If the person you care for has a problem with memory loss (dementia), you may find that they get agitated about things that don't make sense. Your long-retired dad, for instance, may wake up in the mornings and insist, "I have to go to work!" It can be confusing for...

Anger as an emotion is neither good nor bad. It is a messenger. It can provide energy and motivate you to action. Chances are you have felt angry at some point during your experience of caring for a loved one. It's normal! However, anger by itself has never solved a...

Is air travel coming up for your older relative? These tips can make it an easier, less stressful experience for both of you. Preflight planning Check with their doctor. Get an "okay" for travel by air. Ask for a note to support any special assistance needed. Book...

Many people hear of aspiration pneumonia when it's already too late: their loved one has the diagnosis. This doesn't have to be you. Aspiration pneumonia is preventable. It occurs when foreign matter, such as food or saliva, is breathed (aspirated) into the lungs,...

The request every adult child dreads: "Promise you won't put me in a nursing home." Your natural response is to provide a soothing answer: "Of course. Never." That is instinctual, and comforting. But that quick response now may prove problematic later. Take time to...

If the person you care for has Parkinson's, you may be surprised to discover the many ways the disease hampers communication. Voice problems alone affect 60%-80% of people with this condition. Low volume and slurred speech may make it hard at times for you to grasp...

What if your mother developed dementia? Are you legally entitled to make medical decisions for her? What if your father had a major accident? Do you know his treatment preferences? An advance directive provides answers. A directive is completed in "advance," when a...

Does your relative with dementia stay calm during the day but shift toward agitation as evening approaches? Are you noticing that in late afternoon they become anxious, confused, restless? Perhaps they pace the house or ask the same questions again and again. This...

This Father's Day, you may be among the millions of Americans who face the bittersweet reality of celebrating a father who is no longer alive. Holidays of this sort are especially poignant the first year after a death. Whether your father was a protector, a fun buddy,...

"When are we going out?" A reasonable question under normal circumstances. But if the person you care for has dementia, you may get this question multiple times in an hour. Aargh! Indeed, repetitive questions are one of the top irritants mentioned by family caregivers...

Financial abuse of elders is shockingly common. Research shows that annually about one in ten older adults in the United States reports abuse, and the true number is likely much higher. Financial abuse makes up the majority. It occurs when someone takes, uses, or...

Roughly 67% of adults over age seventy have hearing loss significant enough to warrant the use of hearing aids. But many elders resist the idea. Your loved one may believe there are no good options for correcting their hearing. In fact, there are more options than...