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Middle-aged woman lies back abainst white covered pillows. The's got short dark hair and large, dark-rimmed glasses and is wearing a dark pull-over sweater. Her hand it held up by her forehead and her expression is one of misery.

How to Engage in Self-Care While Grieving

Many caregivers watch their loved ones endure a long, slow decline that will eventually end in death. As they age, we grieve every mental...

Book cover of "Bringing Art to Life" by Daniel C. Potts. Image features a Bright yellow palette with rust accents all on the left. Title is in a rust/orange shade filling in on the right. Background here is white, shading to blue.

Dementia Can Open the Door to Artistic Expression

The treatment of people with dementia has changed dramatically since I first became personally involved with the disease. It’s now widely recognized that while...

This black and white image shows a closeup of an older man's face. He has a well-groomed beard and mustache. His face is wrinkled. and his expression is on of displeasure. He's holding a magnifying glad up to one eye.

How to Help While Emotionally Distancing from Abusive Parents

Dear Carol: I grew up in a household where the parents could never be pleased. My brother and I left home right after high...

Background shows a glorious sunrise across a lake. Foreground shows the silhouette of a woman from the side. S he's raising her arms in a yoga pose while looking ahead, likely doing breathing excercises.

5 Tips for Keeping Your Brain Healthy While Caregiving

Many of us cope with the stress of caring for someone who has dementia. We agonize over the increasing losses that our loved one...

Image shows two women hugging. The woman in the foreground has long brown hair and is wearing a rust-colored hoodie. The woman she is hugging has black hair and light skin, with arms wrapped around her freinds. Her beige shirt sleeves are rolled up showing bare arms.

Loving Yourself: A Caregiver’s Ultimate Challenge

We’ve all heard that we must first learn to love ourselves before we can love others. Yet, many of us have grown up with...

Outdoor image of distant hills and trees. Foreground shows a couple with the man seated, possibly in a wheelchair. The man is bald with a beard and glasses. He wears a gray and white striped sweater. His head is turned sideways and he's smiling. The woman hugs him from the back as she stands. Her hair is in an Afro with golden tips and she's wearing a gray sweater.

Caring For Those in Chronic Pain: How Spouses Cope

Traditional marriage vows generally contain the words “through sickness and in health.” For some couples, chronic sickness in the form of a painful disease...

An outside setting shows grass and trees with a large building in the background. A younger woman in a pink sweater with dark blonde hair clipped back is showing an older soman something gon her cell phone. The older woman has gray hair and is wearing a white sweater with a blue shawl over one shoulder.

Young Woman Worries About Conversation Topics with Great-Aunt in Assisted Living

Dear Carol: I have a great-aunt who’s mentally sharp, but she’s in assisted living for physical needs. Auntie is 15 years older than my...

A window with a sheer covering shows a blurred image of a woman looking out. She's got long brown hair and is looking over large glasses.

New to Caregiving: How Do I Keep from Going Under?

Dear Carol: My parents are in their 70s and had been mostly healthy. I don’t have to worry about financial and health legal documents...

Black and white image shows a night-time background with some lights. Foreground shows a closeup of an older, gray-haired many with a smile and crinkled eyes. He's wearing dark clothes.

Home is All About Heart, Especially for Older Adults

For many of us, the word “home” signifies refuge, safety, caring and warmth –a sanctuary where we belong. It’s a place that we know...

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Strategies for Getting (and Staying) Organized While Caregiving

Caring for a vulnerable elder can be rewarding as well as frustrating. It can increase our self-esteem to know that we are helping someone...