Support

• 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.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Seven Words of Wisdom for Dealing with Diabetes

  Find seven words of wisdom for dealing with diabetes.

• Blog Post - Aging Artfully - Part II

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

• 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 - Robots and Other High-Tech Solutions Help Seniors Stay at Home

  New high-tech monitoring systems allow seniors to age in place with greater safety and freedom, but also raise privacy concerns.

• Blog Post - Healthy Gums May Keep Type 2 Diabetes in Check

  Type 2 diabetes and gum disease are linked. Here's a simple solution to dealing with this dilemma.

• 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 - 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 - Help for Elderly Drivers -- On and Off the Road

  California's Senior Driver Ombudsman program helps seniors and their families negotiate the whens and hows of giving up driving.

• 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 - Be Social and Save Your Memory

  News about prolonging memory loss and postponing aging.

• Blog Post - A New, Cool, and Easy Way to Support the Fight Against Alzheimer's

  Caring.com and the Alzheimer's Association have partnered to create a purple ribbon campaign to raise funds and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer's.

• 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 - Kennedy's Cancer Has Everyone Talking About Brain Tumors

  The announcement about Senator Edward Kennedy's brain tumor has the world talking about gliomas.

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

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

• 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 - 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 - 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 - New Legislation (and You) Can Help Prevent Seniors From Falling

  The Safety of Seniors Act aims to help prevent falls among the elderly. Here are ways to help reduce the fall risk for your parents.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - Cancer Patients Tell It Like It Is

  Cancer patients beg doctors to speak plainly about cancer prognosis and treatment.

• Blog Post - It Takes a Neighborhood (Part II)

  Taking care of an elderly neighbor can enrich the lives of everyone involved.

• 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 - Dementia Caregivers: You Really Ought to Talk About It

  New study shows one on one therapy helps reduce the burden on caregivers and their depressive symptoms.

Questions & Answers

• 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 - 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 - 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 get my father to join a Parkinson's disease support group?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - I made the decision to take my wife off life supports at the doctors recomendation. Will I have problems with her lfe insurance carrior when filing to collect?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Where can I find a supportive appliance for the toilet?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

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

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Does anyone know any group that offers support in the Ft. Worth, TX area for caregivers?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 - Why do experts say laughter is helpful for those with cancer?

  Some expert commentary on the benefits of laughter for people with cancer.

• Question - How can I convince my stubborn father to see a doctor about his diabetes?

  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 kind of living arrangements are available for those under 65, but disabled, without a lot of money?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - a friend tells me i am emotional over having ovarian cancer,...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 - What can I cook for my diabetic husband?

  Find tips on how to help your newly diagnosed partner or parent with diabetes eat well.

• 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 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 do I do when my mother, who has ovarian cancer, expresses resentment about my siblings not coming to visit her enough?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my mom, who seems really down about her diabetes diagnosis?

  Offers guidance on helping your parent deal with depression following a diabetes diagnosis.

• Question - How can I help my demanding father -- without neglecting the rest of my life?

  My father is in a comfortable living situation, yet still seems to need constant attention

• 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 - What's the diplomatic way to handle wild accusations by a parent with Alzheimer's?

  Coping with accusations by an Alzheimer's patient diplomatically is tough. Here's how to respond to accusations and keep friends from being alienated.

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - Why would chemo cause stomach pain for my dad, who has stage 4 colon cancer?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What's the best way to help my 250-pound father walk?

  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 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 - Since her cancer diagnosis, my mother has seemed very depressed. Does she need professional help?

  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 Convince my Brother Not to Leave His Nursing Home?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get my father with diabetes to eat appropriately?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I ease my father's discomfort when I have to help him with physically intimate tasks?

  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

• 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 - What if I'm worried about my dad's Alzheimer's but he and my mom aren't?

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

• 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 - Did bypass surgery change my father-in-law's personality for the worse?

  Can heart surgery change someone's personality? My father-in-law was a very mellow, easygoing person until he had bypass surgery.

• Question - We have had shared guardianship of my grandson with my...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 - 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 help my parent with cancer stay positive and look on the bright side?

  Techniques for helping a parent with cancer feel more positive.

• Question - Can a Wisconsin resident disinherit a spouse?

  If a will does not mention a surviving spouse, the law will likely look at the document carefully -- and make some assumptions giving the survivor a share.

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I ease tensions between my grandmother, myself and my roommates?

  My grandmother is living with me and my roommates, and can't pay her share of the bills.

• Question - What can I say when my parent with cancer falls into self-pity?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - When is the right time to call in hospice?

  Hospice care is generally reserved for those who are diagnosed to be near death. But other options for help with care may be available.

• Question - My mother is 86 years old, and in very poor health. She has...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 - What's the difference between a senior real estate specialist and a garden-variety real estate agent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What legal rights to do grandchildren have in determining whether grandma is fit to live alone?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How should my mother decide when to file for Social Security?

  Is it best to file for Social Security benefits early, at age 62, if a parent needs money or wait until 65 or 67 to file for Social Security benefits?

• Question - Is it possible to buy a house despite credit card debt?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can someone become a caregiver?

  How can someone become a caregiver?

• Question - Why is my mother's ovarian cancer causing swelling in her legs and feet?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my dad, who is losing his vision from macular degeneration?

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

• Question - How can I find someone to come and regularly assess my dad to determine if he needs additional care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - My mother is dying and has stopped eating. How long can the body sustain itself without food?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Answer To When To Call Hospice Question

  Hospice care is generally reserved for those who are diagnosed to be near death. But other help with care may be available if your parent doesn't qualify for hospice.

• Question - What can I do to encourage my father to work on recovering from his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - Can I give my father a diuretic to help with the swelling in his feet caused by liver cancer?

  When swollen feet are caused by liver cancer, will a diuretic help relieve the swelling? Or is the cause of the swelling more complicated than that?

• Question - How do I handle my dad's denial about his diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 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 - How can I persuade my mother, who has stomach cancer, to quit smoking?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Alzheimer's and crying

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should I put my mom in a nursing home as her care has gotten too much for me?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my parent's doctor to give us complete and honest information?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are there ways to help my vision-impaired parent stay active and safe?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - My dad was just diagnosed with mild dementia. Should he still be on the road?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can low hemoglobin be causing my father's fatigue, and, if so, what can I do to help him feel better?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I encourage my mother to be more independent after her stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What is the difference between an infusaport and IV?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is there any financial aid available for buying a home to house my family and my parents, who need me to care for them?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can exercise raise my mother-in-law's ejection fraction?

  Can exercise raise my mother-in-law's ejection fraction? Her ejection fraction (EF) is now 10 percent, what it was before bypass surgery.

• Question - What's the best way to dress my mother's bunions?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Would a nursing home be better than hospice care?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my mother to do her physical therapy?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can we convince my father, who has cancer and can not live alone but insists, to move in with us?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a way to prevent or treat bone pain when my father takes neulasta after chemo?

  Here are some pain management options for those suffering bone pain due to chemotherapy.

• 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 are ROM exercises, and will they help my bedridden mom?

  ROM (range of motion) exercises can help bedridden patients.

• Question - With how emotional my mom can get and how quickly she also...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 get my father to stop yelling at me?

  My father is miserable, and taking it out on me.

• Question - Since he lost his license, my father seems to have lost all interest in life. What can I do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can we travel with parents with dementia?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• 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 - My father died I want to know if he is still watching over...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - I had chemo for breast cancer and now have neuropathy in my feet and legs. What can be done?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  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 - 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 - 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 - What documents does Medicaid ask for from an applicant?

  Medicaid asks applicants about all income and assets of any type, as well as support from others and any transfers of property within five years.

• Question - How can I persuade my dad to be honest with others about his vision problem?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is it common for Alzheimer's patients to have good and bad days with their memory?

  If a parent with early Alzheimer's or dementia has both good and bad days, it can mean that some situations are more confusing or stressful.