Relationships

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Caring For Those in Chronic Pain: How Spouses Cope

Traditional marriage vows generally contain the words “through sickness and in health.” For some couples, chronic sickness in the form of a painful disease...

This indoor image shows white painted frames around windows that reveal outside trees. Two women sit at a light colored wood table with an open laptop in front of them. There are various other things on the table that indicate that they could be having snacks as they talk. On the left, a woman with light skin, dark hair, and red-rimmed fashion glasses sits smiling at her colleague. The second woman, on the fright, has dark skin, black hair, and is wearing a pullover sweater with gray and white stripes. She is holding her hands in the air, open palmed, as if explaining something. Both womena are smiling.

How to Be a True Friend to a Family Caregiver

Family caregivers often find that their social circles shrink over time. Casual friends are typically the first to drift away because a caregiver is...

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Home is Where Our Heart Is, Especially for Older Adults

For many of us, the word “home” signifies refuge, safety, caring, and warmth –a sanctuary where we belong. It’s a place that we know...

An indoor image of an older man with thinning gray hair. He appears to be thinking hard or asleep, with his head bent downward and his eyelids lowered. He's holding his hand against his chin with his thumb against his cheek as if supporting his head. He appears to be sitting and is wearing barely visible blue and white plaid pajamas under and brown and white robe.

4 Of the Toughest Challenges We Face As Caregivers

Caregiving throws many challenges our way, including establishing care routines for our elders that are not only challenging but may be somewhat embarrassing. By...

The image background is a blurred shelf with decorative objects. In the foreground we see an older coule. the sit closely with the mans' arm around the womans shoulders and the woman's hand placed against the man's chest. The man has brown hair and is wearing a light blue, long-sleeved shirt. He smiles as he looks down slightly at the woman's face. She has graying blonde hair and is wearing a gray long-sleeved sweater. Both have light skin and are smiling softly.

Caregiver Distressed That Wife Living at Home Still Wants to ‘Go Home’

Dear Carol: My wife of over 40 years has Alzheimer’s disease and I care for her at home. While I’ve worked to become educated...

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Universal Phrases for That Help Caregivers Find Serenity

Life isn’t easy for most people, and it’s not perfect for anybody. Sometimes, as we trudge through the days providing help for our care...

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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...

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Determining Type of Dementia Becomes Less Important in Advanced Years

Dear Carol: My mother is 96. She was quite sharp into her 90s, but since then, her condition has gradually deteriorated to where she...

A smiling couple is shown in a blurred indoor setting. The couple in the foreground appears happy. Both are smiling as the taller man with dark skin and a receding hairline stands with arms folded in front. He smiles down at his partner. She has dark hair steaming back on her head that's shoulder length. She also smiles as she looks down at an object in her hands. It looks as if she's peeling a vergetable. The woman also has dark skin and is weraing a light purple, v-neced sweater.

Best Ways to Support a Caregiving Spouse

When people get married, they quickly learn that they’ve made a commitment to more than one person. Essentially, you marry your spouse’s whole family....