Support

Am I a Caregiver? Defining the Family Caregiver Role

Many individuals struggle to accept the label of “family caregiver,” but fully embracing this role increases our chances of succeeding in it....

This black and white image shows the top view of a downturned head. Dark hair is pulled back, arms are upraised to forehead. The person wears a hoodie with the hood slightly raised so we only see the head, hands and hoodie.

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...

This image is the cover of "Bringing Art to Life" by Daniel Potts. Close up on the left, we see a bright yellow sphere, with orage on top. Further down is more yellow with splotches of color on the left. The sphere could be a hat or a paint pallet. The cover art is slightly abstractt.

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...

This indoor image shows a blurred background with an older mother-daughter in the foreground. The daughter is one the left. She has a blonde bob, wire rimmed glasses, and wears a green sweater. The mother is on the right. She has steel gray hair drawn back and is wearing a dark, collared top. The younger woman has her arm around the older woman's shoulders and they both wear soft smiiles.

Hospice Education Helps Families Understand How to Support Loved One

Dear Carol: My siblings and I are at odds over how to help our 80-year-old mom during her last weeks of life....

We see a red and white gingham table cloth spread out with a read plate of donuts. The visible donuts have sprinkles and frosting, one peanut butter, one chocolate, and one strawberry.

Planning a “Picnic” for a Loved One in a Senior Living Community

While most senior living communities offer an array of programs and events, activities directors often work with limited budgets and are challenged...

This outdoor image shows two women sitting on a bench with a brick building behind them. The woman on the left has long brown hair and is wearing sunglasses, a blue short-sleeved shirt, and black shorts. Her head is turned toward a woman with dark hair pulled back. She is wearing a sleeveless black top and a tuquoise skirt. Her had is tippped back as she looks at her friend. They are both laughing.

Unplugging from Caregiving Is Essential, but How? Read for tips:

Jen has been caring for her parents for almost two years, and she is quickly approaching caregiver burnout. A close friend booked...

This image has a gray indoor backdrop. IN the foreground, a woman with long, light brown hair bends her had forward where she covers her face with her hands. She has light skin and red polished nails.

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...

This indoor image shows tree trunks out a porch window. In foreground we see an older couple each holding a toddler on their lap. The man has gray hair and a receding hairline. He wears glasses and a pink checked shirt with an open color. The child appears to be a girl with a little tow in her sparse hair. She's earing a red and blue print top. The woman has short gray hair and glasses and wears a maroon, long sleeped bop. She hold toddler, but we only see the arm wearing a light blue jacket along with a little blonde hair. She is touching the face of the baby held by the man, so they are all interacting.

The Importance of Grandparents Never Fades

The importance of grandparents in the lives of children cannot be denied. Before our society became so mobile, it was common for...

Father and adult daughter site together on a couch, each with a computer open. It appears that the daughter is helping the father figure out a computer problem. The daughter hs long brown hair and is wearing a white print shirt. The Father is wearing jeans and a white, long-sleeved shirt. The background is a room interior with shelving.

Creating a Bucket List: Tips for Seniors and Family Caregivers

The Bucket List, a 2007 movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, helped contemporize the old expression “kick the bucket,” a common...

A tired lookin woman with plentiful dark hair holds a hand against her temple while she stares at a computer screen. The room is dark, as if evening, and she looks unable to do more.

Siblings Complain Designated Caregiver Is Slow to Update Them

Dear Carol: I’m from a family of three boys, and due to proximity, I’ve become the caregiver for our aging parents. Thankfully,...