Remaining at home is the number one desire among the greatest number of elders. Staying in the family home is comfort, stability and gives nearly everyone a sense of freedom. But what happens when safety and health become a big issue and living alone becomes more than your parents can handle? These are issues that […]

An October 2017 story run by the Sacramento Bee ran a story about a number of nursing homes that had closed in the area. The Bee followed the patients to where they were relocated in another facility owned by the same company and found they were still in “jeopardy” at substandard facilities. The company’s California […]

Last week Daddy called and said he was worried about my mama. “She’s confused,” he said. “She woke up from a nap and couldn’t remember where anyone was.” I knew she’d been having some trouble remembering things. I also knew she thought she had a bladder infection. Then she developed a skin rash. “Karen,” she […]

We never know when will be the last holiday we get to spend with a beloved family member. Actually, there are no guarantees for any of us to be around for another year of family gatherings. Let us all make the most of our holidays this year and create memories to last and memorabilia to […]

Remembering when we were young and everything was new is fun for all of us, but especially for our older loved ones. Even those with mild to moderate dementia will love to talk about the “good old days.” When you start a conversation about your loved one’s past — hang on to your hat! You’re […]

A lot of my posts focus on the caregiver more than those they are caring for. The reason is that all you caregivers have a lot to lose if you don’t care with care. Really. You are focused on doing everything you can to take care of your loved ones. Yes, that would be more […]

What family stories mean the most to you? Have you taken the time to make sure your younger family members know their own history? Sit down with a tape recorder, video camera, or computer, or even just some paper and a pen and get started. You won’t regret it. As the grandkids started coming, I […]

Did you grow up wanting to be like your mom? Not me. Honestly that’s the last thing I wanted to do and worked really hard at it. I remember being one of those ornery daughters. I also remember having one of those daughters. You know what they say about “payback.” It’s all so true. Now […]

We all want to keep our minds sharp and our lives interesting. The best way I’ve found to do that is to always keep learning new skills and stay interested in the world around me. I went back to college — old, really old. I thought it would be so hard but what I found […]

Pets bring us joy and fun, and certainly make us much healthier by far. I’ve had seniors who live alone tell me that their pet is the reason for them to get up in the morning and look forward to the day. One 80-something year old told me her dog was always so glad to […]