If your relative is taking brand-name prescription drugs, a switch to generic could provide significant savings. Why are brand-name drugs so expensive? It ta...

If your loved one snores, this may be a sign of "sleep apnea." All snoring jokes aside, sleep apnea is a serious condition that deprives the brain of oxygen....

What we know so far is that COVID-19 is spread much like the regular flu—through coughs and sneezes that put droplets in the air and on surfaces. It may be 2...

Is dementia making oral care difficult? Unfortunately, this isn't a task to let go. Poor mouth care leads to cavities and gum disease, and then to toothaches...

As a society, we value independence. The self-sufficient super-achiever. When it comes to family caregiving, however, this mind-set can backfire, resulting i...

Too often, older adults assume that fatigue and trouble breathing are just a natural part of aging or being out of shape. They aren't. In fact, these can be ...

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, it's a good time to consider strategies to prevent your partner from getting overlooked because of your caregiving. Cari...

When caregiving draws us closer to a family member's routines, we're sometimes surprised by what we find. Perhaps you've noticed that Dad only leaves the hou...

Upon a loved one's last breath, you may find yourself a little disoriented. Respect that otherworldliness. Families often just sit in silence for a while. Or...

Each new year's dawning seems like a nudge to check one's personal compass. Are you headed in the direction you want to be going? Has life seemed just a fren...

The benefits of gratitude are well understood. Studies show, for example, that approaching life from a grateful stance yields a stronger immune system, lower...

Are you concerned a loved one may have dementia? If so, be careful how you bring it up. It’s a scary subject! Before jumping to conclusions, gather some info...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) thickens airways, making it harder to breathe in and get enough oxygen. Damage to the lungs also makes it harder...

November is COPD Awareness month. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a lung condition that gets steadily worse over time. It is often characteri...

Are you happy with your relative's Medicare plan? If not, fall is the annual "Open Enrollment" period. This is when you can change plans for the coming year....

A surprising number of conditions, from simple to serious, can cause an older adult to fall. If you observed the fall or arrived soon after, find out if your...

"Senior moments" are a normal part of aging. They happen to everyone. We just don't process things as quickly as we did in younger years. Some people develop...

Many older adults who have fallen believe it is best to "stay safe" and avoid falling again by restricting their activities. Unfortunately, that's the worst ...

Nostalgia has historically gotten a bad rap, viewed as a precursor to feelings of sadness and longing. Emotional downers. Today we know that's a faulty assum...

Eating, dressing, getting in and out of a chair. In the course of daily life, we use many skills to accomplish even "simple" tasks. Walking or using a fork i...