Self-care

Supporting the Person with Dementia as They Are while Grieving What’s Lost

Dear Carol: My dad was my rock and was always there for his little daughter when I needed support, even more so after Mom...

A Christmas images showing blurred red and gold lights in the background. The foreground shows a closeup of a gold snowflake such as you would hang on a Christmas tree.

10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues

When store employees wish us “Merry Christmas!” we smile back and return the greeting. When acquaintances wave and shout “Happy Holidays!” across a parking...

The image shows a dark wood background like a rought table. Stting against this background is a white oblong rock with rounded corners and little smiling faces drawn on in black. Int the center, someone printed in block letters: GRATITUDE.

Tweak Traditions to Make this Holiday Season Realistic and Rewarding

Dear Carol: I’ve spent decades caring for all the older adults connected to our families. Now, only my father-in-law and my mom remain. They...

The cover of "Melted Away: A meooir of Climate Change and Caregiving in Peru by Barbara Drake-Vera. The image shows a colorful left margin using a South American theme. The main cover shows lots of blue sky and low clounds over snow capped montain peaks with foliage and then dry grass near the front.

Caregiving and Climate Change Deftly Interwoven in “Melted Away”

While there are hundreds of books on general caregiving and specifically, dementia care, I usually leave the reviews to the phenomenal group Alzauthors. My...

This black and white image shows a very close view of an older man's face. He's scowling with his eyes turned toward the side looking at the camera. He holds his eyeglasses in his hand so all we see is one bow in front of his face.

Coping With Seniors Who Won’t Accept In-Home Caregivers

Hiring in-home care for my elderly neighbor Joe, was quite an ordeal. The company we chose and their professional caregivers were great, but the...

This indoor image shows a confident older man with gray hair smoking a cigar. We see the cigar smoke as he puffs. He's wearing a short-sleeved golf shirt and seems thoughtful but powerful.

Caregivers Handling Impossibly Controlling Aging Parents

The responsibility of providing care for an aging or ill loved one is a monumental challenge in its own right. But when a care...

This outdoor image shows a man and a woman in the sun with flower bushes behind. The man wears a black hat and dark tee shirt. He has a dark brown beard. The woman has short drak hair and is wearing a gray/blue shirt. The are both looking to the side at something beyond the camera.

What to Do When Siblings Can’t Agree on a Parent’s Care Needs

For some lucky families, having all adult siblings gather around and plan how to take care of Mom and Dad as their parents’ health...

A family dinner table with a happy black family sharing a meal. There is a husband/father with a beard wearing a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a wife/mother with curly black hair wearing a gray top, and two children, a girl and a boy. The girl is in the foreground. They are all having a good time.

Balancing Elder Care with Other Relationships

Becoming a family caregiver is often something that either happens very suddenly or slowly sneaks up on a person. When a loved one has...

Image shows an outdoor gathering in the background, Foreground shows a an older man with gray hair dancing with a young, brown-haired woman wearing a red dress.

Adult Day Services Can Fill a Gap for Seniors and Their Caregivers

Most seniors are keen on staying in their homes as they age, but family caregivers often struggle to meet their loved ones’ needs and...

A woman with curly dark hair and a smile is luxuriating in a large white tub filled with bubbles.

A Personal Approach to Coping with Caregiver Stress

Caregiving can bring forth an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions. These feelings are often bittersweet, but without the proper preparations and assistance, things can quickly...