Relationships

Untreated Hearing Loss Can Contribute to Dementia Risk

Dear Carol: Even though my husband has prescription hearing aids, he doesn’t use them much because thinks his hearing isn’t “that bad.” I gently...

Some Risky Behavior Might Be Necessary for Your Elder’s Mental Health

Dear Carol: My dad, 72, has been adventurous all his life and that spirit doesn’t seem to be dampened by aging or even some...

Spouse Criticized for How He Cares for Wife with Dementia

Dear Carol: My wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago. While it hasn’t been easy keeping her home with me, it’s been her...

Clarify Expectations for Hired Care by Using Task List

Dear Carol: I’m married with teenage kids and work full-time. Until recently, I’ve felt I could also support my 83-year-old mom’s care, but her...

An Older Adult Skips Bathing? Maybe there’s a Reason

A common complaint about older people, especially those who have health challenges, is that they “smell” or have other signs that they don’t shower...

What to Do If You Suspect Neglect or Abuse in Your Parent’s Retirement Home

I think most of us approach the idea of sharing the care of an elder with a lot of trepidation. We have cared for...

Minimizing Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia

Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia and death...