You may still remember the exact words the clinician used. “Dementia.” “Alzheimer’s disease.” “Probable Lewy body dementia.”   For many families, everything after that becomes a blur. The fear is real. The uncertainty is real. And so is this: there are clear, concrete steps you can take to support your loved one and yourself, starting […]

A dementia diagnosis is one of the most disorienting moments a person — or a family — can face. The fear is real. The uncertainty is real. And so is this: there are clear, concrete steps you can take right now to protect your health, build connection and community, and shape the kind of life […]

“This is probably the last few chapters of her life. And I made it worse. I lied to her and I betrayed her and I don’t know if I can forgive myself.”   This is what a caregiver shared with me in therapy. She lamented over whether or not she made the right decision. Wondering, […]

The plan was already made. The family had toured the memory care facility twice, signed the paperwork, and arranged for movers to collect her things the following week. But when they pulled into the parking lot, her daughter told her she would just be staying for a few days while her back healed up.   […]

I was settling in for a long travel day on an airplane — when I found myself in one of those unexpectedly meaningful conversations that remind me why I do this work.   The man sitting next to me was in his early 60s. He and his husband were heading to Burlington to explore whether […]

If you spend any time on social media, you have probably seen it — a well-meaning post, shared thousands of times, warning that caregivers are so depleted, so selflessly devoted, that they often die before the very people they are caring for. It is a striking claim.   Caregiving is hard. It is exhausting, isolating, […]

Living alone is a choice many of us treasure—the independence, the comfort of familiar surroundings, the dignity of managing our own daily rhythms. But what happens when dementia enters this picture?    As a geropsychologist who has worked with thousands of older adults navigating cognitive changes, I’ve witnessed both the profound challenges and the remarkable […]

When an older loved one completes alcohol detox and enters a medical rehab program, families often feel a swirl of emotions: relief, hope, fear, and sometimes overwhelm. You may find yourself asking: How do we best support them right now? What’s really causing their symptoms—withdrawal, depression, or dementia? How do we help them return to […]

As I write this, wildfires and windstorms are ravaging parts of Los Angeles. Having grown up not far from these areas, I’ve been deeply moved by the stories of resilience and support within communities, especially among people looking out for their neighbors and older adults.   Stories like this one highlight how vital it is […]

Studies show that people who participate in Medical Aid in Dying experience benefits primarily centered around the principles of autonomy, relief from suffering, and dignity. And of course, there can be psychological comfort in the form of peace of mind, even if they ultimately choose not to pursue it. 7, 8   Even as a […]

According to a study by the CDC, chronic pain impacts over 16,386,000 older adults age 65-84 and an additional 2,596,000 MORE adults over the age of 85 (Dahlhamer et al, 2018).  If you read my post about chronic pain in older adults, you also know that chronic pain can have a negative impact on older […]

By 2034, there will be more adults 65 and older than children under the age of 18. Approximately 1 in 4 of older adults experiences a mental health condition, including depression, anxiety, dementia, substance use and more, yet the vast majority of these older adults struggle to get adequate mental health care, resulting in worse […]