Mental Health

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The Aftermath of Long-Term Caregiving: Is Stress the New Normal?

Often long-term caregivers wonder if their lives will ever return to normal. The short answer is no; at least for most of us. There...

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10 Tips to Help You “Unplug” from Caregiving

Jen has been caring for her parents for almost two years and she is quickly approaching caregiver burnout. A close friend booked and prepaid...

the image shows a closeup view of a man with dark skin and a bald head looking downward. His hands rest on top of his head. He's wearing a dark shirt or sweater that barely shows. The feeling is one of sadness.

Not Everyone Is Cut Out to Be a Caregiver

Each of us is unique, with our own talents and flaws. Often, our so-called faults are merely ways in which we differ from society’s...

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Recognizing and Mitigating Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver burnout isn’t something that happens all at once. We all have good days and bad days, which is normal. Eventually, though, we may...

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Apologizing After Caregiver Stress Causes a Blowup

Caregiving is a stressful job even during the best of times. The sheer amount of responsibility is enough to make the most stoic person...

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.

Continuing Truths of Dementia Caregiving

As we travel our own unique journeys, most of us find that certain phrases or concepts take on the status of truth in our...

This outdoor image shows two women sitting on a bench with a brick building behind them. The woman on the left has long brown hair and is wearing sunglasses, a blue short-sleeved shirt, and black shorts. Her head is turned toward a woman with dark hair pulled back. She is wearing a sleeveless black top and a tuquoise skirt. Her had is tippped back as she looks at her friend. They are both laughing.

Humor Shared Among Caregivers Is Therapeutic

I once visited a caregiver friend and her mother, who had moderate Alzheimer’s disease. At one point during the visit, the mother abruptly stood...

This indoor image shows a dark wall. An older man sits in a dark brown recliner. He's wearing a turquoise long sleeved henly style shirt. He has gray hair, no visible glasses, and is staring ahead with an unhappy expression.

Coaxing a Down-in-the-Dumps Older Adult to Smile

Despite increasing awareness of and sensitivity to ageism in our society, age-related stereotypes about stubborn, grumpy seniors persist. Chronic health conditions, changes in functioning,...

An fit-looking older man sits in a comfortable chair. He's wearing a dark collared cardigan over a white golf style shirt, We shee his lighter brown pantsleg on whiche one had rests. He's golding a phone to his ear with the other hand, and by his expression, enjoying the conversation. This gentleman has light skin, are receding hairline with closely cut gray hoir on the sides, and he wears modern wire-rimmed glasses.

Maintaining a Sense of Purpose Relieves Loneliness and Lowers Dementia Risk

Dear Carol: I’m worried about my healthy, recently retired father. He had a high-energy, social personality so his successful sales career suited him. When...

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How to Survive Caring for Multiple Elders at the Same Time

When Caregivers Are Pulled in Too Many Directions: Every caregiver is familiar with the constant nagging feeling that something or someone in their life...