In my experience, I’ve found that it isn’t always seniors who avoid talking about death. Some do, of course, but many of our aging loved ones would like to discuss the legal and financial arrangements they’ve made, as well as their preferences for end-of-life care... Read more →

Dear PG: While mild cognitive impairment (MCI) doesn’t always progress to Alzheimer’s, it frequently does. With your husband’s family history as well as his relatively young age it would seem that his risk of progression... Read more →

For a while, my mom's disease consisted of minor memory loss, and she was able to be a fairly active part of my dad's care team after his surgery left him demented. However, as is to be expected, her condition worsened... Read more →

The proper response will depend entirely on the sibling and the nature of the family relationship. Let’s look at a few examples and contemplate responses. Perhaps these can inspire other ideas for how to handle your unique circumstances. Read more →

This scene was the first time I began to practice what I was reflecting upon while writing “Wishes To Die For.” Particularly how to truly listen to another person’s heart through compassion instead of using a stethoscope... Read more →

Dear DL: You’re right that I've addressed this, but I’ve received several similar questions within the last couple of weeks, so we’ll take another look. The articles you're referring to are probably about the current research stating that early signs of dementia may show up... Read more →

“My husband Ron, a lifelong academic, was diagnosed at age 56 with younger onset Alzheimer's disease (also known as early onset Alzheimer’s disease or EOAD) while he was still teaching. We’d always combined our finances, and though we were not wealthy... Read more →

The “Empowered Caregiver” is specifically designed to provide you with strategies and solutions for caring for your older parents in ways that can significantly reduce your own stress. Fodrini-Johnson begins with the all-important basics such as safety concerns and navigating legal issues. From there, she moves forward to assist you... 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 →

Ideally, before things get to this stage, you’ve had conversations with your parents about how they want their needs met during their later years. They’ve hopefully designated powers of attorney for both health care and finances, drawn up a will, and finalized... Read more →