Honor Your Elders’ Need for Independence
…”I often compare aging to the life cycle of a rose. It begins with a fresh new bud, which opens in full bloom and...
Relationships
10 Things People With Dementia Wish Their Caregivers Knew
People living with dementia are the only ones who really understand what it’s like to live with their form of the disease, whether it’s...
How to Engage in Self-Care While Grieving
Many caregivers watch their loved ones endure a long, slow decline that will eventually end in death. As they age, we grieve every mental...
Dementia Can Open the Door to Artistic Expression
The treatment of people with dementia has changed dramatically since I first became personally involved with the disease. It’s now widely recognized that while...
How to Support a Friend Who Has a Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic illness, such as cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes or an immune disorder, can be isolating and...
Loving Yourself: A Caregiver’s Ultimate Challenge
We’ve all heard that we must first learn to love ourselves before we can love others. Yet, many of us have grown up with...
Caregiver Feels Unappreciated for Upending Her Life
Dear Carol: Shortly after her 85th birthday, my mom had a stroke. She recovered, but she still has mobility deficits. We discussed assisted living,...
Caring For Those in Chronic Pain: How Caregivers 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...
Family and Professional Caregivers Are More Alike Than Different
Most of us who are family caregivers know that, while we often experience a sense of fulfillment when we provide care for our loved...
How to Pick a Pet for an Older Adult
Studies show that animals can be wonderful companions for older adults – their presence can calm agitation, alleviate loneliness and even lower blood pressure....
