Dear Oakley, My father is a veteran and I am his caregiver. All of the benefit options seem really confusing. Is there an easy place to review and obtain all the available healthcare benefits without all the confusion and … [Read more...]
Family Caregiving: The Ultimate Juggling Act
Max, a 16-year-old high-school student from Fairfax County, knows the great responsibility of being a family caregiver. Max currently cares for his grandfather who has dementia, while maintaining straight A’s and being a top youth … [Read more...]
More Caregivers are Experiencing Increased Burnout During Coronavirus Pandemic
Q. I have been the primary caregiver for my father with dementia for three years now. It was stressful before, but now even more so because of the pandemic. My new emotions deal with fear and anxiety over the virus and guilt … [Read more...]
When Caregiver Stress Becomes Extreme
Q. My aunt Rae, 84, was the primary caregiver for my Uncle Leo, who suffers from dementia. Leo would wander, so Rae couldn't leave him alone, and she missed the conversations she and Leo used to have. Rae became resentful and … [Read more...]
How to Care for a Loved One When You Are Sick Yourself
Q. I am a new caregiver for my mother, who has had Parkinson's for nearly a decade. My father passed away recently, so now it's just me, my mom, my two children, and my husband, who travels frequently for work. We have no other … [Read more...]
A Must-Have Document for Family Caregivers
Kayla’s father, Bob, is in the early stages of dementia. She has hired paid caregivers who have come and gone because Bob has tendencies towards anger and violent outbursts. Kayla has decided that the time has come to quit her job … [Read more...]
Mandating Overtime Pay for In-Home Caregivers
My mother-in-law, Stella, lives alone in her home in Florida, and her health has been declining for some time. About a year ago, we hired an in-home caregiver for her who comes 4 hours every day from a local agency. Now her … [Read more...]
Critter Corner: I Am A Caregiver Whose Friends Are Deserting Me!
Dear Angel, My mother needs full-time care, so I quit my job and moved in with her. Before doing so, I had a core group of friends that I went to lunch with, to the movies etc. Now, they are not including me anymore. And, it … [Read more...]
Hospitals are Required to Train a Family Caregiver Prior to Discharge
Photo from US News Q. My father, Marty, was in a serious car accident last year, where he broke several bones. During the week that followed his discharge from the hospital, my step-mother, Carolyn, struggled as she … [Read more...]