When I was little, my mother would make excuses for the A’s on my report card as though I hadn’t earned them. I explained to a friend not long ago that because of this, after third grade I stopped showing the grade report to my mother. Being a mother herself, this...
My father was in his eighties and still driving. I had driven with him and knew he was driving way below the speed limit. I also knew he was not as aware of his environment as he should be. It was the kind of situation where I was afraid he would be the cause of an...
There are many people who are currently caregivers for their parents. The National Alliance for Caregiving reports “over 65.7 million Americans currently provide care for a family member or loved. Thirty Six percent of them are caring for an elderly parent.” It...
One of the most challenging aspects of caregiving is managing agitation or aggression from the person you are taking care of. These are two distinctly different behaviors. Agitation stems from anxiety, fear, or confusion. It is a restless state where it is difficult...
Since becoming a caregiver, you may have discovered you have a passionate dislike for the disease or condition that caused you to become a caregiver. No disease is “liked” but generally they aren’t on our radar until there is a reason for it to be there. I would make...
There may come a time when the ability to independently walk, dress, cook, or bathe becomes increasingly challenging for an aging loved one. How do you assess if it is safe for them to remain in their home without any assistance? There are some warning signs to watch...