John “Alec” Stephenson, an administrator at the Silverado Aspen Park memory care community in Salt Lake City, raised a son with a hearing impairment. As many parents of children who are hearing impaired, the family embraced sign language as a means to communicate with their son. Years later, Alec started a program to teach sign […]
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 depressed because she had to forego her dreams of world travel and didn’t even […]
I’m Finally Taking a Vacation — What to Do About Caregiving Duties
Caroline’s sister and her family live in sunny Tampa, Florida. She’s been wanting to visit for three years now, ever since her sister’s family bought their house near the beach. But it has been tough to get away, since Caroline is a live-in caregiver for her mother. Caroline gave it a lot of thought and […]
Am I a Helicopter Child, and If So, Why is That a Bad Thing?
Q. I heard my sister and brother talking about my mother’s care the other day when they thought I couldn’t hear them. I distinctly remember them mentioning the term “helicopter child,” and they were referring to me! I have heard the term “helicopter” parent, and I know that it refers to someone who has the […]
Mistakes Adult Siblings Make When Caregiving for a Parent
Dear Bebe, When I was growing up, I was the organized one who was responsible and did what he was told, and my sister was also pretty on-top of things. My brother–not so much. Now, we are at a point where we need to work together to be caregivers for our dad, who lives in […]
The Ecosystem of Family Caregiving
Q. My family is new to caregiving, and we’re trying to figure out how to best support each other, but it seems like a tangled web. For instance, I am divorced, but I have a son who can help with practical responsibilities as I care for my mother with Parkinson’s disease in our home. My […]
Including Grandchildren in Caregiving
Dear Magic, My mother moved close by after my father passed away. She suffers from diabetes and has hip problems. My 13-year-old daughter, Bella, and my 9 year old, Rex, want to visit to help with grandmother’s caregiving and spend meaningful time with her. What are some ways that young Bella and Rex can help […]
Millennials are Emerging as a Generation of Caregivers
Q. My name is Kelsey, and I’m a junior in college. I lived on campus my first year but ended up moving back home when I learned that my mother needed caregiving help. College tuition is costly and so is caregiving, so I figured that I would save money on housing and having to hire […]
Resources for Millennial Caregivers
Dear Angel, I am 22 years old and I am a caregiver for my 80 year old grandmother. It is both challenging and rewarding. She is in a wheelchair and needs help cooking, dressing, and shopping for groceries. I am often concerned about her falling when she is transferring to her chair. Sometimes I get […]
Questions to Ask When Hiring a Home Health Agency
Dear Angel, Our mom had a pretty bad stroke recently, but fortunately it was not a massive stroke, and we will be able to bring her home soon. We’re looking for a home health agency to assist her when she comes home from the hospital. The hospital gave us the name of just one agency, […]
Can a Marriage Survive Caregiving for an In-Law?
Q. When my husband, Paul, first met my parents, they didn’t hit it off. He can be stubborn sometimes, and mom is difficult, and she never thought that he was good enough for me. After Thanksgiving dinner, when we announced we were engaged, my mother threw him out of her home, and my mother and […]
Long-Distance Caregivers: Making the Most of Your Role
Kate is concerned about her mother, a recent widow who lives alone in Kate’s childhood home in Fairfax County. Although Kate lives in Massachusetts, she grew up in Northern Virginia and it’s where her mother feels most comfortable. Kate’s mother’s decline in health since her father died requires Kate’s help and attention, but due to […]
Caregiving for a Veteran
Dear Ribbit, My husband is an partially disabled veteran and I am his caregiver. Sometimes, it can be stressful, and I can use all the help, support, and educational resources I can get. A friend told me she thinks that there’s some type of program that offers “comprehensive assistance” for family members who provide […]
Bill to Support 40 Million Caregivers Becomes Law
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 […]
Managing Long-Distance Caregiving with Technology
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I am a long-distance caregiver for my father, who has Parkinson’s and lives 2,000 miles away. My children are in school here, and my husband works for the government in DC, so I don’t foresee us moving to be near dad anything soon. Do you know about any good technology I […]