Gifts for those with memory loss
Deciding what holiday gifts to give a person with memory loss can be challenging. Following are some tips to share with family members....
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Honoring family caregivers
November is National Family Caregivers Month. We want to express our gratitude to you, who are part of the 40 million people (one in six...
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Suppose they don't get better ...
Are frequent visits to the ER a significant part of the past six to twelve months? Does your loved one seem more fatigued? Less...
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Palliative care for seriously ill veterans
Is your family member seriously ill or in frail condition? A veteran? If so, the VA has a special service that offers palliative care to...
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What is Lewy body dementia?
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are many other conditions that also bring on memory problems. It...
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October is National Crime Prevention Month
It's unpleasant to imagine that your loved one might become the victim of crime, but it's worth considering. There are valuable...
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Who is who in skilled nursing facilities?
If your loved one is discharged from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility (SNF), their care will be in the hands of a team of...
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When your loved one is depressed, suggest exercise
Depression is common in older adults. It's long been known that brisk exercise can help reduce depression. But it turns out that exercise...
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Are you prepared for a disaster?
No one likes to dwell on the possibility of disaster. But we all need to prepare for one, just in case. Help your relatives gear up for...
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Could medicines be the culprit?
If your loved one has balance problems, the culprit may be in the medicine. Many common medicines have side effects that can impair...
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Caring with a stepparent
Has your parent remarried? If so, you may be sharing the caregiving with a person you don't know very well. Biological families often...
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Noncancer screening tests
Medicare pays for many screening exams, and even counseling sessions, to help nip common illnesses in the bud. Screening tests are...
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Listening: The other half of the conversation
Good communication requires both speaking and listening. Oddly enough, if you make a specific effort to listen, it can open doors. Once...
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When grandpa has dementia: Teens and tweens
For a teen, a relative's dementia can turn a close relationship into one that's now awkward, confusing, and embarrassing. And creates...
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The doctor interview
After you have scoured the Internet to help your relative find a potential new doctor—someone on their plan and with no obvious red...
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Caught in a cycle of negativity?
For most family caregivers, frustration and guilt are common, as is anxiety and resentment. These feelings are normal and reasonable...
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Senior centers: Worth a fresh look
Even pre-COVID, many 90-year-olds adamantly refused to go to a senior center, saying they didn't want to be around "all those old...
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Combatting dehydration
With summer's warm weather, be on the lookout for dehydration in your loved one. The signs include confusion, fatigue, weakness, and...
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Dementia and finances
If the person you care for has dementia—memory or thinking problems from a condition such as Alzheimer's, a stroke, or Parkinson's—unpaid...
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The "Sandwich Generation"
Elderly parents are living longer. Children are often dependent for more years than expected. Add to this the ongoing responsibilities to...
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