What to Do When Siblings Can’t Agree on a Parent’s Care Needs
For some lucky families, having all adult siblings gather around and plan how to take care of Mom and Dad as their...
Minding Our Elders Blog
Family Disagrees about Moving Widowed Mom Weeks After Husband’s Death
Dear Carol: Dad died two weeks ago at 89 years of age. Mom is 87 and has what they think is early-stage...
How to Communicate with Someone Who Can No Longer Speak
Years ago, I stumbled upon a video that remains vivid in my mind. In it, an elderly couple who had spent a...
How Do I Get Dad Out of His Cluttered, Unsafe Home?
People want to stay in their own homes. You hear it and read about it all the time. And there’s some merit...
“I Promised My Parents I’d Never Put Them in a Care Home”
Caregiving is a job that is full of ups and downs. Many of us take on this role out of love and...
What to Do When Older Adults Refuse to Bathe and Change Their Clothes
When it comes to caring for the elderly, hygiene issues are surprisingly common. Determining why their bathing habits have changed is the...
Some Tips If You Suspect Abuse in Your Parent’s Retirement Home or Facility
I think most of us approach the idea of sharing the care of an elder with a lot of trepidation. We have...
Alcoholism in the Elderly: How Can You Help?
Millions of people consume alcohol, but each person has their own unique relationship with this substance. While many can drink in moderation...
Cognitive Capacity Defined by Ability, not Age
Dear Carol: You’ve addressed this before, but I need help. I’m 73 and feel like I’m continually under scrutiny as my adult...
Ways to Minimize Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia
Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia...
