Care Management Blog

Anger as an emotion is neither good nor bad. It is a messenger. It can provide energy and motivate you to action. Chances are you have felt angry at some point during your experience of caring for a loved one. It’s normal! However, anger by itself has never solved a problem. The trouble with anger…

Is air travel coming up for your older relative? These tips can make it an easier, less stressful experience for both of you. Preflight planning Day-of-travel assistance Getting ready to help an aging loved one travel?Whether by plane, train, or automobile, there are special considerations for older adults who will be traveling. As the Metro…

Many people hear of aspiration pneumonia when it’s already too late: their loved one has the diagnosis. This doesn’t have to be you. Aspiration pneumonia is preventable. It occurs when foreign matter, such as food or saliva, is breathed (aspirated) into the lungs, introducing bacteria. People who have swallowing problems due to stroke, advanced dementia,…

The request every adult child dreads: “Promise you won’t put me in a nursing home.” Your natural response is to provide a soothing answer: “Of course. Never.” That is instinctual, and comforting. But that quick response now may prove problematic later. Take time to think things through so you are prepared to give a loving,…

If the person you care for has Parkinson’s, you may be surprised to discover the many ways the disease hampers communication. Voice problems alone affect 60%-80% of people with this condition. Low volume and slurred speech may make it hard at times for you to grasp what your loved one is saying. He or she…

What if your mother developed dementia? Are you legally entitled to make medical decisions for her? What if your father had a major accident? Do you know his treatment preferences? An advance directive provides answers. A directive is completed in “advance,” when a person is healthy. It enables them to guide their future medical treatment…

Does your relative with dementia stay calm during the day but shift toward agitation as evening approaches? Are you noticing that in late afternoon they become anxious, confused, restless? Perhaps they pace the house or ask the same questions again and again. This frustrating pattern is called sundowning or sundown syndrome. Sundowning is a group…

This Father’s Day, you may be among the millions of Americans who face the bittersweet reality of celebrating a father who is no longer alive. Holidays of this sort are especially poignant the first year after a death. Whether your father was a protector, a fun buddy, or a stern authority, his passing has had…

“When are we going out?” A reasonable question under normal circumstances. But if the person you care for has dementia, you may get this question multiple times in an hour. Aargh! Indeed, repetitive questions are one of the top irritants mentioned by family caregivers whose loved one has dementia. The repetitive questioning isn’t done intentionally,…