Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

A woman with short brown hair sits in a wheelchair with her head turned toward another woman with long brown hair who appears to be a caregiver. In the lower left corner is a circle that shows a turquoise SenecaSense pod.

Minding Our Elders’ 2026 Elder-Friendly Products, Services, and Technology

Dear Readers: Happy New Year! It’s time for our traditional January roundup featuring elder-friendly products, services, and technology. Note: For most products...

image shows closeup of the interior stringed instrument. The wood is golden in color.

Music Therapy Can Increase Quality of Life for Those in Hospice

For many, music from certain eras can bring back memories of better times. For others, music soothes anxiety or gets them pumped...

We see a bright day outside of large windows in the background. In the foreground, we see a woman with curly dark hair wearing a yellow cardigan over a white blouse and jeans. She is helping an older Black man with short gray hair as he walks. The man wears a dark blue pullover sweater. Both seem to be concentrating on the task.

Geriatric Care Managers Can Help Busy Caregivers

Geriatric care management is a rapidly growing field in the elder care industry. As most caregivers know, researching and coordinating all the...

We see a stylized cake or platform against a white background. Three white balloons and three deep gold baloons along with gold and white cylendral decorations attacked by sticks appear to float above. The words read Happy New Year from Minding Our Elders!

Happy 2026 to All from Minding Our Elders!

Though every new year will bring challenges and even sorrow, we hope you also experience much love and joy. Happy New Year!...

We see a god background with blurred gold holiday lights. On the right we see two champaign glasses, while on the right we see the words Happy New Year and Minding Our Elders

Happy New Year’s Eve from Minding Our Elders!

As we wrap up 2025, we are sending our best wishes that even with challenges, we can all enjoy a safe, enjoyable...

The background shows a white, multilevel living facility. Foreground shows the back of a moving van with a dolly holding a pile of moviong boxes sealed with red tape.

Specialized Moving Services Ease Transitions to Senior Living Communities

When an elderly parent transitions from their home to assisted living, independent living, a nursing home or a relative’s home, it can...

This indoor image shows and older couple, likely grandparents, holding small children. The man has graying hair, wire-reimmed glasses, and wears a pink shirt. He holds an infant about about a year old wearing a blue and red plaid garment and a white gow in the hair. The woman reaches her hand out to the infamt, but we see just part of the arm of an older child who sites on her hap. The child wears a light blue top with dark blue around the collar. The woman has gray hair and glasses, and she wears a burgundy long-sleeved sweater. All have light skin.

Should Your Elderly Loved One Move in With You?

Decades ago, it was fairly common to have grandparents living with the family, and it often worked well. It did for my...

A middle-aged woman with long, light brown hair kneels at an alter. There's a gold cross in the background. She's leaning on her elbows wiping at tears as she struggles.

Seeking Comfort while Starting the New Year Steeped in Sorrow

Dear Carol: Like many people, I’ve always looked toward each new year with a certain amount of excitement. Even during difficult times,...

An outdoor view with semi-cloudy sky, green grass, and a multi-storied, red brick building in the foreground. One sees cement walks and a crosswalk in front.

Choosing Senior Housing and Care Based on Your Parent’s Needs

As our population ages and more of our national focus is on senior care, we can find ourselves in a muddle over confusing...

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.

Imperfection Is Perfect: Cherish Your Messy Christmas as Unique and Precious

(Reprinted from my column “Minding Our Elders” – December 23, 2023) Dear Carol: I can only imagine how often you’ve heard from caregivers...