Family Caregiver

This Grandparents Day, we honor older generations, acknowledge the contributions they have made over the years, and celebrate how much they still have to offer their families and communities.

Many dementia patients reach a point where they can't separate fact from fiction.

A caregiver’s story: I recently found out the hard way that a vacation with a dementia patient isn’t much of a vacation after all.

I, like most caregivers, need a sounding board to let off steam. It's either sound off to some anonymous computer screen or sound off to our loved ones. I choose the computer, and you, as the lesser of two evils.

Even when family caregivers have access to help, many still come up with excuses to turn it down. Learning to accept support and assistance will ensure you can have a life apart from the needs of your care receiver.

Recently, things have been slipping out of my mouth that are better left unsaid. I am asking myself if we all lose our filter as we age—the filter that keeps hurtful things from coming out at unexpected times.

Being a caregiver, challenges you to take a closer look at what you really need in your life

I ran away today. I suppose it was long overdue.

Having a "keep him busy" plan is the key to my success with Bob and his Alzheimer's.

Living with Alzheimer's and Frontal Lobe (Frontotemporal) Dementia can teach you things that will change your life--and they are not all bad.

Does your loved one suffer from mental illness or any form of dementia that causes them to be delusional, have hallucinations or hear voices? How do you handle it?

Remember the saying "It takes a village to raise a child"? That is how I feel about living with a victim of Alzheimer's and dementia.

Dealing with "Al" can be so overwhelming; sometimes I just want someone (or something) to blame for Bob's disease.

I used to think that, because I was a caregiver, I wasn't allowed to cry--it was a sign of weakness. Until one day I just couldn't hold it in any longer.

When the world doesn't make sense to Rodger, I sometimes have to fib to calm him down. The truth is, there's no real consensus among caregivers about the ethical nature of therapeutic lying.

I have been a caregiver for my husband with Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal Dementia for six years. I feel as if I am living with two men.

Dementia and age related decline have impacted my husband's ability to drive. I'm dreading taking him to have his driver's license renewed. He only has to pass a vision test, but it's his coordination, reflexes and decision making that are the problem.

When faced with the challenges of caregiving, sometimes it's necessary to reflect on a positive thought or two that encourages us to keep on doing what we do.

Day-to-day annoyances wear on caregivers after a while. Sometimes, all we can do is grit our teeth, focus on the positives and try our best to get through it.

Family Caregiver Blog: Charlie and I just visited a local assisted living facility to see whether it might be a viable housing option for us in the future. We were shocked.