Relationships

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 mother, 87,...

Rushing People with Cognitive Decline Simply Increases Anxiety

Dear Carol: Last year, my husband was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Our current challenge is that he still wants to be Mr....

How to Stay Sane During the Holidays as a Sandwich Generation Caregiver

If one can believe the old Westerns, frontier women were the ultimate multi-taskers. They could rock a cradle with their foot to quiet a...

Dementia Caregiver How-To: Holiday Visits With Loved Ones

Thank you Lonna Whiting of Lonna.co and Being Patient for featuring me in this beautifully written article. Good information from others as well. Sarah...

Reducing Loneliness: How to Help Older Adults During the Holidays

While aging can bring wisdom and experience, there are inevitable losses that even the healthiest seniors face. Loved ones and friends fall ill and...

The Emotional Toll of Moving Your Elderly Parent to Senior Living

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. For most of us, the feeling is less about how large or fancy a...

Having “The Talk”: How to Discuss End-of-Life Issues with Parents

Sex and death: It’s odd that these two topics of conversation should bring so much anxiety to parents and children. One addresses the beginning...

Thanksgiving: Gratitude Is Possible Even During Tough Times

Dear Carol: As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m struggling because my husband of 53 years can no longer reliably recognize who I am. After several years...