Dear WS: I appreciate your compassion and your willingness to help your grandma. While it can be frustrating when people have hearing aids yet won't wear them, your instincts are right in that the problem behind your grandma's refusal is what needs to be addressed. Read more →

“Incontinence affects millions of Americans and is very closely linked to diet, since what someone eats and drinks directly affects their bladder. With that said, people may think drinking less water will help them avoid incontinence, Read more →

Each time I walked into Dad’s room in the nursing home, he would be rigid in bed, propped up on one elbow and slamming his other fist against his upturned palm. Pow! Pow! Pow! Over and over, he pounded fist against hand. Read more →

Perhaps the most challenging of all is that many caregivers are now trying to care for a parent or spouse in their homes with limited supplies – sometimes limited food choices – and almost no outside contact. These caregivers alternate between fear for their loved ones’ lives and worry about how their parent or spouse will survive if they, the caregiver, becomes sick. Read more →

In an effort to assist residents, staff and leaders at Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care are requesting donations of used iPads to provide families and friends the opportunity to video chat. To be used exclusively for digitally connecting residents to their loved ones during these difficult times of required separation, donated iPads and tablets may be dropped off at Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care’s offices, where they will be sanitized thoroughly before use. Read more →

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Dear LH: Your mother is fortunate to have you to watch over her care. Like you, I think that any older adult is likely to feel abandoned if the family moves them to a new living environment and then just leaves without visiting for two weeks. Additionally, people like your mom need an advocate and that advocate must be an obvious, though friendly, presence from the beginning. Read more →

Despite trying their best, hospital staff is often overworked and short on numbers. If a family member has ever stayed in a nursing home, you’ve probably seen staffing stretched to the limit. A hospital stay will be just as tough, if not more so. Read more →

A parent home alone: This may be even more frightening, especially if your parent is particularly vulnerable during the best of times. However, if loneliness is their main risk here are some suggestions: Read more →

...My family was fortunate in that we knew the facility staff and could trust that they would do the right thing. I can only imagine your terror if your parents are newly placed in a facility where they haven’t yet been able to settle in, or perhaps worse if they are in a facility Read more →