Questions about Communication

1. How can I help my dad, who has Alzheimer's, communicate?

   Question - My dad, who's just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, regularly struggles to find the right words. There are long silences as if he's just looking for a word but can't find it. What can I do to help him?
   1 Expert Answer

2. What's an assisted-living community fee and how much is it?

   Question - What is an assisted living community fee? Is it usual for assisted living communities to charge community fees upon move-in?
   1 Expert Answer

3. My brother and I are adults, but when it comes to taking care of my mother, we fall right back into the roles we had as children.

   Question - ideas for how to handle sibling rivalries and misunderstandings between sibling caregivers
   1 Expert Answer

4. How can I get my mother, who has breast cancer, to be more active so she won't lose muscle strength?

   Question - My 73-year-old mother, who has breast cancer, is getting weaker, and her doctor wants her to exercise and stay active. But when I suggest to her that she needs to exercise, she refuses, saying she's too tired. I'm worried that she's losing muscle strength. What can I say or do to get her moving again...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

5. Why does my mother talk about health issues -- in excruciating detail?

   Question - My 85-year-old mother has cataracts and arthritis, but given her age, she's in fairly good health. Still, she seems to be obsessed with health -- hers and everyone else's. She passes on the details of every medical appointment and test result, then she proceeds to describe this friend's cancer treatment or that friend's husband's Alzheimer's diagnosis...
   1 Expert Answer

6. What can I do to encourage my dad to wear his emergency response device?

   Question - My dad, who has heart disease and a history of strokes, simply refuses to wear his personal emergency response system (PERS) device. We've tried all kinds -- a pendant, bracelet, even a belt clip -- but he says they're all uncomfortable. We've paid for the service and are anxious to know it's helping to protect him, so how can I get him past this resistance...
   2 Expert Answers

7. How can I help my parent get her questions answered at the eye doctor's?

   Question - Tips for helping an intimidated parent ask questions at the eye doctor's office.
   1 Expert Answer

8. How can I get my mother to talk to me about moving?

   Question - When an ailing parent won't talk about moving, you may have to push the issue. Here's expert advice on how to get your parent to talk about moving.
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

9. How do you deal with a parent that is unable to communicate?

   Question - How do you, as a caregiver, deal with a parent that is unable to communicate?? It is very difficult and frustrating to know if your parent has a serious medical condition or a comfort issue without the parent being able to speak.
   1 Expert Answer

10. How can you help convince a caregiver to stop focusing exclusively on caregiving?

    Question - How can I convince a loved one to pay attention to other things besides caregivlng?
    1 Expert Answer

11. How can I get a guardian removed from the position?

    Question - You will need to mount a fullscale legal attack to get a guardian or conservator removed from the position.
    1 Expert Answer

12. How can I persuade my siblings to visit my mother, who has Alzheimer's, more often?

    Question - My mother has Alzheimer's, and two of my siblings refuse to visit her. How can I persuade them?
    1 Expert Answer

13. What can I do to encourage my elderly parent to use a walker or cane?

    Question - How do you encourage someone to use a walker or cane? He refuses to use one, and I'm afraid he'll hurt himself without the walker or cane.
    1 Expert Answer

14. How can I get my parent's doctor to explain his cancer treatment in a way I can understand?

    Question - When you're having trouble understanding your parent's doctor or oncologist, try these communication tricks to get her to explain more clearly.
    1 Expert Answer

15. What do I do when my parent's doctor tells me something important and suggests that I not tell my parent?

    Question - It can be very uncomfortable when you receive information from your parent's doctor that your parent doesn't have. Here's how to handle this difficult situation.
    1 Expert Answer

16. How do I get Mom to see a doctor when she's in denial that she might have symptoms of Parkinson's disease?

    Question - Something is wrong with my mother, and I'm afraid it's Parkinson's disease. When she sits with her right leg crossed over her left, the right foot shakes. And she moves a lot more slowly when she's eating or getting dressed. However, she refuses to see a doctor about it. What can I do about this?
    1 Expert Answer

17. How can I help convince my mother that it's time to move into a retirement community?

    Question - My father is ready to move into a retirement community, but my mother refuses. My father can't take care of her anymore, but What can I do?
    1 Expert Answer

18. How do we deal with my father-in-law's denial that his wife is dying?

    Question - Sometimes family members who are in denial about an impending death may listen more directly to a more objective person, such as a doctor.
    1 Expert Answer

19. How can I take over caretaking decisions when my brother has power of attorney?

    Question - Try getting to the root of your family member's unwillingness to carry out the duties required in a power of attorney; then, consider other action.
    1 Expert Answer

20. How can I get my father to join a Parkinson's disease support group?

    Question - I've been trying to get my father to join a support group for Parkinson's disease patients in his community, but he's been reluctant to do so. He was diagnosed over two years ago and doesn't get out to socialize as much as he used to. How can I encourage him to connect with others?
    1 Expert Answer