Caregiving
How My Mom Got Swindled By a Friend
On the morning after we buried my dad last February, I sat on my mom’s bed while she sipped a cup of coffee. My brother had delivered it to her on a tray adorned with a rose he’d snipped from a sympathy bouquet. Mom was calm now, propped against pillows, covered with a blanket. When I’d arrived the week before from Kansas City, she’d sobbed into my shirt, still raw from finding my 83-year-old father, who had Alzheimer’s, after he died in his sleep.
On the morning after we buried my dad last February, I sat on my mom’s bed while she sipped a cup of coffee. My brother had delivered it to her on a tray adorned with a rose he’d snipped from a sympathy bouquet. Mom was calm now, propped against pillows, covered with a blanket. When I’d arrived the week before from Kansas City, she’d sobbed into my shirt, still raw from finding my 83-year-old father, who had Alzheimer’s, after he died in his sleep.
Should You Move to Be Closer to Your Aging Parents?
Sara Tapscott won’t ever forget the day an employee at her aging parents’ assisted living center knocked on their apartment door and told them they’d have to move. |
What Caregivers Need to Know About FMLA
If you’re a caregiver for an aging loved one, you’ll probably need to miss work at some point to help with medical treatment or unexpected emergencies. In fact, the likelihood is so great that there is even a federal law, The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), that protects your job if you need to take leave to care for a family member. |
How to Cope With a Mentally Ill Parent
A few years ago, Robert’s 89-year-old mother rolled out her home’s blueprints on the dining room table and traced her finger along the floor plan’s wall symbols.
“People are hiding in there,” Mary told her son. “They come out at night and try to get me.” By that point, Mary’s dementia-related delusions and paranoia were keeping her awake most nights.
A few years ago, Robert’s 89-year-old mother rolled out her home’s blueprints on the dining room table and traced her finger along the floor plan’s wall symbols.
“People are hiding in there,” Mary told her son. “They come out at night and try to get me.” By that point, Mary’s dementia-related delusions and paranoia were keeping her awake most nights.
When Distance Complicates Family Caregiving Roles
I went out to my car in my parents’ driveway early that morning last February and tossed my bag inside. Then I turned to my mother. Her freezer was filled with dinners I’d made. I’d picked up her prescriptions and run a few last errands.
I went out to my car in my parents’ driveway early that morning last February and tossed my bag inside. Then I turned to my mother. Her freezer was filled with dinners I’d made. I’d picked up her prescriptions and run a few last errands.
Senior Living Communities
How to Address Issues with Assisted Living Care
When your parent or senior loved one makes the move to assisted living, the objective is to make his or her life easier and safer. However, just like with any move, settling in at an assisted living community is an adjustment that sometimes presents challenges or concerns. How can you effectively address issues with assisted living care? Read these eight tips.
When your parent or senior loved one makes the move to assisted living, the objective is to make his or her life easier and safer. However, just like with any move, settling in at an assisted living community is an adjustment that sometimes presents challenges or concerns. How can you effectively address issues with assisted living care? Read these eight tips.
Legal, Insurance & Medicaid
What You Need to Know Before Taking on Executor Responsibilities
Has a parent or senior loved one asked to appoint you as executor of his or her estate? If so, you’re probably honored to be chosen for the trusted role. But do you really know what you’re taking on?
Has a parent or senior loved one asked to appoint you as executor of his or her estate? If so, you’re probably honored to be chosen for the trusted role. But do you really know what you’re taking on?
6 Medicaid Myths Debunked
Are you worried that you’ll have to sell everything you own and be penniless before you or a senior loved one can qualify for Medicaid? Maybe someone told you to not bother applying for Medicaid because you own an expensive home and won’t be eligible. Or, maybe you’re leaving it to the government to sort Medicaid out for you and your family.
Are you worried that you’ll have to sell everything you own and be penniless before you or a senior loved one can qualify for Medicaid? Maybe someone told you to not bother applying for Medicaid because you own an expensive home and won’t be eligible. Or, maybe you’re leaving it to the government to sort Medicaid out for you and your family.
4 Medicare Myths Around Long-Term Care
Maybe you’re looking forward to freeing yourself from private health insurance premiums when eligibility for Medicare, the federal health insurance program, kicks in at age 65. Or, perhaps you already have Medicare and assume that all your healthcare costs are covered, even in-home care and long-term care costs.
Maybe you’re looking forward to freeing yourself from private health insurance premiums when eligibility for Medicare, the federal health insurance program, kicks in at age 65. Or, perhaps you already have Medicare and assume that all your healthcare costs are covered, even in-home care and long-term care costs.