Connie Matthiessen, Caring.com senior editor


Constance (Connie) Matthiessen, senior editor, has worked as a healthcare and environmental journalist at the Center for Investigative Reporting and has written for WebMD, Consumer Health Interactive, the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, BabyCenter.com, San Francisco magazine, Mother Jones, and other publications. Connie's background also includes a B.A. in literature from Evergreen State College and an MFA in writing from Warren Wilson College. She has been interested in eldercare issues since shortly after college, when she spent a year caring for elderly people in a nursing home.

Connie, who lives in San Francisco with her three children, considers herself lucky that her parents are still healthy and active as they approach their 80s. They both continue to pursue their passions, including fishing, horseback riding, travel, and spending time with their children, grandchildren,and great-grandchildren, providing living proof that growing old -- for all its challenges -- can be a time of inspiration, connection, and adventure.


Recently Published on Caring.com

How to Talk to Elderly Adults About Giving up the Keys — Nov 25, 2014
If you have concerns about an older adult's ability to drive, addressing them promptly could be a matter of life and death. It may be tempting to procrastinate -- to talk t...
Warning Signs of Driving Problems: Quick List — Jan 31, 2013
One or more of these warning signs indicate that an older adult is having potential driving problems -- and they may signal that, at the very least, you'll need to closely ...
Dangerous Senior Drivers — Jan 17, 2013
What should you do if you've monitored your parent's or other aging family members' driving and are persuaded that they pose a risk -- but they refuse to stop driving? Many...
Giving up Driving: Easing the Transition — Jan 17, 2013
Helping an older adult give up driving on an emotional level Giving up driving won't be easy for the person in your care, both from a practical standpoint and an emotional...
How to Know When It's Time for Your Parent to Stop Driving — Jan 17, 2013
If your aging parent or other family member is like most people, the decision to stop driving is likely to be a wrenching one. It raises daunting practical problems (How wi...
Keeping Older Drivers on the Road: Limiting Driving — Jan 08, 2013
Helping an older adult find her driving limits You may worry that the person you're caring for isn't driving as well as she used to. But naturally, she'd prefer not to giv...
Caring for Elderly Relatives: How to Handle Family Conflicts — Dec 23, 2012
Common Causes of Family Tensions and Disagreements It shouldn't surprise anyone that sensitive family dynamics can be one of the most challenging aspects of caregiving ...
How to Talk to Elderly Loves Ones About Tough Family Issues — Sep 22, 2012
Adult children and their parents often have trouble talking effectively. Small disagreements can be irksome and frustrating; if they simmer and grow, they can poi...
Helping an Older Adult Stay on the Road -- and Preparing for the Day He Can't Drive — Feb 09, 2010
Help keep an older adult safe behind the wheel It's likely the day will come when someone you're close to has to give up the car for good, but in the meantime, you can ...
Driving Safety: Getting Professional Assessments — Aug 14, 2009
Expert advice for older driversIf you're not sure whether or not an older driver is safe behind the wheel, there are experts who can help. The driver's physicians What you ...