If you care for a loved one with moderate to advanced dementia, it's likely the idea of placement in memory care has come up. Maybe a friend has nudged you. Or it's been suggested by your relative's doctor or care manager. Perhaps you know you are exhausted. Most...

If someone else in your family has primary responsibility for the care of your loved one, that doesn't mean you don't have anything to contribute. Far from it! Caring for an older adult is more than one person can do alone. There are many ways to lend a hand (even if...

People with heart failure (HF) often tire easily, especially if they exert themselves. In HF, the heart is swollen with fluids and cannot beat efficiently. The body's cells then become hungry for oxygen. If your loved one has HF, you witness this in his or her...

If the person you care for has a low vision diagnosis, three types of modifications to the home can make life easier: Lighting, glare control, and the use of color contrast. Fortunately, these strategies are relatively inexpensive. Lighting. Sunlight is the best. It's...

Frustrated in your search for a paid caregiver? You are not alone. There is an extreme shortage of helpers right now. Even before COVID, the demand for aides was greater than the supply. The "Great Resignation" hit the caring professions hard. Caregivers close to...

Distance makes caregiving more challenging, from knowing what's needed, to getting tasks accomplished. Here are some tips: Stay in touch. This is a win–win. You stay current on issues, and your relative gets the emotional boost. Use the phone, email, and/or Web-based...

Catching things early is big with Medicare. Every year, all Medicare enrollees are eligible for a free "Wellness Visit" with their primary care doctor. This is NOT an annual physical, so don't use that term when making the appointment. Beyond basic vitals—height,...

In most families, there is one person who takes on the lion's share of caring for an aging loved one. Perhaps it's the oldest daughter. Or the emotionally closest child. Or maybe it's the geographically closest relative. And when there are no siblings, it's usually...

Our eyes show us the world. If something goes wrong with them, it can affect our total well-being. Dry eye syndrome makes eyes feel gritty, burning, itchy, and sensitive—discomforts that are hard to ignore! It typically manifests with age and affects as many as 30% of...

The dangers of cold weather are obvious outdoors. But there are dangers indoors, too, most often because the house thermostat is set too low. People can die from being too cold. Older adults are especially at risk. Signs of low body temperature (hypothermia)....

Take any roomful of people and likely two-thirds of them have relatives who aren't talking to each other. Families are messy. Hurts abound. Some people wait until a serious diagnosis to reconcile. They often regret the years of separation they can never retrieve....

The grandparent–grandchild relationship can be precious, like no other. But even young children notice if Grandma or Grandpa isn't acting the way they used to, or the same way others do. And they will have questions. "Why does he keep calling me by Dad's name?" "She...