Relationships

The image shows a cream knit background - maybe a swerater. On it are some votive candles, one small goard, and a wooden plaque that reads, "My brain has too many tabs open.

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...

This closeup image shows just the head of a woman with dark skin tightly curled hair. She is looking downward with her fingers covering her eyes where you can see one lip closed. She has nails polished in dark blue and a silver pinky ring. The mood is one of sadness or despair.

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...

We see a little bit of wall above a medium-toned hardwood floor on which a gray three pronged electrical plug rests.

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...

A very close view of the back of a head with short, dark brown hair. We see enough of the face to view light skin and the back of an ear. The person wears a light blue shirt or sweater. Across from this person, we see someone in a white medical coat with only the chest visible. Light skinned hands hold bloodpressure equipment as the person appears to squeese the bulb while holdig down the cuff on the first person's arm.

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....

The scene for this image is a kitchen with large windows looking out onto trees. Two women sit next to each other at a table visiting and opening small gifts. One woman has light skin and long brown hair and she wears glasses. The other woma, on the right, has dark skin and dark hair pulled back. She wears a gray pullover sweater that lower down and over the arms has gray and white stripes.

Respecting Diverse Approaches to Caregiving

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to caregiving. Every family caregiver must be free to make choices that work best for their unique situation. Even...

This very closeup image shows no background. An woman with long brown hair falling over halve of her face is shown with a half cry/half scream expression - mouth wide and teeth showing. She is looking toward the camera but slightly downward.

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...

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...

We view an older couple from the back as they look over a black railing onto a foaming body of water. They are standing on a red brik sidewalk or road. The man has a walking stipe in his hand with a strap over his shoulder. He's balking and wears a light colored sport coat and dark slacks. The woman has short gray hair and is wearing a black sweater and black pants. She holds onto the man's arm.

How to Approach Parents Who Appear to Need Help but Resist Your Efforts

Dear Carol: My parents are in their mid-eighties and live in the same home where they raised the family. They were doing well until...

This indoor image shows an older man being helped as he walks. We see white framed windows in the background with a hazy outdoor view of another white building. The man, who is on teh left, has curly white hair, dark skin and is wearing a blue pullover sweater. His arm is held by a women with medium length, curly dark hair and dark skin. She is wearing a yellow cardigan open in fron to show a white wrap top, plus jeans.

Helping vs. Enabling: How to Strike a Balance While Caregiving

Most family caregivers want what is best for their loved ones, and they’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. Unfortunately, discerning what’s...