblong, dark rimmed glasses. She holds her hands up to prop up her chin as she looks upward and to ths side with a puzzled expression.

Mother Suffers Cognitive Setback after Celebratory Family Event

Dear Carol: My mother is 83 and living alone in her condominium. She’s been showing signs of moderate forgetfulness, but more worrisome...

Cover of Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. The background is a sepia-toned room. In the foreground is a picture of the author's father, sitting in a contemplative pose with arms crossed. This image is also sepia-toned in browns of different shades. To the right is the book title.

Seniority Authority presents: A Caregiver’s Toolbox with Carol Bradley Bursack, Minding Our Elders

Recently, I had the honor of being interviewed by Cathleen Toomey of Seniority Authority. Cathleen’s enthusiasm for the topic turned the experience...

This outdoor picture shows an older couple sitting together on the grass. The woman, who wears a blue and white stripped off-the-shoulder sun dress has long, dark blonde hair blowing to the side. She has her hand on the knee of an older man with gray hair who is wearing blue denim shorts and a light blue golf-style shirt.

Preparing Ahead for Potential Cognitive Evaluation Can Speed Up Diagnosis

Dear Carol: I’m worried about my 61-year-old wife’s memory and decreasing ability to make sound decisions. She agrees with me that she...

We see a blurred indoor view with a window behind to people. In front of the window we see an older man with gray hair, glasses, a black and white checked shirt under an olive green sweater and tan pants with his arm around the back of a woman. The woman has a light brown bob, blasses, and wears a turquoise pullover blouse. Her arm is around the waist of the man as they touch heads to the side. Both are smiling.

Even “Born Caregivers” Can End Up Feeling Drained By the Sacrifices

One question that is often asked on the AgingCare.com Caregiver Forum is, “How do I deal with the reality of leaving behind...

Tis image sowns a weathered workbench with a board and wood shavings lyaing on top.

How Hiring a Handyman Can Help Your Elderly Parents

Years ago I saw a van whose driver was letting teenagers off in front of the local high school, where I was...

Geriatric Care Managers Can Help Busy Caregivers

Geriatric care management is a rapidly growing field in the elder care industry. As most caregivers know, researching and coordinating all the...

Thsi summery photo shows a garden and fence in the background. In the foreground, we see a blue and white picnic cloth over an outdoor table. Four people are enjoying a meal. Ther's an older coupld with gray hair and a younber couple with brown hair. They are obviously enjoying themselves.

Reframing How We View Conflicts with Older Parents Can Maintain Harmony

Dear Carol: My parents are entering their 80s. While they seem cognitively sound, they have physical challenges that will progress. I’ll help...

This indoor image shows and older couple, likely grandparents, holding small children. The man has graying hair, wire-reimmed glasses, and wears a pink shirt. He holds an infant about about a year old wearing a blue and red plaid garment and a white gow in the hair. The woman reaches her hand out to the infamt, but we see just part of the arm of an older child who sites on her hap. The child wears a light blue top with dark blue around the collar. The woman has gray hair and glasses, and she wears a burgundy long-sleeved sweater. All have light skin.

Is It Wise for Your Aging Parent to Move in with You?

Decades ago, it was fairly common to have grandparents living with family and it often worked well. It did for my family....

This image shows an extreme closeup of an older woman's face. She has light skin, blue yes staring directly ahead, with a small amount of gray hair showing on one side. We see some mottling, age spots and wrinkles on her agng skin.

Elders Who Abuse Their Family Caregivers

Most of us have seen evidence of people being harder on those they love than they are on strangers, or even people...