Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

This image has a black background. In the foreground we see an older woman on the left with long gray, flowing hair. She's wearing a black and white print sleeveless dress. With her eyes closed, she's holding her cheek out toward a younger woman who is kissing it. the younger woman has dark hair and is wearing a black and white striped open-collared shirt. both women have medium toned skin.

Caregiver Upset by Lack of Clarification Regarding Medical Terms

Dear Carol: I’m frustrated with medical people who think family caregivers should automatically understand their abbreviated terms. At appointments, my mom’s doctor asks about...

Multi-generational Households: The Ins and Outs of In-law Suites

When I was a teenager, my parents had a new home specifically built with separate quarters so my grandmother could live with us and...

How to Support a Friend Who Has a Chronic Illness

Living with a chronic illness, such as cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or an immune disorder, can be isolating and...

image shows a white desk or table as a base. ON top is a blood pressure cuff with the tube unwound and serpentine. The blood pressure reader is laying next to it along with a standard blue weekly pill container.

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...

This image shows the inside of a optometrist's office. An older man is sitting in the exam chair. He wears a suit and tied, both charcoal, with a white shirt. We see his white, well-trimmed mustache and beard and somewhat receding hairline. His eyes are covered by the ocular testing lens doctors use.

How to Make Life Easier and Safer for Seniors with Low Vision

Many people would consider losing their eyesight one of the worst losses they could endure. While most of us will not suffer from complete...

This outdoor image shows a blurred background of sky and greenery. In the foreground, we see a woman with shoulder-length medium blonde hair, slightly curled on the ends. She has light skin and eyes and is smiling softly as she looks slighly off to the side of the camera.

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...

This indoor image shows a window through which we see blurred trees. Close up, a woman with a dark blod, low ponytail and light skin leans her forehead head against her hand. She's wearing a dark blue short-seepver shirt and we see a drinking glass off to the side with a bottle barely visible.

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...

This outdoor scene shows thick bushes in the background. In the foreground, we see an older man who is bald in fromt but has gray hair along the sides. He sits on teh broud with his arms wrapped around his knees as he looks off into the distance. He's wearing a black, gray, and white striped golf-style shirt.

Learning About Normal Aging and Capacity Can Prevent Future Family Division

Dear Carol: I’m 84 years old and as a past caregiver, I appreciate how you balance the legitimate concerns of caregivers with respect and...

The Importance of Grandparents

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

This image shows a close up of two hairy animals stubbornly nose to nose.

Why Some Family Caregivers Refuse Help Even When They Need It

Even when family caregivers have access to help, many still come up with excuses to turn down assistance. Learning to accept support and assistance...