One of the things I’ve heard said (and I often jokingly say myself) is that having children is a convenient excuse for getting to have a second childhood, to relive one’s youth. This was most definitely a phenomenon that came true at a Halloween Eve party several years back. I had been invited to my […]
Updated November 2025 In a previous post, I spoke about behavior management problems in dementia (also known as ‘behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia,’ or BPSD for short) and talked about both the underlying causes of behavior management issues, and the problems posed by relying on medication management. I also said that I would spend […]
Updated December 2025 Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey suggests that Americans are experiencing an “epidemic of low bone mass” in the femoral neck, lumbar spine, or both. The problem increases with age, affecting 47.5% of Americans who are 65 and over (and 51.5% of women in that age range). Low bone […]
Updated November 2025 At the nursing home where I work, approximately 50% of the residents have some form of diagnosable dementia (which is now referred to as ‘major neurocognitive disorder’ in the current version of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Typically, it’s one of the two most common forms […]
Good nutrition is important for everyone, and good nutrition for older adults is especially crucial to maintaining their health and independence and improving recovery time from illnesses and injuries. How older adults get their nutrition varies widely. On the federal level, there are Nutrition Programs authorized and funded in part by the Older Americans Act. […]
The following list of organizations and companies is provided for informational purposes only. This directory is not comprehensive, but it does include some excellent resources to help you jumpstart your research. While visiting these websites, be aware that some are reputable government sites; others are commercial businesses that may request you fill out a form […]
Caregiving is exhausting, both physically and emotionally, as well as time-consuming. That means that caregivers need–and should take advantage of–all the help and support they can get. It helps to have someone else check in on your parents periodically to assess their living situation. You need to recognize that your parents may not be totally […]
Your parents are healthy, live independently in their own home, and seem to manage well on their own with little help or oversight. But how can you be sure, and what can you do to make sure nothing changes? If you live nearby, visit frequently, occasionally without advance warning–that way you can see how they […]
Now that you are beginning to understand the challenges of caregiving, have identified and assembled your caregiving team, had the difficult conversation with your aging parents about their visions of the future, and emphasized again and again the need for open communication and feedback, you are ready for the next steps. Some More Fundamentals Some […]
Taking on the role of caregiver for your aging parents is a life-altering challenge–both for your parents and for you. For your parents, it marks a transition from the independent life they are used to, a transition where they turn over some, if not all, of the decision making and responsibilities to someone else–namely you […]