Q. My friend, Molly, is the primary caregiver for her mother, Anne. Anne suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, among other things. After a hospital stay for an infected gall bladder, she came home and the responsibility of caring for Anne fell completely on Molly. According to Molly, her daily routine includes preparing Anne’s […]
The High Stakes of Caregiver Stress
Dear Ribbit, My father has dementia, and right now, my mother is his primary caregiver. I could tell that she is extremely stressed in her role. I know that can’t be good for my father. Have there been any studies about how caregiver stress affects loved ones with dementia? Thanks for your help! Phil N. […]
Family Caregiving is NOT Cheaper Than Professional Care. Here’s Why!
Five years ago, Karen got her PhD to teach at the college level. Upon graduating, she began her dream job, but she only was able to teach for about a year, when her mother’s Alzheimer’s began getting worse. Karen quit her job and put her dream on hold, and has been caring for her mother […]
When Caregiving Makes You Crazy
Q. My mother passed away six months ago, and my father is living alone in our family home, about a mile away from me. He is in the early stages of dementia, and has gotten quite forgetful lately. I have been a caregiver for him since mom died, but it’s hard with a full-time job, […]
Virtual Caregiver Support Groups
Dear Magic, I am a new caregiver for my mother who has Alzheimer’s. I would love to chat with some people who are going through the same thing as me. I am interested in finding a virtual support group. Since you’re in the know about tech stuff, can you recommend any good ones? I use […]
Advice from the Caregiving Experts
Q. I am new to caregiving. And, when I say new, I mean completely new. I am a workaholic who is divorced and doesn’t have children, and never even had a pet. I am very close with my mother, who I speak with on the phone daily. Recently, I got some troubling news about mom […]
“Aging Together” With Your Parents
Q. My husband and I are in our mid 60’s. Our kids are married with their own children, and we are ready to retire. Fortunately, my mother is still doing well at the age of 85, but she needs assistance with certain things and gets lonely easily. She was living with us, but we are […]
New Technology for Better Aging
GPS SmartSole Many of us want to age-in-place as we get older. Unfortunately, in most cases, safety, health issues, and social isolation can interfere with that plan. This is why a growing number of seniors and their caregivers are turning to technology that helps them to age comfortably in their homes for as long as possible. New technology, including gadgets and apps, can remind seniors to take their medication and let others […]
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 family living nearby, unfortunately. Last year, I had the flu and […]
Tips for Sandwiched Caregivers
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I am caring for my father, while being a working mom with a husband and three children. I am feeling overwhelmed to say the least. Do you have any tips for someone in my situation? Thanks very much! Sandi Witch —– Dear Sandi, Many of us care for our family and […]
Family Caregivers in 35 States Now Get More Support from Hospital to Home
A few years ago, Gwen’s mother, Emily, was discharged from the hospital after a short stay. When Emily was ready to go home, Gwen arrived to find her mother dressed and sitting in a wheelchair with a list of medications on her lap. Gwen was never given instructions on her mother’s new prescriptions, and assumed […]
Training for Unpaid Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Q. My father is an 80-year-old widower who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I live close by, and will assume the role of his full-time live-in caregiver. By trade, I am an auto mechanic, and am single with no children. I don’t know the first thing about caregiving, but I am all that my father […]
Top 16 Articles of 2016
From the presidential candidates’ views on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, to a new president being elected, we covered a lot of ground in 2016. It was a year that included the passing of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act to help special needs individuals, overtime pay for caregivers being instated and subsequently shut down […]
Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2016 (If You Dare)
With Halloween upon us, now is the time when we present you with this year’s scariest stories. From one typo costing you your computer to loved ones with Alzheimer’s owning guns, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles from least to most scary (but you be the judge) for […]
New Virginia Regulations Limit Caregiver Pay
Stephen Grammer suffers from cerebral palsy, a physical disability that makes it impossible for the 36-year-old to walk, feed himself, or go to the bathroom on his own. Currently, he’s able to live alone in an apartment because he has caregivers with him 16 hours a day. However, Grammer worries that his independence is in […]
Homecare Will Create the Most New Jobs in the Next Decade. But Who Will Fill Them?
Dear Commander Bun Bun, It wasn’t easy, but we found a good, reliable home health aide that has been caring for my mother at her home for a year. This was after two other ones left the industry due to low wages and no insurance. I worry about the future for people like my mother. […]
How Can Caregivers Help Protect Loved Ones Against Scams?
Dear Angel, I am a caregiver for my father, but not always around. I have a feeling he is being targeted by scammers. How can I know for sure? Also, do you have any tips for me on how I can help protect him against fraud and scams? Perry Tectingham —- Dear Perry, The growing […]
Help! My Husband Was Recently Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
Q. I was 25 years old when I met my now husband, Elliot. We became best friends and two years later, then we got married and had a baby. Fifteen years and three children later, I began to notice lots of changes in his personality and mood. He agreed to see a psychiatrist, got a […]
Overcoming Emotions: Moving Mom to a Nursing Home
Q. My aging mother has lived in her home since I was a child. My family loved the neighborhood so much that we never moved, and when I got married and had my own family, we bought a house a few blocks away. Now, dad’s been gone for many years, and mom has had home […]
Red Flags that You Need a Break from Caregiving
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I am a caregiver for my mother, Ellen, who had a stroke last year. She is very demanding at times, and I may be approaching burnout. I rarely take time for myself, and my emotions range between feeling fulfilled and thankful that I can help my mother, and feeling stressed out […]