No caregiver can be expected to anticipate every need or provide a perfect solution when there is none. No caregiver should put aside long-term needs like rest, relaxation, healthy food and socialization for the sake of another. Read more →

...We accept our attitude as valid. We may wish circumstances were different than they are, but if our reality is that we feel blue or even depressed rather than cheerful, well that is how we feel. No need for guilt or explanations. Read more →

Dear PN: You are smart to consider these questions now since there’s time to create a plan with your parents’ input. Most people are limited caregivers long before they even consider this question and this is true in your case. Read more →

...Getting a family member or friend to see a doctor for a possible dementia diagnosis can be an overwhelming challenge, partially because of the stigma that surrounds any mental limitation. Therefore, denial steps in, which in turn makes many older adults refuse to see a doctor. Read more →

These men and women work overtime to raise children while caring for their aging parents. During the holiday season, nearly every parent has one, if not several, school holiday performances to attend and church or other religious programs to participate in Read more →

One can be lonely in a marriage. One can be lonely in a crowd. It's all about the quality of the relationships. People living in assisted living facilities and nursing homes are often lonely. While they live among plenty of people, these are not the people they've built their life around. Read more →

Elders in the U.S. face similar issues with loneliness. A study published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry found that participants who reported feeling lonely were more likely to experience dementia than those who didn't feel lonely. Read more →

I try to talk with her and ask her what she wants but she ignores me when I do. I think that we need to move her to assisted living, but I don’t know how to physically get her there. – LE Read more →

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Your parents likely know all about what they should do to preserve their health. Exercise, eat right, get enough sleep. Read more →