This is because her brain has left her unable to process information correctly, therefore her reality is most likely going to be different than your reality. For this reason, telling her that her incontinence pad is leaking and she needs to change will likely... Read more →

Dear AR: Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate hearing from people of all ages. I’ve covered end-of-life documents before, of course, but here I’m adding information about another form ... Read more →

Dear SN: You have my sympathy and understanding. I believe that your situation isn't all that rare. I hear about it often from readers, and it happened to me, as well. My timeframe was similar to yours but... Read more →

During the last few years of my caregiving, while my mother-in-law and my parents were still alive, my son was still having major health issues, and I was working full time, I read about the term “sandwich generation.” I remember thinking it was a clever concept... Read more →

Within those conversations, you’ll likely see opportunities to discuss their ideal wishes. Even if they are already at a stage where they probably should make adjustments in how they are living, approach it by asking how they see their future. Read more →

Dear Fuming: You are entirely right to feel left out of the incontinence discussions. I’m glad that you’ve found some support through groups, but we’d like you to know that we’ll also do our best to support you. With that in mind, I’m briefing readers... Read more →

Sometimes inhibitions and filters that previously held people back diminish with the disease. Read more →

Dear JH: By definition, caregivers care for people with at least somewhat fragile cognitive and/or physical health, and often both. That reality keeps many caregivers stay stuck in a fight-or-flight mode due to handling repeated emergencies, sometimes several at once. Unfortunately Read more →

...When you were a teen, you often took care of your grandma, who was ravaged by Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), while also keeping track of your toddler sister. When you were the joint owner of a four-plex, you did your best to help your tenant/neighbor who struggled with RA. Later, Read more →

Burnout is a pervasive problem for family caregivers, especially those who have no time to get away from the ongoing emotional and physical demands of caring for an ailing family member. Your situation is a classic example: One adult child who is still living in the parents’ community... Read more →