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Blog Posts

• 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 - Stroke Awareness Month: Stroke Heroes and Their Stories

  A roundup of personal blogs about stroke.

• Blog Post - I feel guilty about it, but I can barely stand the sight of my mother, who wants to live with me. What do I owe her?

  My mother is only 61 years old, but she may as well be 90...

• Blog Post - Talking Your Parent Into Trying Talk Therapy

  Talk therapy can help older people beat depression. Here are some practical guidelines for talking your parent into giving psychotherapy a try.

• 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 - National Grandparents Day September 7: A Day to Reach Out to All Elderly

  National Grandparents Day on September 7 was conceived as a day to remember lonely nursing home residents, but now honors all the elderly.

• 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 - 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 - Aging Artfully, Part 1

  How you can age artfully by pursuing your passions

• Blog Post - Personal To-Do Lists That Help You With Caregiving Challenges

  Caring.com launches new To-Do lists to help you navigate caregiver challenges.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - Alcohol Abuse Among Seniors -- the Last Taboo Subject

  Alcohol abuse among seniors still tends to be secret, but new data show it's more common than most people suspect. A guide to how to talk about it.

• 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 - Wanted: Companionship for a Dad with Diabetes

  How to find senior companionship for your aging and ailing parent.

• Blog Post - My father is in failing health and financial ruin, living with a woman who is bipolar, and refuses my help. What can I do?

  My father is 69 years old and in failing health...

• Blog Post - Telling Our Stories: The Importance of Personal Cancer Blogs

  These great cancer blogs help those fighting cancer learn from others' stories.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 Screening Technology Catches Cancer Better Than Mammograms

  A new screening technology, molecular breast imaging or MBI, caught three times the number of cancers in women with dense breast tissue as mammography in a Mayo Clinic study.

• Blog Post - Surprising News About Who's Happiest

  The oldest people are the happiest, surprising new research reveals.

• 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 - 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 - The Case For Geriatric Care

  How -- and why -- to choose a geriatrician for your aging parents' care.

• 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 - 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 - 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 - How Furry Toys, Animals, and Dolls Help People With Dementia

  Meet "Paro" and learn how "robot therapy," animal therapy, and doll therapy are helping people with dementia

• Blog Post - New Research May Predict Risk of Cancer Recurrence

  Cancer researchers have discovered clues to identify which lung and breast cancers will spread, suggesting possible tests and cancer treatments.

• Blog Post - The Mother's Day Gift That Keeps on Giving

  Spending time with your mother on Mother's Day is the best gift of all.

• Blog Post - Adaptive Senior Clothing: A Welcome Solution to Dressing Challenges

  Adaptive clothing makes dressing much easier for older people with arthritis, Alzheimer's, and other debilitating conditions.

• 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...

• 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.

Questions & Answers

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - 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 - Can I donate white blood cells to a friend with a low count to speed up his chemotherapy?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Where do I start to get help for my friend who takes pain killers and drinks?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 - A friend tells me I am emotional over having ovarian cancer. How can you not be emotional facing recurrances or dying?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - If I'm the partner on a friend's checking account, is it legal for me to distribute the funds after death?

  My friend and I had a joint checking account before he died -- he added me to his account. Can I distribute the funds from our joint account now?

• Question - my best friend has has a heart transplant...10 years ago....

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• 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 - 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 two Community Members

• 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 - Should I bring my four-year-old to my father's funeral?

  Is it OK to bring a child to a funeral or memorial? It depends on the child's temperament -- some kids do better at funeral services than others.

• Question - How old must a child be to get money at a parent's death?

  Money left to a minor will usually be managed by an adult until that child legally becomes an adult, too.

• 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 - My father just died. What do I do first?

  There are many details to attend to in the first week or so after a death occurs -- and the busyness can sometimes feel like a blessing.

• Question - How do I convince my father to use a walker?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Does stress affect Alzheimer's?

  Does stress cause Alzheimer's symptoms or make them worse? Here's expert advice on dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia behaviors affected by stress.

• Question - How do I get my dad to stop taking questionable financial advice from his friends?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is guardianship recognized across state lines?

  It's most important that a guardian or conservator know the best interests of the person who needs help, but practical problems can arise where there is a geographical divide.

• Question - Should I continue to encourage my mom to be social, even as her Alzheimer's worsens?

  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 - Can you offer any tips for bathing an overweight parent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I tell if my parent has Alzheimer's or depression?

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

• Question - What are some budget-friendly ways to keep my mom safe during bathing?

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

• 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 - How soon after my parent's death do I need to begin administering her will, and what's involved?

  How soon after my parent's death do I need to administer their estate and other financial affairs? What other legal matters should I be aware of?

• Question - What do I do when my mother seems to have lost the will to live?

  Redirectlng your mother's time and attention to other people and activities may help give her a new zest for life.

• Question - Could herbal supplements affect my mother's ability to drive?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get my 85 year old father to stop yelling at my mother?

  My father is constantly yelling at my mother, and the problem seems to be getting worse.

• 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 - How can someone become a caregiver?

  How can someone become a caregiver?

• 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 - 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 - My mom has macular degeneration, but still insists on driving. Is there anything I can do?

  My mother has macular degeneration. Should she still be driving?

• 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 - How can we protect our elderly mother from being taken advantage of?

  If you're sure that it's money and not love that is prompting an alleged suitor to call on your mother, act quickly to avoid financial scamming.

• Question - After lung removal due to cancer, what is the prognosis?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

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

  How do I pick an estate planning attorney for my parents? When I'm picking an attorney, should I go to a large firm, and how much should I pay?

• 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 - Do my parents need to get divorced to qualify for Medicaid?

  Should my parents get a divorce so that Dad can get Medicaid? It's possible that they won't need a divorce for him to qualify for Medicaid.

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

  How do you calm down someone with dementia in a nursing home? Is calming a dementia patient down even possible in an environment like a nursing home?

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Downsizing Tips

  Don't try and do it all in one day or even one weekend...

• Tip - Accept Help

  When family or friends offer help in caring for your...

News

• News - Chronic Illness Often a Taboo Subject: Survey

  THURSDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Along with taboo...

• News - How to Spot, and Beat, the Holiday Blues

  SATURDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- For some older...

• News - 15 Million Americans Suffer From Social Anxiety Disorder

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

• News - Smokers Quit in Droves, Not Isolation

  WEDNESDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- When one person...

• News - Staying Social May Keep Dementia at Bay

  FRIDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- The key to a healthy...