1. Life
2. Relationships

Family

• Interview - Talking with David Rieff

  The author of Swimming in a Sea of Death reflects on his inner struggle over how to help his mother, Susan Sontag, face death.

• Interview - Talking With Michael Kirk

  An interview with Michael Kirk, producer of the PBS documentary Caring for Your Parents, about taking care of aging parents.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - A Toast to Aging Well

  A tribute to a dad on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

• Blog Post - Reverse Mortgages: Looking for Trouble?

  Reverse mortgages--a loan for people ages 62 and older...

• Blog Post - Parents Are From Venus, We're From Mars

  A simple online test promises to assess your "conversational relationship" with your parents. The bottom line: If you're not talking about the big stuff now, you'd better start.

• Blog Post - Aging Parents and Dental Care: A Life-and-Death Issue

  Regular dental care for your parents can be a matter of life and death.

• Blog Post - Help! My mom's in hospice and my sister and I are arguing about her funeral.

  Our mom has said she wants to be cremated "so you don...

• Blog Post - Talking Your Parent Into Trying Talk Therapy

  Talk therapy can help older people beat depression. Here are some practical guidelines for talking your parent into giving psychotherapy a try.

• Blog Post - Caregiving Isn't for Sissies

  Caregiving requires courage, compassion, resourcefulness, and an open heart -- qualities that most of us would use to describe a hero.

• Blog Post - Are You Worried Sick About Your Parent's Heart Disease?

  Caring for someone with heart disease may increase your risk of heart disease and depression. Consider these tips for better heart health.

• Blog Post - Could You Have Diabetes -- And Not Know It?

  Find out if you're at risk for type 2 diabetes by taking the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Risk Test.

• Blog Post - Tune in to PBS for Help and Hope on Caregiving

  A new PBS documentary, "Caring for Your Parents," is Reality TV of the purest form -- recognizing that family members now provide 80% of the eldercare in the United States.

• Blog Post - Wanted: Companionship for a Dad with Diabetes

  How to find senior companionship for your aging and ailing parent.

• Blog Post - My parents are begging me for an occasional drink or cigarette -- even though it's against their doctors' orders.

  Advice on whether it's okay for elderly parents, one of whom uses portable oxygen, to occasionally smoke or drink.

• Blog Post - New Vocabulary Words for Caregivers

  Thoughts on the power of language to influence our perspective on care-giving for the better.

• Blog Post - Fat Belly Now Doubles Risk of Dementia Later

  A new study links belly fat in midlife with an increased risk of developing dementia later in life. It's the first-ever study to link excess weight to Alzheimer's-type dementias.

• Blog Post - Alcohol Abuse Among Seniors -- the Last Taboo Subject

  Alcohol abuse among seniors still tends to be secret, but new data show it's more common than most people suspect. A guide to how to talk about it.

• Blog Post - The Transformative Nature of Caregiving

  The producer of the PBS documentary Caring for Your Parents talks about the ways eldercare changes families

• Blog Post - Caregiving: Does it Have to Be This Hard?

  A summary of caregiving in the U.S. in 2008: some statistics and how it got this way

• Blog Post - My Own Last (Online) Wishes

  Facebook users can let friends and family know their final instructions via a new application called My Own Last Wishes.

• Blog Post - Alzheimer's Meds: Time for a Reality Check?

  The absence of good news about Alzheimer's medications reminds caregivers that learning behavioral therapy is paramount.

• Blog Post - My father seems interested in moving in with me -- and I don't want him to.

  At 81, my dad has Parkinson's, three heart stents,...

• Blog Post - Are You a "Designated Daughter"?

  A new book coins a new term for grown daughters who look after their parents: designated daughter.

• Blog Post - It Takes a Neighborhood (Pt. 1)

  Neighbors pitch in to help an isolated elderly neighbor so he can stay in his own home.

• Blog Post - My father's racist and inappropriate remarks have gotten so bad, I don't want to take him out in public.

  How to understand and deal with an elderly parent's racist or offensive remarks.

• Blog Post - A "Sandwiched" Daughter Says Enough is Enough

  A "sandwich generation" caregiver describes how asking for help saved her sanity — and her family.

• Blog Post - Five Tips for Keeping the Sandwich Together

  Five tips to help sandwich generation members ease the stress of caring for aging parents in their homes.

• Blog Post - After a Stroke: When Words Fail Us

  Creative ways to communicate with someone who has trouble speaking or understanding language.

• Blog Post - I'm not close to my dad's new wife, and that's keeping me from caring for him as much as I'd like to (he has Alzheimer's). How can I step in and help him more?

  What to do when your elderly father's new wife comes between you and him.

• 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 - How Retirement Is Changing

  A rundown of emotional and financial issues facing current and future retirees.

• 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 - Big Brother is Watching....Mom and Dad

  A new breed of high-tech retirement community is using technology to monitor seniors with dementia and other conditions, offering new freedoms while raising privacy concerns.

• Blog Post - The Mother's Day Gift That Keeps on Giving

  Spending time with your mother on Mother's Day is the best gift of all.

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

  A roundup of personal blogs about stroke.

• Blog Post - My dad wants to double-date with me!

  What to do when your elderly dad starts dating -- and he wants to double-date with you and your spouse.

• 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 - Desperately Seeking Senior Care Specialists

  A shortage of senior care doctors concerns baby boomers and their aging parents; find tips on how to locate a geriatric specialist.

• Blog Post - Macular Degeneration: All Eyes Are on Hormone Therapy

  New research shows that taking hormones cuts a woman's risk of macular degeneration in half. But hormone therapy raises the risk for other health conditions.

• Blog Post - Quick Quiz: Should Your Parents Stay at Home or Move?

  Quiz to help adult children figure out whether aging parents can stay at home or should move to retirement communities.

• Blog Post - My mother has asked not to be resuscitated if she has a medical crisis, but my siblings disagree on what constitutes a medical crisis.

  Before she showed signs of dementia, my mother decided...

• Blog Post - Cupboards Bare? Rising Food Prices Affect Seniors

  The rising cost of food is tough for many seniors, but here are some ways you can help.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - Aging Artfully - Part II

  Research shows a powerful link between creativity and healthier, happier aging.

• 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 - Can You Keep Type 2 Diabetes at Bay With a Mediterranean Diet?

  Type 2 diabetes may be kept at bay by eating a Mediterranean diet, a new study suggests.

• 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 - Know Thy Father: A Guide to Dad's Day

  Knowing your dad well is a good guide to celebrating Father's Day.

• Blog Post - Aggression, Fighting Common Among Nursing Home Residents

  High levels of aggression and fighting are common among nursing home residents. Experts offer advice for helping aging parents manage aggression from fellow nursing home residents.

• Blog Post - Cancer Patients Fight for Access to New Drugs

  Access to experimental cancer drugs and treatments can save the lives of cancer patients, and the issue has become a heated one.

• Blog Post - Do Parents With Dementia Need a "Sexual Power of Attorney"?

  New questions about the sexual rights of elders with dementia.

• Blog Post - My mother gave power of attorney to her new husband, who is putting her life in danger. How can we get it away from him?

  My mother's new husband has power of attorney for her, but I feel he puts her life in danger. How can we get her to reappoint power of attorney?

• 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 - 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 - How much say do I have in determining who is guardian over me and my affairs?

  Do I have any rights in determining my care and who...

• Blog Post - Should I be responsible for my father's funeral bill when he never paid child support for me?

  My parents have been divorced for more than 20 years...

• Blog Post - The World Mourns Randy Pausch's Death From Pancreatic Cancer

  Pancreatic cancer patient Randy Pausch gained worldwide fame with his "Last Lecture" video and book, a legacy that hopefully will translate into new treatment options for deadly pancreatic cancer.

• Blog Post - Universal Design Part 2 -- Breaking the Ice

  Universal design can make seniors' homes safer, but many older people resist changes. Advice for getting seniors to agree to home renovations.

• Blog Post - I took the brunt of my dad's nastiness my whole life. Now I am his caretaker and I resent it.

  My dad has been a handful all his life -- prone to...

• Blog Post - Are Your Parents Driving Their Caregivers to Quit?

  It's a more common problem than you might think. Here's why it happens--and what to do.

• Blog Post - My brother won't share financial information about our dad's assets, and it's tearing the family apart.

  My brother has durable power of attorney for my dad...

• Blog Post - Millions Falling Into the Doughnut Hole

  Medicare Part D has a coverage gap, the doughnut hole, that forces millions of people to give up taking needed medications, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation study.

• Blog Post - An Unpopular Idea: Worried About Cancer? Cut Back on Drinking

  More studies are showing that alcohol causes cancer, yet doctors are hesitant to suggest that patients cut back on drinking.

• Blog Post - Diabetes Doughnut Hole Dilemma

  The so-called doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage hits seniors with diabetes -- and what to do to help a loved one keep paying for diabetes drugs.

• Blog Post - The Case For Geriatric Care

  How -- and why -- to choose a geriatrician for your aging parents' care.

• Blog Post - Fighting for Breath: A Mother's Last Weeks of Life

  Laura Juel had to advocate for her mother during her final days to help her get pain relief.

• Blog Post - My father is in failing health and financial ruin, living with a woman who is bipolar, and refuses my help. What can I do?

  My father is 69 years old and in failing health...

• Blog Post - Hospice: Comfort for Patient and Caregivers Alike

  One family's experience with hospice during a mother's last weeks of life.

• Blog Post - Personal To-Do Lists That Help You With Caregiving Challenges

  Caring.com launches new To-Do lists to help you navigate caregiver challenges.

• Blog Post - My sister's refusal to communicate with me about our father's care has brought back to mind years of mistreatment by her. What can I do?

  My sister is 14 years older than I am and has full...

Questions & Answers

• Question - Are family corporations good or bad?

  My parents set up a family corporation to pass along their assets. Is a family corporation a good way to do this and to avoid taxes?

• 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 - If visiting with and talking to extended family members unsettles my father, who has Alzheimer's, should we continue while still remembers them or stop?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Recently, after one month in the hospital with end stage...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a program in Iowa that will pay you for taking care of a family member?

  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 - 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 - Are family trusts public documents?

  Unlike most other legal documents that proclaim the maker's intent to the world, trusts keep the lid on things.

• Question - How do I resolve a family conflict so I can visit my mother?

  My sister lives with my mother, and is making it hard to visit Mom and make sure she is okay.

• 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 - Should I take my 80-something parents with me to check out assisted living facilities for them or go alone?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• 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 do I gain access to my parent's health records without a durable power of attorney for health care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can my parent give durable power of attorney for healthcare to one child, and durable power of attorney for finance to another?

  Can my parents give one child durable power of attorney for healthcare and one durable power of attorney for finances? Power of attorney can be split.

• Question - How can I get my brother to help with Alzheimer's care?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - How can I convince my dying mother to write a "goodbye" letter to her grandchildren?

  How can I convince my dying mother to write a goodbye letter to her grandchildren? A goodbye letter would create sustaining memories for the children.

• Question - How to resolve conflict over when to place mother in assistive-care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can all children see their parents' living trust?

  People who make living trusts are free to keep their contents secret. But there may be ways you can air out hurt feelings over that.

• Question - How do I get my siblings to realize that it is important to be with our parents during the holidays?

  My siblings never visit my parents during the holidays. What can I do?

• Question - Can I get paid to be my mom's caregiver?

  Can I get paid to be my parent's caregiver? There are some ways to get paid as a parent's caregiver, but they usually don't amount to full-time pay.

• Question - How do we deal with my daughter's and grandchildren's safety due to her brain tumor?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 - How do I get my husband to cope with his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do find time for your own privacy when living with and elderly parent?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Are there government benefits for someone who's had a stroke and gets only a small company pension?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get help for my ill sister, who doesn't have any family nearby?

  How can I find care for my sister, who is ill and on her own, with no family members nearby to give her a hand?

• 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 - Are guardians required by law for mentally incompetent elders?

  There has to be some pretty good evidence of neglect or mismanagement before a court will require a legal guardian or conservator.

• Question - How do I enroll a terminal cancer patient in hospice?

  Finding hospice services and learning their requirements is easy. Getting the best fit might take a little more work.

• Question - Can my half-brother keep me from seeing my mother, who is in a nursing home?

  Make sure you've tried to get to the bottom of a family member's attempts to block you from seeing your ailing mother. Then, you may need to take matters in your own hands.

• Question - How can I convince my mother's doctor to keep her out of a rehab facility?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I deal with my increasingly embarrassing mother in public?

  My mother is becoming increasingly intrusive and embarrassing to be with. What can I do?

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

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do you move a body to be buried in another state?

  With some exceptions, most state laws require that a body being transported to another state must be embalmed first.

• Question - How do we include adopted relatives in an obituary?

  When writing an obituary, keep the wishes of the deceased paramount.

• 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 - How can I convince my mother to move to a safer place near me?

  My mother isn't safe in her home, but won't consider moving.

• Question - How do I become a paid caregiver for my own family?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will there be any difficulty withdrawing funds from joint accounts that my mother and I share?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I help remedy a sibling conflict about our dad's care?

  At a family meeting, one member was "beaten up" by 4 others....

• Question - How can I be sure my nephew, who has POA for my sister and her husband's finances and health care, is properly using their assets?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is there a program that will pay me to care for my dad if I quit my job?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - My fiance has likely had his signature forged on a power of attorney document. What recourse do we have?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What financial help is available for caregiver who had to...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Am I responsible for my father's debt after his death?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do we deal with my brother who has taken over our mother's life and finances, convincing her we don't care anymore?

  If a personal visit doesn’t work to sooth ruffled family feathers about caretaking, the next stop may be court for a guardianship.

• Question - What property do children from my husband's previous marriage take if he dies without a will?

  They say that everything’s big in Texas—and so are the complications that can crop up when a Texas dies without a will.

• Question - How do we keep our family home, that is in my mum's name and she has dementia?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My mother is acting insecure; how can I help her and maintain my own marriage?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My family had a disagreement over my mom's final arrangements. How can I help ease this conflict?

  You can't undo a cremation, but there are steps you can take to solve the family rift caused by the process.

• Question - Is there a program for financial assistance to help me care for my husband and still pay our bills?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should we bring my 100 year-old grandmother to a family reunion?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is there anyway we can make my husbands mother seek medical...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are there any resources out there to help me pay for...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My Father is currently on Dialysis and has had Renal failure...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can we help our mom balance a friendship she has with a younger man and her family?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do we keep our mother from giving away her income?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can a power of attorney give me the ability to make any decisions on behalf of my spouse?

  An agent appointed in a power of attorney can generally make decisions for another person, but that person must be of sound mind when making the appointment.

• Question - had to quit my job to take care of my mother,living off of...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I encourage my wife to exercise more with her diabetes?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do I help my elderly mother deal with the loss of her pets?

  When someone moves into assisted living, does he have to give up his pets? If so, what should you do with his pets once he moves into assisted living?

• Question - What can I do if my mom's nursing home is mistreating her and I live out of state?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get my mother to acknowledge that she has Alzheimer's?

  Should I tell my parent she has Alzheimer's? Expert advice on how to talk about Alzheimer's when your parent is starting to experience dementia.

• Question - What's the best gift I can give my dying mother?

  When someone is terminally ill, you may not know what gift to give for a birthday or other event. Material goods may not be what a dying person needs.

• Question - How can I overcome my father's refusal to ask for help with his cancer care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What are some budget-friendly ways to keep my mom safe during bathing?

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

• Question - My father has colon cancer. What's the best way to deal with his angry outbursts?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I convince my father to stop chemotherapy that's no longer working?

  When is it time to stop chemotherapy? My father wants to continue chemo, even though it's stopped working, because he wants to "keep on fighting."

• 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 father to stop smoking now that he's had a heart attack?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Can we travel with parents with dementia?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

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

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

• Question - What steps are required to get a conservatorship?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I make a hospital stay easier for my mother with dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do we decide between a reverse mortgage for my father or a personal loan from me?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - I am looking for an assisted living home for my mother in...

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

• Question - Is it wise to put an elderly parent's home in trust?

  Should I put my elderly parent's home in a trust? Putting a house in a trust is a good way to avoid probate, although it may not be necessary.

• Question - What if we suspect a trustee is mismanaging a trust?

  Family dynamics can make it hard to figure out whether a trust is being properly administered, or whether there is some type of illegal undue influence.

• Question - Why can't my dad, who has Parkinson's disease, correct his bad posture or avoid falling over?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does Medicare cover children?

  Medicare does not cover medical care for children, but Medicaid and related programs do cover care for children in low-income families.

• Question - How can I convince my mother and sister to step back without hurting their feelings?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do you apply for the Cash for Caregiving program through...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can a parent revise or revoke a durable power of attorney for healthcare or finances?

  Can my parent revise or revoke his durable power of attorney for healthcare? He can revise his durable power of attorney if he's of sound mind.

• Question - How can I help my parent control nausea while he's on chemotherapy?

  My parent has nausea from chemo. How can I him control this chemo-related nausea? Is there a way to help him deal with the nausea besides medication?

• Question - Can you offer any tips for bathing an overweight parent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Any suggestions for talking to my father, who has Alzheimer's, about his finances?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How should I tell my mom's friends that she has Alzheimer's?

  What's the right time to tell friends about a parent's Alzheimer's? When it's time to tell them about the Alzheimer's or dementia, they can help.

• Question - How can I prescreen assisted-living facilities so I don't have to tour every one?

  When you're looking for assisted living, how do you narrow down the choices? Here are tips for screening assisted living facilities ahead of time.

• Question - What's the emergency procedure for obtaining durable power of attorney for finance or health care?

  What's the emergency procedure for obtaining durable power of attorney for finance or health care? Get answers on obtaining durable power of attorney.

• Question - What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship?

  What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship? I want to know because my elderly parent refuses to sign a power of attorney.

• Question - What rights do I have as a healthcare agent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is it safe to leave a parent with Alzheimer's home alone?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What's the best way to ask for a second opinion on my mother's breast cancer?

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

• Question - How can I get the doctor to be more responsive when my mother has side effects from chemotherapy?

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

• Question - Should I continue to encourage my mom to be social, even as her Alzheimer's worsens?

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can I do to help my dad stay comfortable during bath time?

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

• Question - How can I help my 82-year-old mother overcome her fear of falling?

  If a parent has a fear of falling, it can actually make things more dangerous. Here's expert advice on how to help a parent overcome fear of falling.

• Question - How can I keep my father from overexerting himself after his heart attack?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - My father-in-law is depressed and has no daily activities to occupy him.

  This question has been answered by three Community Members

• Question - What should I do when my parent with Alzheimer's doesn't recognize members of the family?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What are restrictions on bringing parents to the US for long term care?

  Advice on moving aging relatives to America. Finding culturally specific senior housing.

• Question - What are the first signs of Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Do we tell my grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimers, about a death in the family?

  Should I tell my relative with Alzheimer's about a death in the family? Or will the news about a death only upset an Alzheimer's patient?

• Question - Is a personal emergency response system appropriate for a parent who travels?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can we persuade my mother, who's caring for my dying father, to bring in hospice help?

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

• Question - My mother doesn't want to know how long she has to live, so how do I say the things I need to say before it's too late?

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

• Question - Why do we need to donate blood for a transfusion for my father, whose blood type is O-negative?

  My parent's doctor wants our family to donate blood for his transfusion. He's O negative. Why do we need to donate blood for this procedure?

• Question - How can I convince my father to have coronary bypass surgery?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I tell if my parent has Alzheimer's or depression?

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

• Question - Can my mother help pay for her grandchildren's education and still qualify for Medicaid?

  Will a parent risk Medicaid benefits by helping with grandchildren's education? It's essential to consider whether Medicaid will be lost this way.

• Question - Does stress affect my parent's blood sugar levels?

  My mom is diabetic and has a tendency to get upset and anxious. Does stress have an impact on her blood sugar level, and if so, what can I do to help?

• Question - How can I be sure my mother, who lives on the other side of the country, is driving safely?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can you advise me about how to talk to my grandmother's doctor?

  I need help talking to my grandmother's physician.

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

  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 - Is there a time limit on making a revocable trust before entering a nursing home?

  A revocable trust does not protect assets from consideration by Medicaid regarding eligibility for nursing home coverage.

• Question - What can I do if I think the trustees are acting illegally?

  When a trustee is acting illegally, you may have no choice but to hire legal help to right the wrong.

• Question - In Ontario, what happens if a spouse dies and does not have a will?

  When a person dies without a will, who will get his or her property depends on how the survivors are related -- and sometimes, how many there are.

• Question - What could be wrong with my mother-in-law who makes irrational decisions and wets herself, yet the hospital says she's competent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My father just died. What do I do first?

  There are many details to attend to in the first week or so after a death occurs -- and the busyness can sometimes feel like a blessing.

• Question - How do I talk to my elderly father about dying?

  To get guidance about how to talk with a parent about dying, pay attention to what you learned about his or her comfort level during past conversations.

• Question - How do I get my 90 yr old mother to go to a nursing home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What is the meaning of dying?

  The raw time after a parent's death can be a rich time to ponder the bigger questions of life.

• Question - What are the legal requirements for handling a burial on my own?

  The law generally allows people to handle the burial of loved ones on their own. But it's impoetant to be aware of the legal controls on how and where it can be done.

• Question - is it a good idea to put your IRA in a revocable living trust?

  Should I put my IRA in a revocable trust? There are good reasons to put an IRA in a revocable living trust. For one, a revocable trust avoids probate.

• Question - Is it OK for my mother to keep her recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease a secret from friends and colleagues?

  Is it okay to conceal a Parkinson's disease diagnosis from friends and colleagues? Expert commentary on the consequences of concealing Parkinson's.

• Question - How can someone become a caregiver?

  How can someone become a caregiver?

• 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 - My dad eats lots of sweets and doesn't like to drink water--could he have diabetes?

  Find out if a sweet tooth or a lack of thirst are symptoms for type 2 diabetes.

• Question - Are we entitled to my great-grandmother's property?

  Whether you have a legal claim to a distant relative's property depends on whether they did any estate planning -- and who survived whom.

• Question - Is guardianship recognized across state lines?

  It's most important that a guardian or conservator know the best interests of the person who needs help, but practical problems can arise where there is a geographical divide.

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can my grandmother pay me directly with her Medicaid "spend down" for services I provide?

  Can my grandmother pay me for some of her caregiving costs to spend down for Medicaid? Yes, some caregiving costs apply to Medicaid spend down.

• Question - How can we protect our elderly mother from being taken advantage of?

  If you're sure that it's money and not love that is prompting an alleged suitor to call on your mother, act quickly to avoid financial scamming.

• Question - My grandmother is suffering from delusions, how do I convince her to see a doctor?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why does my oldest sister get automatic power of attorney?

  When it comes to powers of attorney, there is no automatic entitlement to be appointed.

• Question - Is there a program where I get paid to be my mom's caregiver?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I protect the annuities that are now in my name when seeking Medicaid coverage?

  Transferring assets in the hope of qualifying for Medicaid eligibility can be risky business.

• Question - Can the chemicals injected for a PET scan result in low white blood count readings?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How long does a legal guardianship last, and how can I get access to my mother's medical records?

  After a legal guardianship or conservatorship ends, medical privacy laws can make it tough to find out information about procedures you suspect went wrong.

• Question - How can I get my 85 year old father to stop yelling at my mother?

  My father is constantly yelling at my mother, and the problem seems to be getting worse.

• Question - Does a sibling have any say in her mother's burial planning if she does not have power of attorney?

  A power of attorney is a dead letter once the principal dies. But there are ways to protect wishes for final arrangements such as burial plans.

• Question - I think my mother is becoming addicted to casinos? I'm not...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

Tips & Reflections

• Reflection - What I Wish I'd Known About Talking to a Dying Parent: Palliative Care Doctor David Kuhl

  David Kuhl, author of What Dying People Want, reflects on why parents need to have meaningful discussions with their children before they die.

• Reflection - What I Wish I'd Known About Being Old: Psychologist/Sociologist 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 - Downsizing Tips

  Don't try and do it all in one day or even one weekend...

• Tip - Accept Help

  When family or friends offer help in caring for your...

News

• News - Smoking Dulls Taste for Sweets

  WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarette smoking...

• News - Survey Finds Many Women Misinformed About Cancer

  FRIDAY, Oct. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Sixty-three percent...

• News - How to Spot, and Beat, the Holiday Blues

  SATURDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- For some older...

• News - Love in the World of Alzheimer's

  MONDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Even when Alzheimer...

• News - A Little Help Can Boost Holiday Joy for Elderly

  SATURDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Older relatives...

• News - Colon Cancer Gene Traced to Arrival in United States

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Mr. and Mrs...

• News - BRCA Mutations Don't Raise Breast Cancer Risk Equally

  TUESDAY, Jan. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Not all carriers...

• News - Smoke-Free Workplace Laws, Cigarette Taxes on the Rise

  THURSDAY, Jan. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Anti-tobacco...

• News - Genetic Mutations Boost Prostate Cancer Risk

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDay News) -- A new blood...

• News - Multiple Sclerosis Drug May Be Linked to Melanoma

  WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Almost immediately...

Links

• External Link - Family Advisor