Learning to drive is a rite of passage when we are teenagers and learning how not to drive is just as significant a rite of passage as we age. In this blog post, we explore clinical driving assessments and driving skills evaluations, as well as what happens when a family member or loved one fails one of these tests…

The economic impact of unpaid caregiving is a significant issue across the United States. My personal experience in 2019 is a microcosm of the issues facing people nationwide. In January 2018, the federal government recognized enacted the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, And Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act into law. Until February 7, 2020, caregivers have the opportunity to provide input online to the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council about their challenges and potential solutions.

Caring for an elderly parent is tough enough. What happens when there’s tension or disagreement between siblings about what’s in Mom’s or Dad’s best interest? The Family Caregiver Alliance offers some tips. As an only child, this is foreign territory for me, so I’d also be interested in learning what has worked for others.

Longevity seems like a recipe for social isolation and loneliness. The negative health effects associated with loneliness are profound. Yet, many older people cling to concepts of independence that may contribute to their isolation. What can caregivers and the community do to help?

Emotional contagion occurs when people mimic the emotions that they see in others. Researchers have found that emotional contagion is increased in individuals with mild cognitive impairment, as well as Alzheimer's disease. In this post, we’ll explore the "caregiver's mask" — this is a useful tool to prevent agitation in family members, but it can also take a personal toll on caregivers.

Unpaid caregivers provide 83% of total care to individuals with dementia. In 2018 alone, 18.5 billion hours of care valued at $234 billion were provided by family, friends, and other unpaid caregivers. Fortunately, healthcare systems and various not-for-profit foundations and advocacy organizations are exploring more comprehensive approaches to dementia care which provide resources for caregivers that can reduce their stress.

With Americans in the 65+ age group expected to grow to 88 million by 2050, we can expect that the number of individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia will increase by at least 50%. At most consumer-oriented companies, ears would perk up in response to a customer segment comprised of millions of potential buyers. Could serving individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's be a competitive differentiator for companies?

This blog post may tread into the territory of TMI (too much information). However, if your parent has dementia or Alzheimer’s, helping them with lab tests can quickly become a challenge. While caring for my Dad, I adopted five techniques to help both of us through the trauma of routine lab tests. It’s my hope that these may help others out there too.

Parents of children with behavioral challenges may be familiar with two experts in the field of collaborative problem solving: Dr. J. Stuart Ablon (Director of Think:Kids) and Dr. Ross Greene (Founding Director of Lives in the Balance). In this post, we’ll explore how the collaborative problem solving techniques and “Plan B” approach recommended for children could also be used productively by adult children interacting with parents suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's.

In 2017, more than 60% of all American health care institutions and 40% to 50% of all American hospitals utilized some form of telehealth. Telehealth isn't just for the younger, tech-savvy generations, however. New services have the potential to simplify healthcare for seniors and their caregivers