Caregiving Blog: Caring for Aging Parents
Welcome to the caregiving blog: caring for aging parents or yourself if you are the caregiver or an aging adult managing your health. Here, you will find helpful caring for aging parents blog articles, practical tips, and resources from caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson and the podcast transcripts from The Caring Generation® podcast. Pamela D Wilson exclusively writes all of the content in this blog based on more than 20 years of service to older adults and caregivers.
List of 9 Things to Do Before Your Spouse Gets Sick
The Caring Generation®—Episode 214, March 12, 2025. If a spouse has health issues, check out this list of 9 things to consider to prepare for what’s ahead, whether you are living with a health problem, or a partner or spouse has memory loss and is likely to be...
Dementia Human Rights and Choices
The Caring Generation®—Episode 213, February 26, 2025. What human or civil rights does a person with dementia have? Dementia and human rights can be complicated by care needs, provider rules, and regulations, or relationships with family members. Learn four words and...
Trapped Taking Care of Someone Else Who is Sick?
The Caring Generation®—Episode 212, February 12, 2025. Are you a caregiver living life and feeling trapped taking care of someone else who is sick? If you are a sick person who needs care, you might also feel trapped and tired of doctors or your caregiver telling you...
Word Salad Dementia Conversations That Don’t Make Sense
The Caring Generation®—Episode 211 January 30, 2025. Elderly parents with dementia can lose their language skills and verbal communication abilities. They may speak, but their words don’t make sense. This type of communication is called word salad dementia.
Is Your Sibling Abusing Power of Attorney?
The Caring Generation®—Episode 210, January 15, 2025. Is your sibling abusing power of attorney for an elderly parent? Learn how to prevent sibling abuse of power of attorney when your sibling is named as the sole agent or when you share power of attorney agent duties...
When One Sibling Takes Care of Parents
When one sibling takes care of parents, good intentions can result in caregiver exhaustion, resentment, and challenges with other siblings who may not understand the importance of their ongoing involvement until it's too late. One sibling may offer to be the caregiver...
10 Care-Related Acronyms Every Caregiver Should Know
Healthcare providers commonly use acronyms for care and medical abbreviations. Learn the top 10 care-related acronyms that every caregiver and older adult should know. Each term relates to the others to provide a foundation of information that caregivers and older...
Discharge from Facility: Why the Elderly are Refused Care
The Caring Generation®—Episode 209, January 1, 2025. Nursing homes and assisted living discharge from facility happen for a various reasons. While patients believe they have a right to care, these rights only go so far when insurance companies set limits or patient...
How Urinary Tract Infections Result in Confusion and Delusions
Urinary tract infections in the elderly can result in confusion and delusions. Learn about UTIs in the elderly and how to maintain a healthy urinary tract to avoid infections and stay healthy. What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)? A urinary tract infection results...
When Aging Parents Expect Too Much
If you are a family caregiver, there may come a time when aging parents expect too much. Some adult children feel a great sense of duty and responsibility to care for their parents. When aging parents expect too much, it is time for adult children to initiate...
How to Do the Hard Stuff When Caring For Elderly Parents
The Caring Generation®—Episode 208, December 18, 2024. How to do the hard stuff when caring for elderly parents means getting clear about duty, responsibility, and the sacrifices caregivers are willing to make. Caregiving is an emotional experience. The ability to...
Dementia Caregiver Challenges | What Families Should Know
The Caring Generation®—Episode 207, December 4, 2024. Dementia caregivers face many challenges that include being in poorer health than the person with dementia. While it is nearly impossible to predict the effects of being a dementia caregiver on health, social...
Affirmations for Caregivers: The What, Why, and How
The Caring Generation®—Episode 206, November 20, 2024. Affirmations for caregivers can be a path toward motivation and change when the uncertainty of caring for elderly parents or others feels overwhelming. Learn the what, why, and how of making affirmations work for you.
Can Two Siblings Have Power of Attorney for an Aging Parent?
Can two siblings have power of attorney for an elderly parent? Siblings sharing power of attorney or acting as co-agents under power of attorney for a parent is possible. Before accepting co-agent responsibility, you must know the duty you accept and confirm a...
How to Stop Caregiving From Consuming Your Life
The Caring Generation®—Episode 205, November 6, 2024. How can you stop caregiving from consuming your life? Are you emotionally and physically drained by care responsibilities? Are you stopped in your tracks by random events related to the care of an aging parent or caring for yourself? Learn tips, information, and examples to stop caregiving from taking over your life.
When Elderly Mother Lets Husband and His Family Take Over
An elderly parent who needs care can bring concerned adult children back together. But what happens when an elderly mother lets her second husband and his family take over her care and daily needs and limit involvement by biological children? Late-life changes in...
Power of Attorney for An Elderly Parent
Power of attorney for an elderly parent is a fiduciary responsibility to avoid conflicts of interest and manage family caregiver expectations. A POA for an elderly parent may find themselves in power struggles with siblings over decision-making for aging parents.
How to Initiate Goals of Care Discussions With Family
Initiating a goals of care discussion with family members or professionals ensures that your wishes for daily living and eventual care needs are planned and executed according to your wishes. While many adults set these conversations aside until a health diagnosis or...
Caregiver Abuse of Elderly | How Caregivers Become Suspects
The Caring Generation®—Episode 204, October 23, 2024. Abuse of the elderly happens within families and with friends who have good intentions. Learn how good intentions can lead to suspicions that result in problems with Adult Protective Services (APS) and the court system and what caregivers can do.
Is Your Sibling Manipulating Elderly Parents?
Are you concerned about a sibling manipulating elderly parents? Does your brother or sister live with or near your parents and have access to your parents' money or manage their medical care? If so, a sibling may exert undue influence over your parent's decisions or...
Experiences of Dementia Caregivers
The Caring Generation®—Episode 203, October 9, 2024. The experiences of dementia caregivers raise stress levels when considering the need to make difficult decisions. Dementia behaviors and hands-on care needs can negatively affect the health of dementia caregivers who can prioritize care for others over their own health and well-being.
Aging Parents and Adult Children | Health Legal and Money Conflict
The Caring Generation®—Episode 202, September 25, 2024. Aging parents and adult children experience health, legal, and money conflicts in caregiving relationships. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares examples to help you learn how to identify and navigate conflicts that might be difficult to predict.
Steps To Plan Through Unexpected Events
The Caring Generation®—Episode 201, September 11, 2024. Learn how to plan through unexpected events related to aging, health, and money with a proven process for success from caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson. Instead of struggling with uncertainty, create a path forward to find solutions to everyday and complex problems.
Elderly Health Routines: 10 Benefits of Healthy Aging Habits
The Caring Generation®—Episode 200, August 28, 2024. Elderly health routines support healthy aging habits. By monitoring daily activities, you can create a healthy lifestyle that allows you to do more of what matters to you.
How to Notice When the Health of Aging Parents is Going Downhill
The Caring Generation®—Episode 199, August 14, 2024. Caregivers ask how to recognize when the health of aging parents is going downhill because they want to go on with their lives. While early health problems can be manageable identifying warning signs of health...
How to Estimate Care Will Progress | Caring for Elderly Parents
The Caring Generation®—Episode 198, July 31, 2024. Caregivers can be swept up in a whirlwind of constant worry or negative thoughts about how to estimate how care will progress when caring for elderly parents, spouses, or loved ones. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson...
Family Dynamics: How to Balance Aging Parent Needs
The Caring Generation®— Year 6, Episode 197, July 17, 2024. Family dynamics related to the care of aging parents can be challenging for caregivers. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson offers tips for how to communicate with family to minimize uncomfortable,...
Are You a Caregiver Missing Out on Life’s Opportunities?
The Caring Generation®—Episode 196, July 3, 2024. Are you a caregiver missing out? Do weekends and holidays bring up feelings of being left out of gatherings and activities? Do you watch others enjoy their lives while stuck at home caring for elderly parents or unable...
Out of Control Caregiving Situation? Find Tips to Manage
The Caring Generation®—Episode 195, June 19, 2024. When trying to keep elderly parents at home becomes chaotic, caregivers can feel like they are dealing with a hot mess. Learn tips to manage out-of-control caregiving situations and why choosing how you want to live...
Navigating Health Complications of Aging
The Caring Generation®—Episode 194, June 5, 2024. Navigating the health complications of aging is a skill anyone can learn to receive good care from healthcare systems and doctors. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips all caregivers and patients must know...
How to Manage Elderly Parent Healthcare Disasters
The Caring Generation®—Episode 193, May 22, 2024. Elderly parent healthcare disasters often happen unexpectedly. High levels of caregiver stress result from managing falls, fractures, memory loss and other health conditions that are affected by various factors. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares strategies to get ahead of health issues before they get ahead of you and your loved ones.
Care for Elderly Parent Online Family Caregiver Support
Elderly parent online family caregiver support helps manage stress and anxiety. Navigating care for aging parents can seem daunting, filled with uncertainties, challenges, and unanticipated risks. It can be comforting to have access to a caregiving expert by telephone...
Caregiving: How to Rise Above Judgmental People
The Caring Generation®—Episode 192, May 8, 2024. Learn how to rise above the actions and words of judgmental people and stop being hard on yourself as a caregiver or person with health concerns. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips to help you identify and...
Actions to Take to Cope With Caregiver and Patient Breakdowns
The Caring Generation®—Episode 191, April 24, 2024. Caregiver and patient breakdowns can be physical and emotional. Anxiety, fear, and worry often complicate relationships and the ability to heal. Learn tips from caregiving Pamela D Wilson about creating balance in...
How to Avoid Caregiver and Patient Regrets About Medical Decisions
The Caring Generation®—Episode 190, April 10, 2024. Patients and their caregivers are often faced with making life-or-death decisions. What are the differences between individuals who make good decisions and others who experience decision regret? Understanding...
Habits of People Who Age Well
The Caring Generation®—Episode 189, March 27, 2024. Do you know the habits of people who age well? Learn tips to live a better life as you grow older. Whether you are a caregiver or a person with health concerns, it's never too late to embrace positive habits and live...
Working With Medical Providers: Tips to Receive Good Care
The Caring Generation® - Episode 188, March 13, 2024. What caregivers should know about working with medical providers extends beyond the basic knowledge of the person who needs care. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson offers insights into the healthcare system to help...
Dealing With Grief and Loss
The Caring Generation® - Episode 187, February 28, 2024. Dealing with grief and loss is a lifelong experience that may not be recognized until the loss of an aging parent or family member. Learn how to deal with feelings of grief that result from loss and the...
How to Find the Discipline to Move Ahead
The Caring Generation® - Episode 186, February 14, 2024. Finding the discipline to move ahead from drama and trauma can be challenging in any stage of caregiving—beginning to end. Caregivers who feel stuck often lack a plan and the motivation to change. Find tips for...
Why Sibling Agreements Are Beneficial When Caring for Elderly Parents
The Caring Generation® - Episode 185, January 31, 2024. Sibling agreements can be critical for the care of elderly parents when disagreements exist in families. Learn about personalities and behavioral styles to learn how to work with others in your family, whether...
Why Managing Fears is Essential When Caring for Aging Parents
The Caring Generation® - Episode 184, January 17, 2024. Learn why managing fears is essential when caring for aging parents who experience ongoing health challenges. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares seven tips to help caregivers remain positive when performing...
Why Self-Care Is Important Regardless of Age
The Caring Generation® - Episode 183, December 27, 2023. Health impacts many aspects of life. Learn the importance of self-care to support physical and mental resilience regardless of age. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares how self-care can improve your quality...
Caregiving in Times of Crises
The Caring Generation® - Episode 182, December 13, 2022. Are you caregiving in times of crises? Have you become the emergency responder for a loved one in your family? Constantly responding to care needs can place caregivers in an ongoing state of crises management...
Balance Increasing Family Care Responsibilities and Career
The Caring Generation® - Episode 181, November 29, 2023. It's no secret that caregiving is work. Learn practical skills and ten tips to balance increasing family care responsibilities and career from caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson. This week's episode of The Caring...
Caregiver Tips to Manage What Life Throws at You
The Caring Generation® - Episode 180, November 15, 2023. Caregivers multi-task and have to-do lists that are rarely completed. Responsibilities continue to grow and consume other areas of a caregiver's life. Pamela D Wilson, caregiving expert, shares how to manage...
Caregivers: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Living
The Caring Generation® – Episode 179, November 1, 2023 Caregivers often find themselves in a wait-and-see pattern that can last for years. Learn how to stop avoiding and start living life. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares how your environment shapes thoughts about who you are and what you can accomplish if you have goals and dreams.
Why Elder Care and Medicare Is More Expensive Than You Think
The Caring Generation® Episode 178, October 18, 2023. If you are over age 65 or a caregiver, you may learn that your Medicare Plan choices can be more expensive than you think because of long-term impacts on your life you may not know about after retirement. The...
Will State Efforts to Support Older Adults and Caregivers Succeed
Will state efforts to support older adults and their caregivers succeed? Understanding the complexity of healthcare systems and that navigating care is difficult for the average person may not be easy to understand if you are not in this situation. Will State Efforts...
Caregivers: If You Don’t Have a Caregiving Plan You Won’t Have a Life
The Caring Generation® - Episode 177, October 4, 2023. You may not have a life if you are a caregiver and don't have a caregiving plan. Learn the risks caregivers face when priorities shift to caring for aging parents to the exclusion of everything else. Gain insights...
Caregiving: How to Know When You Can’t Do It Anymore
The Caring Generation® - Episode 176, September 20, 2023. Knowing when you can't do it anymore is a crossroads moment in caregiving. When you do more of what you don't want, envy happy people, feel unappreciated, and forget you have choices, it might be time for a...
