While the enormous amount of information contained in When Your Aging Parent Needs Help could be overwhelming if presented by someone less skilled, Dr. K, as she’s known to her patients and readers, has a talent for making information accessible, even friendly. Read more →

Your friend may have turned down your invitations, but don’t drop her from your list. She still needs to know that people care. It may be that her situation is so emotionally and physically overwhelming... Read more →

The confidence that you gain from this type of resource can inspire you to stay strong in what you know, and these connections will keep you learning. Additionally, if... Read more →

Mention a wonderful new assisted living that your friend’s mother just moved into. Mention some exciting new upgrades to in-home bathrooms that are actually good for everyone’s safety. Then, turn the conversation elsewhere... Read more →

Dear Mom’s Keeper: You sound like a caring daughter with understandable concerns. If it’s any comfort, parents resisting help is a common problem faced by adult children. For some, the concern is about cognitive problems, which thankfully isn’t an issue here, but each requires a somewhat different approach. You, along with most adult children, want to see your mother stay safe. Unfortunately, this logical and understandable viewpoint is running head on... Read more →

Dear TR: You and your husband have my deepest sympathy for his poor health as well as for the distress his grown children are causing. Your husband’s decision is allowing for the reality of his illness... Read more →

Dear BG: You are not in any way a bad daughter. In fact, you sound like a smart, loving daughter with insight. You’re intuitive enough to acknowledge that becoming a long-term, full-time caregiver would not work for you. Acceptance of this fact without judgment... Read more →

Dear SL: While you may be more self-sufficient than many older adults we read about, you are certainly not selfish and possibly not as unusual as conventional wisdom would imply. We can’t ignore the fact that loneliness and isolation are killers for older adults... Read more →

As people age, they tend to feel a loss of control over many things, namely their independence. Our bodies weaken and affect our physical abilities. Chronic pain may be a new reality. Some lose the ability to walk without the assistance of another person or a... Read more →

While most people who develop the disease can live well if they have solid medical support, there are still challenges, and sadly the disease is progressive. By the way... Read more →