Connie Matthiessen

Caring.com senior editor

About

Constance (Connie) Matthiessen, Senior Editor of the Life channel, has worked as a healthcare and environmental journalist at the Center for Investigative Reporting, and has written for WebMD , Consumer Health Interactive , the Washington Post , the San Francisco Chronicle , BabyCenter.com, San Francisco Magazine, Mother Jones and other publications. Connie's background also includes a B.A. in literature from Evergreen State College and an MFA in writing from Warren Wilson College. She has been interested in eldercare issues since shortly after college, when she spent a year caring for elderly people in a nursing home.

Connie, who lives in San Francisco with her three children, considers herself lucky that her parents are still healthy and active as they approach their 80s. They both continue to pursue their passions, including fishing, horseback riding, travel, and spending time with their children, grandchildren,and great-grandchildren, providing living proof that growing old -- for all its challenges -- can be a time of inspiration, connection, and adventure.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Thursday March 25, 2010

    1. Difficult Conversations: How to Approach Older Adults With Concerns About Their Driving

      Article - Giving up a driver's license is likely to be difficult for older adults. Learn how to approach and talk to older adults about driving safety. 6 Comments

  2. Friday February 12, 2010

    1. How to Help Older Adults Cope When They Can No Longer Drive

      Article - Practical tips on how to help older adults cope when they can no longer drive safely -- and how to help them get around without a car. 1 Comment

  3. Tuesday February 09, 2010

    1. Helping an Older Adult Stay on the Road -- and Preparing for the Day He Can't Drive

      Article - How to help an older adult stay safe when he's behind the wheel -- and prepare for the day when he can no longer drive.

  4. Wednesday January 27, 2010

    1. Keeping Older Drivers on the Road: Driving Refresher Courses

      Article - Sometimes an older driver who's a driving hazard just needs a refresher course in driving. Where to find classes for older adults to polish their driving skills. 1 Comment

    2. When One Older Adult Is Caring for the Other

      Article - If one of your friend or relatives is caring for another older adult, your involvement is essential to help her avoid burnout. 6 Comments

  5. Monday November 09, 2009

    1. 8 Life Issues You're Bound to Face When Caring for an Aging Parent

      Checklist - Facing life issues when caregiving is inevitable, but you can be ready. Here's 8 life issues you're bound to face when caring for aging parents. 27 Comments

  6. Friday October 02, 2009

    1. 8 Ways to Assess Your Parent's Driving

      Article - It isn't always immediately obvious when an elderly person begins to have trouble driving. Your parent may not notice that her driving skills are deteriorating or may not want to acknowledge it -- and you may not care to either. Of course you want your parent to maintain her independence as long as possible... 3 Comments

  7. Friday September 04, 2009

    1. 8 Ways to Prepare Your Young Child for a Grandparent's Death

      Article - 8 ways to prepare your child for a family death, like that of a grandparent. Help children by talking about death and letting them spend time with grandparents. 4 Comments

  8. Monday August 24, 2009

    1. How can my brother and I convince my aging parents to move closer to us?

      Answer - You may not be able to persuade your parents to move, if they really don't want to. All you can do is make your best case, and then it's up to them.

  9. Friday August 14, 2009

    1. Giving Up Driving: Easing the Transition

      Article - How you can help an older adult make the transition to life without a car and find alternatives to driving. 1 Comment

    2. Warning Signs of Driving Problems: Quick List

      Article - Know the warning signals that mean an older adult may be having problems driving safely. 1 Comment

    3. Driving Safety: Getting Professional Assessments

      Article - How do you know if an older adult can still drive safely? Turn to these experts who can help assess driver safety. 1 Comment

    4. Keeping Older Drivers on the Road: Limiting Driving

      Article - When and how to convince an older adult to consider limiting driving to certain conditions -- rather than giving up driving altogether.

  10. Thursday August 13, 2009

    1. Driving: Get Help for Older Adults by Using Authority Figures and Friends

      Article - Enlisting authority figures is a way to convince an older adult who drives poorly to give up the keys. Authority figures might be seen as more knowledgeable.

    2. Driving Safety: Using State DMVs

      Article - Using state DMVs to make sure an older adult can drive safely is now an option. State DMVs offer several resources for older drivers and their families.

    3. Medical Risk Factors for Older Drivers

      Article - The following factors should not rule out driving, but they can elevate risk and warrant monitoring:

    4. Four Signs of Unsafe Driving

      Article - Watch for these signs that an older adult you're close to is becoming a dangerous driver: 2 Comments

  11. Thursday August 06, 2009

    1. How to Talk to the Elderly

      Article - Knowing how to talk to the elderly is not obvious. To talk to the elderly effectively, understand that they have their own developmental agenda. 20 Comments

  12. Friday July 31, 2009

    1. Caregivers' Concerns About Older Adults Driving -- and What to Do About It

      Article - As an older adult starts to lose driving skills, people close to him start to worry about whether he should drive. How to handle this sensitive issue. 1 Comment

  13. Wednesday July 29, 2009

    1. Creating a Lasting Legacy

      Article - How to help someone accept and be proud of all she's accomplished in her life.

    2. How to Help an Older Adult Create a Lasting Legacy

      Article - Practical projects and treasured memories to help older adults accept and feel proud of all they've accomplished in their lifetimes. 4 Comments

  14. Monday July 20, 2009

    1. Caring for Elderly Relatives: How to Handle Family Conflicts

      Article - Family conflicts and sibling rivalry often arise when caring for elderly relatives. Find ways to share the caring burden and resolve family conflicts. 67 Comments

  15. Sunday May 10, 2009

    1. Taking Away the Car Keys: Last-Resort Tactics

      Article - Is it time for last-resort tactics to keep an older adult from driving? If he's a hazard but won't give up the keys, last-resort tactics are merited. 1 Comment

  16. Thursday May 07, 2009

    1. Family Counseling: Does It Help?

      Community Discussion - I'd love to hear from readers who've tried counseling or mediation to deal with family conflicts over caregiving issues. As the discussions here show, family conflicts are common between elderly parents and adult children, but also between siblings and other family members...

  17. Wednesday May 06, 2009

    1. How to Deliver a Eulogy

      Article - Find helpful information on creating a funeral eulogy, including how to write a eulogy and how to deliver a eulogy at Caring.com. 5 Comments