Caregivers

• Article - How to Hire an At-Home Caregiver

  How to Hire a Caregiver. Hiring a home care aide or caregiver can help parents remain at home -- and take some pressure off the rest of the family.

• Interview - Talking With Lillian Rubin

  Lillian Rubin, psychotherapist and the author of 60 on Up, talks about caregiver guilt, dealing with dementia, and the problem with living too long.

• Interview - Talking With Julie Winokur

  Julie Winokur, whose film series The Sandwich Generation documents her family's care-giving experience, reflects on caring for parents at home.

• Article - How to Deal With Theft by a Caregiver

  What you need to know to protect your parent from financial abuse and theft. Plus, what to do if a theft has occurred.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - My mother says she's lonely, and it's heartbreaking for me to hear her crying at night. What can I do to help her?

  My father died seven years ago, and for quite some...

• Blog Post - Brain-Training 101: Does It Really Help Those With Dementia?

  Brain-fitness games are a huge growth industry, but can they help prevent or reverse dementia?

• Blog Post - I constantly feel guilty because no matter how much I do for my parents, I know it's never enough.

  My mom has advanced Alzheimer's and my dad is 92 and...

• Blog Post - "Wings" For Frail Seniors Who Can't Travel On Their Own

  Frail seniors can still travel with a little help. Here's a guide.

• Blog Post - A Healthy Gift for National Women's Health Week

  National Women's Health from May 11 to 17 is full of useful health prevention activities on-line and off.

• Blog Post - My mother's caregiver is too controlling and won't take direction from us.

  My mother has Alzheimer's and has had a live-in caregiver...

• Blog Post - My mother, who suffers from dementia and alcoholism, wants my sister and me to be her caregivers, so she keeps sending away the one we've hired.

  My sister and I hired a caregiver to come into our...

• Blog Post - Dementia Caregivers Deserve Summer Vacation, Too

  For caregivers of people with dementia, here's a list of vacation ideas.

• Blog Post - Want to Participate in an Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trial?

  Clinical trials for Alzheimer's drugs attract too few participants to help speed promising candidates through research; here's why.

• Blog Post - Vascular Dementia Resources for Caregivers

  Vascular dementia is the second leading cause of dementia in the US. Here's a list of blogs and resources for vascular dementia caregivers.

• Blog Post - Stroke Awareness Month: Stroke Heroes and Their Stories

  A roundup of personal blogs about stroke.

• Blog Post - My mother's growing needs are putting a strain on my marriage, and I find myself wondering which will fall apart first -- her, my marriage, or me. What can I do?

  Since my dad died five years ago, my mother has had...

• Blog Post - Be Social and Save Your Memory

  News about prolonging memory loss and postponing aging.

• Blog Post - Unforgettable Mother's Day Gifts for a Mom Who Forgets

  Great Mother's Day gift ideas for someone with dementia

• Blog Post - Test Yourself: What You Don't Know About Alzheimer's Can Hurt You (or Your Loved One)

  Common misperceptions about Alzheimer's from an Australian researcher who studies this.

• Blog Post - My mother is gambling away every last penny -- and her financial independence. What should I do?

  Since my father's death two years ago, my 75-year-old...

• Blog Post - Should Family Members Who Provide Alzheimer's Care Be Paid?

  Paying family caregivers is controversial and has pitfalls to beware of if you go this route.

• Blog Post - Mindbenders: Memory-Boosting Brain Games

  These brain-building games promise to boost mental skills.

• Blog Post - 5 Surprising Ways to Use Memories to Help People With Memory Loss

  Reminiscence therapy improves mood and communication in people with Alzheimer's and dementia by prodding deeply-held memories.

• Blog Post - Day Services Really Help People With Dementia -- and Their Caregivers

  New research shows using day services for people with Alzheimer's or dementia helps both them and their caregivers.

• Blog Post - Diabetes Studies: Good News? Bad News? Who Knows?

  How to make sense of drug study findings for people caring for parents with type 2 diabetes.

• Blog Post - Does Older = Wiser?

  Help for caregivers who are having conflicts with elderly parents and other relatives.

• Blog Post - Would You Rather Your Parent Had Dementia or Alzheimer's or Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration?

  Is "dementia" an outdated word, like "mongoloid" or "cripple"?

• Blog Post - A Famous Mom Dies of Alzheimer's

  The inspiration for "Mommy" in the cartoon "The Family Circus" dies of Alzheimer's at 82.

• Blog Post - Too Skinny? Too Fat? Both Raise Your Risk of Dementia

  Being too fat OR too thin puts you at risk for dementia, according to a review of past studies.

• Blog Post - Yelling and Nagging: Not the Way to Keep Someone With Diabetes on Track

  Practical advice on how to help your parent or partner with diabetes comply with health recommendations.

• Blog Post - Mom Far Away? Cool Gift Ideas, and Yes, There's Still Time!

  Mother's Day ideas for a mom who lives far away.

• Blog Post - New Fall Prevention Tools Keep Seniors Steady

  Falls are a leading cause of injury and death among seniors. New fall prevention technology can help prevent falls among seniors.

• Blog Post - Call Us Cancer "Carepartners"

  When you're helping someone you love battle cancer, you're right there on the front lines with them.

Questions & Answers

• Question - If I'm the primary caregiver for my parent with cancer, should I join a caregivers' support group?

  Guidance on the benefits of cancer caregiver support groups and what its like to be part of one.

• Question - When a good in-home caregiver loses enthusiasm, how can I get her back on board?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What short-term in-house care options when caregivers need to go out of town?

  Some guidance for those seeking temporary in-house care for their aging parent.

• Question - How do I keep my spirits high when caregiving in a challenging situation?

  Caring for mother is taking over my life. Is there anyway to make things easier?

• Question - How can someone become a caregiver?

  How can someone become a caregiver?

• Question - Any advice on how to handle a situtaion where my father's caregiver is taking advantage of the situation?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Where can I find a support group for caregivers of people with non-Alzheimer's dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I carve out time for myself without feeling guilty?

  I"m my mother's caregiver, and I feel guilty when I take time for myself.

• Question - How can I get my anxiety under control while caring for my mother with lung cancer?

  How do you manage the anxiety of caring for someone with a disease like cancer? Here's expert advice on easing the anxiety and stress of caregiving.

• Question - How does an in-home caregiver get paid by the state?

  A caregiver or caretaker can sometimes be paid by the state or Medicaid instead of under the table. It's called being a certified home care provider.

• Question - What financial help is available for caregivers who had to quit their jobs?

  Does financial help for caregivers exist when they give up a job to help? Not from the government, but other kinds of financial help are available.

• Question - How do I compensate a sibling who is the primary caregiver for our parent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are there financial benefits available to a primary caregiver?

  A caregiver who becomes a certified home care aide could receive small benefits from Medicaid, or be paid from long-term care insurance.

• Question - As a caregiver is there any kind of aid or tax breaks I can...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Why does my father keep refusing to take his medicine, and how can I get him to take it?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What are some tips for a long distance caregiver to a dad with pancreatic cancer?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What's the best way to handle criticism about the Alzheimer's care I'm giving my mom?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - How can you help convince a caregiver to stop focussing their sole attention on just caregiving?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - About how much should in home caregivers get paid for a 6 hour day?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I get my brother to help out more in caring for our mother?

  Ideas for how to handle sibling rivalries and misunderstandings between sibling caregivers.

• Question - My mother has been depressed since her cancer diagnosis; how can I persuade her to see a therapist?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Can my husband and I be reappointed as caregivers?

  Go back to the original source first to resolve a problem with caregiving for a disabled person; then move on to other local resources.

• Question - How can I find agencies or companies that provide in-home care in my area?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I handle my elderly mother who doesn't want me to travel at all?

  An elderly parent may worry or get upset when you travel; she may even claim she'll die while you're away. Should you give up travel to ease her mind?

• Question - How can I persuade my mother to attend a support group for chronically ill people?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - My mother, who has breast cancer, asks me to visit her every time she thinks there's a crisis. What should I do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get my parent's doctor to explain his cancer treatment in a way I can understand?

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

• Question - How can I comfort my mother when she feels distressed about losing her hair?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What kind of financial aid programs are available to full-time caregivers?

  You might get paid to take of your spouse by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for people with low income and assets.

• Question - Where can I get free help with legal questions?

  There are several places to look for free legal help because of poor treatment at a VA hospital.

• Question - Which medicines cause memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is there a way to get power of attorney back after it has been revoked?

  If possible, get to the bottom of why your mother's power of attorney was revoked. You may need to fight this legal action with legal action of your own.

• Question - How do I tell strangers about my parent's Alzheimer's disease?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I get paid to provide care for my mother in FL?

  An adult child who is certified as a home care aide might get some pay from Medicaid, or from long-term care insurance, for caring for a parent.

• Question - How can I get my father to tell the doctor how bad his pain is?

  How to manage your parent's cancer pain by improving communication with the doctor about his pain and pain treatment.

• Question - How do I talk to my father about the mess he makes in the bathroom when he urinates?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - If I hire an aide for my father should I be responsible for payments?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I get my parent to eat without nagging?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - How can I can my mother to talk about end of life planning?

  There are ways to help ease the way to discussions about estate planning and end of life issues with parents. But it's also wise to recognize that they may listen to other voices more readily.

• Question - Enter your question here…Is there some reason your site...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I encourage my listless mom to bathe?

  Elderly people sometimes refuse to bathe out of modesty or fear of falling. What can you do to help when when a parent refuses to bathe or shower?

• Question - What do I do when my parent's doctor tells me something important and suggests that I not tell my parent?

  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.

• Question - How can I get paid for taking care of parents?

  Becoming a certified home care aide might mean some pay from Medicaid, or from long-term care insurance, for caring for parents.

• Question - What can I do to get my mom to take her diabetes pills, which she doesn't think are keeping her blood sugar in check?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I make sure my mother's personal information travels with her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Financial Aid for Caregivers?

  I am caring for my parents and need to be home with them day to day. Is there any financial aid that I can get since I will have lost my income?

• Question - Why don't you write about spouses taking care of spouses?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I stop feeling resentful that my parent with cancer has become so self-involved?

  How to deal with troubling feelings toward a parent who has become self involved after cancer diagnosis.

• Question - How can I help my father, who is bedridden and has numerous health problems, face the end of his life?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What extra precautions should my dad with diabetes take when he has the flu?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there anything that will help relieve my dad's pain after his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can chemo affect a person's personality?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Do you have any tips for moving my parente out of a nursing home back to a home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my dementia patient to eat?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Because of her diabetes, my mom has nerve damage to her feet -- what kind of footwear does she need to avoid problems?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there any financial aid for a child to quit their job and care for their parent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get my mother, who has dementia, to calm down in her nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there any financial support available for "sitters",...

  You may need financial aid to hire a caregiver for a parent, whether he needs hospice or home care. Do Medicare or Medicaid offer financial aid?

• Question - Financial help when a parent leaves a nursing home to live with family?

  A low-income elder who leaves a nursing home to live with family may get help from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

• Question - How can I help my mother handle low blood sugar incidents?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What happens to patients on chemo if they catch a cold or the flu?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Will the State of CA pay you to care for your parents?

  The State of CA won't pay family to provide care, except possibly some Medi-Cal home care payments if the caregiver is a certified home care aide.

• Question - What can we do to allow adult children to see their mother?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Where can I find transportation information for my dad?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is the average hourly rate for in home caregiving?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I help my parents with dementia accept the care they need?

  Refusing help is common in parents with dementia. Get advice on dealing with parents with dementia who refuse help from assisted living staff.

• Question - How careful of germs do we need to be when my father's white blood count is low?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can my sister put my mother away in a nursing home without asking the rest of the children?

  One sibling may have the right to help arrange nursing home care for a parent, but it feels wrong not to consult other family members about the decision.

• Question - Should I take cigarettes away from my mother, who has Alzheimer's, for fear she'll start a fire?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I help my mother with the stress of caring for my grandmother?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my brother and sister to share more of the burden of caring for our mother, who has ovarian cancer?

  Brothers and sisters may disagree on how to share the burden of caring for a parent. Read expert tips on delegating work and avoiding resentment.

• Question - How can I help my mom, who has chronic pulmonary disease, from across the country?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my mom deal with high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol?

  Along with high blood sugar, someone with diabetes might also have high blood pressure and cholesterol. But she can reduce all three the same way.

• Question - Can I take classes and become certified for home care for my mother?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Caregiver Cooperatives

  Just as parents in babysitting co-ops trade childcare...

• Reflection - What I Wish I'd Known: Lillian Rubin

  Lillian Rubin -- renowned sociologist, psychotherapist, octogenarian, and author of 60 on Up -- reflects on what no one tells you about getting old.

• Tip - Use a notebook to communicate with caregivers.

  For best communication with your parent's caregivers, keep a notebook everyone can use to record and communicate care information and observations.

• Reflection - What I Wish I'd Known: Julie Winokur

  Filmmaker Julie Winokur, who chronicled care giving for her father in The Sandwich Generation, talks about being a working mother and caregiver.

• Tip - Getting Around When Driving Isn't Possible

  For advice on how to help your elderly parents cope...

Links

• External Link - Caregiving Blog

• External Link - Hospice and Caregiving