There are so many websites leading in different directions, each touting they are the premier, largest, biggest, best option for aging parent home care, assisted living or even financial planning and legal advice. Where does a family turn? How do families know they are getting someone who is working on behalf of them, with the [...]
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View the video blog: Guilt and Parent Caregiving Recently in talking with a caregiver who takes care of her mother, father and mother-in-law, the ever present “guilt work” came into the conversation. “Why”, said the daughter, “do I never feel like I do enough or do the right thing”? Well, it is more complicated [...]
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We all want to live life fully for as long as possible. Those who live to be 100 years and beyond—centenarians– are an interesting segment of the population to study since they may provide clues as to how this may be achieved. One of the common character traits of centenarians is the ability to remain [...]
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A daughter I was working with called and asked how to get her mother to agree to go to a doctor appointment for a flu shot. Her mom has dementia of the Alzheimer’s variety and is starting to become paranoid. The daughter has spent the past 65 years reasoning with her mother, a retired attorney. [...]
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Often individuals with dementia are in denial to something as evident as incontinence, deny they have a problem and make excuses for the wetness on their clothing or furniture. This is embarrassing to family members and presents a hygiene issue to the family member with dementia. This could be the sign of a urinary tract [...]
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It is important in communicating with someone who has Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, to know the words they have always used for a room like the toilet – did they say “powder room”, “bathroom”, ”can” or another? If your family member is going into a care center, retirement community or dementia care facility and [...]
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How often I have heard from a family member that their mother is in the hospital and seems so confused! Patients who were functioning fairly well at home often seem unaware, forgetful or anxious when in the hospital. Sometimes there are reports of combative or agitated behavior; or concerns that a patient can no longer [...]
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Dr. Dennis McCullough has written a book on Embracing “Slow Medicine,” The Compassionate Approach to Caring for Your Aging Loved Ones called “My Mother Your Mother”. Dr. McCullough’s approach is a gentle, kind common sense approach to extending medical care to the very frail elderly. He calls for a movement in “attending” to seniors changing [...]
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Do you allow Mom to smoke, despite her dementia and living alone in a senior apartment complex? Do you respect your Dad’s right and autonomy despite his 90+ years of life? With poor vision and beginning forgetfulness, do you allow him to drive across the state to see an old friend who is ill? Adult [...]
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