Siblings

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...

This outdoor image shows an open field of grass backed by trees. A middle-aged woman is in the foreground. She's got shoulder length blonde hair that's flipping up on the ends. She has light skin and is wearing a black scooped neck top and a soft smile.

How Caregiving Can Change Your Personality

There’s no getting around it: being a family caregiver is bound to impact how you think and who you are as a person. Taking...

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...

This indoor image shows a woman with long brown hair, head forward and down with an expression that suggest she's yelling out of frustration. Her hands are raised upward, palm up, as though saying, "I give up."

Family Caregivers Still Undervalued By Many

We live in a society that values what we do over who we are. If what we do isn’t highly paid or well understood,...

This outdoor image shows a cloudy atmosphere. An older couple walks together on a sidewalk. The man is on the left in the photo. He has lots of gray hair,, is wearing a brown plaid sport coat, brown pants and uses a cane in his right hand. With his left hand, he holds an older woman by the hand. She,has iron gray hair and is wearing a cream knee-length coat. They are both looking down toward the ground.

Managing Finances, Insurance, and Appointments for Aging Parents Exhausting

Dear Carol: My parents are in their 80s and live nearby. I manage their finances and medications, take them to medical appointments, and until...

The background shows a white wall and closed white blinds. The foreground shows a man and a woman arguing and pointing fingers at one another. On the left, the man has short dark hair, and wears a short-sleeved dark gray shirt. On the right, the woman has long dark hair and is wearing a 3/4 sleeved dark gray shirt.

Most Used Excuses From Siblings Who Don’t Help With Caregiving

Unfair as it may seem, even in families with many adult children, one sibling usually becomes the primary caregiver for their aging parents. In...

Siblings in Denial About a Parent’s Declining Health

Nearly all family caregivers with siblings have experienced some version of sibling denial regarding their aging parents. Whether it stems from a subconscious need...

The background is an indoor wall in muted cream. Foreground is a frustrated woman with an Afro that is parted on the side. She has brown skin and is wearing a light tourquoise ribbed turtleneck sweater with long sleeves. Her elbows are bent and hands are held up in the air in frustration or anger.

Handling Sibling Criticism During the Holidays

Family caregivers often put their lives on hold to care for their loved ones. In cases where adult children are caring for their parents,...

The image background is black. In the foreground, we see a closeup of an older woman's face. She has closely cropped white hair and is wearing a white tee shirt. Her expression shows pursed lips, narrowed eyes, and an angry expression.

Siblings Who Feel Shut Out of Caregiving

There’s a great deal of anger in the world of family caregiving over siblings who don’t help care for their aging parents. Very often,...

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...