After successfully completing cancer treatments, Julie Eaton’s 81-year-old father wanted to resume living on his own at his home in Albuquerque, N.M. The family, scattered around Kentucky, California and New Mexico, enlisted professional services as we… Continue reading
(This article appeared previously in Kaiser Health News.) Like many women aging alone, Eileen Kobrin worried that an accident could compromise her independence. Then, two years ago at age 71, the New Yorker fell while on vacation, breaking her left ank… Continue reading
(This article appeared previously on the Kaiser Health News site.) Pauline Jeffery had let things slide since her husband died. Her bedroom was a mess. Her bathroom was disorganized. She often tripped over rugs in her living and dining room. “I was dep… Continue reading
If American employers embraced the recommendations of a new Harvard Business School report, life could be a lot easier for workers who are also unpaid caregivers. And the companies’ bottom lines would benefit as well. That’s according to the report’s a… Continue reading
Most of us believe there will always be enough time to plan for long-term care. Then, life happens, and all of our hopeful expectations are dashed, including for our loved ones. When all is well, it’s difficult to convince mom, dad, a partner or other … Continue reading
Whether you’ve just taken on the responsibility of caring for a spouse, parent, family member or friend, or you’ve been doing it for many years, the need for good information and support never ends. Over the years, Next Avenue has written hundreds of a… Continue reading
Assisted living facilities provide a variety of services for residents, including meals, housekeeping, social activities and help with bathing and dressing. Yet, today’s typical assisted living resident needs more than that — usually multiple health ca… Continue reading
(Editor’s note: This story is part of a special report for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) Making the decision to transition your loved one to hospice care (for people whose medical conditions mean they are expected to die within six months) is a tim… Continue reading
When a friend or family member is knee-deep in caring for a loved one, a common gesture is to drop off a casserole, or remind him or her to “let me know what you need.” But as genuine as your intentions may be, they may not be the best ways to ease the… Continue reading
In many families, holiday or other event gatherings are a collaborative effort. Someone brings the main dish, someone else brings a salad and another person shows up with dessert. Maybe it’s time, experts say, to assign one dinner guest to keep an eye … Continue reading