Caring.com: Helping you help your parents
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Care Giving

  • Checklist - 8 Life Issues You're Bound to Face When Caring for an Aging Parent

    You'll deal with a range of challenges when caring for your elderly parents. The way you approach these tough issues is as important as what you say.

  • Article - Giving Your Parent a Bed Bath: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Giving Your Parent a Bed Bath: A Step-by-Step Guide. When getting to the shower or tub is impossible, a bed bath is the only option.

  • Article - What to Do If Your Parents Refuse to Stop Driving

    How to keep a dangerous driver off the roads and out of harm's way -- what to do if your parents refuse to stop driving.

  • Article - Getting a Second Opinion When Your Parent Is Diagnosed With Cancer

    Guidance from Caring.com on when, why, and how to get a second opinion on your parent's cancer diagnosis.

  • Article - How to Hire an At-Home Caregiver

    How to Hire a Caregiver. Hiring a home care aide or caregiver can help parents remain at home -- and take some pressure off the rest of the family.

  • Article - How to Deal With Theft by a Caregiver

    What you need to know to protect your parent from financial abuse and theft. Plus, what to do if a theft has occurred.

  • Article - Assisted Living: A Beginner's Guide

    Assisted Living: A Beginner's Guide. How to choose the right assisted living facility for your parent.

  • Article - Planning Your Parents' Move: A Step-by-Step Guide

    How to help your parents make the move to assisted living or a nursing home. Avoid pitfalls and find the right situation for your parent.

  • Article - Nursing Homes: A Beginner's Guide

    Nursing Homes: A Beginner's Guide. A free informative guide to help you decide what nursing home is best for your parent.

  • Checklist - 15 Questions to Ask When Interviewing an In-home Health Worker on Your Own

    Home health care interview questions. Use these 15 interview questions to find the right home health care worker for your parent or loved one.

  • Article - 3 Acute Diabetes Complications You Can Help Your Parent Avoid

    Find out how to help your parent with type 2 diabetes avoid short-term complications such as low or high blood sugar (hypo- or hyperglycemia).

  • Interview - Talking With Tamara Jenkins

    The Savages director reflects on her real-life experience as a caregiver to her estranged father -- and why she wrote it differently for film.

  • Checklist - Ten Things to Make Sure You've Told Your Parent's New Caregiver Before Her First Day of Work

    Ten things to make sure you've discussed with your parent's new caregiver.

  • Interview - Talking With Julie Winokur

    Julie Winokur, whose film series The Sandwich Generation documents her family's care-giving experience, reflects on caring for parents at home.

  • Interview - Talking With Lillian Rubin

    Lillian Rubin, psychotherapist and the author of 60 on Up, talks about caregiver guilt, dealing with dementia, and the problem with living too long.

  • Article - Who to Call When Your Parent Is Seriously Ill

    Three key players who can be a huge help in planning your parent's care.

  • Interview - Talking With Michael Graves

    Designer Michael Graves talks about good medical equipment and making bad medical equipment better.

Blog Posts

  • Blog Post - Cancer and the Single Patient: A Special Need for Help

    Caring for someone with cancer who doesn't have a partner is a special challenge, and a very important type of caregiving.

  • 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 - Should Cancer Patients Take a Chemo Vacation?

    Most news headlines about cancer treatment trumpet...

  • Blog Post - Media Focus on Patrick Swayze's Cancer Begs the Real Questions

    The sudden media attention on Patrick Swayze's diagnosis...

  • 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 - Alzheimer's Caregivers' #1 Challenge

    A new survey of Alzheimer's caregivers reveals that daily care isn't the worst of it. Grief is.

  • Blog Post - Link Between Depression and Heart Disease

    ScienceDaily offers a sneak peek at the findings of...

  • Blog Post - What Alzheimer's Caregivers Need Even More Than a Cure

    Alzheimer's caregivers need care resources as urgently as a cure

  • 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 - 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 - 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 - 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...

  • 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 - Seven Words of Wisdom for Dealing with Diabetes

    Find seven words of wisdom for dealing with diabetes.

  • Blog Post - Overweight Women at Greater Risk for Cancer But Receive Fewer Screenings

    Being overweight is a risk factor for many types of cancer, but new research shows that overweight women are less likely, rather than more likely, to receive recommended screenings.

  • 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 - Back It Up

    Companies that offer backup childcare or elder care services have more loyal employees, according to a new survey.

  • 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 - 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 - Dr. Death Wants Your Vote

    By throwing his hat into the political ring, Jack Kevorkian has stirred renewed debate about doctor-assisted suicide.

  • Blog Post - Sandwich Generation "Massively Stressed"

    A new study of sandwich generation women, caring for children and aging parents, finds them ill-prepared for the massive stresses of care giving.

  • Blog Post - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People With Diabetes

    Find advice from self-help writer Stephen R. Covey in a guide for people with type 2 diabetes and their caregivers called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with Diabetes.

  • 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 - The Adult Diaper Wars: A Call to Arms!

    A Canadian government official's threat to wear diapers triggers open talk of how to keep seniors who wear diapers comfortable and healthy.

  • 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 - 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 - Use of Restraints in Nursing Homes: Down But Not Out

    The law limits how and when nursing homes can use restraints. What to do if your parent is confined by belts or bed rails.

  • Blog Post - Insurance Coverage: Denied!

    What do you do when your parent's insurance company denies coverage for the care that his doctor has ordered?

  • 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 - 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.

  • Blog Post - Doctors Don't Seem to Care for Medicare

    Although the vast majority of doctors accept Medicare, many place limits on how many Medicare patients they'll take in their practice because the government reimburses them at a relatively low rate.

  • 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 - A "Sandwiched" Daughter Says Enough is Enough

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

  • 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 - It Takes a Neighborhood (Part II)

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

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

    What to watch for and what you can do.

  • Blog Post - Dementia Caregiver? 4+ Ways You Can Take a Break

    Ideas for how dementia caregivers can use the arts for stress relief.

  • 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 - Embarrassment Assistance! The Gift of Plain Wrapping

    Buying adult incontinence products online can save your parents from stressful embarrassment.

  • 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 - 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 - 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 - In Case of Stroke, Better Call a Neurologist

    New research suggests that stroke patients treated by neurologists have better outcomes.

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

    Great Mother's Day gift ideas for someone with dementia

  • Blog Post - Downward Dog May Keep Elderly Upright

    Recent research reveals Iyengar yoga improves stability and balance in older women, which could lower their risk of falling.

  • Blog Post - Questions I Wish I'd Asked Mom

    Reflections on a first motherless Mother's Day.

  • 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 - Diabetes Studies: Good News? Bad News? Who Knows?

    How to make sense of drug study findings for people caring for parents with type 2 diabetes.

  • 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 - 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 - New Test Can Spare Breast Cancer Patients from Chemo

    The new test Oncotype DX spares many women with early stage breast cancer from chemo by revealing which cancers are low risk.

  • 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 - Too Skinny? Too Fat? Both Raise Your Risk of Dementia

    Being too fat OR too thin puts you at risk for dementia, according to a review of past studies.

  • Blog Post - Mindbenders: Memory-Boosting Brain Games

    These brain-building games promise to boost mental skills.

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

    A roundup of personal blogs about stroke.

  • Blog Post - A Healthy Gift for National Women's Health Week

    National Women's Health from May 11 to 17 is full of useful health prevention activities on-line and off.

  • 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 - Call Us Cancer "Carepartners"

    When you're helping someone you love battle cancer, you're right there on the front lines with them.

  • Blog Post - Real Men Can Have Brittle Bones

    Because osteoporosis is underdiagnosed in men, the American College of Physicians issued new guidelines urging doctors to screen men for osteoporosis.

  • 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Medicare Headaches

    Navigating the Medicare maze can be a headache, but here are resources to help you along the way.

  • 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 - Elder Co-Housing Offers the Best of Both Worlds

    Elder co-housing is an innovative retirement housing option for seniors who want both a sense of community and a feeling of control.

  • 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 - Cancer News We Can Use

    New research presented at ASCO offers news for those with breast, colorectal, and lung cancer.

  • Blog Post - Farewell to Falls

    Seniors can prevent life-altering falls by doing balance training exercises.

  • Blog Post - With Diabetes, Diet and Dumbbells Make a Difference

    Making lifestyle changes can help people at risk for type 2 diabetes prevent or delay the disease, includes diet and exercise tips.

  • 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 - Want to Participate in an Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trial?

    Clinical trials for Alzheimer's drugs attract too few participants to help speed promising candidates through research; here's why.

  • Blog Post - Shingles Vaccine Strongly Recommended for Seniors

    A shingles vaccine is recommended for all seniors by the Centers For Disease Control, along with other adult vaccinations.

  • 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 - Be Social and Save Your Memory

    News about prolonging memory loss and postponing aging.

  • 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 - What Do You Give an Old Dad for Father's Day?

    What aging dads really need for Father's Day can't be wrapped.

  • 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 - 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 - 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 - Vascular Dementia Resources for Caregivers

    Vascular dementia is the second leading cause of dementia in the US. Here's a list of blogs and resources for vascular dementia caregivers.

  • Blog Post - Over-The-Counter Driving Hazards

    Even simple cold medications can undermine the driving abilities of elderly people.

  • 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 - Bathing Blocks: When an Elder Refuses to Bathe

    When your parents refuse to bathe, there are ways you can help them stay clean.

  • 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 - On PBS: What's It Like to Have Alzheimer's?

    "The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's" on PBS is an excellent examination of the disease.

  • 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 - Seniors May Need Less Sleep

    Seniors may not need as much sleep as previously thought.

  • Blog Post - I was the beneficiary of my mother's trust deposit until that was changed to her husband's name a couple of months before she died -- and I think it was done illegally.

    My mother moved from Orlando (where I live) to Miami...

  • Blog Post - Senior Safety Net at Your Fingertips: Dial 2-1-1

    2-1-1 is a free nationwide telephone service that connects you to all kinds of local social service referrals, including for seniors.

  • Blog Post - Prescription Addiction Part 4: One Family's Story

    Prescription medication causes a senior to become addicted.

  • 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 - Decoding the Secret Language of Alzheimer's

    What people with Alzheimer's are really saying.

  • 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 - Depression and the Too-Secret Grief of the Dementia Caregiver

    Grief precedes death for dementia caregivers; little wonder one in four are depressed.

  • Blog Post - I can't stop feeling that I was an inadequate caregiver to my mom.

    I am a 56-year-old registered nurse. I took time off...

Questions & Answers

  • 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 - Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long-term care?

    Will Medicaid or Medicare help pay for my mother's long term care? Medicare will cover 100 days in a nursing home if certain qualifications are met.

  • 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 overcome my father's refusal to ask for help with his cancer care?

    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 - 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 - Who are the best long term care providers and reverse mortgage companies?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • 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 - 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 - 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 - Why don't you write about spouses taking care of spouses?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Does Medicare cover adult day care for Alzheimer’s...

    Does Medicare cover adult daycare? Medicare cover adult daycare only in very limited ways, like psychiatric help administered at the daycare center.

  • 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 - Will the State of CA pay you to care for your parents?

    The State of CA won't pay family to provide care, except possibly some Medi-Cal home care payments if the caregiver is a certified home care aide.

  • 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 - Can I get paid to provide care for my mother in FL?

    An adult child who is certified as a home care aide might get some pay from Medicaid, or from long-term care insurance, for caring for a parent.

  • Question - How can I direct my mother's medical care if others are named in her power of attorney?

    If people named to act in a power of attorney are not doing their job well, there may be steps you can take to right the wrongs.

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

    Should I put my mom in a nursing home? Putting your parent in a nursing home could be the best thing for her, physically and mentally.

  • 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 - Can my father's house be taken to pay for long term care?

    A house transferred out of an elder's name can't be taken by Medicaid but might disqualify the elder from Medicaid nursing home coverage.

  • Question - Does my mother have to sign a home lien for short-term nursing home care?

    Medicare or Medicaid can cover all or most of short-term nursing home costs, but a nursing home might want a home lien from a private-paying patient.

  • 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 - Can a person get paid for caring for their parents in their parents' home?

    A family caregiver can get paid to take of parents by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for low income seniors.

  • Question - Does Medicare cover psychologist's visits?

    Medicare can pay some of the cost of care by a Medicare-participating psychologist. A doctor's referral is usually required.

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

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Any advice on how to handle a situtaion where my father's caregiver is taking advantage of the situation?

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - How can I get a break from caring for my mother 24/7?

    My mother, who lives with me, is blind and needs constant care. How can I get some time for myself?

  • Question - Is there a way to use my mother's assets to compensate me as her caregiver?

    Unanswered. Can you 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 do I need to know before I sign a nursing home contract?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • 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 do I get my father, who has prostate cancer, to accept help from others?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How careful of germs do we need to be when my father's white blood count is low?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - What is the difference between assisted living and nursing home?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - My father has had a stroke and has no will. How do I ensure his things are taken care of?

    A parent who wishes to make a will may be able to do so, even after suffering a stroke.

  • 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 grandmother get a safety bath tub from Medicaid?

    Medicaid can provide special bathing equipment for someone who qualifies for home health care.

  • Question - Any financial aid to help us care for Mom full-time?

    Family caregivers can get paid to take of a parent by the Cash and Counseling or similar state program for low income seniors.

  • 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 take over care-making decisions when my brother has power of attorney?

    Try getting to the root of your family member's unwillingness to carry out the duties required in a power of attorney; then, consider other action.

  • Question - How can I get over my anger at my mother regarding my father's care?

    My mother refused to accept help in caring for my father, and he's going downhill fast after a fall. I'm furious with my mother, and am having a hard time getting over my anger and moving on.

  • Question - How do we convince our parents that they need to move so we can care for them?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Does Medicare cover me while I'm in Canada?

    Medicare does not cover regular medical care or most emergency care in Canada, but can cover emergencies in a few situations.

  • Question - If my dad and I jointly own a home, can Medicaid still take it to pay for long-term care expenses associated with a nursing home?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Is 24 hour care needed for a chemotherapy patient with small cell lung cancer, who is 70 years old?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Is there any software available to help track and organize yearly costs for a guardian taking care of a parent?

    The biggest challenge in tracking guardianship expenses may be to focus on the categories to include.

  • Question - Does an advanced directive for health care agents supersede a durable power of attorney for medical decisions, if you have both?

    When an advance directive and durable power of attorney conflict, the most recent document generally controls.

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

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Is there an alternative to washing my father's private areas?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • 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 - 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 - 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 a Community Member

  • 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 - Is a Medicaid annuity a scam?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • 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 - Now that my mom is in a nursing home, how can I make the most of my one-hour visits with her?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Is there an alternative to washing my mom's private areas?

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

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - How can I keep my mother's hair clean when she resists shampooing?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • 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

  • 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 - 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 - How should I handle brothers who are upset about me taking care of my dad by scheduling doctor appointments and being present durning exams?

    How should I respond to my brothers, who don't like the way I handle my father's care?

  • Question - Financial Aid for Caregivers?

    I am caring for my parents and need to be home with them day to day. Is there any financial aid that I can get since I will have lost my income?

  • 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 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 are annuities and do they make sense for someone over 80?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How can i give better care for people with osteoporosis?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Are living trusts and living wills the same?

    When it comes to living wills and living trusts, only the names are similar. One concerns itself with controlling medical care; the other, passing title to property.

  • Question - How can I contact someone about in-home care?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Answer to getting medical care for a parent who refuses to be seen.

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Where can I get free help with legal questions?

    There are several places to look for free legal help because of poor treatment at a VA hospital.

  • Question - How does an in-home caregiver get paid by the state?

    A caregiver or caretaker can sometimes be paid by the state or Medicaid instead of under the table. It's called being a certified home care provider.

  • Question - Is there help for someone under age 65, who has serious illness and little money?

    For someone under 65 and disabled, government programs can help: Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

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

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Why do you need a living will?

    Whether you need a living will may depend on your trust and experience with the medical establishment.

  • Question - How can we keep from selling my mother's home to pay for her final expenses?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • 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 - How do we convince our mother to allow in-home help to care for our dying father?

    Honest conversation may convince your mother that in-home care would help improve life for both your parents. It may also convince you that you're wrong.

  • Question - Is there a resource to find a nurse who will travel to rural areas?

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - How can someone become a caregiver?

    How can someone become a caregiver?

  • Question - My parents are 81 & 82, my father was in a bad car accident...

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Does Medicare offer assistance for transportation equipment?

    Medicare Part B can pay most of the cost of wheelchairs and walkers.

  • Question - need short time care in a recovery facilty

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Can I safeguard my mother even if I'm not designated her guardian?

    The first step is to see what actual legal authority your brother has to act. The second is to take action to do or undo the situation.

  • Question - What financial assistance is available for caregivers?

    Medicaid can pay for in-home care and might even pay a home-bound senior directly, who can then pay a familymember.

  • Question - What is the best way for my five brothers and me to contribute toward paying for my mother's care?

    Family planning for health care costs that may have tax consequences can get complicated in a hurry. It's one of those situations in which it may be best to call in expert help.

  • Question - Will we have to pay out of pocket for nursing home care for my grandmother who has Alzheimers?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Should my mother be on IV's while in hospice care?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How do I help deal with the frustration I feel with my siblings over our mother's care?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - If I have durable power of attorney for my mother, how do I get access to her medical records?

    If you have been legally appointed an agent in your mother's durable power of attorney for health care, securing her medical records should be an unquestioned cinch.

  • Question - How can you help convince a caregiver to stop focusing exclusively on caregiving?

    How can I convince a loved one to pay attention to other things besides caregivlng?

  • Question - How can I get the dental care I need if I can't afford it and have no dental insurance?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Can Medicaid take a house to pay for nursing home care?

    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 - Can my uncle take himself out of a rehab nursing home because he's not happy with the care?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How do I get a break from caring for my mother?

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - Does the person I take care of have to have Medicaid for me to get paid by the state?

    A family caregiver may get paid by the state if the senior has low income and assets at or near Medicaid eligibility levels.

  • Question - What do I do when a health care directive is challenged by hospital doctors?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Will my stepmother be financially responsible for my dad's care once his insurance money runs out?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - About how much should in home caregivers get paid for a 6 hour day?

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - How can I get help dealing with the stress of taking care of...

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - My dad needs 24-hour care and is in a nursing home but has no assets and Medicare won't continue to pay. What do I do?

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

  • Question - Who is responsible for my brother, who has severe dementia, if the nursing home asks him to leave?

    A court-appointed guardian or conservator may be the best option when there is no one else willing and able to take on caretaking duties.

  • Question - Is it normal for my grandfather, who has Alzheimer's and dementia, to be acting inappropriately towards other people?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • 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 - Does medicare cover Chiropractic care and services?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Will Medicare help him pay my salary and secondary insurance help pay for my client's care?

    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 - 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 - 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 do we handle my mom when my dad doesn't want to care for her anymore?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - How can I get a list of in-home care providers in Miami, FL?

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - Can SSI/Medicare/Medical/Hud Section 8 look for repayments of benefits paid to date, when I am no longer eligible for benefits going forward?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How do we get guardianship of my mother-in-law, who lives in a care facility and is out-of-state?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How can I ensure that my domestic partner will be empowered to handle my medical care and financial decisions?

    To be sure your family is clear about your domestic partner's role in handling your property and medical care, be sure to reinforce those wishes now.

  • Question - What kind of legal action can I take to care for my mother, who has got cognitive issues?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • 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 - Can you offer any advice on bathing a modest parent?

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

  • 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 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 - How do I set up a conservatorship for my mother?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Am I responsible for my parent's debt?

    Am I responsible for my parent's debt? I recently discovered that my father has several thousand of dollars of debt. Are parent debts transferable?

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

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - What can I do to encourage my dad to wear his emergency response device?

    This question has been answered by two Caring.com Experts

  • Question - How can I help boost my mother's mood after her bypass surgery?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • 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 persuade my mother to sign a living will?

    Many people fear that signing an advance healthcare directive means giving up on living. It may take an objective source to convince them of the truth.

  • 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 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 we convince my in-laws to seek alternative housing?

    Assisted living is one solution when ailing parents need help. But instead of moving, they could get a PERS and make modifications to the house.

  • Question - Alzheimer's versus dementia

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • 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 - Answer to hiding medications in food or drinks.

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Is there any inexpensive insurance for the disabled?

    Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicaid, and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage may all be available to someone on permanent disability.

  • 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 do I get a power of attorney without my parent's signature?

    To prevent fraud and be sure that a power of attorney is just what is needed and wanted, the law usually requires your parent to sign it before it will take effect.

  • 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 - 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 do I get my husband signed up for Medicare Part D?

    Medicare Part D drug coverage is very inexpensive for people eligible for Medicaid and in nursing homes.

  • Question - Can my husband and I be reappointed as caregivers?

    Go back to the original source first to resolve a problem with caregiving for a disabled person; then move on to other local resources.

  • Question - How can I find a new doctor and can my wife qualify for SSI?

    Medicare's web site has a tool to help you find a doctor who accepts Medicare patients. SSI is based on a couple's joint income and assets.

  • Question - Is home healthcare part of the Medicaid waiver program SOURCE?

    The SOURCE program includes home health care as part of an overall care plan to keep frail seniors out of nursing homes.

  • Question - How can I get my father, who lives with us, to respect the rules of our household?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Would it be safe for my mother to travel by plane to come live with me?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - Is there any legal action we can take against our sister's conservator?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • 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 - My Mother lives in Michigan, she wants me to relocate back...

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How can I get my parents to simplify their affairs before something happens?

    Unanswered. Can you help?

  • Question - What can I do to help convince my dad to bathe more often?

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • 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 - What can I do with my diet to increase my red blood count?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

    Whether there is a difference between a conservatorship and guardianship may depend on where you live.

  • Question - How can I convince my pack-rat mother, whom I'm moving into a smaller apartment, to let go of all her junk?

    My parent needs to move, but she's a pack rat. How do I convince this hoarder to get rid of some of the junk so she can move into a smaller place?

  • 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 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 - 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 help my parent control nausea while he's on chemotherapy?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - What if my dad's doctor doesn't think it's Alzheimer's?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - How can I get my mother, who has dementia, to calm down in her nursing home?

    This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

  • Question - Can my mom try out an assisted-living home before she commits to it?

    Is it possible to try out assisted living before committing to it? Yes, some assisted living homes allow people to live there for a short time first.

  • Question - How do I pick an attorney and what should I expect to pay?

    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 - 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

  • Question - With both my parents in the hospital, how can I pay their bills?

    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 - Should I take cigarettes away from my mother, who has Alzheimer's, for fear she'll start a fire?

    This question has been answered by a Community Member

  • Question - How can I tell whether my father's incontinence after his stroke is temporary?

    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 - 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 - 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 - How can I encourage my listless mom to bathe?

    Elderly people sometimes refuse to bathe out of modesty or fear of falling. What can you do to help when when a parent refuses to bathe or shower?

  • 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 get my mother, who has breast cancer, to be more active so she won't lose muscle strength?

    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 ans