“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 feel like I’m doing time for a crime I never committed.”   That’s what one of my older patients said to me in our very first session after he was moved unexpectedly from his home into assisted living. He wasn’t exaggerating. He wasn’t being dramatic. He was telling me exactly how he felt. […]

  Suicide Risk Spikes After a Dementia Diagnosis: Here’s Why Receiving a dementia diagnosis changes everything. For many people, it brings relief—finally, there’s an explanation for the confusion, memory lapses, or personality changes that have been happening. But for others, especially in the first months after hearing the words “you have dementia”, it can trigger […]

When working with people with terminal illness, you’ve no doubt heard:  “I don’t want to live like this anymore” “If Medical Aid in Dying isn’t available, I’ll find another way.” “I want help dying, but I don’t want people to think I killed myself.” “I want to go quickly before the dementia gets worse” “Some […]

Diving into the vast ocean of cognitive impairment in older adults can be challenging, especially when waves of denial or lack of awareness obstruct the view. As healthcare providers, we often find ourselves caught in the current, struggling to navigate these tumultuous waters. The aging population is on the rise, and with it, an increasing […]

Depression is a medical condition that impacts more than 7 million adults over the age of 65. Depression can affect mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.   Why is screening for depression in older adults important? The earlier we can identify a depressive disorder and treat it, the less emotional AND physical suffering older adults […]

Have you been struggling to engage your sibling in your aging parent’s care? Perhaps you reach out and they don’t respond. Perhaps they refuse to help. In this article I answer a question from a caregiver on the issue of siblings refusing to help with aging parent’s care. You’ll learn The importance of family relationships […]

There may come a time when you’re faced with the conversation of talking with your aging parents about moving into a senior living or assisted living community. Many people dread this conversation. Even simply starting the conversation can bring up all sorts of worry and feelings of guilt and shame. To help, I’ve created 6 […]

You may be surprised to hear that about half of today’s Veterans are 65 and older. If you’re caring for an aging Veteran, you may have many questions but not know where to start. Once you do get started, you might not know HOW TO ACTUALLY HAVE a conversation with your loved one about their […]