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Paula Spencer Scott, Senior Health Writer

Paula Spencer Scott is the author of Surviving Alzheimer's: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers and much of the Alzheimer's and caregiving content on Caring.com.

Scott has specialized in women's life-stage concerns (baby care, family care, self-care, elder care) from her first job as an editor at 50 Plus Magazine through stints as a Woman's Day columnist and coauthor of health books with doctors at Harvard, UCLA, Duke, and Arizona State. She's a 2011 Met Life Foundation Journalists in Aging fellow, awarded by the Gerontological Society of America and New American Media, and completed a National Press Foundation's Alzheimer's Disease 2012 fellowship.

In the late 2000s, she lost both her parents, in their 80s, to cancer; her father also had dementia and stroke. "In short order during that phase," she says, "I experienced just about everything that's on this site, from dealing with their illnesses to selling the family home and moving Dad, plus advance directives, end-of-life planning, hospice, death -- and stress."

Follow her on Twitter @PSpencerScott.

Recently Published on Caring.com

Superhero Caregivers: 3 Ways to Give Yourself a Break — Sep 27, 2011
Here's a popular line of thinking among dementia-care family members: "Nobody can do it as well as I can." Especially if you live with the person you're caring for, it's pr...
Tip: A Simple Way to Get Through a Hard Day — Sep 01, 2011
On bad days when you're feeling tired and resentful about caregiving, it can be hard to keep in mind how you got to this place -- and why you care so much. In her book How...
Tip: Lawyers Who Specialize in Eldercare — Aug 31, 2011
Trying to sort out a legal issue with your older loved one? Elder-law attorneys are relatively new specialists who help clients with issues concerning public benefits, prob...
Tip: Watch for the Sideways Glance — Aug 31, 2011
Glaucoma, an eye disease of the optic nerve, is common over age 60 -- but fortunately most cases develop slowly. It's one reason why annual eye exams are important. In addi...
Tip: Be Careful When Mixing Medications With Food — Aug 31, 2011
Some pills are large and hard to swallow; medications in other forms may taste bad. Is it OK to mix them up with food? The best rule of thumb is to always, always ask the p...
Tip: A Bad Time of Day for a Drink — Aug 31, 2011
Many caregivers find restoration in the relaxing powers of a glass of wine or a cocktail. But are you timing your drinking in a way that undermines your health? Having ...
Tip: Creative Ways to Feed Your Loved One Well — Aug 31, 2011
Concerned about your loved one's meals while you're at work or otherwise unable to provide food? You probably know that local senior services offer subsidized Meals on Whee...
How to Avoid Getting a "No" Answer — Aug 31, 2011
Ever notice how an older adult sometimes refuses to respond to your questions and suggestions, instead giving you a knee-jerk "No!" Partly, this is a control issue. At a ti...
Tip: To Assess Pain, Use the Pain Scale — Aug 31, 2011
Pain is an individual experience and hard to accurately convey to another person. To assess your loved one's pain level, borrow a trick from the doctor's office: Use a pain...
Tip: Ask Now About Creating a Special Bequests List — Aug 31, 2011
Your loved one probably (hopefully!) has a will. But dozens of his or her small personal possessions, anything from pets to military memorabilia to china collections -- may...