Once Close Friends Often Drift Away after Dementia Diagnosis
Dear Carol: My 67-year-old mother struggles to care for her 75-year-old husband with Alzheimer’s. In many ways, things are going pretty well,...
Minding Our Elders
A Caregiver’s Struggle: Balancing an Elder’s Sense of Purpose with Their Safety
As caregivers, we walk a thin line between keeping our loved ones safe and helping to preserve their independence. One of my...
Should Your Parent Risk an Anesthesia Disaster or Forego Surgery?
Just last week, a reader asked me whether she should try to sway her mother, who had colon cancer, toward surgery. Her...
Coping when Both Parents Have Dementia
“My mom and dad both have dementia. I am all alone taking care of them since. I have no one to help...
Solo Agers: Adults Without Close Kin Seek Outside Resources to Manage Future Care
Dear Carol: I’m a 73-year-old widower with no children or close relatives. I’m still healthy, but to be prudent, I need to...
Father’s Day as a Caregiver: Remembering Dad Before Dementia
This Father’s Day, I’ll have fond memories of my dad, as will many caregivers and adult children. The juxtaposition of the past...
Give Your Dad the Best Father’s Day Gift Ever: Your Attention
Our aging loved ones often repeat the same stories over and over again. As our patience wanes, we blame the repetition on memory...
8 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...
Older Adults Have Different Criteria When Deciding How to Approach Cancer
Dear Carol: My Dad was diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer. In the past, he’s been proactive about his health, but now he’s...
How to Communicate with Someone Who Can No Longer Speak
Years ago, I stumbled upon a video that remains vivid in my mind. In it, an elderly couple who had spent a...
