Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

The cover of "Melted Away: A meooir of Climate Change and Caregiving in Peru by Barbara Drake-Vera. The image shows a colorful left margin using a South American theme. The main cover shows lots of blue sky and low clounds over snow capped montain peaks with foliage and then dry grass near the front.

Caregiving and Climate Change Deftly Interwoven in “Melted Away”

While there are hundreds of books on general caregiving and specifically, dementia care, I usually leave the reviews to the phenomenal group Alzauthors. My...

This image sows a ladder leaning up against a wall that is partially drywalled and partially torn apart.

A Caregiver’s Struggle: Balancing an Elder’s Sense of Purpose with Their Safety

Most seniors need to feel useful to enjoy a high quality of life. They maintain a sense of purpose by sticking to their everyday...

Second-Guessing Ourselves Is Part of the Caregiving Experience

Dear Carol: Over years of caring for my husband who had a combination of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s, I found myself gradually becoming less...

This image shows a classic hospital room with a insturtional cover over sheets on a hospital bed. There's is a gray visitor's chair near the bed.

Should Your Parent Risk an Anesthesia Disaster or Forego Surgery?

Note: More is known now about the downfalls of surgery on older adults, yet some are still undergoing surgery that leaves them more damaged...

The image shows a white brick wall in the background. The foreground shows a black man sitting with his head bowed in sadness. He's bald, and is wearing a light blue dress shirt and medium blue jeans. He has his arms resting on his knees, with one hand over the other.

Reducing Loneliness: How to Help Older Adults During the Holidays

There is a lot of pressure on people to enjoy themselves during the holidays. The season is supposed to be merry and bright, but...

This indoor image shows a neat bedroom in the background The foreground shows a dignified older man with gray hair and a maroon robe. His blue and white striped pajama top shows at the neck. His hands are clasped in front of him and his expression is imperious.

Elders Who Abuse Their Family Caregivers

Most of us have seen evidence of people being harder on those they love than they are on strangers or even people they don’t...

The outdoor image shows a large, white city building in the background. In the foreground, an old couple is shown from the back, walking away from the camera. They are helping each other along as they walk. The man has gray hair, is wearing a gray sweater and black pants, and is slightly bow-legged. The woman is wearing a beige print jacket and a teal and blue print skirt. Her hair is also gray and she has a purse slung over her shoulder.

Coping when Both Parents Have Dementia

“My mom and dad both have dementia. I am all alone taking care of them since. I have no one to help me. I...

This interior image shows white slatted curtains, a task lamp and a comfortable chair. It denotes comfort while also feeling institutional.

The Emotional Toll of Moving Your Elderly Parent to Senior Living

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. For most of us, the feeling is less about how large or fancy a...

Having ‘The Talk’: How to Discuss End-of-Life Issues with Parents

Sex and death: It’s odd that these two topics of conversation should bring so much anxiety to parents and children. One addresses the beginning...

This outdoor image shows a body of water in the background, but land a city beyond. Int the foreground, an older coupld is enjyong the outdoors. The Woman, nearer the water, is weargin lime green pants and a green and white striped shirt, with a white sunhat. Her hair barely peaks out under the hat. She and the older man are holding hands as if he helping her balance since she's raised slightly above him. the man has gray hair with sunglasses perched on top of his head. He wears a white short-sleeved shirt and dark pants.

Potential Caregiver for Aging Parents Asks How to Plan

Dear Carol: My 83-year-old parents are still doing well for their age but declining as would be expected. Since I live nearby, I’ll be...