Compassionate Dementia Care Means Avoiding Harsh, Literal Truth
Dear Carol: I understand that people with dementia who tell outrageous stories aren’t really lying. It’s got to be horrible to feel...
Minding Our Elders
How Do We Plan When Elder Care Needs Can Change in an Instant?
During the years I cared for multiple elders, I grew to dread the ringing of the telephone. It seemed most calls meant...
Understanding the Difference Between Healthy Reflection and Memory Loss
Dear Carol: I’m worried about my grandma. She’s a healthy, active 74-year-old who reads, volunteers, and plays Scrabble. Mom says Grandma is the...
Caregiving: A Noble Legacy To Be Proud Of
Have you thought about what you’d want your obituary to say about you? I hadn’t until I was recently asked to write...
Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, Advises Caregiver Whose Family Won’t Help
Dear Carol: I’m the youngest daughter from a large family that’s scattered across the country. Living in our parents’ community makes me...
People Experiencing Dementia Symptoms May Deny Any Concerns
Dear Carol: Do people with dementia deny their disease because of the stigma, or do they just not know they have it?...
Hospital Delirium: Cognitive Decline After Hospitalization
In the expected course of treatment, people are hospitalized because they are ill. Then, barring a terminal condition, they are released because...
Parents’ Neighborhood Changing as Old Friends Move Away
Dear Carol: Like most older adults, my parents want to live out their lives in their home. They’re very healthy for people...
Are People with Advanced Alzheimer’s Aware of Their Surroundings?
Even among medical experts, you will find differing opinions on how much someone with advanced dementia of any type understands. Alzheimer’s disease...
Challenging Caregiver Situations Abound: Here are 4
Caregiving throws many challenges our way, including establishing care routines for our elders that are not only challenging, but may be somewhat...
