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 25 years of service to older adults and caregivers.
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...
Caregiving: Why is Medicaid So Difficult to Understand?
The Caring Generation® - Episode 175, September 6, 2023, Why is Medicaid So Difficult to Understand? If you are in a caregiving relationship you may be struggling with the financial aspects of a spouse’s or elderly parent’s care. Pamela D. Wilson, caregiving expert,...
How Caregivers Lose Sight of What Is Important
The Caring Generation® – Episode 174 August 24, 2023. As a caregiver, it is important to not lose sight of what makes you happy. Caregiver self-sacrifice means less focus on relationships and more focus on tasks and busy work. Involvement with healthcare systems can also be stressful and frustrating. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips about the importance of maintaining relationships and advocating for care needs.
Are Caregivers Brainwashed? | Society, Culture, Family Expectations
The Caring Generation® – Episode 173 August 9, 2023. Are caregivers brainwashed? Do caregivers focus on doing things for aging parents or spouses due to societal, cultural, family, or groupthink? In this episode, caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares insights into why caregivers feel powerless over situations that seem out of their control.
Doing the Best You Can To Care for Aging Parents
The Caring Generation® – Episode 172, July 26, 2023. Being a caregiver is hard. Doing the best you can with the resources and time you have to care for aging parents may feel like it’s never enough. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares examples of caregiving challenges and offers a resource to help with care and decision-making.
10 Things That Don’t Make Sense to Caregivers
The Caring Generation® - Episode 171 July 12, 2023. Learn ten things that don't make sense to caregivers that may help you avoid unpredictable problems. Revisit things you may have heard but were not important at the time so that you can move ahead one day at a time...
Too Many Responsibilities: How Caregivers Can Create a New Identity
The Caring Generation® - Episode 170 June 28, 2023. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson discusses caregivers who have too many responsibilities. Learn what to do when losing a sense of identity or feeling super-vigilant or hyper-responsible for caring for aging loved...
Why Do Simple Things Become Difficult For Persons With Dementia?
The Caring Generation® - Episode 169 June 14, 2023. Why do persons with dementia lose their ability to perform everyday tasks? Family caregivers become frustrated with elderly parents or spouses who struggle with activities they once did routinely. Learn how to be a...
Caregiving: How to Hold Onto the Good Things
The Caring Generation® – Episode 168 May 31, 2023. The act of caregiving for loved ones can seem like a never-ending job. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares thoughts about how family caregivers can hold onto the good things in life while creating more things to be happy about.
How Does Caregiving Affect Family Relationships?
The Caring Generation® – Episode 167 May 17, 2023. How does caregiving affect family relationships? Becoming a caregiver can upend life. Learn why setting expectations and having heart-to-heart conversations are essential from caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson.
Caregiver Tips for Barely Getting By
The Caring Generation® – Episode 166 May 3, 2023. Are you barely getting by? Find tips from caregiver expert Pamela D Wilson to keep going when you can’t see how to move forward through challenging caregiving relationships to to where you want your life to be.
Creating the Life You Want
The Caring Generation® - Episode 165 April 19, 2023. Creating the life you want can mean building inner strength if you are a caregiver. Are family members who don't contribute to caring for loved ones transferring their guilt to you? Become clear about what you want...
How to Stop Being Influenced By Others
The Caring Generation® – Episode 164 April 5, 2023. Are family caregivers more easily influenced by others due to high-stress levels? If you are a caregiver, do you ever wonder how to stop being influenced so you can make your own decisions and live your life?
How to Stop Feeling Distracted and Overwhelmed
The Caring Generation® – Episode 163 March 22, 2023. How to stop feeling distracted and overwhelmed in everyday life or when unexpected events derail your day. Caregivers have an unending list of to-dos for other people, which often means their needs go unmet. Pamela D Wilson, caregiving expert, shares how to reset and regain focus to take back your day.
Why is Problem Solving So Hard? | Caregiver Advice and Tips
The Caring Generation® – Episode 162 March 8, 2023 Caregivers ask why is problem-solving is hard? Problem-solving can be complicated by emotions, exhaustion, health care issues, and more when caring for aging parents. Learn how to identify signs that can lead to problems and what you can do.
One Crises Away From Getting Help
The Caring Generation® – Episode 161 February 22, 2023. How to know if you are a caregiver who is one crises away from getting help? Learn tips to manage day-to-day caregiving tasks and minimize unexpected situations when caring for aging parents, spouses, and loved ones.
The Relationship Between Pain and Caregiver Stress
The Caring Generation® – Episode 160 February 8, 2023. Chronic pain can result in angry outbursts and disruptive behaviors. Learn about the relationship between pain and caregiver stress so that you can confront angry behaviors that damage relationships.
Care for a Sick Family Member
The Caring Generation® - Episode 159 January 25, 2023. Caring for a sick family member can be challenging for caregivers trying to balance life. Health and social need support programs offer options to help caregivers make caregiving more manageable.This is a...
What’s Wrong With Aging Parents? Tips to Manage Health & Medical Care
The Caring Generation® – Episode 158 January 11, 2023. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips for family caregivers trying to figure out what’s wrong with aging parents who may be unsure how to help themselves. Learn how to identify health concerns and manage medical care.
Caregiving and the Power of Words
The Caring Generation® – Episode 157 December 28, 2022. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares insights into the effect of words and thoughts on caregiver health and well-being. Creating intentional pauses while interacting with others can be a path to creating more positive relationships.
Why You Feel Emotionally Drained
The Caring Generation® – Episode 156 December 14, 2022. Ever wonder why you feel emotionally drained at the end of the day? Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips for understanding emotional exhaustion, managing burnout and having essential family caregiver conversations.
How to Avoid Putting Your Needs Second
The Caring Generation® – Episode 155 November 30, 2022. Learn how to avoid putting your needs second in caregiving relationships without feeling guilty. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips about how to stop overgiving and take care of yourself while caring for someone else.
What to Do When Elderly Parents Fire Caregivers
The Caring Generation® – Episode 154 November 16, 2022. What to do when elderly parents fire caregivers. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips for adult children frustrated with parents who need help but refuse assistance from anyone other than a family member.
What if a Parent Can’t Pay for Nursing Home Care?
The Caring Generation® – Episode 153 November 2, 2022. What if a parent can’t pay for nursing home care but can’t live alone? Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips for family caregivers when Medicare no longer pays for nursing home care.
Why Caregiving is Harmful to Your Well-Being
The Caring Generation® – Episode 152 October 19, 2022. Learn why caregiving is harmful to your well-being when trying to balance life, work, family, and health. Caregiving Pamela D Wilson shares reasons caregivers feel conflicted between obligations to loved ones and managing the complexities of daily life.
How to Deal With Dementia
The Caring Generation® – Episode 151 October 5, 2022. Learn how to deal with dementia whether you are the person diagnosed or a family caregiver for a spouse or elderly parent with dementia. On this episode, caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares ten proactive steps for managing a memory loss diagnosis.
Caregiver Regrets: No Life, No Job, No Friends
The Caring Generation® – Episode 150 September 21, 2022. Caregiver regrets include no life, no job, and no friends. Learn how to examine choices and make changes to persist in creating your goals and accomplishing your dreams.
Should Caregivers Use Online Health Care?
The Caring Generation® – Episode 149 September 7, 2022. Should caregivers use online health care? Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares how patient portals can save time and simplify medical care for elderly parents and their caregivers.
Are Hip Fractures for Elderly Parents Serious?
The Caring Generation® – Episode 148 August 24, 2022. Are hip fractures for elderly parents serious? Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson discusses the physical and mental aspects of recovering from a hip fracture or serious illness to regain independence for elderly parents and adults of all ages.
Creating an Emergency Medical Plan for Elderly Parents
The Caring Generation® – Episode 147 August 10, 2022. Learn why creating an emergency plan for elderly parents is important to respond to sudden changes in health and hospitalizations. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares practical tips about navigating the healthcare system for aging adults and their caregivers.
Making Sure Elderly Parents Are Healthy
The Caring Generation® – Episode 146 July 27, 2022. Making sure elderly parents stay healthy can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure what is important. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson offers tips to support good health throughout life to help you and your loved ones stay healthy and live independently.
How to Deal With Dementia in a Parent
The Caring Generation® – Episode 145 July 20, 2022. Learning how to deal with dementia in a parent can be an ongoing challenge for family caregivers. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips to help family caregivers prepare for this unpredictable journey.
Getting The Most Out of Life in Your 60s
The Caring Generation® – Episode 144 June 29, 2022. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips for getting the most out of life in your 60s to help you create fulfillment, happiness, and good health habits whether you are caring for loved ones or yourself.
How Caregivers Can Respond to Negative Life Events
The Caring Generation® – Episode 143 June 22, 2022. How Caregivers Respond to Negative Life Events. Pamela D Wilson, Caregiving Expert offers tips for responding to unexpected or ongoing experiences that can be mentally and physically draining.
Why Do Old People Not Go to the Doctor?
The Caring Generation® – Episode 142 June 16, 2022. Why Do Old People Not Go to The Doctor? Pamela D Wilson, Caregiving Expert shares thoughts about why elderly parents and loved ones avoid or delay seeking medical care. If you are a family caregiver, learn how you can help aging parents, spouses, and others get the care they need.
Impact of Dementia on Spouses
The Caring Generation® – Episode 141 June 8, 2022. The impact of dementia on spouses is significant. Learn how to manage losing your best friend, become a spousal caregiver, and care for you. On this program, caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson talks about making a dementia plan that includes care for the caregiver.
Being Realistic About a Parent’s Health
The Caring Generation® – Episode 140 June 1, 2022. Being realistic about a parent’s health can be emotionally challenging. Caregiving expert, Pamela D Wilson, shares insights into why elderly parents might be in denial about health. Learn why family members may distance themselves from care situations and the effects of avoiding health conversations on family caregivers.
How to Recognize Self-Destructive Caregiving Behaviors
The Caring Generation® – Episode 139 May 25, 2022. How to Recognize Self-Destructive Caregiving Behaviors. Caregiving expert, Pamela D Wilson shares habits that negatively affect family caregivers and how to change behavior patterns to replace self-defeating behaviors. Learn how to improve family caregiving relationships through the process of establishing trust and validating emotions.
When Should An Elderly Parent Stop Living Alone?
The Caring Generation® – Episode 137 May 18, 2022. When should an elderly parent stop living alone? Caregiving expert, Pamela D Wilson shares how to identify factors that mean parents are increasingly more likely to need daily care and medical attention. Guest Dr. Gary Kaplan of the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine shares tips to keep your immune system healthy.
Caring for Elderly Parents What Matters Most
The Caring Generation® – Episode 137 May 11, 2022. Learn the 4Ms of caring for elderly parents what matters most. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson relates the framework of an age-friendly health system to actions that family caregivers and aging adults can take today to manage health care decisions and make good choices about daily life.
When Elderly Parents Won’t Listen
The Caring Generation® – Episode 136 May 4, 2022. On this program, family caregivers can learn what to do when elderly parents won’t listen. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares both sides of this issue, adult children who become frustrated and aging parents and spouses who feel nagged by well-intended family.
Failing as a Family Caregiver
The Caring Generation® – Episode 135 April 27, 2022. On this episode, caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson, shares eight reasons family caregivers struggle. Learn how guilt or feeling responsible for things caregivers don’t control can result in feelings of failure and how to look at care situations more objectively.
Signs Parents Need Memory Care
The Caring Generation® – Episode 134 April 20, 2022. Signs parents need memory care include many considerations, including knowing if a parent needs memory care or assisted living or making end-of-life decisions. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson interviews Dr. Stephen G Post about decisions that family caregivers must make when elderly parents need more care.
How to Consider A Different Approach to Caregiving
The Caring Generation® – Episode 133 April 13, 2022. Taking a different approach to caregiving includes learning practical steps to manage caregiver relationships with elderly parents and spouses. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares tips to empower caregivers to balance life and caregiving responsibilities.
Breaking Caregiver Promises
The Caring Generation® – Episode 132 April 6, 2022. Breaking caregiver promises isn’t easy. Caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson shares how to adjust personal goals with commitments to care for elderly parents, spouses, and loved ones. Caregiving promises aren’t only the promises you make to care for others—they include the promises you make to fulfill your needs as the caregiver.
Women As Caregivers: The Impact on Life and Retirement
The Caring Generation® – Episode 131 March 30, 2022. Pamela D Wilson discusses the challenges faced by women as caregivers that affect health, well-being, and financial security. Dr. Katherine Ornstein from Mt. Sinai discusses a recent research article, Kinlessness at End of Life and why more women than men have no one to care for them.
What Difficulties Do Caregivers Face?
The Caring Generation® – Episode 130 March 23, 2022. What difficulties do caregivers face? In this episode, caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson talks about setting boundaries, providing life support, and having practical discussions about the expectations of elderly parents.
Managing Caregiver Overwhelm in Decision Making
As a caregiver responsible for making decisions for elderly parents, some decisions are irreversible. Experiencing caregiver overwhelm is the feeling of being unsure if your choices are correct when you are also feeling emotionally distressed. Caregivers respond to...
Why Elderly Parents Won’t Make Decisions
The Caring Generation® – Episode 129 March 16, 2022. On this episode, Why Elderly Parents Won’t, Can’t, or Delay Making Decisions caregiving expert Pamela D Wilson offers insights into why elderly parents struggle with aging and decision making. What can adult children caring for aging parents do to move situations forward?
Listen to Podcasts of The Caring Generation on Your Favorite Apps
