Don't you just somehow feel better when you laugh? It turns out, that's not just fantasy. Laughter has physical and emotional health benefits. Studies show that laughter can support the heart. If we're laughing, we're not stressing. The stress hormones make chronic...

When your loved one is hospitalized, getting word of discharge "soon" can be heartening: Yay! Improvement! And it also can be distressing. Many aspects of care may drop into your hands. Mobility, incontinence, wound care, oxygen…. And you may not have the needed help...

Chronic inflammation occurs when the immune system doesn't shut down properly. Instead, it attacks the body. This can last for months, even years. It's like a persistent internal war. It puts the body under tremendous stress. There is growing evidence that chronic...

When we are sad, often the best medicine is to talk with someone. If you are the person listening, you may find it challenging to witness your loved one's sadness as they struggle with the losses inherent to illness and aging. It's natural to want to "fix" their...

Is mom considering an herb-based remedy? If so, she joins 24% of American adults who report using herbal medicines, supplements, or teas. Fifteen percent turn to chiropractors, while 9% use acupuncture and 6% use homeopathy. You probably have heard individual success...

Imagine your mom has fallen for the third time this year. To you, it's obvious she needs more support, perhaps home care. Your sister thinks mom should come live with her in another state. Mom's finances are slim and she doesn't want to leave her home. Consider these...

Does the person you care for tend to forget things, such as appointments? Do they get easily confused? Are they withdrawing from social situations? These changes may be early signs of Alzheimer's or some other dementia. But it's equally possible that the problem is...

The multilayered "phantom hacker" or "tech support" scam is by far the most lucrative scam to date—$542 million was transferred to fraudsters between January and June 2023. Two-thirds of those victimized were persons over age sixty-five! Here is the typical scenario:...

If your loved one gets admitted into the hospital, they may be disappointed that their primary care doctor is not the physician taking care of them. Instead, their care will be coordinated by a "hospitalist." This is a doctor who specializes in caring for patients...

Many aspects of aging involve sadness and loss: Loss of independence, a serious diagnosis, death of a partner, spouse, or friend. You as a family member may experience sadness as you witness your loved one's struggles. But also, for your own caregiving-related losses,...

Where do you go? Your relative has distressing symptoms. The primary care doctor's office is closed, or they don't have an opening anytime soon. The Emergency Room is open 24/7 but will involve long waits and a lot of stress. An urgent care center is a great middle...