Minding Our Elders

Minding Our Elders Blog

This festive indoor image shows a family table with windows in the background and holiday lighting. Four arms are show toasting with stemmed glasses containing red wine. On the left, an arm shows a dark red sweater sleeve and ext to that person, we see an arm clad in black. Two bear arms show on the right as if short sleeves are worn.

Communicating with Intentional Goodwill Key to New Year’s Caregiving Conversations

Dear Carol: Our parents are in their mid-80s and are comparatively healthy. While I live near them, I work and have kids,...

This image shows a blurred indoor background in black and gray. The foreground shows an older woman dressed up for an event. She las curled gray hair and is wear a double-stranded pearl necklace with a light yellow, bulky knit jacket. Her expression shows a soft smilt as she seems to be looking at someone off camera.

Coping with Repetition Caused by Dementia

According to the Alzheimer’s Association repetition is common in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, often in association with a person’s desire...

This outdoor image shows a lake in the background with foliage on the other side. The foreground shows an older man, maybe Middle Eastern decent, with white hair and a white mustache. He wears sunglasses and an off-white long-sleeved shirt. His expression is one of displeasure or stubbornness.

Convincing An Older Adult to Wear Incontinence Protection Takes Sensitivity and Tact

It’s often difficult for older adults to accept and deal with incontinence issues. Many try to ignore this new development and carry...

Image shows an older, gray-haired woman wearing a white top. She's seated and cutting an onion that is resting on a table top. Next to her sits her granddaughter who is smiling as she watches. The little girl has brown hair and is wearing a cream-colored top.

Kitchen Safety Concerns for People with Dementia

Sharing a kitchen with another cook can be trying for some people. Sharing a kitchen with a person who has dementia can...

The image is a close up sot of a decorated Christmas tree. There is some blurring in the background, but the foreground shows a gold bell, and read and gold Christmas bulbs.

It’s Christmas Day: Are You Enjoying It?

It’s December 25th and Many people are celebrating Christmas Day. Caregivers might find the word celebrating a little over the top but...

This holiday image shows a cold, stary sky with snowy evergreens along a street lit with light. A tall building with lit windows and Christmas decorations on the main floor faces the street.

Christmas Is Here: Our Best Is Good Enough

The decisions caregivers must make during the Christmas holidays are fraught with opportunities to make mistakes in judgment. Chief among them is...

This outdoor image has a background of blurred trees. In the foreground, we see an older woman wearing a brown gardening apron. She's clearing having fun as she mugs for the camera with her hands raised and a big smile. She has short light-brown hair, brown-rimmed glasses, and is wearing a short sleeved, cream colored shirt under her apron.

Confabulation in Dementia Can Feel Like Hurtful Lies

When a person develops any form of dementia, it is difficult for family and friends to witness their diminishing capacity and the...

This indoor image shows an older woman with short, curly, redish brown hair and dark rimmed glassed. hes got her fingers pressed against the sides of her forehead and is looking down, forehead creased, and sad. her clothing is dark but she's wearing a turqouoise necklace and a small bracelet on each bare arm.

Making It Through Holidays with Grief and Loss in Our Hearts

Dear Carol: I’m a new widow dreading all the Christmas hoopla and yearly optimism of a New Year. Planning Christmas presents for...

This indoor image shows a closeup of a woman with long brown hair holding her hands over her face. She's wearing red nail polish, wedding rings, and a black modern watch along with a rust colored sweater or wrap visible on her shoulders. She appears to be crying or at least frustrated.

Common Caregiver Thoughts We Aren’t Proud Of

Wouldn’t it be nice to be a family caregiver who never gets frustrated and is an eternal optimist? Maybe there are some...

We see a blurred outdoor background with trees. In the forground, a woman with long blonde hair learns her head to one side on her upheld hand. She's looking away from the camera with a sad expression. Her eyes appear blue and she's wearing red lipstick, with the blue of her shirt barely visible in the image.

How to Cope With Alzheimer’s Caregiver Burnout

You watch your once mentally sharp loved one decline before your eyes. Their uncontrollable behaviors, mood swings, outbursts, confusion, and memory loss...