Fears

• Article - Caring for Your Difficult Parent

  If you have a troubled relationship with your parent, try these strategies to help you function effectively – and remain sane -- as her caregiver

• 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Parents Are From Venus, We're From Mars

  A simple online test promises to assess your "conversational relationship" with your parents. The bottom line: If you're not talking about the big stuff now, you'd better start.

• Blog Post - High Gas Prices May Encourage Older Drivers to Choose the Bus

  High gas prices may help older drivers give up their cars.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - Big Brother is Watching....Mom and Dad

  A new breed of high-tech retirement community is using technology to monitor seniors with dementia and other conditions, offering new freedoms while raising privacy concerns.

• Blog Post - Is It Hard to Get an Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis?

  Early Alzheimer's patients have special challenges, according to a new Alzheimer's Association report, including getting an accurate diagnosis

• Blog Post - Reverse Mortgages: Looking for Trouble?

  Reverse mortgages--a loan for people ages 62 and older...

• 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 Cancer Patients Take a Chemo Vacation?

  Most news headlines about cancer treatment trumpet...

Questions & Answers

• Question - How can I help my 82-year-old mother overcome her fear of falling?

  If a parent has a fear of falling, it can actually make things more dangerous. Here's expert advice on how to help a parent overcome fear of falling.

• Question - How do I help my mother get over or cope with her fear of falling?

  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 - My mother is acting insecure; how can I help her and maintain my own marriage?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 encourage my parent to want to learn about his eye disease?

  How to help a reluctant parent understand his eye disease, learn to slow its progression, and make the most of his remaining sight.

• 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 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 - 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 can I comfort my mother when she feels distressed about losing her hair?

  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 - 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 - 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 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 do we, with a power of attorney, take control of a credit card account in the cardholder's nickname?

  When you’re acting on behalf of another creditor, the credit card company may act most quickly and completely if you cancel the account.

• Question - What if we suspect a trustee is mismanaging a trust?

  Family dynamics can make it hard to figure out whether a trust is being properly administered, or whether there is some type of illegal undue influence.

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

  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 can I keep my father from overexerting himself after his heart attack?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - My wife, age 88, does not like to take a shower. Is this normal?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

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

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• 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 - How do I handle my elderly mother who doesn't want me to travel at all?

  An elderly parent may worry or get upset when you travel; she may even claim she'll die while you're away. Should you give up travel to ease her mind?

Tips & Reflections

• Reflection - What I Wish I'd Known About Death and Denial: Author David Rieff

  The author of Swimming in a Sea of Death discusses helping his mother, Susan Sontag, believe she could beat a fatal illness.

News

• News - Panic Attacks May Hike Heart Disease Risk in Women

  TUESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal...

• News - Heart Association Renews Call for CPR Training

  FRIDAY, Jan. 18 (HealthDay News) -- If more people...

• News - Most Cancer Survivors Say Chemo Fears Unfounded

  FRIDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Although most cancer...

• News - Seniors Avoid ER at Start of Month

  FRIDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds...

• News - 15 Million Americans Suffer From Social Anxiety Disorder

  WEDNESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Social anxiety...

• News - Drinking Dampens Ability to Feel Fear

  WEDNESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Alcohol can...

• News - Optimism About Heart Risk Pays Off

  MONDAY, July 14 (HealthDay News) -- Men who thought...