eldercare Archives - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

Is the doctor a “good fit” for an aging parent?

January 17, 2019

Navigating the healthcare system involves dealing with a wide range of physicians and support personnel. Not all physician partnerships are successful. Issues like difficulty reaching the doctor, hurried office visits, confusing medical jargon, limited explanations, and inefficient billing support can…

Sorting Out Aging Parent’s Situations and Issues: Start With A Graphic Overview of “All The Moving Parts”

August 20, 2018

In our work with older adults and their families, we find that a graphic overview (aka mind map)of the “moving parts” of their situation or issue helps everyone better understand its context as well as possible steps that could be…

When “Little Changes” Cause Everything To Fall Apart

July 26, 2018

There are no “little” changes in the world of aging parents. Any action, throwing out old magazines, scheduling an appointment without telling them, or not including a sibling in what seems a minor decision can trigger a temporary system shut…

Resist Punitive Perfection

April 7, 2018

Pointing out errors of memory or cognition to our aging parents proves nothing…Period…We all will suffer the same fate when we are firmly in their shoes and we will equally resent being called out for something we can’t control…Instead of…

Higher Levels of Depression in Married Caregivers

February 18, 2017

“We also found that caregivers who are married and caring for a family member with a diagnosis other than cancer, such as Alzheimer’s disease, had higher levels of depression,” says Debra Parker-Oliver, professor of family and community medicine at the…

One Good Idea…

March 29, 2016

This is the first in a series of 3-minute videos created for caregivers. They are designed to be illuminating and encouraging , one good idea amid the complexity and uncertainty of caring for aging parents…

Compassionate Body Guard

March 8, 2016

Our aging parents are not well matched for a healthcare system running on procedural autopilot. They need compassionate body guards who will help them make sense of their medical options based on their quality of life wishes and then help…

Art Therapy and Alzheimer’s Disease

October 3, 2015

Yes, there is loss, painful, progressive loss. But what remains in Alzheimer’s disease? That is the critical question that this blog post explores. In this case, art turns out to be the residual miracle… An Unexpected Legacy: Art Therapy Breakthroughs…

Alzheimer’s and Agitation: A Surprising New Medication?

July 27, 2015

This intriguing article from NBC News suggest that a combination drug of dextromethorphan – a cough suppressant – and the anti-arrhythmic drug quinidine may markedly reduce agitation in some Alzheimer’s patients. If this proves true, it could help address one…

Caregiver Decision Fatigue

July 1, 2015

Caring for aging parents brings with it a new kind of exhaustion called decision fatigue. While its cause has a number of contributing factors, two in particular stand out as primary sources: • Sustained engagement with dilemmas • Decision volatility…