Minding Our Elders - Page 38 of 144 - A voice for caregivers | Blog on eldercare and aging

Minding Our Elders Blog

This image shows and older man lying on a hospital bed. A young child with should-length brown hair and a print top looks at him as he gazes back.

What Is a Pre-Death Rally?

Family members are often relieved and hopeful when a dying loved one suddenly becomes more aware of their surroundings or begins talking...

This indoor image shows closed white draperies in the background. An older man is being helped to sit down by a younger woman who is bending over him. The man has gray hair, dark skin, and wis wearing a blue pullover sweater. The woman has dark, curly hair, dark skin, and is wearing jeans and a yellow cardigan over a whilte shirt.

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 image shows an older couple, heads turned toward each other, gazing into each others eyes. The man on the left is bald with a mustache. He wears a medium blue V-necked top over a white tee shirt. The woman on the right has short, feathered gray hair, redish lipstick, and wears a tan long sleeved top. The are holding up their arms as if resing elbows on a table and their hands are touching.

Why So Many Long-Married Couples Die Close Together

While death rarely brings pleasant feelings, from time to time we’ll see a story about death go viral on the Internet because...

This indoor image shows a gold vase with some fern against a wall on a table. A woman with pale blonde hair sits with a sad expressing as she stares into the void. She leans on the table with her hands on top and there is a glass of water next to one hand. She wears medium gray, long sleeved suit jacket and black skirt or pants.

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 two men. On the left is the father, who is balk and wearing a cream shirt open over a black tee shirt. On the right is his son who has sort brown hair and is wearing a beige scarf loosely around his neck over a dark coat. Both wear a semi-serious expression.

Dementia Caregiver’s Experience Made Premium Incontinence Protection Easier to Find

As is the case with most people living with advanced dementia Harris Sterling’s father developed incontinence. Along with other difficult issues that...

An older woman with short gray hair and wearing a brown apron smiles down at a young grandson in light blue tee shirt. Hugging her from behind is a slightly older granddaughter, also in in light blue graphic tee. They are all smiling.

Daughter Hurt Because Mom Doesn’t Want to Live with Her

Dear Carol: My mother is in her 80s and is doing well except for arthritic pain and some blood pressure issues. I...

This indoor image shows a vague white background. In the foreground we see an older woman with white, tightly curled hair and fair skin wearing a light blue sweater. She's smiling broadly as she listens to a younger woman talk with her. The younger woman is looking downward toward the seated older woman with one had placed on the older woman's shoulder. She has medium brown hair and is wearing a light blue Henley shirt and white pants.

Could a New Medication Be the Cause of Mom’s Increased Falls?

Dear Carol: My mom’s had a lot of health problems in her life, so her prescription list is long. Yet, sure enough,...

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.

Multigenerational 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...

This indoor image shows two people sitting next to one another. On the left we see a bare arm with hand held out palm up. This person wears a maroon teel shirt. O the right we see more of a person's shirt. This person is wearing a pink, bule, and white plaid open flannel shirt over a dark blue top and with jeans. Her hand is palm down on top of her friend's palm in comfort.

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...