Memories

• 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 Dudley Clendinen

  The author of A Place Called Canterbury talks about the role of a good life-care facility in the final days a parent and adult child have together.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Alzheimer's Memories: Are You Recording Them?

  Chronicling your Alzheimer's caregiving experience: the joys and benefits.

• Blog Post - Solutions for Seniors Who Struggle to Get Enough Zzzs

  Sleep problems are common among the elderly; find ways to help your parents get a good night's rest.

• Blog Post - Fire! A Teaching Tool

  A tragic death in Texas serves as a reminder of how vulnerable seniors are in fires and how prevention can really help.

• 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 - A Stay-at-Home "Nursing Home"

  The I-House, a stay-at-home nursing home, is a "smart house" for seniors, the latest entry in a trend toward high-tech aging in place.

• Blog Post - "Magic" Stoves, Sinks, and Other Inventive Eldercare Helpers

  New appliances are being designed with seniors in mind.

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

  Great Mother's Day gift ideas for someone with dementia

• Blog Post - Dementia Caregivers: Ready to Make Your Brain a Promise?

  Scary new statistics about Alzheimer's disease and dementia are a wake-up call to caregivers to take better care of themselves.

• Blog Post - Memory Trouble? Don't Assume It's Alzheimer's

  Memory loss isn't always Alzheimer's: a review of types of memory loss

• Blog Post - The Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer's

  What to watch for and what you can do.

• Blog Post - Mindbenders: Memory-Boosting Brain Games

  These brain-building games promise to boost mental skills.

• Blog Post - Music Hits the Right Note for Stroke Patients

  New research shows that listening to music for a couple of hours a day can help patients recover from stroke.

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

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

• Blog Post - Old Meets New: High-Tech Toys Help Seniors Deal With Diabetes

  A handy list of high-tech gadgets that can help take the hassle out of dealing with diabetes for seniors and their caregivers.

• 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 - 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 - Depressed? Try Sleeping It Off

  Research shows insomnia prolongs depression in some elderly people. Tips to help your parent sleep better -- and help her overcome depression.

• Blog Post - With Alzheimer's, Wandering Is a Merry Name for a Scary Problem

  Innovations in dealing with wandering, which affects 6 in 10 people with Alzheimer's.

• Blog Post - Memory Loss Is on Everybody's, Um, Mind

  Many caregivers wonder about their own memory loss; these amusing readings offer a cheering perspective.

• Blog Post - When You Can't Check in With Your Parents, Cops (Often) Can

  Numerous services will check in on your parent when you can't. Find them by searching "senior check-in" and your parents' town.

• Blog Post - The Plot Thickens: Another Clue in the Alzheimer's-Diabetes Mystery

  New research may help explain the connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Plus tips if you suspect your parent with type 2 diabetes has Alzheimer's disease.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - How can I deal with my mom's anger at me for urging her to move my dad to an Alzheimer's residence, where he fell in love with another woman?

  My mother, who took care of my father through the early...

Questions & Answers

• Question - Which medicines cause memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is considered normal memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can vitamin supplements and herbals slow memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease?

  Alzheimer's memory loss may be slowed by vitamins. Supplements can't improve memory, but they might be able to slow memory loss down slightly.

• Question - Why do Alzheimer's patients remember certain things and forget others?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Do I tell my mother her memory trouble is Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 the moral and legal obligations for adult children in caring for a parent with early Alzheimer's/memory loss?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - When does a power of attorney take effect?

  Read the fine print to determine the specific powers granted in a power of attorney -- and make sure they're not overbroad.

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

  Should your parent write a goodbye letter to loved ones? Expert advice about whether to nudge her to write a goodbye letter as part of her legacy.

• Question - When a person with Alzheimer's repeatedly makes mistakes, is it OK to correct her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What's the best way to respond when my parent with memory problems keeps repeating himself?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should I bring my four-year-old to my father's funeral?

  Is it OK to bring a child to a funeral or memorial? It depends on the child's temperament -- some kids do better at funeral services than others.

• 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 - My mom won't admit to having memory problems. How can I handle this?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Should my mom's house remain unchanged even though she has memory problems?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• 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 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 - Why do teens get especially upset about their grandparents' Alzheimer's disease?

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

• Question - How do I make sure my father with Alzheimer's remembers to take his medicines?

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

• Question - Can we travel with parents with dementia?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - How do I gently correct my mother-in-law, who has had brain surgery, when she calls my daughters the wrong name?

  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 - Does stress affect Alzheimer's?

  Does stress cause Alzheimer's symptoms or make them worse? Here's expert advice on dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia behaviors affected by stress.

• Question - What is the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?

  This question has been answered by three Community Members

• Question - Should I get a personal emergency response system (PERS) for my mom, who has early-stage Alzheimer's?

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

• Question - What can I do to bring some pleasure to my mom who has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do we help my brother-in-law, who is receiving chemo and radiation, get ready to leave the house a little quicker?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is diabetes affecting my mom's brain?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - With no assets and cash, how can I pay for my own final expenses?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can a TIA have residual effects?

  An expert's perspective on the damage that can follow a transient ischemic attack.

• 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 can we arrange a nonreligious funeral and burial to honor our mother's wishes?

  You are free to plan whatever final services seem most fitting for a deceased parent, which can sometimes be a difficult freedom. One caveat: Consider the needs of those attending.

• Question - What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should I interfere in my mother's social life if she has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Will a gait belt help my elderly mother walk?

  Will a gait belt help my elderly parent walk and move better? Get expert advice on using a gait belt to assist elderly parents to balance and walk.

• Question - What do I say to my mom when her Alzheimer's causes her to forget the obvious?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What are my legal options if they refuse to cooperate with my suggestions for Mom's care?

  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 - Could my mother's sleeping pills be causing her sundown syndrome?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I know if my mom has Alzheimer's?

  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 - How do I get my father, who's depressed about being treated for cancer, to talk about how he's feeling?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why won't my parents and their friends use the word Alzheimer's?

  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 - Do Alzheimer's patients typically take depression medication?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

Tips & Reflections

• Reflection - What I Wish I'd Known: Eleanor Coppola

  Eleanor Coppola, author of Notes on a Life and wife of Francis Ford Coppola, on the importance of preserving memories of your parents now.

News

• News - Obesity Won't Affect Seniors' Memory

  WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Being overweight...

• News - Brain Activity Might Point to Early Alzheimer's

  TUESDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A specific pattern...

• News - Alzheimer's Drug Won't Ease Patients' Agitation

  WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Aricept, a drug...

• News - Hormone May Play Key Part in Creating Memories

  THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- When you experience...

• News - Stem Cells Restore Memory in Mice

  WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- A new U.S...

• News - Nicotine Plus Alcohol May Be Tough to Beat

  TUESDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) -- As many bar patrons...

• News - Brain Yields Clues to False Memories

  THURSDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The areas of the...

• News - Love in the World of Alzheimer's

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

• News - Temporary Amnesia, Confusion Raise Stroke, Dementia Risk

  WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Brief bouts...

• News - Brain Circuits That Suppress Memory Found

  THURSDAY, Jan. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Brain circuits...